What made Ed Kemper capable of becoming one of America’s most notorious serial killers?
In this episode of UNMARKED, I retrace the life and crimes of Edmund Kemper—the so-called “Co-Ed Killer”—with renowned neuroscientist Dr. Kent Kiehl, sometimes called “The Psychopath Whisperer.”
Dr. Kiehl has spent decades studying psychopathy, interviewing hundreds of offenders and using brain imaging to investigate what happens inside the minds of people with extreme psychopathic traits. His connection to the Kemper story goes back to his earliest days studying forensic psychiatry, when he encountered Kemper at California’s Vacaville correctional facility.
Together, we examine Kemper’s neurological vulnerability, his volatile relationship with his mother, the violent fantasy world he develops as a child, the murder of his grandparents at fifteen, his release from psychiatric custody, and the circumstances that eventually give him access to a vulnerable population of young women hitchhiking through Northern California.
Featuring Dr. Kent Kiehl and Christine Falco of Ed Kemper Stories.
Research in This Episode:
Schein, E. H., Schneier, I., & Barker, C. H. (1961). Coercive Persuasion: A Socio-Psychological Analysis of the "Brainwashing" of American Civilian Prisoners by the Chinese Communists. New York: W. W. Norton.
Day, J. B. (2026). Charles Manson: The Last Words: Recorded Conversations from His Final Years. Canada. Kindle Direct Publishing.
Chapters:
00:00 – Inside the Mind of Ed Kemper
The Co-Ed Killer murdered 10 people, but the real mystery is what drove him. Experts and researchers examine the childhood, psychology, and violent fantasies behind one of America's most disturbing serial killers.
07:29 – The Making of Ed Kemper
A chaotic family, an abusive relationship with his mother, his father's departure, and an increasingly isolated childhood provide the backdrop to the violent fantasy world Kemper develops at a remarkably young age.
14:18 – The Fantasy Becomes Reality
By his early teens, Kemper's violent thoughts have become increasingly specific. At 15, he murders his grandparents, is committed to a psychiatric hospital, and learns how to present himself as a model patient.
25:41 – The Road to the Co-Ed Murders
Released at 21 and returned to his mother, Kemper develops an interest in police work and becomes intimately familiar with the highways around Santa Cruz, where young women regularly hitchhike.
28:40 – The Co-Ed Murders Begin
After arguments with his mother, Kemper begins picking up young women along the highways. The murders escalate as his fantasies increasingly shape what happens to his victims after their deaths.
38:15 – The Final Victims and Kemper's Confession
After killing his mother and another woman, Kemper flees California and eventually calls police to confess. His detailed cooperation leads investigators to the victims and exposes the full scale of the crimes.
Show Notes:
Quince sent me the jacket I’m wearing in this episode for free. If you’re interested, you can find it here:
https://www.quince.com/UNMARKED it’s the 100% Organic Herringbone Twill Shirt Jacket in Black.
Read Buddy’s novel — A Plague of Steel. It’s a grimdark fantasy, about what war leaves behind. Available now on Kindle, Amazon and Kindle Unlimited:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.ca/Plague-Steel-Sons-Tempering-Book-ebook/dp/B0GSPBTR49
If you want to follow cases as we’re working on them, you can find Buddy on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jamesbuddyday/
#TrueCrime #edkemper #Unmarked #truecrimepodcast #crimestory 
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