The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker

2023 - 1 - 10

Kai the Hitchhiker

Post cover — Image courtesy of "PEOPLE.com"

Netflix Examines Tragic Story Surrounding 'Hatchet-Wielding ... (PEOPLE.com)

After a bizarre TV interview made him internet-famous, Kai Lawrence was convicted of murdering a man.

When Lawrence was located at a Philadelphia bus station, he admitted to killing Galfy, but claimed it was self-defense following an alleged sexual assault. But things took a tragic turn after his brush with internet fame, and in 2019, he was convicted of murder. Lawrence, who was still homeless, headed to New York shortly after his newfound fame. The film, directed by Colette Camden, tells the story of a troubled Canadian hitchhiker who got famous, at least momentarily, thanks to a viral meme in 2013. The media swarmed around Lawrence, who seemingly faced mental health struggles of his own. Lawrence was invited onto everything from reality shows to late-night TV, and even

What Netflix's Kai Lawrence documentary Hatchet Wielding ... (digitalspy.com)

Netflix's latest true crime documentary revisits the viral story of Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, but doesn't go into detail about Kai's trial or recent news ...

He spent nearly six years behind bars while waiting for his trial, and it's been reported that Kai studied law and filed a number of lawsuits making allegations against the authorities for the way he believed the case was handled (via [NJ.com](https://www.nj.com/union/2016/05/kai_the_hitchhiker_wages_legal_battle_from_jail_fi.html)). "We sincerely thank the jury for their service and hope that today's verdict brings some measure of solace to Mr Galfy's family, friends, and loved ones." They also put forward that the injuries sustained by Galfy were extensive and, at trial, it was testified by a medical examiner that they were inconsistent with self defence. But prosecutors believed that they had arrested a dangerous suspect, telling Kai alleged that Galfy had attempted to sexually assault him again, but that this time he had fought back. [NJ.com](https://www.nj.com/union/2021/08/viral-internet-star-kai-the-hitchhiker-loses-appeal-of-his-nj-murder-conviction.html)). When police picked up Kai, he claimed that the killing had been in self-defence. [NJ.com](https://www.nj.com/union/2019/04/kai-the-hitchhiker-found-guilty-of-beating-73-year-old-nj-man-to-death.html)). It was here that they found video of Galfy and Kai together. [said at the time](https://www.nj.com/union/2019/04/kai-the-hitchhiker-found-guilty-of-beating-73-year-old-nj-man-to-death.html). The buzz lasted for a few months, despite many that came into contact with him experiencing alarm or unease at his behaviour. As is recalled in the Netflix documentary, the police found a piece of paper with Kai's name and number on it at Galfy's home.

What Happened to Kai, The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker Who Went ... (esquire.com)

A new Netflix documentary tells a dark tale of memes and murder.

As the talking heads in the documentary observe: “There was something funny about him, and kind of cute, sweet and innocent.” But authorities claimed his statements were inconsistent, that the sexual encounter was consensual and the violent murder premeditated. In the video interview, McGillvary said: “A guy that big can snap a woman's neck like a pencil stick. In February 2013, KMPH was sent out to cover what appeared to be the scene of an attack in Fresno, California. Kai was a have-a-go hero who, when the driver of the car he was travelling in smashed into a pedestrian and threatened a woman trying to help, jumped up, pulled a hatchet out of his bag and hit the guy with the blunt end over the head. The story was ripe for the internet.

Where is Kai, the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker now? (Radio Times)

The new Netflix documentary looks at how a 2013 viral star became the main victim in a murder inquiry just months after rising to fame.

[Sign up for Netflix from £6.99 a month](https://www.netflix.com/gb/). [subscribe now](http://radiotimes.com/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article). It is also available on [Sky Glass](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=radiotimes-1765052&awinmid=11005&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sky.com%2Fglass) and [Virgin Media Stream](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=radiotimes-1765052&awinmid=6399&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.virginmedia.com%2Ftv%2Fstreaming). Whilst awaiting trial, McGillvary was imprisoned for over five years before he took to the stand in April 2019. It’s just a fact for survival on the streets." "I ran in, I grabbed the keys, he's sitting there like nothing even happened," he said in the video. [Documentaries](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/) coverage or visit our [TV Guide](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/) and [Streaming Guide](https://www.radiotimes.com/streaming-guide/) to find out what's on. [a statement](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/former-internet-star-kai-the-hitchhiker-found-guilty-of-murder/). [Netflix](https://www.radiotimes.com/streaming/netflix/). [Vocativ](https://www.vocativ.com/335097/kai-the-hatchet-wielding-hitchhiker/) in 2016. [Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/true-crime/madoff-monster-wall-street-netflix-true-story/) and heard the story of mob boss [Dawood Ibrahim](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/true-crime/mumbai-mafia-true-story-dawood-ibrahim/) in Mumbai Mafia – but now the streamer is uncovering the dark side to a internet star in The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker. [learn more](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/commercial-links-on-radiotimes-com/))

