Offender Record · OFF-2026-126
Herbert Mullin (photo from the Radford University biography)
Herbert William Mullin
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'9"
Born
1947
Custody
Deceased
States
HI, CA
Custody
Died August 18, 2022 of natural causes at California Health Care Facility in Stockton, California.
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
Herbert William Mullin was convicted of ten murders—two first-degree and eight second-degree—committed in Santa Cruz County and Santa Clara County, California between October 13, 1972 and February 13, 1973. Mullin believed his killings were necessary human sacrifices to prevent earthquakes. He was convicted on August 19, 1973 and sentenced to life imprisonment with possibility of parole. He died of natural causes on August 18, 2022 at age 75 while incarcerated at California Health Care Facility in Stockton.
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 13, 1972, Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Murder
Santa Cruz County Sheriff · Santa Cruz Superior Court · Arrested Feb 13, 1973 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment with possibility of parole
Lawrence White, 55-year-old transient, was beaten to death with a baseball bat on October 13, 1972 near Felton in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mullin stopped his car, pretended to have car trouble, and beat White to death when he offered help.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Mullin, Herbert; Herbert Mullin; Mullin, Herbert
Offense date Nov 02, 1972, Los Gatos, California
Murder
Santa Clara County Sheriff · Santa Clara County Superior Court · Arrested Feb 13, 1973 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Consecutive five-years-to-life term
Father Henri Tomei, a priest, was beaten and stabbed to death on November 2, 1972 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Los Gatos during confession. Mullin took the priest's rosary pouch as a trophy. Mullin was not initially charged with this murder but pleaded guilty in December 1973.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Mullin, Herbert; Herbert Mullin; Mullin, Herbert; Herbert Mullin, the Serial Killer Who Thought He Was Saving the World
Offense date Jan 25, 1973, Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Murder
Santa Cruz County Sheriff · Santa Cruz Superior Court · Arrested Feb 13, 1973 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment with possibility of parole (first-degree)
Jim Gianera, 25, was shot and repeatedly stabbed on January 25, 1973 at his cabin residence. His wife Joan also killed same date. Mullin was convicted of first-degree murder based on evidence of premeditation.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Mullin, Herbert; Herbert Mullin; Mullin, Herbert; Herbert Mullin
Offense date Feb 10, 1973, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, California
Murder
Santa Cruz County Sheriff · Santa Cruz Superior Court · Arrested Feb 13, 1973 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment with possibility of parole (second-degree)
Four teenage campers were shot to death on February 10, 1973 at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Brian Scott Card (19), David Allan Oliker (18), Robert Michael Spector (18), and Mark John Dreibelbis (15). Mullin approached them posing as a park ranger, ordered them to leave, and shot them when they refused.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Mullin, Herbert; Herbert Mullin; Mullin, Herbert; Robert Michael Spector (1954-1973); Herbert Mullin
Offense date Feb 13, 1973, Santa Cruz, California
Murder
Santa Cruz County Sheriff · Santa Cruz Superior Court · Arrested Feb 13, 1973 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment with possibility of parole (second-degree)
Fred Perez, 72-year-old retired fisherman, was shot in the chest on February 13, 1973 while working in his driveway in Santa Cruz. Mullin made a U-turn after hearing 'voices' and shot him from his car. A neighbor witnessed and reported the vehicle license plate, leading to Mullin's immediate arrest.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Mullin, Herbert; Herbert Mullin; Mullin, Herbert; Herbert Mullin
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.
11
Victims convicted
13
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1972–1973
Stated motive
Mission or hatred of a group
Range from home
regional
Confessed
Yes
Education
associate
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Died
2022-08-18 · natural
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
Salinas, California
approx. 1947 – 1952
San Francisco, California
approx. 1952 – 1963 · moved to San Francisco when about 5 years old
Santa Cruz, California
approx. 1963 – 1967 · moved to Boulder Creek area, then to Felton in Santa Cruz Mountains
Felton, California
approx. 1963 – 1965 · San Lorenzo Valley High School
Aptos, California
approx. 1965 – 1967 · Cabrillo College
San Jose, California
approx. 1967 – 1967 · San Jose State College
San Luis Obispo, California
1968 – 1969 · Goodwill Industries manager
San Luis Obispo, California
Apr 1968 – Apr 1968 · Arrested for marijuana possession
South Lake Tahoe, California
Jun 1969 – Aug 1969 · lived in trailer on sister's ranch in Sebastopol before moving to Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe, California
Jun 1969 – Aug 1969 · Harvey's Wagon Wheel gambling resort dishwasher
Santa Cruz, California
Sep 1969 – Sep 1969 · community drug abuse prevention center resident
San Luis Obispo, California
Oct 1969 – Nov 1969 · San Luis Obispo County General Hospital psychiatric ward, 8 weeks
Santa Cruz, California
approx. 1970 – 1970 · Holiday Inn dishwasher
San Francisco, California
approx. 1971 – 1972 · worked various jobs
San Francisco, California
approx. 1971 – 1972 · moved to decrepit apartment
Felton, California
Sep 1972 – Feb 1973 · moved back in with parents in September 1972
Santa Cruz, California
Oct 1972 – Feb 1973 · busboy in restaurant
Santa Cruz, California
Feb 13, 1973 – Sep 18, 1973 · Santa Cruz County jail pending trial
Ione, California
Sep 18, 1973 – Aug 18, 2022 · Mule Creek State Prison (transferred to California Health Care Facility, Stockton in later years)
HI
Hawaii
Jul 1970 – Jul 1970 · arrested for being under the influence of drugs
Timeline
Apr 18, 1947
Herbert William Mullin born in Salinas, California.
