With his intriguing tale, Kai, the affable hitchhiker who went viral after using a hatchet to avert an attack, has captivated the attention of the general public. Kai, whose real name is Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, gained national attention in 2013 for his bravery in stopping a violent confrontation.
Since then, both in and out of the spotlight, his journey has taken surprising detours. For those who have heard Kai the Hitchhiker’s fantastic story, the question “Where is Kai the Hitchhiker now?” remains. Examining his life after going viral reveals a nuanced tale that highlights the erratic nature of celebrity and the unsolved question of Kai’s present location.
Where is Kai the Hitchhiker Now?
Following his apprehension, Kai was imprisoned until his 2019 trial. He was convicted guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 57 years in prison. In 2021, he attempted an appeal but was not successful. Kai remains a prisoner at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.
What Did Kai the Hitchhiker Do?
McGillvary was back in the news three months later, in May 2013, this time due to his arrest on suspicion of killing New Jersey lawyer Joseph Galfy by beating him. According to the Associated Press, McGillvary claimed he was defending himself against a sexual assault after encountering Galfy in Times Square.
What Happened to the ‘Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker?’
The authorities had the nomad on their wanted list only months after Kai’s interview went viral. According to People, when detectives discovered evidence linking Kai to the crime, they found the 73-year-old man had been battered to death in his New Jersey home.
According to Esquire, Kai was detained for the murder of Joseph Galfy, a man he met in Times Square in May 2013 after moving to New York City from the West Coast.
When authorities discovered Kai at a bus stop in Philadelphia, he admitted to the murder. Still, he said that he had acted in self-defense after Galfy had reportedly sexually attacked him. CNN noted at the time that he entered a not-guilty plea and was detained on a $3 million bond after being judged dangerous. Then, in 2019, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and given a 57-year prison term after serving six years in jail while awaiting trial.
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Who Is Kai, AKA Caleb Lawrence McGillvary?
In February of 2013, a viral video introduced the world to Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, better known as Kai. Having grown up in Canada, he was then 24 years old and leading a nomadic life in the United States.
Kai was traveling to Fresno, California while hitchhiking when he shot the video that went viral. When Kai was hitchhiking, he informed news station KMPH that Jett Simmons McBride picked him up.
According to Kai, during the ride, McBride told the nomad that he had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl. Kai continued by saying that McBride intentionally struck a pedestrian with the car.
Tanya Baker, a spectator, rushed to assist after the bike stopped after hitting a pedestrian, but McBride attacked her. Kai claimed that at that moment, he intervened and struck McBride with a hatchet to halt the attack.
“A man with that much size may break a woman’s neck as easily as a pencil. With a hatchet in hand, I f–king ran up behind him. “Smashed, smashed, sucked up!” In the viral interview, Kai recounted.
“No matter what you’ve done, you deserve respect,” Kai said in a heartfelt plea to the camera. You’re lovable despite your mistakes.” His comments went viral, resulting in an autotuned song that received 11 million views.
A follow-up interview with Kai was published by KMPH a few days later, and it suggested that he might have been more troubled than initially believed.
