Herbert Mullin: The Santa Cruz Killer Who Believed Murder Prevented Earthquakes
Sun Feb 08 2026
Herbert Mullin: The Santa Cruz Killer Who Believed Murder Prevented Earthquakes
In 1972, Herbert Mullin murdered thirteen people across Santa Cruz, California, during a six-month killing spree that terrorized the community already known as the "Murder Capital of the World." The homicide investigation revealed victims ranging from a hitchhiking college student to a Catholic priest killed inside a confessional booth, with forensic evidence and detective work eventually connecting the seemingly random murders to one disturbed killer whose conviction would hinge on whether his paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis proved legal insanity.
Herb Mullin genuinely believed he was saving California from sliding into the Pacific Ocean. He wasn't hunting for power or sexual gratification. He was a former high school golden boy, voted Most Likely to Succeed, who had his brain completely shatter after his best friend died in a car crash. He thought if he could get thirteen people to telepathically agree to die, their blood would keep the San Andreas Fault from ripping the state in half. The mental health system saw him deteriorating in real time and still couldn't prevent what was coming.
#HerbertMullin #SantaCruzKiller #TrueCrime #SerialKiller #ColdCase #MurderPodcast #CaliforniaCrime
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Herbert Mullin: The Santa Cruz Killer Who Believed Murder Prevented Earthquakes In 1972, Herbert Mullin murdered thirteen people across Santa Cruz, California, during a six-month killing spree that terrorized the community already known as the "Murder Capital of the World." The homicide investigation revealed victims ranging from a hitchhiking college student to a Catholic priest killed inside a confessional booth, with forensic evidence and detective work eventually connecting the seemingly random murders to one disturbed killer whose conviction would hinge on whether his paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis proved legal insanity. Herb Mullin genuinely believed he was saving California from sliding into the Pacific Ocean. He wasn't hunting for power or sexual gratification. He was a former high school golden boy, voted Most Likely to Succeed, who had his brain completely shatter after his best friend died in a car crash. He thought if he could get thirteen people to telepathically agree to die, their blood would keep the San Andreas Fault from ripping the state in half. The mental health system saw him deteriorating in real time and still couldn't prevent what was coming. #HerbertMullin #SantaCruzKiller #TrueCrime #SerialKiller #ColdCase #MurderPodcast #CaliforniaCrime 🔔 Subscribe for True Crime Cases multiple times a week Never miss a story. Subscribe to 10 Minute Murder for bite-sized true crime episodes delivered fresh every week. Get a weekly email from me about the upcoming cases and more: 10minutemurder.com/newsletter 📱 Follow for Behind-the-Scenes Content Get exclusive case updates, research photos, and sneak peeks of upcoming episodes: Instagram: @10minutemurder on IGFacebook: 10 Minute Murder on FBTikTok: 10 Minute Murder on TikTok💬 Have a Case Suggestion? Know a fascinating case that deserves coverage? I love listener suggestions and feature the best ones in upcoming episodes. Email: joe@10minutemurder.com Website: 10minutemurder.com ⭐ Help Grow the True Crime Community Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review to help other true crime fans discover the showShare: Send this episode to fellow true crime enthusiastsJoin the Discussion: Tag us in your episode reactions on social media🎧 Want Even More True Crime? If you love the brief and bingeable vibe, check out my other podcast: 10 Minute Mystery - same bingeable storytelling, different cases. Search "10 Minute Mystery" wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for being part of the 10 Minute Murder community. Let's make 2025 the ultimate year for bite-sized true crime storytelling. 🖤 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/10-minute-murder-bingeable-true-crime-stories--4603604/support.