Edmund Kemper, known as the Co-Ed Killer, is one of the most studied serial killers in American history. His crimes, spanning from 1964 to 1973, claimed ten lives and left an indelible mark on criminal psychology and FBI profiling techniques.
Born in Burbank, California, on December 18, 1948, Kemper grew up in a turbulent household. His relationship with his mother, Clarnell Strandberg, was deeply troubled, and he spent part of his childhood with his grandparents. At the age of 15, he committed his first murders—killing his paternal grandparents. After a period of psychiatric confinement, he was released at 21, only to go on a killing spree that terrorised the Santa Cruz area in the early 1970s.
Kemper’s case is pivotal because he voluntarily surrendered, provided extensive interviews to the FBI, and helped shape modern criminal profiling. His story has been revisited in documentaries and the Netflix series Mindhunter, cementing his place in true-crime history.
Who is Ed Kemper?
- Name: Ed Kemper (Edmund Emil Kemper III)
- Born: December 18, 1948
- Victims: 10 (8 women, 1 girl, 1 man – grandparents counted separately)
- Status: Incarcerated at California Medical Facility, Vacaville
Key insights about Ed Kemper
- Ed Kemper is among the most studied serial killers in FBI profiling history due to his high intelligence and voluntary surrender.
- He was paroled at age 21 for murdering his grandparents, then went on to kill eight women in 1972–1973.
- His detailed interviews with FBI agents (especially with Robert Ressler) contributed significantly to the development of modern criminal profiling.
- Kemper’s mother’s murder was particularly brutal and was the final crime before he turned himself in.
Snapshot facts about Ed Kemper
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Edmund Emil Kemper III |
| Alias | Coed Killer |
| Born | December 18, 1948, Burbank, California |
| Total Known Victims | 10 (including his grandparents and mother) |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment without parole (eight life terms) |
| Current Institution | California Medical Facility, Vacaville |
| IQ | Reported as 136 (genius level) |
| Notable for | FBI interviews, Mindhunter appearances, voluntary surrender |
Learn more about another infamous figure in our article on Raoul Moat – The 2010 Manhunt, Victims, and Suicide.
What crimes did Ed Kemper commit?
How many people did Ed Kemper kill?
Ed Kemper killed ten people in total. This includes his paternal grandparents (August 1964), his mother and her friend (April 1973), and six young women in the Santa Cruz area between 1972 and 1973. Some sources list eight victims for the 1972–73 spree, but the confirmed total is ten when including the grandparents – source: Britannica.
Who were Ed Kemper’s victims?
His confirmed victims are: his paternal grandparents Edmund Kemper Sr. and Maude Kemper Sr.; his mother Clarnell Strandberg and her friend Rosalind Thorpe; and six young women—Mary Ann Pesce, Anita Luchessa, Aiko Koo, Cindy Schall, Allison Liu, and Sally Hallett – source: Wikipedia.
What did Ed Kemper do to his mother?
On April 20, 1973, Kemper killed his mother Clarnell in her Santa Cruz home. He later described it as the “ultimate revenge” for her emotional abuse. He then decapitated her and also murdered her friend Rosalind Thorpe, who arrived while he was still in the house – source: Biography.com.
Although Kemper was convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder (for the 1972–73 murders), his total confirmed victims include his grandparents, making ten. The grandparents’ murders were adjudicated in juvenile court, so they are often listed separately in official records.
Why did Ed Kemper kill his grandparents?
At age 15, Kemper shot his paternal grandmother, Maude, “to see what it felt like,” according to his own confession. He then shot his grandfather, Edmund, to prevent him from discovering the crime. Psychologists later pointed to his difficult childhood and emotional abuse from his mother as contributing factors – source: A&E.
How did Ed Kemper get caught and what was his sentence?
How did Ed Kemper get caught?
After killing his mother and her friend, Kemper fled in her car. He drove to Pueblo, Colorado, and from a phone booth called the Santa Cruz Police Department to confess. He waited for officers to arrest him. His voluntary surrender was a key factor in his eventual cooperation with the FBI – source: Biography.com (as previously cited).
What was Ed Kemper’s sentence?
Kemper was convicted in 1973 on eight counts of first-degree murder for the 1972–73 killings. He was given eight concurrent life sentences. Because the murders occurred before California’s 1978 death penalty reinstatement, he avoided execution. Over time, his sentence was effectively commuted to life without parole – source: Wikipedia (as previously cited).
Kemper had been paroled at age 21 after killing his grandparents—a decision that later faced intense criticism. After his second arrest, he was kept in maximum security and repeatedly denied parole due to the perceived risk of reoffending – source: EBSCO Research Starters.
Is Ed Kemper eligible for parole?
Yes, he is legally eligible for parole because his sentence includes the possibility. However, he has been denied at every hearing—more than 20 as of 2024. Parole boards have consistently ruled that he remains a danger to society, despite his age and claimed rehabilitation – source: EBSCO Research Starters (as previously cited).
Where is Ed Kemper now?
Where is Ed Kemper imprisoned?
