Serial Killer’s Bold Innocence Plea Falls Flat

Interior view of an empty courtroom with wooden benches and a judges bench

Serial killer Kenneth Bianchi, convicted of seven brutal murders after pleading guilty, faces another decade in prison after parole denial, rejecting his latest claims of total innocence.[3][1]

Story Highlights

California Board of Parole Hearings denied Bianchi parole in 2025 after 46 years served, citing his unchanging denial of guilt.[1][3]
Bianchi pleaded guilty to five California murders, one sodomy, and conspiracy in 1979, plus two Washington murders, securing consecutive life sentences.[3][1]
His testimony helped convict cousin Angelo Buono of nine murders, despite Bianchi’s courtroom contradictions and faked insanity defense.[4][3]
Courts repeatedly reject Bianchi’s hypnosis coercion claims, affirming evidence like victim jewelry found at his home.[3]

Bianchi’s Crimes and Guilty Pleas

Kenneth Bianchi lured Western Washington University students Karen Mandic, 22, and Diane Wilder, 27, to a house he guarded on January 11, 1979, then strangled them.[3][5] Police arrested him the next day after linking a California driver’s license to Los Angeles victim addresses.[3] Bianchi confessed to those killings and five Los Angeles murders from 1977-1978, committed with cousin Angelo Buono.[1] All California victims suffered sexual assaults.[3]

Bianchi pleaded guilty to two Washington first-degree murders on October 19, 1979, under a deal avoiding the death penalty.[3] He received two consecutive life terms.[3] Transferred to California, he admitted five murders, one sodomy count, and felony conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, or rape.[3][1] The pleas secured his testimony against Buono.[3]

Pathological Deception Exposed

Bianchi first claimed not guilty by reason of insanity, alleging multiple personalities like “Steve Walker” committed the crimes.[4][3] Psychiatrist Martin Orne proved fabrication when Bianchi shook hands with an imaginary lawyer, a rare genuine symptom.[4] Bianchi admitted faking it, inspired by the film Sybil.[3] Courts found him competent after six experts agreed.[3]

During Buono’s trial, Bianchi contradicted himself, claiming memory lapses and mismatched details like a pipe not fitting autopsy findings. Bellingham investigators testified he lied about sexually assaulting Washington victims.[3] Prosecutors nearly dismissed Buono’s case due to Bianchi’s unreliability.[5] Buono still received life for nine murders and died in prison in 2002.

Parole Denial Upholds Justice

The Washington court denied Bianchi’s recent petition alleging innocence of all seven murders and no rapes, calling his claims meritless after 40 years.[3] He refuses responsibility despite guilty pleas in two states.[3] The California Board denied parole on July 10, 2025, after hearings with victim and prosecutor opposition.[1] Bianchi qualifies again in 2035.[1]

Hear the amazing story how Richie Onori, from the glam-rock group Sweet, found himself on the edge of life and death while at gunpoint by both Hillside Stranglers, Angelo Buono Jr. and Kenneth Bianchi. Here's the Full Story version; https://t.co/UjDKA2FbgY pic.twitter.com/LYUahMKAO9

— EARTHOVISION (@EARTHOVISION) May 9, 2026

Evidence like jewelry from victims Yolanda Washington and Kimberly Martin at Bianchi’s home, plus Buono’s upholstery shop link to Cindy Hudspeth, support convictions. Witness reports of two men posing as police match their tactics. Courts affirm the pleas and evidence outweigh Bianchi’s denials, protecting society from this proven killer.[3][1]