What made the case especially disturbing was Mullin's motive. He became convinced that killing people could prevent a catastrophic earthquake from striking California. His increasingly bizarre beliefs ultimately turned into a four-month killing spree that terrorized Santa Cruz and the surrounding area.
Today, Herbert Mullin is remembered as the “Earthquake Killer,” one of the most unusual serial killers of the 1970s, and one of two notorious murderers operating around Santa Cruz at roughly the same time as Edmund Kemper.
Who Was Herbert Mullin?
Herbert William Mullin was born on April 18, 1947, in Salinas, California. He eventually lived in the Santa Cruz area, where his behavior became increasingly troubled during his early adulthood.
Mullin's mental health deteriorated significantly as he grew older. He developed bizarre beliefs and became increasingly convinced that supernatural forces, voices, and otherworldly messages were directing his behavior.
His fixation on earthquakes became particularly important.
Mullin was born on April 18—the anniversary of the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake. He became obsessed with the significance of the date and eventually developed the belief that California was destined to experience another catastrophic earthquake.
According to accounts of the case, Mullin believed that deaths could somehow prevent such a disaster. By 1972, that belief had transformed into a deadly justification for murder.
Why Did Herbert Mullin Kill?
The question “Why did Herbert Mullin kill?” is central to understanding the case.
Mullin believed that human sacrifices could prevent earthquakes.
His thinking was heavily influenced by delusions and what he described as telepathic communications. He eventually convinced himself that he had to kill people to protect California from a massive natural disaster.
The belief became more urgent in late 1972.
Mullin reportedly believed that the deaths caused by the Vietnam War had somehow provided enough “sacrifices” to prevent an earthquake. As U.S. involvement in the war declined, he became convinced that additional deaths were necessary.
That reasoning provided a terrifying framework for his murders.
Rather than killing solely for money, revenge, or sexual gratification, Mullin believed that his actions served a larger purpose. He apparently considered himself a person carrying out a necessary mission.
Herbert Mullin's First Victim
Mullin's killing spree began on October 13, 1972, when he murdered 55-year-old Lawrence “Whitey” White.
White was a transient whom Mullin encountered after stopping his vehicle and pretending to have car trouble.
When White approached to offer assistance, Mullin attacked him with a baseball bat.
White became the first known victim in what would become a 13-person killing spree.
The murder was only the beginning.
Within weeks, Mullin would kill again.
Herbert Mullin's Victims
One of the strongest long-tail SEO opportunities surrounding this case is “Herbert Mullin victims.”
Mullin was responsible for 13 murders committed over approximately four months.
His known victims were:
Lawrence “Whitey” White, 55
Mary Margaret Guilfoyle, 24
Father Henri Tomei, 64
James Ralph Gianera, 25
Joan Gianera, 21
Kathy Francis, 29
Daemon Francis, 4
David Hughes, 9
David Oliker, 18
Robert Spector, 18
Brian Scott Card, 19
Mark Dreibelbis, 15
Fred Abbie Perez, 72
The victims ranged dramatically in age and background, reinforcing one of the most disturbing characteristics of the case: there was no simple victim profile.
Mullin killed people he encountered in different circumstances, including strangers and people he apparently viewed as potential “sacrifices.”
The Murder of Mary Guilfoyle
On October 24, 1972, Mullin killed 24-year-old Mary Margaret Guilfoyle.
Guilfoyle was a young woman who was hitchhiking in the Santa Cruz area when Mullin encountered her.
Her murder was particularly disturbing because of what Mullin reportedly did with her remains afterward.
The case would later become even more confusing because investigators initially struggled to determine which murders were connected to Mullin and which were connected to another killer operating in the same area.
That other killer was Edmund Kemper.
Herbert Mullin and Father Henri Tomei
On November 2, 1972, Mullin entered a Catholic church and murdered Father Henri Tomei.
Tomei was 64 years old.
The killing occurred inside a confessional, making it one of the most unusual murders in Mullin's entire series.
Mullin reportedly attacked the priest with a knife.
The murder demonstrated just how unpredictable his victim selection had become. There was no apparent conventional connection between the elderly priest and Mullin.
In Mullin's distorted worldview, however, the victim apparently represented another necessary sacrifice.
The Gianera Family Murders
Mullin's next major outbreak of violence occurred on January 25, 1973.
He murdered James Gianera and Joan Gianera, a young couple, as well as Kathy Francis, Daemon Francis, and David Hughes.
Daemon was only four years old, while David was nine.
The killings dramatically escalated the level of violence associated with Mullin.
Rather than targeting a single individual, he had now killed an entire group of people.
These murders contributed to the growing fear surrounding Santa Cruz and the surrounding communities.
The Santa Cruz Serial Killer Panic
Mullin was not the only killer operating in the area.
At roughly the same time, Edmund Kemper was murdering young women in and around Santa Cruz.
Kemper became known as the “Co-Ed Killer,” while Mullin's crimes followed a completely different pattern.
