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Justin Jason Keeding, widely known as the “Little Merchant Killer,” became one of the more notorious robbery-murder offenders of the early twentieth century after being linked to violent attacks against rural merchants and storekeepers. Operating during the 1920s, Keeding allegedly targeted isolated business owners in smaller communities, earning his nickname through repeated attacks connected to robbery and financial gain. The case generated significant regional media attention during the era because of the fear surrounding traveling offenders targeting small-town businesses. Authorities portrayed Keeding as a violent drifter willing to kill during robberies, while newspapers sensationalized the crimes through dramatic reporting common during the period. His eventual death in 1926 closed a violent criminal chapter that remained part of regional crime history for years afterward.
Robert Hansen became one of Alaska’s most infamous serial killers after abducting women, flying them into the wilderness and hunting them before murdering them. Nicknamed “The Butcher Baker” because he outwardly lived as a quiet family baker while secretly committing brutal murders, Hansen terrorized Anchorage and surrounding areas throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. The case shocked investigators because Hansen appeared to be an ordinary husband, business owner and outdoorsman while hiding a sadistic double life. Authorities later discovered he targeted vulnerable women, particularly sex workers and dancers, before using Alaska’s remote wilderness as a personal hunting ground. His crimes became one of the most disturbing serial murder cases in American history and inspired numerous books, documentaries and films.
Dezi Freeman became one of Australia’s most notorious fugitives after allegedly murdering two Victorian police officers during a police raid at a rural property near Porepunkah in 2025. The shocking ambush triggered one of the largest manhunts in Australian history after Freeman disappeared into rugged alpine bushland heavily armed and determined to avoid capture. The case generated enormous national attention because Freeman allegedly shot police officers serving a warrant connected to child abuse material investigations before vanishing into the wilderness for more than seven months. His eventual death in a police shootout near the Victoria-New South Wales border in March 2026 brought an end to a massive tactical operation that consumed police resources across multiple states.
Michael Paul Brown became known after carrying out the deadly Owl Bar shooting in Montana, killing four people during a violent attack that shocked the local community. The massacre unfolded inside and around the Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, where Brown targeted victims connected to a long-running personal dispute before fleeing the scene. Authorities described Brown as a heavily armed and dangerous suspect whose actions triggered a large-scale manhunt and emergency lockdowns across the region. The case generated widespread media coverage because of the sudden brutality of the attack, the multiple homicide victims and the dramatic police confrontation that followed shortly afterward.
Bradley Murdoch became one of Australia’s most infamous killers after murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Northern Territory Outback in 2001. The case shocked Australia and the United Kingdom due to the remote desert setting, the disappearance of Falconio’s body and the terrifying survival story of Falconio’s girlfriend, Joanne Lees. Murdoch was portrayed as a violent drug-running truck driver with links to criminal networks across remote Australia. His conviction became one of the country’s most high-profile murder cases, inspiring documentaries, books and films while generating decades of speculation about what truly happened in the Outback. Murdoch maintained his innocence until his death from throat cancer in 2025, never revealing the location of Falconio’s remains.
H.H. Holmes was an American serial killer active in the late 19th century, often associated with a specially constructed building in Chicago known as the “Murder Castle.” He used the structure to facilitate a series of murders, many of which remain difficult to fully document. Holmes was eventually arrested and confessed to multiple killings, though the exact number of victims remains debated. He was executed in 1896, and his case remains one of the earliest and most infamous examples of serial murder in the United States.
Dennis Nilsen was a British serial killer who murdered multiple young men and boys in London between 1978 and 1983. He lured victims to his home, where he killed them before keeping their bodies for extended periods, often engaging in disturbing post-mortem behavior. Nilsen was eventually caught after human remains were discovered in the plumbing of his residence. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, where he remained until his death in 2018. His case remains one of the most disturbing in British criminal history.
Rodney Alcala was an American serial killer and sex offender who murdered multiple women and girls between the 1960s and 1970s. He gained notoriety for appearing on the television show "The Dating Game" during his killing spree. Alcala was eventually convicted of several murders and linked to many more through DNA evidence. He spent decades on death row before dying in prison in 2021. His case remains infamous due to the sheer number of victims and his ability to evade capture for years.
