Where is Kai the Hitchhiker Now? What an Unexpected Turn in His Story?

By Rahul Rajput On Dec 24, 2023

Where is Kai the Hitchhiker Now? People all over the world are interested in Kai, the friendly traveler whose story went viral after he used a hatchet to stop an attack. Kai, whose real name is Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, became famous all over the country in 2013 for stopping a fight with bravery.

His journey has taken some unexpected turns since then, both in and out of the press. There is still the question “Where is Kai the Hitchhiker now?” for people who have heard his amazing story.

When you look at his life after going viral, you can see a complicated story that shows how unstable fame can be and leaves you wondering where Kai is now.

Where is Kai the Hitchhiker Now?

Kai was put in jail after being caught and will not be tried until 2019. He was found guilty of murder in the first degree and given a 57-year prison term. In 2021, he tried to file an appeal but failed. Kai is still locked up at the Trenton, New Jersey, State Prison.

What Did Kai the Hitchhiker Do?

After three months, in May 2013, McGillvary was back in the news because he was being held on suspicion of beating New Jersey lawyer Joseph Galfy to death.

The Associated Press reports that McGillvary said he was protecting himself from a sexual attack when he ran into Galfy in Times Square.

What Happened to the “Hitchhiker With a Hatchet”?

The traveler was on the police’s list of people they wanted to catch just a few months after Kai’s interview went viral. People say that when police found proof linking Kai to the crime, they found that the 73-year-old man had been killed in his New Jersey home by being beaten.

Newsweek says Kai was arrested for killing Joseph Galfy, a guy he met in Times Square in May 2013 after moving to New York City from the West Coast.

Kai admits to killing the person when he was caught by police at a Philadelphia bus stop. Still, he said he had moved in self-defense because Galfy was said to have sexually assaulted him. CNN said at the time that he pleaded not guilty and was held on a $3 million bond because he was thought to be risky.

Then, in 2019, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and given a 57-year prison sentence. He had already been in jail for six years while he waited for his trial.

Read More: Where Is Steven Avery Now? How He Survives And Copes With His Long-Term Sentence

Who is Kai, Whose Real Name is Caleb Lawrence McGillvary?

A movie that went viral in February 2013 showed the world Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, who goes by the name Kai. He was 24 years old and living a wandering life in the United States. He had grown up in Canada.

The video that became popular was made by Kai while he was hitchhiking to Fresno, California. Kai told the news station KMPH that Jett Simmons McBride picked him up while he was traveling.

Kai says that McBride told the traveler that he had sex with a 14-year-old girl during the ride. Kai went on to say that McBride hit a person with the car on purpose.

A spectator named Tanya Baker rushed to help when the bike stopped after hitting a person on foot, but McBride struck her. Kai said that he stepped in and hit McBride with a knife to stop the attack at that very moment.

It would be easy for that big of a man to break a woman’s neck. I f–king ran up behind him with a hatchet in my hand. It was “smashed, smashed, sucked up!” In the conversation that went viral, Kai talked about.

“You deserve respect no matter what you’ve done,” Kai begged the camera from the bottom of his heart. Even though you make mistakes, you’re still loved. His words got a lot of attention and led to an autotuned song that got 11 million views.

A few days later, KMPH released an interview with Kai that made it seem like he might have been more upset than they first thought.

Conclusion

Kai the Hitchhiker, real name Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, became famous in 2013 for stopping an attack with a hatchet. He was arrested in 2013 and found guilty of first-degree murder and a 57-year prison term. In 2021, he tried to file an appeal but failed.

Kai was arrested in May 2013 for allegedly beating New Jersey lawyer Joseph Galfy in Times Square. He pleaded not guilty and was held on a $3 million bond.

In 2019, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 57 years in prison. His story highlights the instability of fame and the importance of respect and love.