Investigator Doesn't Doubt Shermantine's Claim Of 70-Plus Victims

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - In his second letter to CBS13, convicted killer Wesley Shermantine said there were many more victims he pins on Loren Herzog and a third man who's never been caught.

That comes as no surprise to a private investigator who has been tracking the "Speed Freak Killers" case for 13 years.

Rob Dick started looking for Cyndi Vanderheiden in 2001. In the process of his investigation, the private investigator has compiled about 60 possible victims of the Herzog and Shermantine, who were convicted of killing four people, including Vanderheiden. Her remains were found last month on former Shermantine family property in San Andreas, along with those of Chevy Wheeler.

"I think there were more thrills and opportunity in the beginning until they found out they could abduct women and do whatever they wanted to them and make them disappear," Dick said told CBS13 on Thursday.

In his letter to CBS13, Shermantine put the number of victims at more than 70. Over the years the PI has focused on young women but believes victims include men and possibly children.

His list of possible victims on renegadeinvestigations.com continues to grow.

"Another problem is they said they traveled Nevada, here to Utah on hunts, hunting people. It just keeps expanding," Dick said.

His folder is a compilation of missing people from the 1980s and '90s throughout California.

"I think there are so many more we don't know about," Dick said.

Dick is partners with bounty hunter Leonard Padilla. The two have regular conversations with Shermantine, who is on death row at San Quentin. He believes there is now hope of finding victims in a killing spree more horrific and prolific than anyone imagined.

Investigators now are focusing on a second well where Shermantine said bodies were dumped.

"What I guess is scary is there is no tracking system," Dick said. "How many more do we not know are going to be down in those wells?"

In the same letter to CBS13, Shermantine revealed he recently he met with the mother of Joanne Hobson, who went missing from Stockton in 1985 at age 16, and told her he wasn't responsible for Hobson's murder.

Joan Shelly confirmed the meeting, saying, "Wesley promised me he would help me find Joann even if she wasn't in the first well, and I believe him. I believe he will keep his word with me."

As more victims are found, missing persons cases could be solved that were never thought to be connected to the "Speed Freak Killers."