Talk:Edmund Kemper

Wrong Ed
"Author Thomas Harris based the character of Buffalo Bill in his book The Silence of the Lambs in part upon Kemper. In the book, Buffalo Bill was a serial killer who, like Kemper, had begun his "career" by impulsively killing his grandparents as a teenager."

This part of the Edmund Kemper article is false -- Ed Gein is the killer that Buffalo Bill was based upon. Kemper was a completely different kind of killer than Gein was. It was Gein with the belt of nipples, the flesh masks, the female flesh body suit, and the desire to resurrect his own mother by collecting female body parts. Kemper, on the other hand, detested his mother. This is why he killed her. The above part of the article should either be deleted or fixed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.149.246.170 (talk • contribs) 01:51, 18 August 2006‎ (UTC)


 * Well I read that he was based on Kemper, Gein, And Bundy. VegSXEBassist 03:02, 3 October 2007 (UTC)


 * Maybe they were thinking about his first book, Red Dragon and the character Francis Dolarhyde? Though Dolarhyde is also strongly influenced by Gein as well. To be fair, all of his characters can be linked to more than one serial killer.214.13.149.10 (talk) 08:03, 10 November 2008 (UTC)


 * As VegSXEBassist said; Buffalo Bill is probably based upon several serial killers, including both Kemper and Gein. And I just have to add that having a belt made out of nipples doesn't make you a killer, only a guy with necrophili-issues. In fact, it's not even sure that Gein can be called a serial killer at all since there's only two DOCUMENTED victims. In order to be marked as a serial killer you have to commit murder at least three times on different occasions. Frokkie (talk) 20:11, 5 October 2011 (UTC)

The Co-ed Killer
Why is Edmund Kemper known as "The Co-ed Killer"? I know that his MO was murdering hitchhikers (and family members), yet I cannot find any mention in this article - or anywhere else - as to the origin of his moniker. --MosheA 02:12, 27 March 2007 (UTC)


 * I think it was confused with the Co-ed Butcher, I'll change it. -- 03:02, 3 October 2007 (UTC)


 * He was called the Co-ed Killer because most of his victims, except the family members, were college girls, hitchhiking. -- Kschang77 (talk) 02:39, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

Additional info from "Most Evil" TV show
According to the show, Edmund Kemper shuttled between his mother's home and his grandmother's home while in his teenage years. His mother has pretty much abused him, and according to the show, his grandparents treated him as a burden. This eventually lead to the murder of his grandparents.

For the two murders, he was sent to the mental institute reserved for adults, even though he was only 15. At the institute, he befriended the psychologist who was treating him. He even got a job administering tests to other inmates. Using the knowledge of the tests (he later admitted to memorizing over 20 tests) he easily passed psychological tests, and was released as "cured". It is also at the institute where he tested 136 on standard IQ test. However, Edmund Kemper, then 20, was released back to his mother after his release. He later described it as "put back into the pressure cooker".

His mother did not change at all after his release. The torment and berating continued after his return. Edmund Kemper's reaction is to storm out of the house, and wander aimlessly while driving. He started noticing the hitchhikers, and started picking them up. Eventually, he picked up his first two co-ed victims, and killed them. Bodies were dismembered and some trophies were kept, even some are cannibalized. Other parts were sometimes discarded along the Pacific coast. He later described the killings as "fantasy come to life". This eventually lead to murder of his mother. He later described it as "50 weeks of planned killing".

Edmund Kemper was rated at "22", the highest on the "evil" scale, for serial killings, brutality, psychopathy, and sexual murders. Few others rated that high.

--Kschang77 (talk) 02:39, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Ed Kemper.jpg
Image:Ed Kemper.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 08:11, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

It should be added that Kemper is a huge man (6 ft 9 and about 300 pounds at age 21), otherwise it is not clear why an FBI agent would be so afraid of being alone in a room with him. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.177.104.211 (talk) 22:25, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Kemper's weight
I have repeatedly tried to edit this articles claim that Edmund Kemper's weight is 360 pounds (136kilos). This is mostly because 360 pounds is not 136 kilos, it is 163.6 kilos. In addition to this the few sources I have checked say that he was 136 kilos, as did part of this article. Whatever his weight actually is I feel that his weight in pounds should be the same as his weight in kilograms. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Paddy142 (talk • contribs) 21:13, 1 October 2009 (UTC)
 * At some point someone removed the conversion template and tried to return the content without it. If you have sources other than the 360 lb./160 kg. that is derived from the use of the conversion template, then you're going to have to source the change and not just make it. Wildhartlivie (talk) 23:27, 1 October 2009 (UTC)

Obvious vandalism
Some idiot had replaced the word 'murders' with 'chocolate'. It's not funny. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.156.62.122 (talk) 02:41, 14 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Vandalism happens all the time. It's enough to simply revert it, as you did, and go on. The funny thing is, that happens because anyone is allowed to edit without being registered, as you edited to remove it. No reason to make a stink of it. Wildhartlivie (talk) 08:30, 14 November 2009 (UTC)
 * If you ask me that was a bit funny ^_^ OktoberStorm (talk) 10:27, 4 April 2012 (UTC)

Cannibal?
Is there anything left in the article to show that he was a cannibal? If not, we should remove him from Category:American_cannibals Quebec99 (talk) 22:57, 23 February 2011 (UTC)

He did admit in his confession to scraping the flesh off the calfs of two hitchhikers and eating it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by TSP1234 (talk • contribs) 01:05, 5 September 2012 (UTC)

