Alayna

And they were honestly reaching like kind of shocking heights at this point. Because remember, this is when suddenly it became like, oh, maybe we shouldn't hitchhike as much as we are kind of thing. Yeah. And it really reached shocking heights in the 80s before starting like a little bit of a downward trend in the 90s. I miss the 90s. I long for the 90s.

And they were honestly reaching like kind of shocking heights at this point. Because remember, this is when suddenly it became like, oh, maybe we shouldn't hitchhike as much as we are kind of thing. Yeah. And it really reached shocking heights in the 80s before starting like a little bit of a downward trend in the 90s. I miss the 90s. I long for the 90s.

The number of violent crimes and murders committed buried by city and state. But few were struggling with the problem of violence more than, sorry, California. Yeah, it happens. It was rough out there.

The number of violent crimes and murders committed buried by city and state. But few were struggling with the problem of violence more than, sorry, California. Yeah, it happens. It was rough out there.

Beginning in the 60s, California and the Bay Area, more specifically, became a real mecca for hippies and other young people that were drawn to the culture that rejected conservative standards and morals in favor of more permissive behaviors.

Beginning in the 60s, California and the Bay Area, more specifically, became a real mecca for hippies and other young people that were drawn to the culture that rejected conservative standards and morals in favor of more permissive behaviors.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long before the state, which was once synonymous with free love, became known for producing some of the nation's most notorious serial killers. Yeah. Beginning in the mid-60s, a man who would eventually call himself the Zodiac started out on a series of murders that would keep the region locked in a grip of terror for nearly a decade.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long before the state, which was once synonymous with free love, became known for producing some of the nation's most notorious serial killers. Yeah. Beginning in the mid-60s, a man who would eventually call himself the Zodiac started out on a series of murders that would keep the region locked in a grip of terror for nearly a decade.

And then they just simply vanished, as we know to this day. We are... The year of our Lord, 2025, and we still have no fucking clue who the Zodiac Killer is. Yep. A few years later, in 1968, you might know this name too, Charles Manson and his disciples committed a series of crimes that culminated in a horrific mass murder.

And then they just simply vanished, as we know to this day. We are... The year of our Lord, 2025, and we still have no fucking clue who the Zodiac Killer is. Yep. A few years later, in 1968, you might know this name too, Charles Manson and his disciples committed a series of crimes that culminated in a horrific mass murder.

effectively ending the era of free love and bringing in, kind of ushering in an era of fear, paranoia, and suspicion. To the south, in the LA area, Juan Corona went on a four-month killing spree that claimed the lives of 25 men. Oh, wow.

effectively ending the era of free love and bringing in, kind of ushering in an era of fear, paranoia, and suspicion. To the south, in the LA area, Juan Corona went on a four-month killing spree that claimed the lives of 25 men. Oh, wow.

The same time that that was happening, another serial killer who we just recently covered, Rodney Alcala, the dating game killer, committed the first of what would be many, many brutal murders. And the so-called Southern California strangler, Randy Kraft, who we have not covered, set out on a rampage that claimed the lives of at least 16 people. Wow.

The same time that that was happening, another serial killer who we just recently covered, Rodney Alcala, the dating game killer, committed the first of what would be many, many brutal murders. And the so-called Southern California strangler, Randy Kraft, who we have not covered, set out on a rampage that claimed the lives of at least 16 people. Wow.

And this was all in like a very short period of time. It was just mayhem. Over the course of the 70s, the list of L.A. area serial killers would grow to include some of the most notorious in the nation's history. But maybe the most shocking and perplexing murders of the era were taking place between the state's two iconic cities in a largely suburban area, Santa Cruz County.

And this was all in like a very short period of time. It was just mayhem. Over the course of the 70s, the list of L.A. area serial killers would grow to include some of the most notorious in the nation's history. But maybe the most shocking and perplexing murders of the era were taking place between the state's two iconic cities in a largely suburban area, Santa Cruz County.

Santa Cruz is also, I think, is supposed to be the influence of Santa Carla, right? Oh, in Lost Boys. Yeah, it definitely is. Being like the murder capital of the world. That's Santa Cruz. Yeah. So located about 60 miles outside of San Francisco, Santa Cruz has long served as a more suburban commuter city for those working in but not wanting to live in San Francisco. Mm-hmm.

Santa Cruz is also, I think, is supposed to be the influence of Santa Carla, right? Oh, in Lost Boys. Yeah, it definitely is. Being like the murder capital of the world. That's Santa Cruz. Yeah. So located about 60 miles outside of San Francisco, Santa Cruz has long served as a more suburban commuter city for those working in but not wanting to live in San Francisco. Mm-hmm.

In 1970, it was home to a wide range of people from unemployed college students to the highest paid surgeons, essentially, like in everything in between. And within a few years, unlike nearby San Francisco, Santa Cruz was becoming very quiet, very peaceful. It was like a very nice place to live.

In 1970, it was home to a wide range of people from unemployed college students to the highest paid surgeons, essentially, like in everything in between. And within a few years, unlike nearby San Francisco, Santa Cruz was becoming very quiet, very peaceful. It was like a very nice place to live.