ENGL 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: California Division Of Juvenile Justice, Lawrence Bittaker And Roy Norris, Psychopathy
Mikayla Marini
ENG-101
Professor Clark
April 8, 2018
Toolbox Killers
Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris are two of America’s most notorious serial killers the
country has ever seen. They raped, tortured, and murdered five teenage girls over a five-month
period in 1979. The men were known as the “Toolbox Killers.” The nickname was given to them
because they use certain tools you’d find in a toolbox to kill their victims. The crimes they
committed were gruesome and grew worse and worse with each victim because it gave them
more pleasure. First, they wouldn’t want their victims to scream, and then, it got to the point
where they realized their screaming and suffering gave them pleasure. It is important to become
knowledgeable with cases like the “Toolbox Killers” because history tends to repeat itself over
and over again.
Lawrence Bittaker was born on September 27, 1940 in Pennsylvania. Bittaker was
neglected by his biological parents and was adopted by foster parents, who also, neglected him.
At the age of seventeen, Bittaker dropped out of High School in 1957. In the same year, he was
arrested for auto theft, hit and run, and evading arrest in Long Beach, California. In 1959,
Bittaker was released from California Youth Authority. Bittaker was then again, arrested for
attempted murder. After that crime, he was given a psychiatric evaluation and doctors classified
him as a sophisticated psychopath (Chojnacki).
Roy Norris was born eight years later on February 2nd, 1948. Roy was born in Greeley,
Colorado with his parents. He was a victim of sexual abuse by his family. Norris dropped out of
High School and went straight into the Navy. In 1969, Roy attempted rape, and three months
later was out on bail, but he got arrested again so, Norris was discharged from the Navy. In 1970,
Norris was sent to Atascadero State Hospital as a sex offender and spent five years of his life
there. When they classified him as not dangerous, three months after his release he raped a
27-year-old woman. At that point he was sent to San Luis Obispo. Both Norris and Bittaker were
held at San Luis Obispo together and they became great friends. They both thought they were
each other's soulmates and would not leave each other’s side at the prison. They both shared the
love for murdering and raping young teenage girls, so they planned to keep in touch when they
got out of prison. Once they were out they contacted each other to make their fantasies come to
life (Chojnacki).
It all started in February, and would last until June of 1979. Lawrence and Roy would try
a test run by picking up over twenty female hitchhikers for practice. The males found secluded
locations and learned various techniques to get girls in the van with them. According to Charles
Montaldo stated that Bittaker bought a 1977 GMC van and called it the “Murder Mack”. Beds,
cooler, toolbox, and clothes were placed in the vehicle.
The first victim was 16-year-old Cindy Schaeffer, who was walking to her grandmother’s
house after a church gathering. According to murderpedia.org, Norris exited the van to greet
Cindy on the sidewalk. Cindy kept walking and ignoring his commands. So, Norris grabbed her
and threw her in the Murder Mack where they duct taped her mouth and bounded her ankles and
wrists. Driving up to the mountain fire road and began small talk with the victim trying to get to
Document Summary
Lawrence bittaker and roy norris are two of america"s most notorious serial killers the country has ever seen. They raped, tortured, and murdered five teenage girls over a five-month period in 1979. The men were known as the toolbox killers. the nickname was given to them because they use certain tools you"d find in a toolbox to kill their victims. The crimes they committed were gruesome and grew worse and worse with each victim because it gave them more pleasure. First, they wouldn"t want their victims to scream, and then, it got to the point where they realized their screaming and suffering gave them pleasure. It is important to become knowledgeable with cases like the toolbox killers because history tends to repeat itself over and over again. Lawrence bittaker was born on september 27, 1940 in pennsylvania. Bittaker was neglected by his biological parents and was adopted by foster parents, who also, neglected him.
