Who Is Edmund Kemper? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Edmund Kemper, born on December 18, 1948, is a notorious American serial killer who gained infamy for his heinous crimes in the 1970s. Known as the "Co-ed Killer," Kemper was responsible for the murders of ten victims, including his grandparents, mother, and several young women. Today, in 2025, Kemper is 76 years old. His life story has been widely discussed in true crime documentaries and series, making him a recurring figure in popular culture.
| Occupation | Serial Killers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 18, 1948 |
| Age | 76 Years |
| Birth Place | Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Edmund Kemper's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Kemper stands at a height of approximately 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm), making him one of the largest serial killers in terms of stature. His weight has fluctuated over the years, with a current approximate weight of 280 pounds (127 kg). These physical attributes contributed to the terrifying presence he embodied during his criminal activities.
The same year that he began working for the Highway Division, Kemper was hit by a car while riding a motorcycle that he had recently purchased. His arm was badly injured in the crash, and he received a $15,000 settlement in the civil suit he filed against the car's driver.
As he was driving around in the 1969 Ford Galaxie he bought with part of his settlement money, he noticed a large number of young women hitchhiking, and began storing plastic bags, knives, blankets and handcuffs in his car.
He first picked up young women hitchhiking, then peacefully let them go; according to Kemper, he picked up around 150 hitchhikers who were in line with this pattern. This was before he felt homicidal sexual urges, which he called his "little zapples," and which he later began acting on.
At times, he blamed his victims for his killing them, saying that they were "flaunting in [his] face the fact that they could do any damn thing they wanted, and that society is as screwed up as it is."
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As for his family, Kemper was born to a troubled household with a domineering mother. However, there have been no reports of him having a girlfriend or boyfriend since his incarceration. Throughout his life, Kemper has revealed complicated relationships, particularly concerning his mother, whom he ultimately murdered. Due to his criminal history and life imprisonment, he has had no opportunity for romantic relationships.
In his youth, Kemper performed rites with his younger sister's dolls that culminated in his removing their heads and hands.
On one occasion, when his elder sister, Susan Hughey Kemper (1943–2014), teased him and asked why he did not try to kiss his teacher, he replied, "If I kiss her, I'd have to kill her first." Kemper recalled that as a young boy, he would sneak out of his house armed with his father's bayonet and go to his second-grade teacher's house to watch her
through the windows.
Kemper also stated in later interviews that some of his favorite games to play as a child were "Gas Chamber" and "Electric Chair", in which he asked his younger sister to tie him up and flip an imaginary switch; he would then tumble over and writhe on the floor, pretending that he was being executed by gas inhalation or electric shock.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, it's difficult to determine an exact net worth for Kemper due to his status as a convicted felon. There are no earnings from traditional employment as he has been incarcerated for decades. However, it is estimated that any potential earnings from books or interviews about his crimes have not exceeded a few thousands of dollars, primarily benefiting publishers and documentarians instead of him.
Career, Business and Investments
Kemper's "career," if it can be called that, consists solely of his criminal activities prior to his capture in 1973. Since then, he has been incarcerated and has participated in various interviews with psychologists and filmmakers. His insights into the criminal mind have made him a subject of interest in criminal psychology, earning him some notoriety but no true business or investment ventures.
Found sane and guilty at his trial in 1973, Kemper requested the death penalty for his crimes. Capital punishment was suspended in California at the time, and he instead received eight concurrent life sentences. Since then, he has been incarcerated at California Medical Facility in Vacaville.
Social Network
While Edmund Kemper remains a highly controversial figure, his life and crimes have been explored extensively in popular media. He does not have a personal social network presence as he's incarcerated; however, the various docuseries, podcasts, and articles covering his life have created a large online following. Subreddits and forums dedicated to true crime discuss him extensively, showcasing the continued public intrigue surrounding his heinous acts.
Kemper told police that he "just wanted to see what it felt like to kill Grandma", and later said he killed his grandfather because he would be angry with Kemper. Kemper's crimes were deemed incomprehensible for a 15-year-old to commit, and court psychiatrists diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia.
He was sent to Atascadero State Hospital, a maximum-security facility in San Luis Obispo County that houses mentally ill convicts.
Education
Kemper reportedly had a troubled childhood which involved frequent relocations and bullying, particularly due to his height. His education was sporadic; however, he showed early intelligence and a fascination with psychology. He was eventually diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and subsequently deemed mentally competent for trial, which suggests he had a reasonably educated background, despite the tragic path his life took.
Edmund Emil Kemper III (born December 18, 1948) is an American serial killer convicted of murdering seven women and one girl between May 1972 and April 1973. Years earlier, at the age of 15, Kemper had murdered his paternal grandparents.
Kemper was nicknamed the "Co-ed Killer", as most of his non-familial victims were female college students hitchhiking in the vicinity of Santa Cruz County, California. Most of his murders included necrophilia, decapitation, dismemberment and possibly cannibalism.
