One of the infamous “Hillside Stranglers” was recently evaluated for possible parole in Washington state, raising questions about how someone convicted of such horrific crimes could be considered for release.
“When the public hears that Kenneth Bianchi, one of the individuals known as the Hillside Stranglers, is eligible for parole again, it reignites fear and sorrow for the families of the victims,” former FBI special agent Jason Pack shares with Fox News Digital.
“These families endured the loss of daughters, sisters, and friends due to some of the most vicious and cold-blooded crimes this nation has witnessed. For them, this hearing is not just a legal proceeding. It compels them to revisit the painful memories they’ve borne for years.”
Anthony D’Amato, formerly known as Kenneth Bianchi, is one of the infamous “Hillside Stranglers,” responsible for a series of murders involving women and girls during the late 1970s, including two killings in Washington.
Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi testifies in a courtroom against his cousin and accomplice Angelo Buono. (Getty Images)
Realistically, Pack said Bianchi could remain incarcerated well into old age – likely until death.
Despite disturbing headlines, parole does not guarantee release, Pack said, adding that Bianchi still faces serious legal roadblocks.
“At the end of the day, the families of the victims deserve peace. The community deserves to feel safe. And the justice system has a responsibility to make sure a man who caused so much harm remains where he belongs – behind bars,” Pack said.Â
After committing a series of violent crimes, including the sexual assault and murder of women in the Los Angeles area, D’Amato was employed as a security guard in Bellingham in January 1979. During his time there, he persuaded two Western Washington University students, Karen Mandic and Diane Wilder, to accompany him to a residence, where he subsequently strangled them. These murders prompted law enforcement to link D’Amato to approximately 10 similar cases in California.
Kenneth Bianchi gets out of a sheriff’s car on arrival at Criminal Courts Building in Los Angeles on Oct. 22, 1979, where he arrived for arraignment on charges that he murdered five women in the Los Angeles area in late1977 and early 1978. (Getty Images)
To avoid a death sentence, D’Amato pleaded guilty in Washington and received two consecutive life sentences without parole.
During his incarceration, D’Amato has made repeated legal attempts to overturn his Washington convictions, arguing, among other things, that his confession was obtained under hypnosis. He has consistently proclaimed his innocence.
Pack said that during the time of Bianchi’s conviction, California law allowed for periodic parole hearings, even for convicted murderers. That law remains applicable to those sentenced under it.
D’Amato’s parole requests have been denied on multiple occasions in recent years in both Washington state and California.Â
D’Amato, now 74 and incarcerated at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, was originally scheduled for a parole hearing in May 2025, which was later delayed. The board is expected to publish its decision by July 23.Â
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