The simultaneous killing sprees created enormous confusion for investigators and contributed to Santa Cruz's infamous reputation during the early 1970s.
The area was eventually described in the press as the “Murder Capital of the World.”
Kemper's victims were predominantly young women, while Mullin's victims varied considerably in age and circumstances.
Their crimes were nevertheless occurring in the same relatively small geographic area during the same period.
Herbert Mullin and Edmund Kemper
The connection between Herbert Mullin and Edmund Kemper is one of the most fascinating aspects of the case.
Both men were serial killers operating around Santa Cruz during the early 1970s.
Kemper murdered six young women during his 1972–73 killing spree, in addition to having previously killed his grandparents and later killing his mother and her friend.
Mullin, meanwhile, murdered 13 people between October 1972 and February 1973.
Their paths eventually crossed inside the California prison system. The two reportedly spent time in adjoining cells and had conversations about their crimes and backgrounds.
Their cases are frequently discussed together because they were committing murders in the same region at nearly the same time.
How Was Herbert Mullin Caught?
Mullin's killing spree finally ended on February 13, 1973.
On that day, he murdered 72-year-old Fred Perez.
Police soon arrested Mullin, bringing his months-long series of murders to an end.
Unlike some serial killers who evade investigators for years, Mullin's active killing period was relatively short.
His 13 known murders occurred between October 1972 and February 1973.
Herbert Mullin's Trial
Mullin's trial focused heavily on his mental state and whether he was legally responsible for his actions.
His bizarre beliefs and reported mental illness became central issues.
He had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and his defense attempted to establish that his mental condition made him legally insane.
Ultimately, Mullin was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
According to records summarized by A&E and other sources, he received convictions for first- and second-degree murder and spent the remainder of his life in prison.
Did Herbert Mullin Ever Get Paroled?
No.
Mullin remained incarcerated for decades and was repeatedly denied parole.
His case continued to receive attention during later parole proceedings because of the severity of his crimes and questions surrounding whether he accepted responsibility for them.
He never returned to society.
What Happened to Herbert Mullin?
Herbert Mullin spent nearly five decades behind bars.
He died on August 18, 2022, at the age of 75 while incarcerated at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton, California.
His death was attributed to natural causes.
By the time of his death, Mullin had spent almost 50 years in prison.
His name had become permanently associated with one of the strangest and most disturbing murder sprees in California history.
Why Is Herbert Mullin Called the Earthquake Killer?
The nickname “Earthquake Killer” comes from Mullin's belief that his murders could prevent a devastating earthquake.
This belief is what separates Mullin's case from many other serial-killer stories.
He wasn't simply attempting to conceal his crimes or eliminate witnesses. He believed that the murders were serving a larger purpose.
His delusions transformed ordinary people into supposed “sacrifices” in his mind.
Of course, there was no scientific connection between the murders and earthquakes.
The belief was a manifestation of Mullin's severely disturbed thinking, not a legitimate explanation for earthquakes or natural disasters.
How Many People Did Herbert Mullin Kill?
Herbert Mullin killed 13 people.
His known victims ranged in age from 4 to 72 years old and included men, women, children, a priest, and people he encountered apparently at random.
His killing spree lasted approximately four months, from October 1972 through February 1973.
The short duration of the spree makes the number of victims particularly striking.
Herbert Mullin's Legacy
Herbert Mullin remains one of the lesser-known American serial killers of the 1970s, despite the extraordinary nature of his crimes.
His case combines several elements that have continued to attract interest from true-crime researchers:
13 victims
A four-month killing spree
A bizarre earthquake-related motive
Delusions and mental illness
A priest murdered inside a confessional
Children among the victims
A connection to Santa Cruz
Simultaneous crimes by Edmund Kemper
A decades-long imprisonment
Repeated parole attempts
The story is also an unsettling reminder that serial murder does not always follow a predictable pattern.
Mullin's victims weren't connected by one obvious characteristic. His reasoning came from a distorted belief system in which murder was transformed into what he apparently considered a form of salvation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Herbert Mullin
Who was Herbert Mullin?
Herbert Mullin was an American serial killer who murdered 13 people in California between 1972 and 1973. He became known for his belief that killing people could prevent a catastrophic earthquake.
How many victims did Herbert Mullin have?
Herbert Mullin had 13 known victims.
Why did Herbert Mullin kill people?
Mullin believed that human sacrifices could prevent a devastating earthquake. His murders were driven by severe delusions and paranoid thinking.
Was Herbert Mullin mentally ill?
Yes. Mullin was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and his mental state was a major issue during his criminal proceedings.
Was Herbert Mullin connected to Edmund Kemper?
Yes. Mullin and Edmund Kemper were both active around Santa Cruz during the early 1970s. They later spent time in the same California prison system and reportedly interacted while incarcerated.
What was Herbert Mullin's nickname?
Mullin is commonly known as the “Earthquake Killer” because of his belief that his murders could prevent earthquakes.
When did Herbert Mullin die?
Herbert Mullin died on August 18, 2022, at age 75, while incarcerated in California.
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