7 Chilling Facts And The Latest Status Of Edmund Kemper, The 'Co-Ed Killer'

The morbid fascination with serial killer Edmund Emil Kemper III, known infamously as the “Co-Ed Killer,” has persisted for decades, fueled by his towering 6-foot-9 frame, highly gifted IQ, and the brutal nature of his crimes. As of December 12, 2025, the most significant and recent update on Kemper’s status confirms that the 77-year-old remains incarcerated, having recently been denied his bid for freedom.

The man who terrorized the Santa Cruz, California, area in the early 1970s is one of the most studied subjects in the history of forensic psychology, a figure whose intellectual prowess and psychopathic personality create a unique and terrifying profile. This article dives into the latest developments, his current status, and the key psychological facts that define one of America's most chilling serial killers.

Edmund Kemper: Biographical Profile and Key Details

Edmund Kemper’s life before his arrest was a spiral of familial abuse, institutionalization, and escalating violence, culminating in the murder of ten people, including members of his own family. His details are a critical starting point for understanding the "Co-Ed Killer."

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• Full Name: Edmund Emil Kemper III
• Aliases: The Co-Ed Killer, Big Ed
• Date of Birth: December 18, 1948
• Place of Birth: Burbank, California, U.S.
• Height: 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m)
• Reported IQ: 145 (Classified as "Highly Gifted")
• Parents: Edmund Emil Kemper II (Father) and Clarnell Strandberg (Mother)
• Victims: 10 confirmed victims, including his paternal grandparents, six female hitchhikers/students, and his mother.
• Current Status: Incarcerated, serving 8 concurrent life sentences.
• Current Location: California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville, California.

The Latest Status: Parole Denied and Next Eligibility

The most current information regarding Edmund Kemper centers on his continued incarceration and the outcome of his recent parole suitability hearing. Despite being eligible for parole since 1979, the board has consistently denied his release, citing the heinous nature of his crimes and his psychopathic tendencies.

In a recent hearing conducted in 2024, serial killer Edmund Kemper was once again denied parole. The decision by the California parole board determined that he remains a danger to society, effectively keeping the "Co-Ed Killer" behind bars for the foreseeable future.

This denial was significant, as it mandated a seven-year wait before his next hearing. This means that Kemper, who is now 77 years old and has reportedly suffered a stroke in 2015, will not be eligible for another parole review until approximately 2031.

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Kemper is currently housed at the California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville, a state prison that provides medical and psychiatric care. His continued confinement in a medical setting is partly due to his age and health issues, but primarily due to the nature of his concurrent life sentences for the murders he committed in the Santa Cruz area.

The Chilling Psychological Profile of a 'Highly Gifted' Sociopath

What sets Edmund Kemper apart from many other serial killers is his extraordinary intelligence, which he often used to manipulate his victims and authorities. His psychological profile is one of the most analyzed in the history of criminology, notably by FBI profilers who later became the basis for the popular series *Mindhunter*.

IQ of 145 and Manipulative Genius

Kemper’s reported IQ of 145 places him in the "highly gifted" category, a fact that both baffled and terrified investigators. His intelligence allowed him to be highly articulate, self-aware of his psychopathy, and capable of holding lengthy, insightful conversations about his own crimes and motivations. This intellectual capacity is what made his confessions and interviews so chillingly compelling. He was able to articulate his sociopathic thought process with a calm, clinical detachment that unnerved even experienced profilers.

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The Roots of Violence: Clarnell Kemper and Familial Trauma

A central entity in Kemper's psychological makeup is his mother, Clarnell Strandberg. Kemper described a deeply abusive and emotionally damaging relationship with his mother, which forensic psychologists believe was the primary catalyst for his escalating violence. The culmination of his murderous spree was the killing of Clarnell, followed by the murder of her friend, a crime he confessed to before turning himself in. This final act completed a cycle of violence that began years earlier with the murder of his own grandparents at the age of 15.

The Co-Ed Killer: Targeting in Santa Cruz

Kemper earned the moniker "The Co-Ed Killer" because the majority of his victims were female college students, or "co-eds," whom he picked up while hitchhiking in the Santa Cruz area between 1972 and 1973. His enormous size—nearly seven feet tall—combined with his deceptive charm allowed him to lure his victims into his vehicle before committing the brutal acts. The details of the crimes, which included acts of necrophilia and dismemberment, cemented his place as one of the most monstrous figures of the 1970s crime wave.

Entity Deep Dive: The Co-Ed Killer’s Victims

The full list of Kemper’s victims is a somber reminder of the devastation he left behind, spanning nearly a decade of hidden violence.

• Maude M. Hughey Kemper (Grandmother): Killed August 27, 1964.
• Edmund Emil Kemper Sr. (Grandfather): Killed August 27, 1964.
• Mary Ann Pesce (18): Killed May 1972 (Co-Ed Victim).
• Anita Luchessa (18): Killed May 1972 (Co-Ed Victim).
• Aiko Koo (15): Killed January 1973 (Co-Ed Victim).
• Laura Loraine Parrish (19): Killed February 1973 (Co-Ed Victim).
• Cindy Lee Schall (18): Killed February 1973 (Co-Ed Victim).
• Rosalind Thorpe (23): Killed April 1973 (Co-Ed Victim).
• Clarnell Strandberg (Mother): Killed April 20, 1973.
• Sally Hallett (Mother's Friend): Killed April 20, 1973.

The Enduring Legacy in Pop Culture and Criminology

Edmund Kemper’s life and crimes continue to be a source of study, not just in academic criminology but also in popular culture. His interviews with FBI agents John E. Douglas and Robert Ressler were foundational in the development of criminal profiling, providing crucial insights into the mind of a psychopathic serial killer.

The fascination remains so strong that new media continues to be produced about him. A recent example is the announcement of a new film titled simply "ED KEMPER," directed by Chad Ferrin, with a scheduled release date in March 2025. This demonstrates that decades after his capture, the chilling combination of his towering physical presence, his gifted intellect, and his monstrous actions ensures that Edmund Kemper remains a prominent and terrifying figure in the dark history of American crime.