During one of California’s darkest periods, marked by the crimes of several notorious serial killers, a 16-year-old girl named Chevelle “Chevy” Wheeler went missing. This disappearance would eventually reveal a chilling tale of horror and murder spanning two decades.
Loren Herzog and Gary Shermantine: Meth Users Turned Killers
Loren Herzog and Gary Shermantine, childhood friends and heavy methamphetamine users, grew up in the small town of Linden, California. They were known in the community and often visited the local bar, the Linden Inn. However, behind their ordinary lives, a dark secret was unfolding.
On October 7, 1985, Chevy Wheeler was dropped off at Franklin High School in Stockton, California. Instead of attending classes, she met Herzog and Shermantine in the nearby woods to use drugs. Tragically, Wheeler went missing, and her case remained unsolved for over a decade.
Thirteen years later, the disappearance of Cyndi Vanderheiden, daughter of the Linden Inn’s owner, brought attention back to the small town. Vanderheiden was last seen at the Linden Inn and The Old Corner Saloon before vanishing. Her case would later be linked to Herzog and Shermantine.
The Net Closes on the ‘Speed Freak Killers’
In 1999, during the search for Vanderheiden, Shermantine’s car was repossessed. Blood stains found inside the vehicle were identified as Vanderheiden’s, leading authorities to focus on Herzog.
Under questioning, Herzog confessed that Shermantine had committed multiple murders, admitting he had been present during some but denied active participation. In March 1999, Herzog and Shermantine were charged with several murders.
Shermantine was convicted of Vanderheiden’s murder, as well as the killings of Chevelle Wheeler, Howard King, and Paul Cavanaugh. Herzog was convicted for his role in the murders of Vanderheiden, Cavanaugh, and King.
The ‘Bone Yard’ and Unsettling Questions
Shermantine was sentenced to death and sent to San Quentin State Penitentiary, while Herzog received a reduced sentence of 14 years. Herzog’s convictions were overturned in 2004 due to coerced confessions. After two years of freedom, Herzog was drawn back into the case when Shermantine provided information about burial sites.
Following Shermantine’s tip, investigators found a well in Linden, referred to as their “bone yard,” containing over 1,000 human remains, including a rotted fetus. Two other burial sites were identified based on Shermantine’s information: one where Chevelle Wheeler and Cyndi Vanderheiden were found, and another near property once owned by Shermantine’s family.
However, unsettling questions arose during the investigation. Shermantine had written numerous letters to authorities about burial sites, but these leads were largely ignored by the FBI. Allegations surfaced that the Sheriff’s Office had intentionally damaged evidence at the first burial site. In 2018, the Speed Freak Killers cases were reopened, and further investigation continues.
While closure and justice remain elusive for the victims’ families, authorities are still working to identify the remains found and piece together the tragic events of those two haunting decades.