Victim Targets - Young Women

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.

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.

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.

Pedro López became one of the deadliest serial killers in modern history after confessing to the murders of hundreds of young girls across Colombia, Ecuador and Peru during the 1970s and 1980s. Nicknamed “The Monster of the Andes,” López terrorized vulnerable communities throughout South America by targeting poor and isolated children, many of whom disappeared without immediate investigation. His crimes shocked the world not only because of the staggering number of alleged victims, but also because López appeared calm and cooperative while confessing to investigators. Despite claiming responsibility for hundreds of murders, he ultimately served a relatively short prison sentence before disappearing after his release, creating ongoing fear and controversy surrounding his whereabouts and possible later crimes.

David Alan Gore was an American serial killer who, along with his cousin Fred Waterfield, committed at least six murders of women in and around Vero Beach, Florida, from 1981 to 1983. Known collectively as the "Killing Cousins," the pair exploited Gore's position as an auxiliary sheriff's deputy and his knowledge of local citrus groves to lure victims, often using a badge or vehicle to gain trust before subjecting them to sexual assault, torture, and murder.

Paul Kenneth Bernardo became one of Canada's most infamous serial killers after committing a series of violent sexual assaults and the murders of three young women between 1987 and 1992. Before his arrest, Bernardo was responsible for numerous unsolved sexual assaults in the Toronto area, earning the nickname the "Scarborough Rapist." Alongside his wife, Karla Homolka, he murdered Tammy Homolka, Leslie Mahaffy, and Kristen French. His conviction remains one of the most significant criminal cases in Canadian history.

Paul Charles Denyer became one of Australia's most infamous serial killers after murdering three young women in Melbourne's bayside suburb of Frankston between June and July 1993. His crimes created widespread fear throughout Victoria, leading to one of the state's largest homicide investigations. Following his arrest, Denyer pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period. He remains incarcerated and is one of Australia's most notorious convicted serial killers.

Gary Ridgway, known as the “Green River Killer,” is an American serial killer responsible for the murders of dozens of women in Washington State during the 1980s and 1990s. He targeted vulnerable individuals, often sex workers and runaways, and became one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history. Ridgway evaded capture for nearly two decades before advances in DNA technology led to his arrest in 2001. He later pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder and received numerous life sentences, ensuring he would remain imprisoned for the rest of his life.