Lawrence Bittaker
USABiography of Lawrence Bittaker
Lawrence Sigmond Bittaker, an American serial killer, was born to adoptive parents in Pennsylvania. His adoptive father, George Bittaker, worked in aviation and the family moved frequently, eventually settling in California. Despite being a smart student with an IQ of 138, Bittaker dropped out of school and got involved in criminal activities, leading to his arrest for auto theft and a subsequent stint in the California Youth Authority.
After his release, Bittaker continued to engage in criminal behavior, resulting in several arrests and convictions. He was diagnosed with various mental disorders, including paranoia and psychosis. Despite these diagnoses, Bittaker was released multiple times, only to continue his criminal activities.
In 1976, Bittaker was hired as a manager at the Holiday Theater in the San Fernando Valley. However, psychiatric evaluations revealed that he was a sociopath and a refined psychopath. Despite the warnings from psychiatrists, Bittaker was released and soon formed a partnership with Roy Norris.
Together, Bittaker and Norris planned and carried out a series of heinous crimes, including the abduction, torture, rape, and murder of young women in California. Their crimes were discovered when the police arrested them and found around 500 photographs of potential victims among Bittaker's belongings.
Bittaker and Norris confessed to the abduction and murder of five victims, including Cindy Schaeffer, Andrea Hall, Jackie Gilliam, and Leah Lamp. They subjected their victims to unspeakable acts of violence before ending their lives.
Bittaker was sentenced to death in 1981 for his crimes, while Norris received a life sentence in exchange for testifying against Bittaker. As of 2008, Bittaker is still awaiting execution.
