Bounty Hunter Finds Remains of ‘Speed Freak Killers’ Victims

Wesley Shermantine and Loren Herzog, known as the ‘Speed Speed Killers’ were suspected of killing from 7 to 15 people between 1984 and 1999.  Though they were convicted of killing a lesser amount, it has been highly suspected that more of their murders were covered up and thus unknown. 

In January of 2012, Leonard Padilla, a bounty hunter, struck a deal with Wesley Shermantine.  Padilla offered the killer $33,000 for a map of where the lost bodies were buried.  Shermantine used the cash to pay off his restitution order and buy a television for his death row prison cell.  Then, he began drawing maps that led to an abandoned well.  Upon hearing that his partner had revealed their hidden burial ground, Herzog, the other member of the serial killer group, took his own life.   

Last week, Shermantine’s map led Padilla and authorities to San Andreas, where they found the remains believed to be those of Chevelle Wheeler and Cindi Vanderheiden.  Both victims had been missing for more than 14 years. 

Leonard Padilla has been hunting and capturing fugitives for over 35 years.  He is also an expert in the bail bond industry and has testified in thousands of court cases.  He has been instrumental in instituting legislation to improve the ways of and means of capturing fugitives.