Netflix has just released a true crime documentary titled “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker,” detailing the murder of Joseph Galfy. Was Joseph Galfy Gay? Who killed him? Many want to know.
The 1 hour 25 minutes documentary premiered on January 10, 2023.
The documentary follows a happy-go-lucky nomad, Kai’s rise to internet fame and the dramatic downfall that led to his imprisonment.
The show focus on the detail of the murder of Joseph and his killer Caleb Lawrence “Kai.”
It also reveals how the police used social media to find the killer. Caleb was sentenced to prison in 2019 for 57 years.
Although he attempted to appeal his conviction in 2021, he was rejected and is currently serving his sentence in New Jersey jail.
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Who Was Joseph Galfy? Was He Gay?
Joseph Galfy, born on October 15, 1939, was a lawyer and murder victim from Newark, New Jersey.
He was a partner of firms like Rahway, Kochanski, Baron, and Galfy PC.
In 1964, he earned his law degree from Seton Hall University and was a member of the Clark Chamber of Commerce.
Between 1965 and 1970, Joseph was also deployed as a major in the US Army. His friends describe him as a diligent, professional, and trustworthy guy.
Joseph Galfy (Source: The Cinemaholic)
The details about Joseph’s family are unknown.
He resided in the ranch-style home on Starlite Drive for fifteen or twenty years, but he was mostly by himself.
“Galfy lived in the home with another man,” said a neighbor, but the other man passed away years ago.
Considering the neighbor’s words and looking at the scenario, he was probably gay.
Joseph Galfy Death And Obituary
Joseph was a “highly reliable” worker who was never late to work.
But when he didn’t show up to the office and refused to pick up the phone, his co-worker got worried and called the police.
The police went to his house to check his well-being, where he was discovered unresponsive at around 2 pm.
The death was initially classified as suspicious, but after an examination, it was found to be a homicide.
Investigators did not discover any indication of a forced entry, a noticeable disturbance inside, or a theft.
The lawyer, at 73, was discovered dead at his home on May 13, 2013, and homicide was determined to be the cause of death.
According to his obituary in The Star-Ledger, Galfy was “a loyal brother, uncle, and friend, who liked traveling, the New York Giants, and music, and played in a wedding band for over 25 years.”
Who Killed Joseph Galfy?
The killer of Mr. Joseph was Caleb Lawrence, better known as Kai, the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker.
He got the nickname after being involved in an incident in 2013.
At that time, he was 24 years old and homeless when he was offered a ride by an odd man, who later hit a bystander and attacked a woman.
Caleb saved the woman by hitting him with a hatchet and became an overnight sensation.
Kai In His Famous Interview (Source: High On Films)
The colorful way Kai told the news station the violent story caught the viewers’ attention.
As a result, the video gained widespread media attention and became viral.
The internet star met Galfy in Times Square and was invited back to stay in the guest room of Galfy’s house because he was homeless.
But, he alleged that Joseph drugged and sexually assaulted and fought back in self-defense.
How Was Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker Caught?
According to the documentary, Kai’s name and phone number were written on a piece of paper that the police discovered at Joseph’s house.
Moreover, they discovered a train ticket, which prompted them to search through the train station’s CCTV footage, and they found a video of Galfy and Kai together.
After his arrest, Kai confessed to the authorities and told them that he had killed the old man in self-defense.
He went into detail about how Joesph had invited him to stay at his home but instead drugged and sexually assaulted him.
The police and the prosecution claim that there were no indications of a struggle and that Lawerence’s body lacked any defensive injuries.
They also claimed that Galfy’s wounds were severe, and a medical examiner testified at the trial that they weren’t fit with self-defense.
Many of his fans, who believed he was innocent, launched a campaign to raise money for his defense after his arrest.
However, prosecutors thought they had captured a dangerous suspect.
Before his initial court appearance, Kai Lawrence was detained on a $3 million bond.
He claimed not to have committed the crime, and while he was held in prison awaiting trial, almost six years passed.
Finally, Lawrence was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2019 and given a 57-year jail sentence.
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