Offender Record · OFF-2026-014
Kenneth Bianchi (photo from the Radford University biography)
Kenneth Alessio Bianchi
Also known as The Hillside Strangler, Hillside Strangler (one of two)
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'11"
Born
1951
Custody
Incarcerated
States
WA, NY, CA
Distinguishing featuresTattoo reading 'Satan's Own M.C.' on arm (per Radford document); approximately 5'11.5" tall per IMDB
Custody
Incarcerated at Washington State Penitentiary (Walla Walla)
Custody record at the facility
Serving life sentences with possibility of parole; most recently denied parole in 2025.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Kenneth Alessio Bianchi was convicted of 5 murders in California and 2 murders in Washington State, all involving kidnapping, rape, and strangulation. Between October 1977 and February 1978, he and his cousin Angelo Buono committed 10 murders in the Los Angeles area known as the Hillside Strangler case. In January 1979, Bianchi alone murdered 2 college students in Bellingham, Washington. He pleaded guilty to 7 murders total and agreed to testify against his accomplice to avoid the death penalty. He is currently serving multiple life sentences at Washington State Penitentiary.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Oct 1977, Los Angeles, California
Sodomy
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office · Los Angeles County Superior Court · California Penal Code · Arrested Jan 12, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 5-year term, merged with life sentence
Bianchi pleaded guilty to one count of sodomy in Los Angeles County Superior Court as part of the plea agreement covering the Hillside Strangler murders.
SourcesKenneth A. Bianchi v. James Blodgett, 925 F.2d 305 (9th Cir. 1991); Hillside Strangler
Offense date Oct 1977, Los Angeles, California
Conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, rape and other felonies
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office · Los Angeles County Superior Court · California Penal Code · Arrested Jan 12, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Merged with life sentence
Bianchi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, rape and other felonies in connection with the Hillside Strangler case, reflecting his collaboration with cousin Angelo Buono in the planning and execution of the 10 Los Angeles murders.
SourcesKenneth A. Bianchi v. James Blodgett, 925 F.2d 305 (9th Cir. 1991)
Offense date Oct 1977, Los Angeles, California
First degree murder
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office · Los Angeles County Superior Court · California Penal Code · Arrested Jan 12, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 5 concurrent life sentences, merged into single life sentence with possibility of parole
Between October 17, 1977 and February 16, 1978, Bianchi and Angelo Buono murdered 10 young women in the greater Los Angeles area. The victims were typically lured by the men posing as undercover police officers, abducted in vehicles, raped, tortured (including electrical shocks and chemical burns), and strangled with ligatures. Bodies were cleaned of evidence and posed on hillsides, earning the 'Hillside Strangler' epithet. Bianchi pleaded guilty to 5 of these 10 murders.
SourcesKenneth Bianchi; Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi, convicted in 1970s serial killings, is denied parole; Hillside Strangler; Kenneth A. Bianchi v. James Blodgett, 925 F.2d 305 (9th Cir. 1991); After he murders two Bellingham women, police arrest serial killer Kenneth A. Bianchi on January 12, 1979
Offense date Jan 11, 1979, Bellingham, Washington
First degree murder
Whatcom County Superior Court, Washington · Superior Court of the State of Washington for Whatcom County · Washington State Code · Arrested Jan 12, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 2 consecutive life sentences without possibility of parole (later determined minimum 116.5 years)
On January 11, 1979, Bianchi lured two Western Washington University students, Karen Mandic (22) and Diane Wilder (27), to a house at 334 Bayside Road in Bellingham's Edgemoor neighborhood under the pretense of paying them $100 each to housesit while an alarm system was being repaired. Bianchi tied them up, sexually assaulted them, and strangled them to death. Their bodies were found in the hatchback of Mandic's Mercury Bobcat in a remote area the next day.
SourcesAfter he murders two Bellingham women, police arrest serial killer Kenneth A. Bianchi on January 12, 1979; Kenneth A. Bianchi v. James Blodgett, 925 F.2d 305 (9th Cir. 1991); Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi, convicted in 1970s serial killings, is denied parole
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
7
Victims convicted
5
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1977–1979
Victim profile
Young women, Teenagers, Sex workers, Students, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control, Thrill
Range from home
interstate
Accomplice
Yes
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
1
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CA
Los Angeles, California
approx. 1976 – 1977 · California Land Title Company; also created fake psychology credentials and rented office space as unlicensed psychologist
Los Angeles, California
Jan 1976 – Jul 1976 · Lived with cousin Angelo Buono at his home/upholstery shop; 703 East Colorado Street, Glendale
Los Angeles, California
Jul 1976 – Feb 1978 · East Garfield Avenue apartment; lived with girlfriend Kelli Boyd
Los Angeles, California
approx. 1977 – 1977 · Security guard; fired after marijuana found in desk
NY
Rochester, New York
May 1951 – Jan 1976 · Born in Rochester; raised by adoptive parents
Rochester, New York
approx. 1956 – 1970 · Gates-Chili High School (outside Rochester)
Rochester, New York
approx. 1970 – Jan 1976 · Various jobs including ice cream vendor
WA
Bellingham, Washington
Feb 1978 – Jan 12, 1979 · Small house at 401 E North Street; moved to be with girlfriend Kelli Boyd and son Ryan
Bellingham, Washington
approx. Aug 1978 – Jan 1979 · Whatcom Security Agency, Inc., security guard; also worked at Fred Meyer
Bellingham, Washington
Jan 12, 1979 – Jan 12, 1979 · Arrested by Bellingham Police Department for prime suspect in strangulation murders of Karen Mandic and Diane Wilder
Bellingham, Washington
Jan 12, 1979 – Oct 19, 1979 · Whatcom County jail pending trial
Walla Walla, Washington
Oct 19, 1979 – present · Washington State Penitentiary (Walla Walla); serving 2 consecutive life sentences for Washington murders and 5 concurrent life sentences for California murders
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1978 green Mercury Bobcat – 1978 Mercury Bobcat, green
approx. 1978 – 1979
Belonged to victim Karen Mandic; bodies of Mandic and Wilder found in hatchback in remote area of Bellingham on January 12, 1979
1972 Cadillac – 1972 Cadillac purchased with money from his mother
approx. 1976 – 1977
Used in Los Angeles murders as vehicle to transport victims; purchased January 1976
Timeline
May 22, 1951
Kenneth Alessio Bianchi born in Rochester, New York to 17-year-old alcoholic prostitute.