Netflix's 'Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker' true-crime doc stars viral ... (nj.com)

Viral celebrity is, by its very nature, a fickle thing. We pump up a person with adoration and “likes” for a sliver of media — like a viral video — only to ...

[guilty of murdering Galfy](https://www.nj.com/union/2019/04/kai-the-hitchhiker-found-guilty-of-beating-73-year-old-nj-man-to-death.html). He alleged that the attorney, who offered him a place to stay after they met in Times Square, had drugged and sexually assaulted him before the attack at his Clark home. “Kimmel” even recruited him for movie review segments (the outtakes are something). The attack on the Fresno utility worker was being investigated as a hate crime. There was something unpredictable about him that put them on alert (maybe it was the whole hatchet thing ...). He had this kind of charm that made the harsh violence he was capable of (and proud of) somehow palatable — lovable, even — in the eyes of the public. The hitchhiker may have become a public figure, one who drew significant fanfare from people who recognized him on the street (and yelled out his “smash” refrain), but he didn’t have much regard for decorum. After Kai arrived in Hollywood, he made quick work of a hotel room bar, flashed a knife and was kicked off the premises for skateboarding. And he was always on the move. The hitchhiker, who was riding in the passenger seat of a man’s car, watched that man, [The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker](https://www.netflix.com/title/81436777),” a documentary directed by Colette Camden and released Tuesday, Jan. And that was just one part of the conversation.

Where is Kai Lawrence now? The true story of The Hatchet Wielding ... (cosmopolitan.com)

Netflix's newest true crime movie The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker features a face you may recognise from a viral meme nearly 10 years ago, Kai Lawrence.

Kai said he didn't do anything about it and left the house, hoping to stay with a fan. During the drive he crashed into a pedestrian on the side of the road and Kai got out of the car to help the individual. However, when the fan didn't show up he called Galfy and asked to stay at his home. Kai then proceeds to get a hatchet out of his bag and attacks McBridge in the head. However, whilst admitting to the murder, Kai claimed it was in self-defence. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker tells the story of Kai, a homeless man, who went viral in early 2013 for saving a woman's life by attacking the woman's assailant using a hatchet and "smashing" him around the head with it.

'The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker' Explained: What Led To Kai's ... (Digital Mafia Talkies)

Jessob Reisbeck, a sports reporter, was asked to cover the story of a man who ran into a Black construction worker with his vehicle, pinning him against a truck ...

He wanted to live the carefree life he was living, a life devoid of responsibilities. While the world wanted to believe in a selfless, home-free hitchhiker, at the end of the day, he turned out to be a hatchet-wielding murderer. Galfy dropped him off at the train station that morning, but by the evening, when he realized that he did not have a place to stay, he called Galfy and went back to his place. He started to believe that he could get away without facing any consequences for his actions now that he was famous. After the Jimmy Kimmel show, Kai was all the more famous. People who wanted to make him famous and were planning shows around him now wondered if he truly was the right choice. It was only Jessob who knew what it was like to spend time with Kai, but the more the others learned about him, the more they wondered if he was truly worth the hype. While Jessob attempted to discuss with him the various options he had now that he was famous, all Kai wanted to do was smoke weed. He did not know how popular he had become, and the only person who could contact him was Jessob Reisbeck. As she was struggling, the hitchhiker, who was seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle, went ahead and knocked McBride down with his hatchet. From expressing ourselves with the help of memes to making superstars out of ordinary people, thousands of lives have been altered simply because they said something funny online or had a weird picture taken that was “meme material.” “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker” follows the story of Kai and presents with the irony of how the internet celebrated a hitchhiker who “smashed” the head of a man trying to assault a woman with a hatchet. Jessob Reisbeck, a sports reporter, was asked to cover the story of a man who ran into a Black construction worker with his vehicle, pinning him against a truck and claiming to be Jesus Christ.