Born
31 Mar 1967, Santa Ana, Orange County, California

Death
3 Feb 1980, Walnut, Los Angeles County, California

Tragically, James Macabe was one of the victims of California serial murderer, William Bonin who was convicted of the rape, torture and murder of 14 boys and young men between 1968 and 1980. Known as “The Freeway Killer”, he was executed by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison in 1996. Prosecutors portrayed him as “the most arch-evil person who ever existed.” Although he was found guilty of 14 murders, he confessed to 21 and is suspected of even more.

On February 03, 1980, 12-year-old James Macabe of Huntington Beach had been dropped off at a corner bus stop by his older brother, who had given him money to take the bus to Disneyland. He was lured into Bonin’s van on the promise he would be driven to his intended destination, and that he would be given marijuana. According to Miley, Macabe got in the van, and Bonin drove to a grocery store. Bonin parked the van, and began hugging and kissing MaCebe, before binding him, and telling him he was being kidnapped for ransom.

Bonin began punching him. As Miley drove around, Bonin raped him and bludgeoned him with a tire iron. Bonin then forced him to sleep in his arms. Upon Macabe’s waking, Miley and Bonin beat him into unconsciousness, and Bonin crushed his neck with a tire iron. Bonin then strangled Macabe to death, and he and Miley discarded the Mccabe at a construction site in Walnut, CA. Macabe’s body was discovered three days later. The next day, Bonin was arrested for violating the conditions of his parole; he was remanded in custody at the Orange County Jail until March 4.