Denied Parole Again: 7 Chilling Facts About Ed Kemper, The Co-Ed Killer, And His Current Status (2025 Update)

As of December 12, 2025, the notorious serial killer Edmund Emil Kemper III, widely known as the "Co-Ed Killer," remains incarcerated at the California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville, California. The most recent and significant update on his status is the denial of his latest bid for parole, a decision that ensures the 75-year-old—who has been eligible for release since 1979—will stay behind bars for the foreseeable future. This denial, which reportedly took place following a Tuesday hearing, reinforces the consensus that Kemper, despite his advanced age and declining health (including a stroke suffered in 2015), is still considered a danger to society and a unique, terrifying figure in the annals of criminal psychology. The enduring public and academic fascination with Ed Kemper stems not just from the heinous nature of his crimes in the Santa Cruz area during the early 1970s, but from his unnervingly high intelligence (with an alleged IQ of 145) and his chillingly articulate self-analysis. His case has become a foundational study in the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, immortalized for a new generation through his portrayal in the Netflix series *Mindhunter*. Understanding the full scope of Kemper's profile requires a deep dive into his troubled past, the specifics of his murder spree, and the complex psychological factors that drove him to commit ten murders, including those of his own family members.

Edmund Emil Kemper III: A Complete Biographical Profile

Edmund Kemper’s life story is a disturbing roadmap of escalating violence, marked by profound psychological trauma from a young age. His biography is a critical starting point for understanding the "Co-Ed Killer."

• Full Name: Edmund Emil Kemper III
• Nickname: The Co-Ed Killer, Big Ed
• Date of Birth: December 18, 1948
• Place of Birth: Burbank, California
• Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
• Alleged IQ: 145 (Genius Level)
• Key Family Members:
  • Father: Edmund Emil Kemper Jr. (Civil Engineer)
  • Mother: Clarnell Strandberg (later Clarnell Kemper)
  • Grandparents (Victims): Edmund Emil Kemper Sr. and Clarnell Strandberg (Grandmother)
• First Murders: August 27, 1964 (Age 15) – Shot and killed his paternal grandparents, Edmund Sr. and Clarnell Strandberg, at their farm in North Fork, California.
• Co-Ed Murders (1972-1973): Six young female hitchhikers in the Santa Cruz area.
• Final Murders: April 20, 1973 – Murdered his mother, Clarnell Kemper, and her friend, Sally Miller.
• Arrest and Conviction: Turned himself in to police in Pueblo, Colorado, on April 24, 1973. Convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder.
• Sentence: Eight concurrent life sentences.
• Current Incarceration: California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville.

The Latest Update: Parole Denial and Prison Life in 2025

The question "Where is Ed Kemper now?" is frequently asked, and the answer remains consistent: he is in state prison, but the details of his life there and his recent parole hearings provide the most current context.

The Recent Parole Hearing and Seven-Year Denial

In a recent hearing, likely held in late 2024 or early 2025, the California Parole Board once again denied Edmund Kemper's request for release. This decision means he will not be eligible to apply for parole again for another seven years, pushing his next potential hearing into the 2030s. Kemper, who is now 75 years old, has been eligible for parole since 1979, but has consistently been deemed unsuitable due to the extreme nature of his crimes and a lack of demonstrated remorse or insight that satisfies the board.

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The denial is a relief for the Santa Cruz community, which was terrorized by the "Co-Ed Killer" decades ago. The board’s decision is fundamentally based on the assessment that he still poses an unreasonable risk of danger to society, a common finding for serial killers, especially those with a history of sexual sadism and necrophilia.

A Deteriorating Health and A Rules Violation Report (RVR)

Kemper's life in the California Medical Facility is not without incident. He has suffered from various health issues, including a stroke in 2015, which has reportedly impacted his mobility and overall health. Furthermore, a recent report from December 2024 indicated that Kemper received a Rules Violation Report (RVR), suggesting he has been "misbehaving" in prison. While the specifics of the RVR are not widely publicized, it serves as a fresh reminder that even decades into his sentence, the psychological complexities and behavioral issues of Edmund Kemper continue to manifest.

