Originally posted on March 16, 2023 in my Newsletter.

​This month's creepy thing has a [somewhat] happy ending. Bruce Lindahl, an American man born on January 29th, 1953. He graduated college in the 70's with a degree in electro mechanics. Afterwards, he worked as an electrician and enjoyed parachuting and racquetball in his free time. All of his friends spoke highly of him. In 1976, he was arrested for possession of marijuana. Drugs were not his addiction, however. That addiction was murder. Turns out, Mr. Lindahl murdered 12 or more people over the course of his "career". Early on, Lindahl raped a woman named Annette Lazar in his home. She called the police but her testimony was discounted since she appeared to be addicted to drugs. The police did not believe her story. A few years later, Lindahl raped another woman by the name of Debra Colliander after abducting her from a shopping center parking lot. She also called police. Thankfully, he was arrested and charged this time. He posted bail and was supposed to appear in court but the court date was cancelled due to the absence of a key witness.  All charges were dropped. It seemed Lindahl had found himself in a bit of a disgustingly "lucky streak". But thankfully, that luck would run out. Lindahl met an 18 year old man named Charles Huber. They played some bowling together and afterwards, Lindahl suggested they go back to his girlfriend's house to drink. Huber agreed and they were off. Later that evening, Lindahl attacked Huber with a knife, stabbing him a total of 28 times. But Huber fought back. Though he subsequently died, he caused Lindahl to accidentally stab himself in the leg severing his femoral artery. Both men died at the scene. After Lindahl's death, a few people came forward and named him as an attacker claiming they had been sexually assaulted. He was linked to several missing person's cases as well. One man even came forward and admitted to murdering Debra Colliander, the key witness who disappeared during the murder trial, after being paid by Lindahl to dispose of her. Her body was recovered. With him being tied to about a dozen murders, it's safe to say this man was a monster and got what he deserved. It's unfortunate that Huber died in the process, but he died a hero. So, be careful who you go bowling with, I think is the lesson here? 

​I think by now we all know never hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers. If horror movies have taught us anything, it's that 50% of the people now in the car are serial killers. And that was true in the case of Alfred Arthur Rouse also known as the Blazing Car Murderer. He was a British man in the late 1930's, looking to fake his own death. So instead of torching his car and running away like any "reasonable" person, he decided to pick up a hitchhiker. Do you see where this is going? Think of his alias...That's right, he knocked the hitchhiker unconscious and then set his car ablaze in the hopes that the body would be mistaken for his own and he'd be free! Except he was caught and convicted of murder and subsequently hanged. The victim was never identified. Rouse claimed he never asked the victim's name saying, "There was no reason why I should do so." If you want to read more about Rouse or how he was caught, it's a fascinating read. Check it out here. And remember, DO NOT HITCHHIKE! 

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