A serial killer is a person who murders two or more people in separate events, usually for abnormal psychological gratification, thrill-seeking, attention, or financial gain. The FBI differentiates serial killing from mass murder or spree killing by the presence of a cooling-off period between victims. For this reason, mass murderers, such as school shooters and suicide bombers, are not included under the umbrella of serial killers. Serial murders are further defined as those committed by one or two individuals, excluding instances where groups are responsible for deaths.
Serial killings are rare, accounting for less than 1% of total homicides. In the United States, serial killing was at its highest in the period between 1970 and 2000, when 70% of recorded serial murders occurred. Rates of serial killings have been on the decline since the 1990s.
Profile of Serial Killers and their Victims
While serial killers are not solely a U.S. phenomenon, the majority of serial killers on record have operated at least in part in the United States. Serial murderers tend to be lone, white males.
Most serial killers kill for financial gain or enjoyment, with 32% on record stating they killed for financial gain and a quarter claiming to have killed for pleasure. Anger is cited as the primary motivator for another 18% of serial murders, and gang activity accounts for 6%.
Serial killers often have a preferred killing method and victim type. Ted Bundy, for example, targeted attractive, college-aged females and used strangulation as his primary method of killing. Shooting is the most common killing method among serial killers, followed by strangulation and stabbing. Serial killer victims are evenly split between males and females, and the median age of victims is 30.
Serial Killers in the United States
The United States had more serial killers than any other country. A total of 12,236 victims of serial killings were registered nationwide between 1990 and 2020. California has the highest number of serial killings with 1,777 total, followed by Texas with 984. However, due to varied population sizes, these totals do not reflect the states where serial killing is most common. Washington DC has the highest rate of serial killings, with 25 victims per 100,000 residents. Alaska has the second-highest rate at 7 per 100,000; Louisiana comes in third with 6.5 serial killings per 100,000.
All 50 states have had a notorious serial killer, such as Florida's Ted Bundy, Illinois's John Wayne Gacy, and New Jersey's Charles Edmund Cullen.
FAQs
Serial killers with the highest known victim count
Name | Country | Possible victims |
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Luis Garavito | Colombia Ecuador Venezuela | 194–300+ |
Pedro López | Colombia Peru Ecuador | 300+ |
Javed Iqbal | Pakistan | 100 |
Mikhail Popkov | Russia | 86+ |
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Who were the serial killers in the 1970s? ›
Beyond Ted Bundy and David Berkowitz, it includes such perpetrators as Coral Eugene Watts, "The Sunday Morning Slasher, " who killed 80 women; Edmund Kemper, the "Co-Ed Killer"; and Rodney Alcala, believed to have killed as many as 130 people.
What serial killers are from Illinois? ›
Most notorious serial killers from Illinois
- Raymond Lee Stewart. Raymond Lee Stewart was a spree killer originally from Burlington, North Carolina, and relocated with his family to Rockford. ...
- H.H. Holmes. ...
- John Wayne Gacy. ...
- Richard Speck. ...
- Nicolas Sheley. ...
- William George Heirens. ...
- Larry Bright. ...
- Joseph Miller.
Are there active serial killers in the US? ›
America remains fascinated with its serial killers. Yet, in recent years, serial killings have plummeted. One scholarly study found that the number of active serial killers dwindled from 198 in 1987, the largest number on record, to 12 in 2018.
Which US cities have the most serial killers? ›
New York, known for its bustling streets and vibrant culture, holds a dark distinction as the state with the most serial killers in the United States. Among them, 18 serial killers, with 12 hailing from New York City alone, have left a chilling mark, claiming a total of 677 victims.
Who is America's worst serial killer? ›
Samuel Little |
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Known for | Being the most prolific serial killer in United States history by number of confirmed victims |
Conviction(s) | Murder (x8) |
Criminal penalty | Four life sentences without the possibility of parole |
Details |
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Who is the youngest serial killer? ›
According to ABP News, Amarjeet Sada was responsible for the murders of three, out of which two went unreported. His horrific actions made him known as the world's youngest serial killer.
Who is the scariest serial killer? ›
7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers
- Jack the Ripper. We call him “Jack the Ripper,” but we don't really know who the person behind one of the older and most notorious murder sprees was. ...
- Jeffrey Dahmer. ...
- Harold Shipman. ...
- John Wayne Gacy. ...
- H.H. Holmes. ...
- Pedro Lopez. ...
- Ted Bundy.
Who was the most famous serial killer family? ›
The Bender family, more well known as the Bloody Benders, were a family of serial killers in Labette County, Kansas, United States, from May 1871 to December 1872. The family supposedly consisted of John Bender, his wife Elvira (or Almira), their son John Jr., and their daughter Kate.
Who is the oldest known serial killer? ›
Gilles de Rais was born during the Hundred Years War and fought alongside Joan of Arc. He is considered to be the first recorded serial killer of modern history, having been active prior to Vlad The Impaler and Countess Elizabeth Báthory.
The style of aviator glasses was made infamous by the Milwaukee serial killer, who killed and dismembered 17 men between 1978 and 1991. He wore the specs in his mugshot after he was apprehended by police.
Who is the current serial killer? ›
2022
Name | Country | Years active |
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Freddrick Jackson | United States | 2020–2022 |
Jeremy Skibicki | Canada | 2022 |
Tyrone Steele | United States | 2022 |
John Mark Richardson | United States | 2022 |
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Who is the most famous serial killer in America? ›
Ted Bundy was a convicted murderer who killed at least 30 women, but that number could have been higher. Bundy's killing spree went on from 1974 to 1978. His targets were often college girls. He lured in his victims through evoking sympathy.
Who was the black serial killer in Illinois? ›
Andre Crawford (March 20, 1962 – March 18, 2017) was an American serial killer, rapist and necrophile who killed 11 women between 1993 and 1999 in Chicago. Many of the women were addicted to drugs or worked as sex workers. He also had sex with their corpses.
Where has the most serial killers? ›
All Countries Ranked by the Number Of Serial Killers
Rank | Country | Total Serial Killers |
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1 | United States | 3,615 |
2 | Russia | 196 |
3 | United Kingdom | 190 |
4 | Japan | 137 |
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Does Wisconsin have the most serial killers? ›
It turns out some of the most notorious serial killers in the United States hail from America's Dairyland. While there are some particularly infamous Wisconsin serial killers true crime fans will want to know about, the state does not have the most serial killers of any state — not by a long shot.
Who was the first serial killer in the United States? ›
America's first prolific serial killer designed a castle of crime with only murder and malice in mind. A man of many alias and few scruples, H.H. Holmes horrified the nation. Inspired by the riches of insurance fraud, Holmes murdered men, women, and children across the country. Read more about it!
Who is the serial killer in Oregon 2024? ›
Law enforcement officials from the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office, the county's sheriff office and the Portland Police Bureau announced Friday, May 17, 2024, that a grand jury charged Jesse Lee Calhoun on second-degree murder charges for the deaths of 24-year-old Charity Lynn Perry, 31-year-old Bridget ...