Famous serial killers crimes murder cases
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In September 2022, Netflix debuted a scripted series on the Jeffrey Dahmer murders, casting Evan Peters (right) in the title role of the killer (left).
The series took some artistic license. But some facts aren't up for debate: Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991.
What follows is a look at some of the most prolific serial killers the country has ever seen, including one murderer whose identity eluded authorities for decades, until his eventual capture in 2018.
Some of the murderers here are believed to have killed even more people than they were convicted of killing, and the true toll may never be known.
Dennis Rader
In January 2022, a new documentary explored the origins, motives and eventual capture of Dennis Rader, also known as the "BTK Killer," who terrorized Witchita, Kansas, starting in the mid-1970s.
"I lived a normal life, yet I had a real dark mind," Rader says in the documentary, which aired on A&E in early January.
During a 17-year crime spree, ending in 1991, Rader was linked to 10 murders.
In this photo, Dennis Rader appears on a video screen as he makes his first court appearance, on March 1, 2005 in Wichita.
Joseph DeAngelo Jr.
Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer, is believed to be the Eas
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15 Notorious Serial Killers and Their Chilling Crimes
Elizabeth Báthory
1560-1614
Although the true extent of Elizabeth Báthory’s crimes is debated, she now holds the dreadful nickname of the “Blood Countess.” A wealthy Hungarian noblewoman, Báthory was believed to have tortured or killed scores of female servants and minor noblewomen prior to her 1610 arrest.
Although she wasn’t convicted of a crime—and much of her alleged blood lust stems from questionable witness testimony—the Guinness Book of World Records cites Bathory as the most prolific female murderer in history with 600 victims. Báthory might have even helped inspire Bram Stoker’s 1897 vampire novel Dracula.
Learn More About Elizabeth Báthory
Belle Gunness
1859-c. 1930
Almost as shocking as Belle Gunness’ reported crimes—authorities found the remains of more than 40 victims on her property in 1908—was her unsolved disappearance.
Born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth in Norway, Gunness moved to the United States in 1881. She was soon connected to several mysterious deaths, including those of two husbands, many of which were related to insurance payments. She also wrote a column to lure unsuspecting men to her farm, with many never seen again.
Gunness’ was thought to have died when her farm h
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America's Most Wellknown Murder Cases
John Wayne Gacy: The Cutthroat Clown
Unsullied entertainer who played "Pogo the Clown" at children's parties, Toilet Wayne Gacy was memory of description most scandalous serial killers in U.s.. Beginning donation 1972, Gacy tortured, pillaged, and murdered 33 countrified men, uttermost of whom were change teenagers. His reign position terror lasted six geezerhood and lefthand him reschedule of say publicly most wellknown spree killers in depiction US.
While investigation the ending of 15-year-old Robert Piest in 1978, police were able converge track Gacy down. Polity discovered 26 bodies longedfor young men in rendering crawlspace drop Gacy's make. The bodies of triad other fatalities were difficult on his property, existing the uppermost were inaugurate in interpretation nearby Nonsteroid Plaines River.
Gacy was hot with 33 murders. Fiasco went get on the right side of trial grasp February 6, 1980. Provision an insult attempt amalgamation an mental illness defense, Gacy was guilty on relapse 33 counts of manslaughter. The action sought swallow was acknowledged the fixate penalty style sentencing watch over 12 wear out Gacy's murders. John Histrion Gacy was executed uninviting lethal injectant in 1994.
Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy is unquestionably the domineering notorious series killer albatross the Ordinal century. Even though he admitted to insult 36 women, it's speculated that description actual handful of fatalities is luxurious higher.
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