Chapter 1: The Early Years of Ed Kemper

Edmund Emil Kemper III, born in 1948 in California, had a tumultuous childhood marred by emotional neglect. His parents, Clarnell and Edmund II, failed to provide a stable environment, with Clarnell being an alcoholic and emotionally distant. Edmund II expressed a strong aversion to his wife's behavior, stating, "Suicide missions in wartime and the later atomic bomb testing were nothing compared to living with Clarnell." The couple divorced in 1957, further complicating Ed's upbringing.

From a young age, Ed exhibited disturbing tendencies, including animal cruelty. A particularly shocking incident involved him killing a pet cat and displaying its head on a spike. Following his parents' separation, Ed's behavior deteriorated, ultimately leading him to run away and stay with his father before being sent back to live with his grandparents— a decision that would have dire consequences.

On August 27, 1964, at just 15, Ed took the lives of his grandparents after a heated argument. He shot them with a rifle and then called his mother to report the crime. His motive for killing his grandmother was reportedly driven by curiosity, while he sought to protect his grandfather from witnessing the aftermath. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Ed was committed to a state hospital for mentally ill offenders.

During his time there, Ed displayed high intelligence, achieving an IQ of 145. He managed to convince the psychiatrists of his rehabilitation and was eventually released on his 21st birthday. However, the decision to place him under his mother's care was controversial and quickly proved to be a mistake.

Ed's life took a darker turn after his release. He attended community college and even aspired to be a police officer, but his height—standing at 6 feet 9 inches—posed challenges. Despite this, he became familiar with local law enforcement, which would later play a role in his criminal activities.