1965
Friend Dean Richardson killed in car accident; Mullin became obsessed with reincarnation.
1966
Mullin had first experience with LSD.
1967
Mullin broke engagement with Loretta; became interested in Eastern religions.
Apr 1968
Arrested for marijuana possession; pleaded to lesser offense and sentenced to probation.
Oct 1968
Granted conscientious objector status by Selective Service.
Feb 1969
Voluntarily committed to Mendocino State Hospital; diagnosed with schizophrenia aggravated by drug abuse.
May 09, 1969
Checked out of Mendocino State Hospital; marked prognosis as poor.
Aug 1969
Pulled knife on forest ranger in Lake Tahoe; taken to county jail but not booked.
Oct 1969
Involuntarily committed to San Luis Obispo County General Hospital psychiatric ward.
Nov 1969
Discharged from San Luis Obispo County Hospital with grave prognosis; diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic by Dr. Joseph Middleton.
1970
Admitted to mental health clinic in Maui; diagnosed schizo-affective schizophrenia.
Jul 30, 1970
Arrested for being under influence of drugs and possession; charges dropped per California 72-hour hold law.
Apr 1971
Case closed at Santa Cruz Mental Health Clinic due to failure to keep appointments.
Mar 1972
Received permit to box in Golden Gloves; trainers had to pull him away from opponent.
Sep 1972
Moved back in with parents in Felton; stopped taking medication; voice commanded him to kill.
Oct 13, 1972
Murdered Lawrence White, 55, by beating him with baseball bat in Santa Cruz Mountains.
Oct 24, 1972
Murdered Mary Guilfoyle, 24, a college student; stabbed and dissected her body.
Nov 02, 1972
Murdered Father Henri Tomei, 65, a priest, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Los Gatos during confession.
Dec 16, 1972
Purchased a gun; claimed he needed it because he was one-third Scandinavian.
Jan 15, 1973
Passed physical and mental exams for Marine Corps but refused to sign criminal record release; dismissed from military.
Jan 25, 1973
Murdered Jim Gianera, 25; Joan Gianera, 21; Kathy Francis, 30; David Hughes, 9; and Daemon Francis, 4. Shot Gianeras and Francis multiple times; repeatedly stabbed all bodies.
Feb 06, 1973
First encounter with four teenage campers at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park; told them to leave claiming they were polluting forest.
Feb 10, 1973
Murdered Brian Scott Card, 19; David Allan Oliker, 18; Robert Michael Spector, 18; and Mark John Dreibelbis, 15 by gunshot at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
Feb 13, 1973
Murdered Fred Perez, 72, by shooting him in chest while he was working in driveway in Santa Cruz. Arrested same day after neighbor reported vehicle license plate.
Feb 14, 1973
Police searched Mullin's apartment and found Bible, address book with Gianera's address, newspaper articles about recent murders, and Father Tomei's rosary pouch.
Mar 01, 1973
Charged with ten counts of murder; not charged with murders of White, Guilfoyle, and Tomei.
Jul 30, 1973
Trial began; Mullin stated voices commanded him to commit human sacrifices to prevent earthquakes.
Aug 19, 1973
Convicted of ten counts of murder: two first-degree (Jim Gianera and Kathy Francis) and eight second-degree murders.
Sep 18, 1973
Admitted to California Department of Corrections from Santa Cruz County; serving life-with-possibility-of-parole sentences.
Dec 21, 1973
Convicted in Santa Clara County of second-degree murder for Father Henri Tomei; sentenced to consecutive five-years-to-life term.
Aug 18, 2022
Died of natural causes at age 75 at California Health Care Facility in Stockton, California.
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.
Offender registry · Find a Grave ·
Robert Michael Spector (1954-1973)“Victim of murderer Herbert Mullin. Mullin was wandering around Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park where he saw four teenaged boys camping.”
Other · Radford University ·
Mullin, Herbert“Herb was convicted of ten counts of murder. He was found guilty of two counts of first degree murder and eight counts of second degree murder.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Herbert Mullin“Mullin was charged with ten counts of murder and was found guilty of ten murders in August of 1973”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Herbert Mullin“Herbert William Mullin was an American serial killer who killed 13 people in California in the early 1970s”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Mullin, Herbert“Serial killer biography compiled from public records and research”
News report · A&E Television Networks ·
Herbert Mullin, the Serial Killer Who Thought He Was Saving the World“For his crimes, Herbert Mullin was tried and convicted for 10 murders: two counts of first-degree murder and eight counts of second-degree murder in Santa Cruz”
News report · CBS News ·
South Bay serial killer who murdered 13 dies in Stockton hospital“Herbert Mullin, who confessed to killing 13 people during a four-month period in 1972 and 1973, was being housed in the California Health Care Facility in Stockton”
Other government record · California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ·
Herbert Mullin Dies of Natural Causes“Herbert W. Mullin, a serial murderer who had confessed to killing 13 people in the 1970s, passed away of natural causes on Aug. 18, 2022”
Discussion
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