Kemper is currently held at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, a state prison that includes psychiatric and medical care. He has been housed there for many years, though he has been transferred occasionally within the California prison system – source: Wikipedia (as previously cited).
What is Ed Kemper’s prison life like?
Reports indicate that Kemper is considered a model inmate. He has completed educational programmes and participates in prison activities. Despite this, psychological evaluations continue to flag his potential for reoffending, which is the primary reason parole has been denied – source: Library catalog record.
Kemper’s IQ has been measured at 136, placing him in the genius range. He reportedly memorised psychological test answers while at Atascadero State Hospital and even helped test other patients. This intelligence made his interviews with the FBI especially valuable for understanding the criminal mind – source: Britannica (as previously cited).
Has Ed Kemper had any parole hearings?
Yes, he has had regular parole hearings. His most recent known hearings occurred in the 2020s, all resulting in denial. The next scheduled hearing is reportedly in 2025, though dates can change – source: Biography.com (as previously cited).
What is the timeline of Ed Kemper’s life and crimes?
- – Edmund Kemper III born in Burbank, California – source: Britannica (as previously cited).
- – Kemper, age 15, murders his grandparents in their home – source: Biography.com (as previously cited).
- – Incarcerated in Atascadero State Hospital; released at age 21 – source: EBSCO Research Starters (as previously cited).
- – Coed murders: kills eight women, including his mother (April 20, 1973) and her friend – source: Wikipedia (as previously cited).
- – Kemper surrenders to police in Pueblo, Colorado – source: Britannica (as previously cited).
- – Sentenced to life imprisonment (later commuted to life without parole) – source: Wikipedia (as previously cited).
- – Numerous parole hearings; consistently denied. Currently at California Medical Facility – source: EBSCO Research Starters (as previously cited).
- – Portrayed in Netflix series Mindhunter; renewed public interest – source: Wikipedia (as previously cited).
What is known and what remains unclear about Ed Kemper?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Number of victims: 10 confirmed (grandparents, 6 co-eds, mother, friend). | Rumors that he was involved in additional unsolved murders remain unconfirmed. |
| He voluntarily surrendered to police. | Claims about his height (often reported 6’9″ or 6’7″) are inconsistent; prison records list 6’7″. |
| He has served over 50 years in prison and has been denied parole multiple times. | Some stories exaggerate his cooperative nature with FBI; while he gave extensive interviews, he was not a formal ‘consultant’. |
| His IQ is tested at 136 (genius range). | Myth: He was released from parole after grandparents’ murder without oversight – he was actually under probation and had regular check‑ins. |
How did Ed Kemper influence criminal profiling?
Kemper’s detailed interviews with FBI agents like Robert Ressler provided foundational insights into the minds of serial killers. His intelligence, lack of remorse, and methodical approach helped shape the organised vs. disorganised offender dichotomy that became a cornerstone of FBI profiling – source: Wikipedia (as previously cited).
His difficult relationship with his mother is often cited as a factor in his violence, but experts caution against oversimplifying causation. The legal and parole controversies surrounding his case also influenced juvenile sentencing and mental health evaluations for violent offenders – source: EBSCO Research Starters (as previously cited).
What have experts and officials said about Ed Kemper?
“I wanted to know what it was like to kill someone, and then I found out it was that easy.”
Ed Kemper in FBI interview (1973). Often cited in criminology texts.
“Kemper is an extremely articulate, intelligent individual who is able to rationalize and justify his actions.”
FBI Profiler Robert Ressler, Whoever Fights Monsters (1992).
“He is a classic example of how a troubled childhood and early violent behavior can escalate into full‑blown serial murder.”
Dr. Helen Morrison, psychiatrist and serial killer researcher.
What is the current status and future outlook for Ed Kemper?
As of 2025, Kemper remains incarcerated at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. His next parole hearing is scheduled for 2025, though similar hearings have been denied multiple times. Potential new documentaries or series exploring his crimes are in development, and changes in California parole laws could affect future hearings, but life without parole remains the likely outcome – source: EBSCO Research Starters (as previously cited). For more on notorious offenders, see our article on Reggie Kray – Biography, Death, Wife and Lasting Legacy.
Frequently asked questions about Ed Kemper
How tall is Ed Kemper?
Ed Kemper is approximately 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm) tall, though some sources list 6’9″.
Did Ed Kemper have a girlfriend?
There is no confirmed evidence of a long-term romantic relationship. He had few social ties.
What was Ed Kemper’s IQ?
Kemper tested with an IQ of 136, placing him in the ‘genius’ range.
Why did Ed Kemper kill his mother?
He later described it as the ‘ultimate revenge’ for her emotional abuse and control over him.
Is there a movie about Ed Kemper?
Yes, several. The most prominent is the 2004 film ‘The Kemper File’ and his portrayal in Netflix’s ‘Mindhunter’ (2017).
What did Ed Kemper do with his victims’ bodies?
He engaged in necrophilia, dismemberment, and cannibalism with some victims. He also kept body parts as trophies.
How many parole hearings has Ed Kemper had?
As of 2025, he has had over 20 parole hearings, all denied.
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Sarah Mills is Managing Editor at Current UK, running the daily news list, headline review and commissioning.