How They Were Caught: Herbert Mullin

BuzzFeed Unsolved Network8 minutes read

Herbert Mullin, influenced by paranoid schizophrenia and drug use, believed he was chosen by Albert Einstein to prevent an earthquake, leading to a killing spree and 13 deaths with victims sacrificed in his delusion. Ultimately, Mullin was arrested, convicted of 10 murders, and sentenced to life in prison with a chance of parole.

Insights

  • Mental health deterioration due to drug use can lead to severe conditions like paranoid schizophrenia, impacting behavior significantly.
  • Despite advancements in forecasting, natural disasters remain unpredictable events that can strike unexpectedly, emphasizing the need for preparedness and response plans.

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Recent questions

  • What are natural disasters?

    Natural disasters are unpredictable events that can occur anywhere and at any time, despite improving forecasting abilities. They include phenomena such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires that can cause widespread destruction and loss of life.

  • Who is Herbert Mullin?

    Herbert Mullin was a seemingly normal teenager who, in 1973, began hearing voices in his head after losing a friend in a car accident. His mental health deteriorated due to drug use, leading to severe paranoid schizophrenia and disturbing behavior.

  • Why did Herbert Mullin believe he was chosen by Albert Einstein?

    Herbert Mullin believed he was chosen by Albert Einstein to prevent a major earthquake due to his severe paranoid schizophrenia and delusions. This belief led him to embark on a killing spree in an attempt to avert the disaster.

  • How many individuals did Herbert Mullin's killing spree result in the deaths of?

    Herbert Mullin's killing spree resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, with his victims being chosen as human sacrifices to prevent the earthquake he believed he was destined to stop.

  • What was Herbert Mullin's legal outcome?

    Herbert Mullin was eventually arrested, found guilty of 10 counts of murder, and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for his disturbing and tragic actions during his killing spree.

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Summary

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Teen's delusions lead to deadly killing spree.

  • Natural disasters are unpredictable events that can occur anywhere and at any time, despite improving forecasting abilities.
  • In 1973, Herbert Mullin, a seemingly normal teenager, began hearing voices in his head after losing a friend in a car accident.
  • Mullin's mental health deteriorated due to drug use, leading to severe paranoid schizophrenia and disturbing behavior.
  • Believing he was chosen by Albert Einstein to prevent a major earthquake, Mullin embarked on a killing spree to avert the disaster.
  • Mullin's spree resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, with his victims being chosen as human sacrifices to prevent the earthquake.
  • Mullin was eventually arrested, found guilty of 10 counts of murder, and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
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