Mental Profile - Psychopathy

Michael Swango became one of the most notorious medical serial killers in American history after being linked to a series of poisonings involving patients, coworkers, and acquaintances over several decades. A licensed physician and former paramedic, Swango exploited positions within hospitals and medical institutions to gain access to vulnerable victims while maintaining the outward image of a highly educated healthcare professional. The case generated international attention because Swango continued obtaining medical employment despite repeated suspicions, disciplinary actions, and criminal convictions. Investigators later connected him to deaths and poisonings across the United States and Africa, leading many experts to believe the true number of victims may never be fully known. His ability to repeatedly evade detection turned the case into one of the most disturbing examples of institutional failure and medical predation in modern criminal history.

Dennis Andrew Nilsen became one of the United Kingdom's most infamous serial killers after murdering at least 15 young men and boys in London between 1978 and 1983. Often referred to as the "Muswell Hill Murderer," Nilsen lured vulnerable victims to his home before strangling them and keeping their bodies for extended periods. His crimes were uncovered only after human remains blocked drains at his apartment building, leading to one of Britain's most shocking homicide investigations.

Rodney James Alcala became one of America's most infamous serial killers after murdering at least eight women and girls between 1971 and 1979, although investigators believe he may have killed well over 100 victims. Nicknamed the "Dating Game Killer" after appearing on the television show The Dating Game during his killing spree, Alcala used his charm and photography hobby to lure victims before murdering them. He was convicted in multiple states and died on California's death row in 2021.

Allan Joseph Legere, known as the "Monster of the Miramichi," was a Canadian serial killer, rapist and arsonist who murdered five people in New Brunswick between 1986 and 1989. Already serving a life sentence for the 1986 murder of shopkeeper John Glendenning, Legere escaped from a hospital in May 1989 and spent seven months terrorising the Miramichi region, murdering Annie Flam, sisters Donna and Linda Daughney, and Catholic priest James Smith. He was captured in November 1989 following a massive manhunt and convicted of the four murders in 1991, with DNA evidence playing a major role in the prosecution. Legere remained imprisoned for the rest of his life and died at Edmonton Institution in March 2026.

Peter William Sutcliffe, known worldwide as the "Yorkshire Ripper," became one of the United Kingdom's most infamous serial killers after murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others between 1975 and 1980. Operating across Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, Sutcliffe evaded capture for more than five years despite one of the largest police investigations in British history. His crimes generated widespread fear, exposed major investigative failures, and permanently changed homicide 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.

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.

Charles Chi-Tat Ng became one of the most infamous serial killers in American history after participating in a series of kidnappings and murders with Leonard Lake at a secluded compound in Wilseyville, California, during the early 1980s. Investigators linked the pair to at least 11 murders, although the true number of victims may never be known. Following one of the longest extradition battles and murder trials in California history, Ng was convicted of 11 murders and sentenced to death.