Charismatic nomad Caleb McGillvary, a “home-free” traveler who called himself Kai, became an internet sensation in 2013 when a local news team interviewed him as an eyewitness to a car crash. Months later, he was arrested for murder. So where is Kai the Hitchhiker now?
His wild story and fall from grace as a viral star to a violent criminal is the basis for the Netflix documentary The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, which dropped on the streaming service on January 10, 2023. On February 2, 2013, a video of Kai was broadcast on Fox affiliate KMPH in Fresno, California. According to his eyewitness account, he had been hitchhiking and was picked up by Jett McBride. The driver crashed into a pedestrian, pinning him between McBride’s car and a parked truck.
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Kai jumped out to help; McBride attacked a bystander and, sensing she might be in danger, Kai took a hatchet from his backpack and repeatedly hits McBride with it in the back of the head. He was a hero. But just months later, Kai was arrested for the murder of someone else. Here’s the story of a “happy-go-lucky nomad’s ascent to viral stardom and the steep downward spiral that resulted in his imprisonment,” per Netflix.
Where is Kai the Hitchhiker now?
For the murder of New Jersey attorney Joseph Galfy, Kai the Hitchhiker is imprisoned at Union County Jail in Elizabeth, New Jersey, listed as inmate number 210329. It’s quite a fall from grace from once being a darling of the internet, even though his fame only lasted five minutes. Kai, whose real name is Caleb McGillvary, went viral after recounting an incident to a local TV news crew.
A man he’d caught a ride with suddenly went berserk, intentionally driving into a utility worker and pinning him between two cars. McBride was said to have told Kai that “he was Jesus Christ” and “could do whatever” he wanted. Kai got out of the car to help the pedestrian, but McBride then attacked someone else offering to help. “A guy that big can snap a woman’s neck like a pencil stick,” Kai told a local Fox News affiliate. “So I f–king ran up behind him with a hatchet. Smash, smash, SUH-MASH!”
“I was blown away, absolutely blown away,” cameraman Terry Woods told the Netflix documentary. “Because you looked at him, little rough around the edges and then you see the treasure he truly was.” Jessob Reisbeck, the FOX reporter, recalled that “the first thing he wanted to do was send a loving message to whoever sees this interview. And it’s powerful, it gives me goosebumps.” Indeed, Kai told the news crew: “No matter what you done you deserve respect. Even if you’ve made mistakes, you’re lovable. And it doesn’t matter your looks, skill, age or size, you’re worthwhile. No one can ever take that away from you.”
Hailed a hero nationwide, Kai’s dynamic retelling of the incident even landed an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and interviews with VICE. Merely months later though, Kai was arrested for beating a 73-year-old lawyer to death in New Jersey. Kai had apparently met Galfy in New York’s Times Square after spending the night prior sleeping in the Port Authority bus terminal.
The attorney allegedly offered Kai a ride and a place to stay at his home in Clark, New Jersey. Kai was given a few beers and hamburgers, which he told New Jersey police after his arrest that he believed they had been drugged, saying: “He had made some burgers, then I don’t remember much after that. I woke up on his floor, he was trying to take my pants down and I started hitting him. I just blacked out.”
Kai maintained it was an act of self-defense. “I was under the influence of god knows what and there is, for all intents and purposes, a naked man over the top of me sexually assaulting me,” he said in an interview with Vocativ from 2016. “I fought tooth and nail.On the street, like, don’t get me wrong, I’m a nice guy and stuff. But if you’re sleeping underneath a train bridge and you wake up in a situation like that, you gotta fight for your life. It’s just a fact for survival on the streets.”
A friend asked the police to check in on Galfy after his newspapers started to build up in his driveway, which was out of character for the lawyer as he always collected his paper at the beginning of each day. This is how his body was discovered.Investigators used surveillance footage and phone data, among others pieces of evidence, to identify Kai as a suspect and he was arrested in Philadelphia a few days later.
