Imprisoned Killers

Edward Theodore Gein became one of the most infamous killers in American history after murdering two women and exhuming numerous bodies from local cemeteries near Plainfield, Wisconsin, during the 1950s. Although convicted of only two murders, the disturbing discoveries inside his farmhouse—including items fashioned from human remains—made Gein a cultural phenomenon whose crimes inspired characters such as Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill. His case remains one of the most extensively studied in criminal psychology.

Edmund Emil Kemper III, known as the "Co-ed Killer," became one of America's most notorious serial killers after murdering ten people between 1964 and 1973, including his grandparents, six female college students, his mother's friend, and finally his own mother. His intelligence, willingness to discuss his crimes in detail, and extensive interviews with FBI profilers made him one of the most extensively studied serial killers in criminal psychology.

Edward "Jake" Wagner admitted participating in the Pike County massacre, one of the deadliest family murder cases in Ohio history, by pleading guilty to murdering eight members of the Rhoden family in April 2016. Prosecutors established that Wagner, together with his parents Angela Wagner and George "Billy" Wagner III and his brother George Wagner IV, planned and carried out the coordinated killings during a custody dispute involving his young daughter with Hanna Rhoden. In exchange for avoiding the death penalty, Wagner agreed to testify against his family members and became the prosecution's key witness during their trials. He is serving eight consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Erik Menendez became one of the most infamous figures in American true crime history after he and his older brother, Lyle Menendez, were convicted of murdering their wealthy parents inside their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. The brutal killings shocked the United States and quickly transformed the Menendez brothers into household names during one of the most heavily televised murder trials of the 1990s. During the trial, Erik was portrayed by prosecutors as a privileged young man motivated by money and inheritance, while the defense argued he was a traumatised victim of years of emotional, physical and sexual abuse inside the family home. His emotional courtroom testimony and visible vulnerability became central to the public perception of the case, helping fuel decades of debate over whether the brothers were cold-blooded killers or abused sons driven by fear.

Erin Patterson became one of Australia’s most internationally discussed accused killers after allegedly poisoning multiple family members with deadly mushrooms during a lunch gathering in regional Victoria in 2023. The case generated extraordinary worldwide attention because of the unusual alleged murder method, the family dynamics involved and the mystery surrounding whether the poisonings were deliberate. The investigation rapidly became one of the biggest true crime stories in Australia, attracting nonstop media coverage, internet speculation and global fascination. The combination of toxicology evidence, alleged deception, suspicious behavior and courtroom developments transformed the case into one of the most discussed criminal prosecutions of the decade.

Fred Waterfield became one of Florida's most infamous serial killers after participating in a series of abductions and murders alongside his cousin, David Alan Gore, during the early 1980s. The pair targeted young women across Indian River County, with Waterfield acting as an accomplice in several kidnappings, sexual assaults, and murders. Following his arrest, Waterfield cooperated with investigators and testified against Gore, helping prosecutors secure convictions in one of Florida's most notorious serial murder cases.

Gale Watkins is an American woman convicted in connection with the 2013 death of her three-year-old grandson in Florida. As a caregiver, she was responsible for the child’s welfare during the incident. She was later convicted of aggravated manslaughter of a child and sentenced to a lengthy prison term.

Gareth Pursehouse is an American man convicted of the 2020 murder of his ex-girlfriend in Los Angeles, California. The case involved a targeted attack following a prior relationship. He was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.