Loren Joseph Herzog was born on December 8, 1965, in Linden, California. He grew up in a small town with fewer than 2,000 residents. Loren lived on the same street as a boy named Wesley "Wes" Howard Shermantine, who became his close friend. The two boys had few other friends in their neighborhood, so they spent a lot of time together.

Loren and Wes both loved outdoor activities like hunting and fishing. They spent much of their childhood exploring the countryside in San Joaquin County. When they reached high school, they attended Linden High School and graduated together in 1984. After school, they continued to hang out and engaged in activities that included drinking alcohol and using drugs, especially methamphetamine.

Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine, known as the "Speed Freak Killers," committed a series of murders in California, primarily during the 1980s and 1990s. Herzog's involvement began to come to light when Cyndi Vanderheiden, a 25-year-old woman, went missing after last seen with the two men on November 14, 1998.

After a lengthy investigation, authorities focused on Shermantine, who was the prime suspect. In early 1999, a search of Shermantine's repossessed vehicle revealed blood belonging to Vanderheiden. This spurred law enforcement to question Herzog extensively. During these interrogations, Herzog shared incriminating details about various murders, including that of a hunter in Utah in 1994, a case that had been unresolved. He also described Shermantine shooting Henry Howell along a highway.

On March 17, 1999, both Herzog and Shermantine were arrested and charged with multiple murders. By 2001, Shermantine was convicted of four murders, including Vanderheiden's. Herzog faced five murder charges and was found guilty of three counts.

However, in 2004, an appeals court overturned Herzog's earlier convictions, ruling that his confessions had been coerced. This led to a plea bargain, resulting in Herzog pleading guilty to lesser charges. His sentence was significantly reduced, leading to his release on parole in 2010 after serving 11 years.

Herzog's life ended tragically in January 2012 when he committed suicide shortly after being informed that Shermantine intended to reveal the locations of potential victims' remains. Following Herzog's death, Shermantine directed law enforcement to several sites linked to their crimes, leading to the discovery of remains belonging to multiple victims over the following years.

Despite the recovery of some remains, the true extent of Herzog and Shermantine’s crimes remains uncertain. They are believed to be responsible for at least 19 murders and potentially many more, as they are thought to have targeted victims randomly throughout their murderous spree.