Angelo Buono, Jr.
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| Angelo Buono, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Alias(es): | The Hillside Strangler |
| Born: | October 5, 1934 Rochester, New York |
| Died: | September 21, 2002 |
| Cause of death: | heart attack |
| Penalty: | life sentence |
| Killings | |
| Number of victims: | 10 |
| Span of killings: | October 16, 1977 through 1978 |
| Country: | USA |
| State(s): | California |
| Date apprehended: | October 22, 1979 |
Angelo Buono, Jr. (October 5, 1934 – September 21, 2002) was an American serial killer. Buono and his cousin Kenneth Bianchi together are known as the Hillside Stranglers.
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[edit] Early life
Buono was born in Rochester, New York. In the time leading up to the killings, Buono had already developed a long criminal history, ranging from failure to pay child support to assault and rape. In 1975, when Buono was 41, he met Kenneth Bianchi.
A self-described "ladies' man", Buono persuaded his younger cousin to join him in prostituting the women and young girls they brought to bed, holding them as virtual prisoners. In late 1977, the pair began killing them as well, claiming 10 documented victims by the time they were arrested in early 1979.
[edit] Trial
The legal case against Buono was based largely upon Bianchi's testimony. The case's original prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office moved to dismiss all charges against Buono and set him free.
The presiding judge, Ronald M. George, denied the motion to dismiss. He refused to release Buono, and he reassigned the case to the California Attorney General's office.
Buono's trial would become the longest in American legal history, lasting from November 1981 until November 1983. During the trial, Bianchi, in exchange for a lighter sentence, testified against Buono. The jury convicted Buono on nine counts of murder.
The jury sentenced Buono to life imprisonment, with George commenting that he felt a death sentence would have been the appropriate punishment.
[edit] Prison sentence and death
In 1986, Buono married Christine Kizuka, a mother of three and a supervisor at the California State Department of Employee Development.[1]
Buono was found dead on September 21, 2002 at Calipatria State Prison. Buono, who was alone in his cell at the time of his death, died of a heart attack.
[edit] After his death
In 2007, Buono's grandson, Christopher Buono, committed suicide shortly after shooting his grandmother, Mary Castillo, in the head. Castillo was at one time married to Angelo Buono, and had five children with him, including Chris' father.[2][3]
In the 2004 film The Hillside Strangler, Buono was portrayed by actor Nicholas Turturro.
[edit] External links
- Hillside Strangler' dies in prison CNN September 22, 2002
- Crime Library's story on the Hillside Stranglers