Aug 1951
Kenneth adopted at 3 months by Frances and Nicholas Bianchi; named Kenneth Alessio Bianchi.
Jan 1976
Bianchi moves to Los Angeles and lives with cousin Angelo Buono; obtains job with California Land Title Company.
Oct 17, 1977
Bianchi and Angelo Buono begin serial killing rampage; rape and strangle 19-year-old Yolanda Washington in back seat of Bianchi's car.
Oct 31, 1977
Bianchi and Buono murder 15-year-old Judith Miller, a runaway prostitute.
Nov 05, 1977
Bianchi and Buono murder 21-year-old Elissa Kastin, a waitress.
Nov 09, 1977
Bianchi and Buono murder 28-year-old Jane King, an aspiring actress.
Nov 13, 1977
Bianchi and Buono murder 14-year-old Sonja Johnson and 12-year-old Dolly Cepeda.
Nov 20, 1977
Bianchi and Buono murder 20-year-old Kristina Weckler, a college student.
Nov 28, 1977
Bianchi and Buono murder 18-year-old Lauren Wagner, a student.
Dec 13, 1977
Bianchi and Buono murder 18-year-old Kimberly Martin, a call girl.
Feb 1978
Bianchi relocates to Bellingham, Washington to be with girlfriend Kelli Boyd and their son Ryan.
Feb 17, 1978
Bianchi and Buono murder 20-year-old Cindy Hudspeth, a college student; this is their final murder together.
Jan 11, 1979
Bianchi lures and murders 22-year-old Karen Mandic and 27-year-old Diane Wilder in Bellingham, Washington.
Jan 12, 1979
Bellingham Police arrest Kenneth Bianchi as prime suspect in the strangulation murders of Karen Mandic and Diane Wilder.
Jan 26, 1979
Bianchi formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder in Washington.
Jan 29, 1979
Bianchi arraigned and pleads not guilty to two charges of first-degree murder in Washington.
Mar 30, 1979
Bianchi changes plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming severe multiple-personality disorder and amnesia.
Oct 19, 1979
Bianchi pleads guilty to two counts of murder in Washington State and is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
Oct 22, 1979
Bianchi pleads guilty in Los Angeles County Superior Court to five counts of murder, one count of conspiracy to commit felonies, and one count of sodomy.
Oct 22, 1979
Angelo Buono arrested after Bianchi informs police of his cousin's involvement in the murders.
Jun 1982
Bianchi begins testifying against cousin Angelo Buono in Los Angeles trial for Hillside Strangler murders.
Nov 18, 1983
Buono convicted of nine murders; judge rules Bianchi faked multiple personality disorder to avoid responsibility.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Bianchi, Kenneth“Kenneth is adopted by Frances Scioliono Bianchi and her husband who is a worker in the American Brake-Shoe Factory. Frances is Angelo Buono's mother's sister making him Angelo's adoptive cousin.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Kenneth Bianchi“Born: Kenneth Alessio Bianchi May 22, 1951 Rochester, New York, U.S.; Convictions: California First degree murder (5 counts) Sodomy Conspiracy to commit a felony Washington First degree murder (2 counts); Imprisoned at: Washington State Penitentiary”
News report · Britannica ·
Hillside Strangler“Bianchi pleaded guilty to five of the murders, and in October 1979 he received six life sentences, with the possibility of parole. In addition, he had earlier been given two life sentences for killing two college students in Washington state.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Hillside Strangler“Bianchi pleaded guilty to five of the murders, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, two consecutive terms for the Washington murders and five concurrent terms for the California murders.”
News report · CBS Los Angeles ·
Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi, convicted in 1970s serial killings, is denied parole“Bianchi pleaded guilty to those crimes and confessed to five murders in Los Angeles. Bianchi was convicted of five murders and is currently serving a life sentence at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary in Washington.”
Court record · Justia ·
Kenneth A. Bianchi v. James Blodgett, 925 F.2d 305 (9th Cir. 1991)“On October 19, 1979, petitioner pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and was sentenced to two consecutive life terms by the Superior Court of the State of Washington for Whatcom County. On October 22, 1979, in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, petitioner pleaded guilty to five counts of murder, one count of conspiracy to commit felonies, and one count of sodomy.”
News report · IMDb ·
Kenneth Bianchi“He was finally found guilty of 9 counts of murder and sentenced to 9 life terms without parole.”
News report · HistoryLink.org ·
After he murders two Bellingham women, police arrest serial killer Kenneth A. Bianchi on January 12, 1979“On January 12, 1979, Bellingham Police detectives arrest Kenneth A. Bianchi as the prime suspect in the strangulation murders of two Western Washington University students, Karen L. Mandic and Diane A. Wilder.”
Discussion
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