The Dark and Troubling Legacy of the Hillside Strangler Victims

In the late 1970s, Los Angeles was gripped with fear as a serial killer, later dubbed the Hillside Strangler, abducted, tortured, and murdered young women in the city's hillsides. The victims were often sex workers or runaways, and their bodies were left naked and brutally killed in public areas.

The first victim of the Hillside Strangler was identified as Kimberly Diane Martin, whose body was found in Silver Lake on October 18th, 1977. Her murder sent shockwaves through the punk community, as she was a good friend of Rick Wilder from the Berlin Brats and had even attended the Masque nightclub.

As the months went by, the Hillside Strangler's brutal crimes continued to terrorize the residents of South California. The victims were often young women between the ages of 12 and 25, who were either sex workers or runaways. Their bodies were found in various locations around Los Angeles, including hillsides, alleys, and abandoned buildings.

The Hillside Strangler's methods were particularly gruesome, as he would often strangle his victims before dumping their naked bodies in public areas. However, as the case went on, it became apparent that the killer had become bored with strangulation and began using other methods to dispatch his victims, including stabbing, shooting, and asphyxiation.

Despite an extensive investigation, the Hillside Strangler was never caught or identified, leaving many questions unanswered about his true identity and motives. However, in recent years, some experts have suggested that the killer may have been a serial killer who targeted young men, rather than women, citing similarities between the Hillside Strangler's modus operandi and other unsolved cases in Los Angeles.

The legacy of the Hillside Strangler victims continues to haunt the city of Los Angeles, serving as a grim reminder of the dark and troubled times that the city experienced during the late 1970s.

Hillside strangler victims