Herbert William Mullin wasn’t just a serial killer — he believed he was a savior. Driven by delusions and terrifying voices in his head, Mullin murdered 13 people across California in the early 1970s. His twisted justification? He thought human sacrifices were needed to prevent catastrophic earthquakes from destroying the state.
In this disturbing episode, we explore how mental illness, paranoia, and unchecked violence collided in Mullin’s mind — turning him into one of California’s most chilling and unpredictable serial killers. From quiet forests to public streets, no place was safe during his rampage. We also examine the failures in the system that let him slip through the cracks before claiming so many lives. Content Warning:
This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and references to mental illness and psychosis. Listener discretion is strongly advised.
Herbert Mullin, serial killer, earthquake delusion, California murders, serial killing savior, mental illness and crime, paranoid schizophrenia, 1970s serial killers, Santa Cruz killer, true crime podcast, forest murders, voices in his head, mass murder, psychotic killer, disturbing true crime, unsolved murders, law enforcement failure, serial killer psychology, Herbert Mullin case, shocking real crimes
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/best-of-reddit-stories-2025-cheating-true-crime-aita-and-nsfw-stories--6476242/support.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.