In The News

Accused serial killer convicted for bizarre plot

As news spread this weekend of the first felony conviction for accused serial killer Bruce Mendenhall, few were happier to hear the news than Lori Young.

“I was thinking, ‘justice,’” Young told Land Line Monday morning, Jan. 18. “This is one down. There is a lot to go.”

Mendenhall was found guilty on three counts of solicitation to commit murder, stemming from his attempts to arrange for contract killings of Young and two other acquaintances of Mendenhall.

Tennessee prosecutors attempted to convict Mendenhall for contracting the slayings of five people since he has been behind bars for more than two years.

Mendenhall ordered hits on Young, David Powell and Richard Keim, and detectives Pat Postiglione and Mike Freemen, the two main investigators in Mendenhall’s original case.

Young spent four days riding in Mendenhall’s truck in 2002, and later moved to Albion, IL and rented a house from Mendenhall. Powell, a convicted sex offender, and Keim both hung out with Mendenhall. Powell reportedly once dated Mendenhall’s daughter.

Mendenhall has been in jail in Davidson County, TN, since July 2007 after being charged for the deaths of four women, including Sara Hulbert, Symantha Winters, Lucille “Gretna” Carter, and Carma Purpora. Police suspect his involvement in at least three other killings.

Young is now married to OOIDA Member Kenneth Young.

She and her husband have mostly stayed under the radar since learning of Mendenhall’s 2007 plot to kill her. Young said she’s looking forward to seeing Mendenhall’s next trial, slated for May.

“My heart goes out to the families of the murder victims,” Young said. “I’m looking forward to them having peace, and some kind of closure.”

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