Serial Murder | Office of Justice Programs (2024)

FAQs

Who was the first ever serial killer? ›

H.H. Holmes (born May 16, 1861?, Gilmanton, New Hampshire, U.S.—died May 7, 1896, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American swindler and confidence trickster who is widely considered the country's first known serial killer. Born: May 16, 1861?, Gilmanton, New Hampshire, U.S.

In the US alone, the FBI estimates there are between 25 to 50 active serial killers at any given time, despite the authorities not being aware of them or connecting the killings together. On a worldwide scale, this estimate is certainly larger, but only a handful of serial killer cases are confirmed to be unsolved.

In 1998, López was declared sane and released on $70 bail, on the condition that he would periodically report to the authorities; he almost immediately absconded. The last reported sighting of López was in September 1999, when he visited the National Civil Registry to renew his citizenship card.

Samuel Little (né McDowell; June 7, 1940 – December 30, 2020) was an American serial killer who confessed to murdering 93 people, nearly all women, between 1970 and 2005.

Eight-year-old Amarjeet Sada was all smiles when he was brought to the police station in 2007 in connection with the murder of an infant. Sada, known as the world's youngest serial killer, was held after three murders, two of which went unreported.

Serial Killers, State by State

It's worth noting that while these crimes evoke shock and horror, they constitute less than 1% of total homicides. Key findings from the data include: New York tops the list with 18 recorded serial killers, followed by California, which recorded 15 known serial killers.

Another myth that exists is that serial killers have either a debilitating mental condition, or they are extremely clever and intelligent. As a group, serial killers suffer from a variety of personality disorders, including psychopathy, anti-social personality, and others.

Mao Zedong may have killed the most people in history, but other leaders have similar body counts. One such leader is Genghis Khan.

Richard Ramirez's Teeth

At least two survivors, including Lillian Doi, told police Ramirez had bad teeth following their encounters. During Ramirez's trial, his father claimed his son was in El Paso, Texas, in May 1985, when he had allegedly raped three women and murdered one.

How many black serial killers are there? ›

In addition, 82 percent of American serial killers were white, 15 percent were black, and 2.5 percent were Hispanic. Eighty- seven percent operated alone, while 10 percent committed their crimes in pairs or groups. Some committed their crimes in specific geographic areas, while others traveled widely.

After his release, authorities have reportedly attempted to track him down, but Pedro Lopez's whereabouts remain unknown even today. According to the Daily Star, Lopez claimed he was killing three girls every week during the peak of his killing spree.

Pedro Lopez, 1903 - 1960

Pedro married Lorenza Lopez (born Martinez). Lorenza was born on month day 1906, in birth place, Texas. They had 11 children: Ernesto Lopez Martinez, Jesus Martinez Lopez and 9 other children. Pedro lived in 1930, in address, Texas.

Shipman was eventually charged with the murder of 15 women and found guilty on 31 January 2000. It was clear that he had covered his tracks by altering records and falsifying death certificates. On every level he had abused the trust that his patients put in him.

Ancient crime

The first recorded crime of murder is believed to have occurred some 430,000 years ago; it was an act perpetrated by what were known as hom*o heidelbergensis or hom*o antecessor. It may have even been another species, but archaic hom*o sapien is a safe bet and covers all bases.

Bright Young Women is inspired by the real-life sorority targeted by America's first 'celebrity' serial killer, Ted Bundy.

However, attorney Jeff Mudgett, Holmes' great-great-grandson, claimed that it was indeed H. Holmes, who was never caught, who turned out to be Jack the Ripper.