Prosecutors didn’t buy his claim of self-defense, saying Kai’s statements were inconsistent and cited the victim’s extensive injuries—including “numerous serious blunt-force injuries to his face, head, neck, chest, and arms, including three skull fractures, four broken ribs, and severe contusions, abrasions, and bleeding,” as reported by CBS New York at the time. They also said the cutting of his long hair indicated his guilt and that he was trying to change his appearance to avoid capture. Prosecutors also told the jury that a list of sex offenders was found in Kai’s bag and suggested that he was seeking “vigilante justice”—a point rehashed in the Netflix documentary.
It took the case six years to get to trial but only four weeks to convict Kai after he appeared in court. He was found guilty and sentenced to 57 years behind bars. Union County Superior Court Judge Robert Kirsch said to him at the time of sentencing: “You are crafty, you are cunning, you are disingenuous, and you are manipulative,” Kirsch told Kai, describing numerous ways in which the convicted attempted to cover his tracks. “And when you become eligible for parole, you will still be younger than Mr. Galfy was when you murdered him.”
Kai must serve at least 85 percent of the term before the possibility of parole, under the terms of his sentence. “Do I feel bad that he’s dead? It’s a human life, [so] I mean yeah,” Kai said during the piece with Vocativ. “Do I feel bad that he raped me? I feel embarrassed like I think it’s disgusting. I feel all sorts of emotions and stuff that I wouldn’t wish on anyone else.”
In August 2021, Kai bid to have his murder conviction overturned, citing the jury was justified by the evidence and that prosecutors “committed misconduct by mischaracterizing the evidence” and Kai’s defense, per the Associated Press. He also accused the trial judge of improperly allowing highly prejudicial expert testimony.
The appeals court noted that the medical examiner’s testimony showed Galfy’s injuries were so severe that they were the result of “far more than just an effort to thwart a sexual advance,” in the opinion of the trial judge. “The record does not suggest a miscarriage of justice occurred,” the two-judge panel wrote.
The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker is available to stream on Netflix.
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FAQs
Where Is Kai the Hitchhiker Now? The Viral Online Star Was Charged With Murder Months After Saving A Woman’s Life? ›
For the murder of New Jersey attorney Joseph Galfy, Kai the Hitchhiker is imprisoned at Union County Jail in Elizabeth, New Jersey, listed as inmate number 210329.
What happened to Kai the hitchhiker? ›In 2013, Kai and his hatchet went viral after saving the day. Then, as a new Netflix documentary details, the merry nomad whose real name is Caleb McGillivary ended up in prison for murder.
Where is Kai the homeless hitchhiker? ›NEW JERSEY (PIX11) — The story of Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker, who's behind bars in New Jersey for the murder of a 74-year-old man, is now being shared by Netflix. Kai, whose real name is Caleb McGillivary, rose to fame as a hero in 2013. At the time, a video of him recounting a woman's rescue went viral.
Where is Kai Lawrence now? ›He was given a 57-year jail term after being found guilty of first-degree murder. He filed an appeal in 2021 but was unsuccessful. Kai is still incarcerated at Trenton's New Jersey State Prison.
Where is Jett McBride now? ›He was deemed insane in trial and actually got out of it relatively lucky, as he was initially charged with attempted murder and was then found not guilty on that count. It's believed McBride is currently a patient at Atascadero State Hospital in California.
Who is the mother of Kai the hitchhiker? ›McGillvary's parents are Shirley Stromberg and Gil McGillvary. The couple divorced when McGillvary was just four years old, and they told The Star-Ledger that their son struggled with behavioral issues, spending years in hospitals and treatment facilities.
Was Kai sentenced to 57 years? ›He was sentenced to 57 years in prison.
McGillvary called the trial a "sham" that "railroaded an innocent man,” at his sentencing, per NJ.com. He was was sentenced to 57 years in prison, according to CBS News. In 2021, McGillvary also attempted to get his murder conviction overturned, to no avail, the AP reported.
According to NJ.com, McGillvary is still serving his sentence at New Jersey State Prison in Trent and has a release date in October 2061. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker is available to watch on Netflix now.
