Straight Killers

Florida Death Row inmate Wade Wilson is a convicted killer. Wade Wilson became one of America’s most widely discussed modern killers after murdering two women in Cape Coral, Florida, in 2019. The brutality of the crimes, combined with Wilson’s heavily tattooed appearance, courtroom behavior and extensive online fascination, transformed the case into a major true crime phenomenon across TikTok, YouTube and social media platforms. Wilson’s case generated enormous controversy because large online communities began obsessing over his appearance and personality despite the horrific nature of the murders. The viral attention surrounding the case reignited debates about “true crime fandom,” social media glorification of violent offenders and the ethics of internet-driven celebrity surrounding murder trials.

Waseem Daker became one of Georgia’s most controversial convicted killers after being found guilty in the 1995 murder of Delta flight attendant Karmen Smith and the attempted murder of her five-year-old son in Cobb County. Prosecutors argued that Daker carried out the attack as part of a long-running obsession with Smith’s roommate, Loretta Spencer Blatz, whom he had previously been convicted of stalking. The case drew national attention because of the violent nature of the crime, the lengthy delay before charges were filed, and the later disputes surrounding witness testimony and forensic evidence. The murder remained unsolved for years before investigators revisited DNA evidence collected from the scene. Hair evidence later linked to Daker became a central part of the prosecution’s case, eventually leading to his arrest and conviction more than a decade after the killing. The case later generated additional controversy after key witness Loretta Spencer Blatz partially recanted portions of her testimony following the trial, fueling debate around the conviction and keeping the case heavily discussed in true crime media, legal circles, and online communities.

Wayne Clifford Boden became one of Canada's most infamous serial killers after sexually assaulting and murdering four women in Montreal, Quebec, between 1969 and 1971. Dubbed the "Vampire Rapist" by the media because he bit several victims during the attacks, Boden became one of the first Canadian killers to be convicted using bite-mark evidence. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and remained incarcerated until his death in 2006.

Wayne Couzens became one of Britain’s most notorious killers after abducting, raping and murdering Sarah Everard in London in 2021 while serving as a Metropolitan Police officer. The case horrified the United Kingdom because Couzens used his police credentials and authority to falsely arrest Everard before carrying out the murder. The killing triggered national outrage, widespread protests and intense scrutiny of policing culture within the United Kingdom. Couzens’ crimes exposed serious failures surrounding misconduct warnings and vetting processes inside British law enforcement, while the murder of Sarah Everard became one of the most significant criminal and social justice cases in modern British history.

William Devon Howell became one of Connecticut's most infamous serial killers after murdering seven women between 2003 and 2005. Most of his victims were vulnerable women struggling with addiction or involved in sex work in the Hartford area. Howell concealed six of the victims in a wooded location later dubbed the "Garden of Graves," making him the most prolific serial killer in Connecticut's recorded history.

William J. Brock became widely known after fatally shooting 61-year-old Uber driver Lo-Letha Hall outside his home in South Charleston, Ohio, on March 25, 2024. Brock had been deceived by telephone scammers into believing his family was in danger and wrongly concluded Hall was part of the scheme when she arrived to collect a package through the Uber app. A jury rejected Brock's claim of self-defense, finding that Hall was an innocent victim with no knowledge of the scam. Brock was convicted of murder in 2026 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Yaseen Naz was convicted of murder after shooting Marquis Demps outside a Shell gas station in Texas following a confrontation inside the store. Naz, a gas station employee, claimed he acted in self-defense after Demps became involved in a fight. Prosecutors argued that surveillance footage showed Demps attempting to leave in his vehicle when Naz fired multiple rounds into it, killing him. Naz was convicted of murder and sentenced to five years in prison.

Zachary David Hughes is an American convicted murderer and former concert pianist who was sentenced to life in prison for the 2021 murder of Christina Parcell in Greer, South Carolina. On October 13, 2021, Parcell, 41, was found stabbed to death inside her home on Canebrake Drive. She had suffered more than 30 stab wounds. Rose petals were scattered around the crime scene, a detail that later led to the case being referred to as the "Rose Petal Murder." Hughes initially maintained his innocence, but investigators developed evidence connecting him to the crime. Surveillance footage showed a person entering Parcell's home and later leaving on a bicycle. Investigators also linked Hughes' truck and bicycle to the movements captured around the time of the murder. Prosecutors further presented evidence that Hughes' DNA was found beneath Parcell's fingernails. A significant part of the investigation concerned Hughes' friendship with John Mello, the father of Parcell's daughter. Mello and Parcell were involved in a contentious custody dispute, and investigators discovered thousands of messages between Mello and Hughes. Prosecutors alleged that Hughes had participated in harassment directed at Parcell before her death. At trial in February 2025, Hughes admitted that he had stabbed Parcell but argued that he had acted because he believed her daughter was being sexually abused. The judge had barred the defense from presenting those allegations as a justification for the killing. The jury rejected Hughes' account and convicted him of murder and several other offenses. He was sentenced to life in prison. Hughes filed a notice of appeal shortly after his conviction.