List of serial killers by number of victims

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more people, in two or more separate events over a period of time, for primarily psychological reasons.[1][2] There are gaps of time between the killings, which may range from a few days to months, or many years.[2]

This list shows all known serial killers from the 20th century to present day by number of victims, then possible victims, then date. For those from previous centuries, see List of serial killers before 1900. In many cases, the exact number of victims assigned to a serial killer is not known, and even if that person is convicted of some, there can be the possibility that they killed many more.

Organization and ranking of serial killings is made difficult by the complex nature of serial killers and incomplete knowledge of the full extent of many killers' crimes. To address this, multiple categories have been provided in order to more accurately describe the nature of certain serial murders. This is not a reflection of an individual's overall rank, which may or may not vary depending on personal opinion concerning the nature and circumstances of their crimes. The fourth column in the table states the number of victims definitely assigned to that particular serial killer, and thus the table is in order of that figure. The fifth column states the number of possible victims the killer could have murdered. Some of these crimes are unsolved, but are included because they are the work of a serial killer, despite nobody being caught.

This list does not include mass murderers, spree killers, war criminals, members of democidal governments, or major political figures, such as Adolf Hitler, Francisco Franco, Hideki Tojo, Suharto, Mao Zedong, Joseph Stalin, or Pol Pot.

Serial killers with the highest known victim count

The list below is a compilation of modern serial killers who currently have the highest verifiable murder count. It excludes medical professionals and pseudo-medical professionals with their ability to kill simply and in plain sight, and serial killer groups and couples. Murderers falling into these two categories are listed separately further down.

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Serial killers with 15 to 30 proven victims

This part of the list contains all serial killers with 15 to 30 proven victims who acted alone and were neither medical professionals nor contract killers.

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Serial killers with 5 to 14 proven victims

This part of the list contains all serial killers with five to fourteen proven victims who acted alone and were neither medical professionals nor contract killers.

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Serial killers with fewer than five proven victims

This part of the list contains serial killers with fewer than five proven victims who acted alone and were neither medical professionals nor contract killers. It excludes murderers with less than three proven victims, as their status as serial killers is uncertain (some such cases may be found below under § Disputed cases).

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Medical professionals and pseudo-medical professionals

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Serial killer groups and couples

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Disputed cases


This list includes persons convicted as serial killers whose guilt is doubted by serious sources, as well as some particularly prominent cases of suspected serial killers for whom less than three murders could be definitively proven.

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* Proven victims being either victims the serial killer was convicted of killing, victims declared by the killer in a detailed confession, or those whose status as a victim most scholars of the subject agree upon.

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. Although his confirmed killing spree began in 1974, Bundy later implied to forensic psychologists that his active years began earlier than it.
  2. McTavish was convicted of the murder in 1974, but later acquitted on appeal in 1975 on a technicality.
  3. Hyde was convicted of one murder, but irregularities in the trial procedure led to the verdict being overturned and two further trials both ended in a mistrial.
  4. Number of victims Moor himself said he had claimed
  5. Martin was acquitted in court for three murders, but was then struck off by the General Medical Council for "hastening" the deaths of 18 people. He later confessed to "bringing forward" the deaths of two of these people.
  1. Other victims are known to have been killed but only one case was brought to trial

References

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