7 Chilling Facts That Define The Co-Ed Killer's Legacy

Kemper’s case is a cornerstone of criminal psychology, studied for his unique pathology and disturbing articulation of his own madness. These facts highlight why his profile remains so relevant in criminology and pop culture today.

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1. The Unnerving "Turn-In"

Unlike many serial killers who are caught after a long investigation, Kemper ended his spree by turning himself in. After murdering his mother, Clarnell Kemper, and her friend, he drove across the country and called the police from a phone booth in Pueblo, Colorado, confessing to all his crimes. This voluntary surrender is a rare and bizarre detail in true crime history, demonstrating a strange, contradictory need for both control and punishment.

2. The "Co-Ed Killer" and the Hitchhiker Crisis

Kemper earned the moniker "Co-Ed Killer" because most of his victims were young female college students from the Santa Cruz area who were hitchhiking. He exploited the trusting nature of the time, picking up his victims before subjecting them to horrific violence and dismemberment. The murders created a climate of fear that fundamentally changed the social fabric of the coastal town, putting an end to casual hitchhiking.

3. The IQ of a Genius

Kemper is often cited as one of the most intelligent serial killers, with an IQ score reported to be 145. This high intelligence allowed him to manipulate authorities, evade capture for a time, and engage in chillingly insightful interviews about his own pathological development. His ability to articulate the inner workings of his disturbed mind is a key reason he became a subject of intense study.

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4. The Foundation of FBI Profiling

During his early incarceration, Kemper provided critical, in-depth interviews to the nascent FBI Behavioral Science Unit, specifically agents John E. Douglas and Robert Ressler. His detailed, articulate accounts of his fantasies, methods, and motivations helped the FBI develop the fundamental principles of criminal profiling, which are still used today. He was one of the first subjects to truly open the door to the mind of a serial killer for law enforcement.

5. The Troubled Mother-Son Dynamic

A central theme in Kemper’s pathology is his toxic relationship with his mother, Clarnell. Kemper spoke extensively about her psychological abuse, which he claimed was a driving force behind his violent fantasies. His final act of murder—killing his mother and committing acts of necrophilia and mutilation—was the climax of a lifetime of resentment and pathological obsession. This is a crucial entity in his criminal narrative.

6. The Voice of Audiobooks

For a period while incarcerated, Kemper was allowed to record audiobooks for the blind. His deep, resonant voice and clear articulation were considered ideal for the job. This bizarre detail—a mass murderer using his voice to help the visually impaired—is a strange footnote in his prison life, showcasing the contradictory nature of his personality.

7. The Enduring Pop Culture Legacy (*Mindhunter*)

Kemper's profile was introduced to a massive modern audience through the Netflix series *Mindhunter*, where he was portrayed by actor Cameron Britton. The show accurately depicted his pivotal role in assisting FBI agents Holden Ford (based on John E. Douglas) and Bill Tench (based on Robert Ressler). This portrayal has cemented Kemper's place in the modern true crime genre, keeping his name and his chilling psychological profile at the forefront of public discussion about criminal psychology and serial killers.

Topical Authority: Kemper’s Place in Criminology

Ed Kemper’s case is a seminal text in the study of psychopathy and serial murder. Criminologists and forensic psychiatrists continue to study him for several reasons.

Firstly, his case is a classic example of the development of a sexual sadist. His early violence toward animals, coupled with his profound feelings of inadequacy and rage, fit a pattern that was later formalized in profiling techniques. The sheer scale and meticulous nature of his crimes—including the dismemberment and disposal of bodies—demonstrate a high degree of planning and psychopathic control.

Secondly, his interviews highlight the role of fantasy in the serial killer’s mind. Kemper detailed how his violent fantasies, often centered around his mother, began at a young age and escalated until they were acted out. This concept of the escalating fantasy life is a critical component of modern criminal psychology.

Finally, his contradictory behavior—the high IQ, the articulate self-analysis, the voluntary surrender, and the prison RVR—makes him a complex subject. He embodies the chilling duality of a highly intelligent individual who is nonetheless driven by profound, uncontrollable pathological urges. His legacy is a permanent fixture in the history of true crime, a grim reminder of the depths of human depravity.