Shit down your throat
How about adding that he actually did this too his mum after he cut her head off?--Gtserf (talk) 05:14, 3 April 2011 (UTC)
 * Well, if he shat down HER throat and not mine, then the only thing missing is reference. — Preceding unsigned comment added by OktoberStorm (talk • contribs) 10:29, 4 April 2012 (UTC)

Quality of the entry
I just read through the page and made a change. While doing it, I also noticed the text in the section "Cindy Schall" has the word "later" used a lot. To me it seems over used and if someone with better writing skills would rewrite this, I think it would improve the article. Gicronin (talk) 15:23, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

Citation help
I added a reference for the section in which it says he committed murders after arguments with his mother (in Later Murders). It's an interview in which he describes this, but my citation skills in this style are lacking, could someone please fix it up? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.111.240.49 (talk) 13:16, 5 September 2014 (UTC)

Good article nomination
I have essentially rewritten the article, fixed the inline citation issue and added correct unit conversions as well as relevant images which are free of and/or exempt from copyright violations. I believe the article is worthy, so I am going to nominate it for good article status now. Zaostao (talk) 12:27, 23 March 2016 (UTC)

Not a good article
I'm amazed how much of this article is strictly based on Kemper's own claims and accounts. He might have written it himself. It does not seem encyclopedic in tone and it's unclear if there are other sources that can back up what he claims about his various victims.

For example, the tone of the article implies it was cruel of his mother to lock him in the basement to protect her daughters, but perhaps that was a sensible precaution given his proclivities, and maybe the basement was just a downstairs apartment. Did anyone check? Eperotao (talk) 04:31, 18 September 2016 (UTC)
 * I felt that the article was worded in a way that made it hard to establish the meaning of what should have been a basic sentence. It's certainly a concern that the subject himself is contributing to it. This might violate Wikipedia rules, but who's going to tell him he's wrong? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 1.152.106.23 (talk) 15:06, 26 February 2018 (UTC)

Appearence in the Anime "Monster"
A Kemper-inspired character is shown in Monster's episode 19, an episode that explores his own past crimes similar to Kemper's. I'm not sure why the addition was removed. Perhaps lack of reference? Here's one: http://obluda.wikia.com/wiki/Peter_J%C3%BCrgens — Preceding unsigned comment added by 191.176.51.244 (talk) 04:50, 27 November 2017 (UTC)

Requested move 26 January 2018

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review. No further edits should be made to this section. 

The result of the move request was: No consensus to move the page. (non-admin closure) –Ammarpad (talk) 09:23, 9 February 2018 (UTC)

Edmund Kemper → Ed Kemper – Higher number of google results for Ed. 709,000 vs 160,000. And this is when the wikipedia page says Edmund. GreynSilver7 (talk) 10:02, 26 January 2018 (UTC) --Relisting. –Ammarpad (talk) 10:28, 2 February 2018 (UTC)
 * This is a contested technical request (permalink). Anthony Appleyard (talk) 12:31, 26 January 2018 (UTC)


 * repinging, requires signature next to pings for it to work Galobtter (pingó mió) 12:47, 26 January 2018 (UTC)
 * repinging, requires signature next to pings for it to work Galobtter (pingó mió) 12:47, 26 January 2018 (UTC)


 * Searching google books with quotes around it gives much more for Edmund Kemper. It's mixed. Galobtter (pingó mió) 10:35, 26 January 2018 (UTC)
 * Support Edmund Kemper on google books gives many results for Edmund Kemper Broadus, a totally different person/thing. --GreynSilver7 (talk) 15:56, 5 February 2018 (UTC)
 * By starting move request, you automatically support. I struck your double vote, but your comment is acceptable. –Ammarpad (talk) 09:17, 9 February 2018 (UTC)


 * Oppose subject is generally listed more by "Edmund", the recent show by netflix does not outweigh all previous coverage. GuzzyG (talk) 05:54, 31 January 2018 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page or in a move review. No further edits should be made to this section.

Juvenile prison
According to another source, Kemper tried to convince psychiatrists that he should NOT be released from psychiatric prison. This article says the opposite. Which is it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.163.124.210 (talk) 13:59, 27 August 2020 (UTC)

Use of British English
The article states that Kemper killed his mother using a penknife which most Americans would call a pocket knife. Is this quoted from him directly or should it be changed to American English? Penguin314 (talk) 23:13, 2 August 2022 (UTC)

Mother "locked him in the basement." ERROR
when they moved to a different state, his mother found a house for them to live. the only problem was there were only two bedrooms upstairs for Ed's mother and younger sister.

Ed's mother designated the basement to him. he said, the basement was scary because it had all kinds of bugs and rats. he wasn't happy there but at no point did he say that his mother locked him in the basement..... 06:18, 1 November 2022 (UTC)

Mother's Head
Does anyone actually have a credible source stating he had sex with his mother's head, or as the wiki says "...engaged in irrumatio with her severed head"? The sources used don't mention this at all. In his interview, he states he humiliated her corpse but no mention of such act with her head. And the other one just mentions he had sex with her corpse. Everything else that does state he had sex with her head just seem to be recent and just used Wikipedia to write their articles as their source.

It appears like that part should be removed and replaced with "humiliated her corpse" or "had sex with her corpse" at least until a credible source is found stating he did "...engaged in irrumatio with her severed head," and is referenced.

Links used as references to support the head sex thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmFuNBgFue4&t=5m51s

http://www.truecrime.net/kemper/interview.htm PlotMantwo (talk) 12:34, 5 June 2023 (UTC)