Is Kai the hitchhiker guilty or innocent? ›A jury found Kai guilty of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to 57 years in prison. The subsequent fall-out was instantly notable, unsurprisingly. Kai went from being seen as a hero to be being reviled by many. The press were all over the story of a fallen hero.
Where is Caleb McGillvary now? ›McGillvary is currently in prison for the murder of a New Jersey man until 2061, and family has largely stayed out of the spotlight.
Why did Kai hit someone with a hatchet? ›
Police tracked down Kai at a Philadelphia bus station and Kai confessed to the killing, alleging that he attacked Galfy in self-defence after the lawyer, whom he met in Times Square and offered him a place to stay, drugged and sexually assaulted him the night before.
Is Kai the Hitchhiker native? ›Caleb Lawrence McGillvary (born September 3, 1988), also referred to as Kai, is a Canadian man who first became known from the internet viral video "Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker", which featured him recounting a crime he witnessed while hitchhiking.
What mental illness did Kai have? ›2 Caleb 'Kai' McGillvary Had Issues With His Mental Health
Kai's parents revealed that he had had behavioral struggles and was institutionalized for a while. Kai's father, Gil, also claimed that the hitchhiker had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
McGillvary went to jail in 2019 and is expected to remain there until 2061. He's currently serving time in Trenton, N.J., according to NJ.com. You can watch more of McGillvary's story on Netflix, where The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker is streaming now.
What is Jett McBride's diagnosis? ›He believes that McBride's mental health diagnosis at the time of the incident with McGillvary was bipolar disorder. “Even when he presented himself in court, he presented himself well, but he had some bizarre belief system — he talked about being watched in a strange way,” Baly said.
Does Kai the hitchhiker have parents? ›Kai Lawrence's father, Gil McGillivary, claims he lost custody of his son after getting divorced. Very few details are shared about Kai's father in the documentary. But per a Daily Mail interview conducted in 2013, his biological father, Gil McGillivary, shared details about Kai's upbringing.
Who is Kai McGillvary's brother? ›St. Paul Education administration confirmed that McGillivary was a former student at the high school but could not comment further. Shortly after the Netflix documentary was released, Joshua Stromberg, McGillivary's brother, made a social media post, stating he gets asked often if Caleb or 'Kai' is his brother.
How did Kai meet Joseph Galfy? ›As we learn in the doc, Kai met Joseph in Times Square one day, and Joseph offered to help him buy a train ticket so he could get to where he needed to be. Kai stayed the night at Joseph's home, and Kai alleges that Joseph drugged him and sexually assaulted him.
What happened to homeless Kai? ›Where is Kai, the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker now? He is serving a 57-year prison sentence in Trenton for the first-degree murder of Joseph Galfry Jr., 73. McGillivary was convicted of killing the North Jersey lawyer in his Clark home after they met in Times Square.
Is the hatchet wielding hitchhiker still in jail? ›McGillvary went to jail in 2019 and is expected to remain there until 2061. He's currently serving time in Trenton, N.J., according to NJ.com. You can watch more of McGillvary's story on Netflix, where The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker is streaming now.
What was Lawrence Kai's sentence? ›
A jury found Lawrence guilty of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 57 years in prison. In August 2021, he failed to overturn the conviction, it was reported by NBC. In January 2020, Lawrence spoke with Inside Edition in which he continued to state that he had acted in self-defense.
Where is Caleb Lawrence now? ›Lawrence has been in prison following his arrest in 2013, and in 2019 he was sentenced to 57 years, following a trial. The jury found Lawrence guilty of the first-degree murder of 73-year-old lawyer Joseph Galfy at the end of a four week trial.
Is hatchet wielding hitchhiker true? ›Is 'The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker' based on a true story? Yes! McGillvary (a.k.a. Kai) is a very real person, and the story the documentary tells is factual.
How old is the guy from hatchet? ›The main character in Hatchet, Brian Robeson, is a thirteen-year-old boy from New York City. This novel primarily deals with themes of man and nature as well as of self-awareness and self-actualization, mainly through Brian's experiences living alone in the wilderness.
