Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker
Posted by Trin | Case Files | Viral Fame to Convicted Killer | California & New Jersey | 2013–2019 Introduction He became an internet sensation overnight—a free-spirited hitchhiker with a skateboard, a bandana, and a hatchet. Caleb Kai McGillvary, better known as “Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker,” was hailed as a hero for stopping an attacker in California. His quirky interview with a local news station racked up millions of views, turning him into a viral icon. But behind the fame was a man battling inner demons, past trauma, and instability. Just months after his rise to fame, Kai would be arrested for murder—and later sentenced to nearly six decades in prison. This isn’t just a story about viral fame. It’s a story about homelessness, mental health, trauma, and how quickly the world moves on when someone isn’t camera-ready anymore. Case Background Caleb Kai Lawrence McGillvary was a nomadic 24-year-old when he became known to the world. In February 2013, he was hitc...