Loren Joseph Herzog

Serial Killer

Loren Joseph Herzog: Crimes and Victims

Background

Loren Joseph Herzog (December 8, 1965 – January 16, 2012) was an American serial killer, part of the duo known as the "Speed Freak Killers" alongside his childhood friend, Wesley Shermantine. Both men grew up in Linden, California, and were known for their methamphetamine abuse, which fueled their violent crimes spanning over a decade.

Crimes

Herzog and Shermantine embarked on a series of brutal murders, primarily in California, targeting both men and women. Their crimes included shooting, stabbing, and disposing of bodies in remote locations. Below is a detailed list of their known victims:

• Henry Howell
  • Date: September 1984
  • Location: Highway 88 near Hope Valley, California
  • Details: Howell, 41, was found shot dead in his parked car with his head and teeth bashed in. Herzog claimed Shermantine shot Howell and robbed him.
• Howard King and Paul Cavanaugh
  • Date: November 27, 1984
  • Location: Roberts Island, California
  • Details: King, 35, and Cavanaugh, 31, were found shot to death in a car. Tire tracks at the scene matched Shermantine's vehicle.
• Chevelle "Chevy" Wheeler
  • Date: October 16, 1985
  • Location: Stockton, California
  • Details: Wheeler, 16, disappeared after leaving school with Shermantine to visit his family's cabin. Her remains were later found based on Shermantine's directions.
• Roberta Ray "Robin" Jones Armtrout
  • Date: September 8, 1985
  • Location: Near Linden, California
  • Details: Armtrout, 24, was found naked and stabbed multiple times near Potter Creek. She was last seen with Herzog and Shermantine.
• Cynthia Ann "Cyndi" Vanderheiden
  • Date: November 14, 1998
  • Location: Clements, California
  • Details: Vanderheiden, 25, disappeared after leaving a bar with Herzog and Shermantine. Her skull was found in 2012 based on Shermantine's information.
• Kimberly Ann Billy
  • Date: December 11, 1984
  • Location: Stockton, California
  • Details: Billy, 19, disappeared, and her remains were found in a well in Linden, California, in 2012.
• Joann Hobson
  • Date: August 29, 1985
  • Location: Stockton, California
  • Details: Hobson, 16, disappeared, and her remains were also found in the same well as Billy's in 2012.
• Phillip Cabot Lloyd Martin
  • Date: September 30, 1993
  • Location: North Stockton, California
  • Details: Martin, 47, was last seen in north Stockton. His case remains unsolved, but he was associated with Herzog and Shermantine.
• Tracy Diane Melton
  • Date: May 6, 1998
  • Location: Stockton, California
  • Details: Melton, 32, disappeared, and a bone fragment found in Linden in 2003 was identified as hers in 2011.

Apprehension and Conviction

Herzog and Shermantine were arrested on March 17, 1999. In 2001, Shermantine was convicted of four murders and sentenced to death. Herzog's initial convictions were overturned in 2004 due to coerced confessions, leading to a plea deal and a reduced sentence. He was paroled in 2010. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (10)

Henry Howell Age: (41), Date of Death: 1984-09-01

    ...View 9 additional victims

Speed Freak Killers - Wikipedia

    ...View 12 additional sources