Is Kai a serial killer? ›Kai, whose real name is Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, is a convicted murderer who rose to fame after a news report about him went viral in 2013.
Was Kai actually guilty? ›After a four-week trial, a jury found Kai guilty of first-degree murder in the case of Joseph Galfy. During Kai's sentencing, the judge again warned him to "keep your mouth shut" following a series of expletive-laden outbursts.
Does Kai get in trouble? ›It took the case six years to get to trial but only four weeks to convict Kai after he appeared in court. He was found guilty and sentenced to 57 years behind bars.
Who is the most intelligent in Hitchhikers Guide? ›Who is the most intelligent living being in the world? The novel, Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy by Douglas Adams, is an intriguing piece of science fiction in which every moment something unpredictable happens. In the novel, he shows mice as the most intelligent species on the planet Earth, even smarter than humans.
Who are the main characters in hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? ›- Arthur Dent. Along with Ford Prefect, Arthur Dent barely escapes the Earth's destruction as it is demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. ...
- Ford Prefect. ...
- Zaphod Beeblebrox. ...
- Marvin the Paranoid Android. ...
- Trillian. ...
- Slartibartfast.
Arthur Dent, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
man the protagonist of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." He discovers his house is about to be demolished to make way for a new road, shortly before the Earth itself is demolished to make way for a new intergalactic road.
What mental illness did Kai have in the hitchhiker? ›
2 Caleb 'Kai' McGillvary Had Issues With His Mental Health
Kai's parents revealed that he had had behavioral struggles and was institutionalized for a while. Kai's father, Gil, also claimed that the hitchhiker had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Kai is currently serving his sentence at New Jersey State Prison and isn't eligible for parole until October 27, 2061, according to Decider. He filed to appeal his sentence in 2021 but was denied.
What did Kai the hatchet wielding hitchhiker do? ›Kai intervened, removing a hatchet from his bag and repeatedly striking McBride's head. A local reporter interviewed Kai afterward, and the hitchhiker's retelling of the incident on camera turned him into a viral sensation — but the story only gets wilder (and unfortunately, darker) from there.
Is Kai suing Netflix? ›McGillvary, also known as Kai the Hitchhiker, is at the center of said documentary and claimed when it came out that the company was “ruthlessly exploiting a hero's life story for money.” He has now filed a lawsuit to that effect.
What was Kai's mental health diagnosis? ›Kai's story. Kai suffered from long-term serious mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from childhood abuse. He faced homelessness following the breakdown of his relationship with his family.
What disorder does Kai Parker have? ›Psychosis (Kai Parker) - T. B. - Wattpad. Psychosis: A mental disorder characterized by a disconnection from reality. Bree has never harmed anyone in her life.
Who is Kai the Hitchhiker parents? ›McGillvary's parents are Shirley Stromberg and Gil McGillvary. The couple divorced when McGillvary was just four years old, and they told The Star-Ledger that their son struggled with behavioral issues, spending years in hospitals and treatment facilities.
When did hitchhiker pick up Brian? ›NEW YORK (WABC) -- A woman told "Good Morning America" that she picked up Brian Laundrie as he hitchhiked alone in Wyoming. She picked him up on August 29, four days after the last time Gabby Petito is known to have called her family.
Who is suing Netflix? ›Taylor Hazlewood, a 27-year-old respiratory therapist who lives in Kentucky, is suing Netflix for defamation after they used a personal picture of him holding a hatchet in a 2023 documentary “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker,” according to his lawsuit, which was filed in a Texas court.
Why is a Kentucky man suing Netflix for using his photo in a true crime documentary? ›Kentucky man sues Netflix for misuse of his photo in true crime documentary about killer. Taylor Hazlewood is suing the streamer for defamation and misappropriation of likeness after one of his Instagram photos appeared in the documentary The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker.
What show is suing Netflix? ›
Now, He's Suing. A Kentucky man is suing Netflix for using his image in “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker,” a documentary about an internet folk hero turned convicted murderer.