1. Ted Bundy: Known for his charm, Ted Bundy confessed to 36 murders but is suspected of many more. His ability to blend into society while committing heinous acts makes him one of the most infamous serial killers in America.
2. John Wayne Gacy: Dubbed the ‘Killer Clown,’ Gacy took at least 33 lives. He disguised his sinister actions behind the makeup of a clown at community events, making his story all the more chilling.
3. Jack the Ripper: This unidentified figure terrorized London in 1888, targeting women and leaving gruesome clues. The mystery of his identity continues to intrigue and frighten people.
4. Jeffrey Dahmer: The ‘Milwaukee Cannibal’ killed 17 men, indulging in cannibalism and necrophilia. His disturbing actions and demeanor continue to captivate true crime followers.
5. H.H. Holmes: Known for his ‘Murder Castle,’ Holmes is one of America’s first serial killers. He lured victims into his specially constructed building during the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.
6. Dennis Rader: The ‘BTK Killer’ evaded capture for decades, boasting through letters about his crimes. His moniker stands for ‘Bind, Torture, Kill,’ a chilling summary of his methods.
7. Zodiac Killer: Never caught, this elusive killer taunted police with cryptic letters and claimed to have killed 37 people in California during the late 1960s.
8. David Berkowitz: As ‘Son of Sam,’ Berkowitz caused widespread panic in New York City during the 1970s. His supposed motivations and court testimonies have been the subject of much speculation.
9. Pedro Lopez: Dubbed the ‘Monster of the Andes,’ Lopez’s horrific actions are believed to have claimed over 300 lives. His story remains one of the most terrifying in the annals of serial murder.
10. Andrei Chikatilo: Known as the ‘Butcher of Rostov,’ this Russian serial killer was responsible for at least 52 murders. His crimes against women and children cast a long shadow over Soviet-era Russia.
1. Aileen Wuornos: Known as ‘The Damsel of Death,’ Wuornos was a prostitute who killed seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. Her claim of self-defense drew attention to her complex, tragic life.
2. Elizabeth Báthory: Dubbed ‘The Blood Countess,’ she was rumored to bathe in the blood of young women. Her dark legacy from the 16th century continues to haunt history.
3. Belle Gunness: ‘Hell’s Belle’ was known for murdering men who responded to her personal ads. Active in the Midwest, she may have killed over 40 people.
4. Jane Toppan: This nurse confessed to killing dozens, experimenting with her victims and claiming to have been aroused during the act. Her macabre actions made her one of the era’s most talked-about figures.
5. Mary Ann Cotton: Often referred to as Britain’s first female serial killer, she used arsenic to poison her victims. Her calculated murders were driven by financial gain.
6. Nannie Doss: Known as ‘The Giggling Granny,’ she married and murdered several husbands, along with family members, across several decades.
7. Amelia Dyer: A ‘baby farmer,’ Dyer was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 400 infants, highlighting the dark side of Victorian-era adoption practices.
8. Dorothea Puente: The ‘Death House Landlady’ killed her boarders for financial gain. Her manipulative charm allowed her to evade suspicion for a considerable time.
9. Leonarda Cianciulli: As ‘The Soap-Maker of Correggio,’ she turned her victims into soap and cakes in a bid to protect her children, a chilling tale from 20th century Italy.
10. Myra Hindley: Infamous for the ‘Moors Murders,’ her partnership with Ian Brady in the 1960s led to one of the most reviled series of crimes in British history.