Tragically, Steven Wells 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 June 02, 1980, 18-year-old Steven Jay Wells on El Segundo Boulevard was encountered by Bonin and Munro and enticed him into the van. According to the pair, upon learning Wells was bisexual, Bonin had consensual sex with Wells, before persuading him to go to his parents’ house. There, the two continued having sex. Later, Bonin paid Wells $200 to allow himself to be bound with clothesline. Wells became suspicious of their intentions, and frantic. Bonin retreated to the kitchen, telling Munro they were both going to kill Wells. They then gagged and beat him in a hallway. Wells pled for his life, but Bonin strangled him to death. Bonin ordered Munro to retrieve a cardboard box, which the two placed Wells’ body inside of, and carried to Bonin’s van.

Later, while driving to Butts’ apartment Bonin informed Munro that he, Butts, and others had committed many of the “Freeway Killer” murders. At the apartment, Bonin invited Butts to view Wells’ body in the van. Bonin then asked where he should dispose of the corpse. Munro later testified that Butts dissuaded Bonin from discarding it in the nearby canyons and recommended discarding him near a gas station. They drove to a disused gas station in Huntington Beach and discarded him there. Wells’ body was discovered five hours later, by two brothers who had parked nearby.