Trevor Hardy, known as the "Beast of Manchester," was a British serial killer responsible for the murders of three teenage girls in the mid-1970s. His crimes shocked the local community due to their brutality and the vulnerability of his victims. Hardy was arrested and convicted, receiving a life sentence. He later died by suicide in prison in 2012. His case remains one of the most disturbing in Manchester’s criminal history.
Charles Albright, known as the "Eyeball Killer," was an American murderer convicted of killing sex workers in Texas in the early 1990s. His nickname came from the disturbing mutilation of his victims. Albright was convicted of one murder, though he is suspected in several others. He spent the remainder of his life in prison until his death in 2020. His case remains one of the more unusual and disturbing in U.S. criminal history.
John Duffy was a British serial killer and rapist known as one of the "Railway Killers," responsible for a series of attacks on women near railway stations in London during the 1980s. He committed his crimes alongside accomplice David Mulcahy. Duffy was eventually arrested and convicted, receiving a life sentence. His case was significant in the development of offender profiling techniques in the United Kingdom and remains one of the most notorious series of crimes in London’s history.
Tony Costa was an American serial killer known for the "Cape Cod Vampire" murders in the 1960s. He killed multiple young women, dismembering their bodies and burying them in wooded areas near Provincetown, Massachusetts. Costa was eventually arrested and convicted, receiving a life sentence. He died by suicide in prison in 1974. His case remains one of the most notorious serial murder cases in New England history.
Peter Sutcliffe, known as the "Yorkshire Ripper," was a British serial killer who murdered numerous women in Northern England between 1975 and 1980. His crimes caused widespread fear and one of the largest manhunts in British history. Sutcliffe was eventually captured and convicted, receiving a life sentence. His case exposed significant failures in policing and remains one of the most infamous serial murder investigations in the United Kingdom.
Jeffrey Dahmer is one of the most disturbing figures in American criminal history, often dubbed the “Milwaukee Cannibal.” Between 1978 and 1991, he carried out a series of brutal murders involving necrophilia, cannibalism, and body preservation. His crimes shocked the world not only for their severity, but for how long he evaded capture.
Ed Gein was an American murderer and body snatcher whose crimes in Wisconsin during the 1950s shocked the nation. He exhumed corpses and used body parts to create household items, as well as committing at least two murders. Gein was arrested in 1957 and later found legally insane, spending the rest of his life in a psychiatric institution. His case inspired numerous fictional characters and remains one of the most disturbing in U.S. criminal history.
Roy DeMeo was an American mobster associated with the Gambino crime family, known for leading a crew responsible for numerous murders during the 1970s and early 1980s. His group became infamous for their efficiency in carrying out contract killings. DeMeo was eventually murdered, likely by members of organized crime due to fears he would cooperate with authorities. His case remains a significant example of organized crime violence in the United States.
Carmine Galante was an American mob boss within the Bonanno crime family, heavily involved in organized crime activities including drug trafficking and contract killings. He played a major role in expanding heroin distribution networks in the United States. Galante was assassinated in 1979 in a mob-related hit, marking a turning point in internal Mafia power struggles. His life and death are closely tied to the violent dynamics of organized crime during that era.
Sam Giancana was an American mob boss who led the Chicago Outfit and became one of the most powerful figures in organized crime during the mid-20th century. He was involved in numerous criminal enterprises, including illegal gambling and contract killings. Giancana was assassinated in 1975 shortly before he was scheduled to testify before a Senate committee. His death remains surrounded by speculation and is often linked to his connections with organized crime and political figures.
Marcel Petiot was a French serial killer active during World War II, who lured victims under the pretense of helping them escape Nazi-occupied France. Instead, he murdered them and disposed of their bodies. After the war, authorities uncovered the extent of his crimes, leading to his arrest and trial. Petiot was convicted and executed by guillotine in 1946, and his case remains one of the most infamous in French criminal history.
David Battaglia was an American man convicted of murdering his two young daughters in Texas in 2001. The crime occurred during a custody dispute and was carried out while he was on the phone with their mother. Battaglia was sentenced to death and executed in 2018. The case drew significant attention due to the circumstances of the killings and the legal debates surrounding his mental competency.