You may remember the story from when it first went viral in 2013: Kai Lawrence, an unhoused hitchhiker making his way through Fresno, California, took a ride from Jett Simmons McBride, a man who confessed a series of disturbing crimes, claiming to be the second coming of Christ. When McBride smashed his car into a pedestrian in broad daylight, a female bystander came to help and was then allegedly assaulted by the driver. Kai intervened, removing a hatchet from his bag and repeatedly striking McBride’s head. A local reporter interviewed Kai afterward, and the hitchhiker’s retelling of the incident on camera turned him into a viral sensation — but the story only gets wilder (and unfortunately, darker) from there. In The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, a new documentary that premiered on Jan. 10, filmmaker Colette Camden unpacks the tragic aftermath of Kai’s internet fame. 

Who is Kai, the hatchet wielding hitchhiker?

The subject of the film goes by Kai Lawrence. Originally from Edmonton, Canada, he was born Caleb Lawrence McGillvary. Kai went viral in 2013 after a news station aired a video of him describing how he stopped McBride from further harming the bystander in question: He used a hatchet to “smash, smash, smash” McBride’s head in. 

Where is Kai Lawrence now? 

Kai was arrested later in 2013  for the death of a New Jersey attorney named Joseph Galfy. According to Kai, Galfy drugged and raped him after offering him a place to stay for the night. After Kai was charged, fans from his days of  viral fame raised a legal fund for him — he defended himself on the stand, but was ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 57 years in prison. 

Where can I watch The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker? 

The documentary is available to watch on Netflix now.