Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Serial Killer

Ed Kemper

Ed Kemper is an American serial killer born Edmund Emil Kemper III on December 18, 1948.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Ed Kemper is an American serial killer known as the 'Co-ed Killer'. He was convicted of eight murders in California in the 1970s and remains incarcerated.

Early life

Edmund Emil Kemper III was born in Burbank, California, in 1948. His childhood was troubled, marked by conflict with his mother and a difficult family environment. At age 15, he murdered his paternal grandparents and was later released on parole. This early violence foreshadowed his later crimes and became a focus of psychological analysis.

The murders

Between 1972 and 1973, Kemper killed six young women in Santa Cruz County and surrounding areas, earning the nickname 'Co-ed Killer'. In April 1973, he murdered his mother and her friend, then surrendered to police. He was convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder in 1973 and sentenced to eight concurrent life terms.

Incarceration and interviews

Kemper has been denied parole multiple times and remains at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. His height (6 ft 9 in) and willingness to give interviews have made him a frequent subject of true-crime documentaries and psychological studies. His statements have contributed to his notoriety beyond the crimes themselves.

In short

  • Killed his grandparents at 15, then released on parole
  • Murdered six young women and his mother in 1972–73
  • Sentenced to eight concurrent life sentences in 1973
  • Known for prison interviews and true-crime media appearances
Canadian angle

Kemper is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through true-crime media, psychology coverage, and documentary programming that discuss his case internationally.

Quick questions

Who is Ed Kemper?
Ed Kemper is the name commonly used for Edmund Emil Kemper III, an American serial killer convicted of multiple murders in California in the 1970s.
What did Ed Kemper do?
He murdered his paternal grandparents as a teenager and later killed six young women, plus his mother and her friend, before being convicted of eight murders.
Where is Ed Kemper now?
He is incarcerated at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Kemper
    Supports: Birth date, height, crimes, conviction, nickname, and imprisonment details.
  2. Biography — https://www.biography.com/crime/edmund-kemper
    Supports: Birth date, crimes, conviction, and current incarceration.
  3. A&E — https://www.aetv.com/articles/ed-kemper
    Supports: Criminal history, victims, height, and conviction summary.
  4. People — https://www.people.com/where-is-ed-kemper-now-co-ed-killer-11797821
    Supports: Current incarceration in Vacaville and long-term imprisonment.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0447410/
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, and height.