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40 Infamous Serial Killers and Their Creepy Last Words

The topic of serial killers always fascinates true crime enthusiasts because of their mysterious nature. There have been many serial killers who have committed heinous acts that have left a lot of damage in society. When the perpetrators of these murders were captured and put on trial, some of them had horrifying words that invoked a range of emotions.

 Therefore, in this article, we are going to delve into the last words that were said by serial killers before their sentencing and execution to give the reader insight into their state of mind. Others were resentful while others were apologetic and others were indifferent to the crimes they committed.

1 Ted Bundy

A colored mugshot of serial killer Ted Bundy. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The prolific serial killer was one of the most notorious serial killers in the history of the United States of America. He was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murders of several young women that he had committed before being apprehended. Bundy used his charm and ability to lie to his victims to get them to trust him and after trusting him, he would proceed to kidnap them and sexually assault them before killing them.

When he was arrested, he was found guilty and sentenced to death by electrocution.  On January 24, 1989, Bundy was to be executed and his last words were 鈥業鈥檇 like to give my love to my family and friends 鈥�. His last words are quite perplexing as he was known to be a manipulative person who cared about no one but himself.

2 John Wayne Gacy

A mugshot of John Wayne Gacy.  , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Popularly known as the Killer Clown, the serial killer was active between 1972 and 1978. He would target vulnerable boys and young men because it was not easy to notice when they went missing. By the time of his arrest, Gacy is suspected to have killed at least 33 boys and young men in the Chicago area. He would get his victims by duping them with promises of money and jobs and when they went with him, he would sexually assault them and torture them before proceeding to kill them. He was finally arrested and charged with murder in 1978. He was sentenced to lethal injection and his last words were ‘Kiss my ass’ which shows that the criminal was not repentant for his heinous crimes.

3 Jeffrey Dahmer

Popularly known as the Milwaukee Cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer who was active between 1978 and 1991 in the Milwaukee region of Wisconsin. During this period, he lured his victims and then drugged them, sexually assaulted them and then killed them. After killing them, he then proceeded to dismember their bodies and engaged in some cannibalistic acts.

His arrest made his actions come to light as when law enforcement authorities raided his apartment, they found human remains in his fridge which is quite chilling. When being executed, his last words were ‘I don’t care if I Live or die. Go ahead and kill me. This statement showed how dark his mindset was.

4 Aileen Wuornos

Serial Killer Aileen Wuornos. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

She is one of the most notorious female serial killers that ever existed in the history of the United States of America.  Wuornos worked as a sex worker and he would target people who sought his services as his victims. She was active between 1989 and 1990 and during this time, it is believed that she killed seven victims.

Even though she claimed that it was self-defence, she was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.  During her execution, her last words were, 鈥� Yes, I would like to say I鈥檓 sailing with the rock, and I’ll be back, like Independence Day with Jesus, June 6 like the movie. The big mother ship, I’ll be back,  I鈥檒l be back.

5 Richard Ramirez

Ramirez was a serial killer famously known as the Night Stalker who was active in the state of California during the mid-1980s. The serial killer would break into the homes of his victims and then proceed to brutally attack them and sexually assault them before killing them.  At the time of his arrest, he had killed 13 people and attempted to kill 5 others.

He was finally arrested in q985 when a picture that had been taken of him during one of the break-ins was circulated in the media. He was charged with counts of murder, attempted murder and burglary which he was found guilty. He was sentenced to death but he died while on death row due to complications related to B-cell lymphoma. His last words before passing on were 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 understand me. You are not expected to. You are not capable of it. I am beyond your experience. The cryptic words showed that he was not remorseful about his actions.

6 Gary Ridgeway

A mugshot of Gary Ridgeway. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Gary Ridgeway was popularly known as the Green River Killer because most of his victims were found in the Green River. The serial killer was active in the Seattle-Tacoma area in Washington state in the 1980s and the 1990s. His victim count is said to be around 71 by the time of his arrest. Gary鈥檚 crimes involved a lot of brutality that featured abduction, sexual assault and murder with his victims being mostly sex workers and homeless girls.

 He was finally arrested and sentenced to death but his sentence was reduced when he struck a plea deal where he confessed to avoid the death penalty. His last words before sentencing were remorseful saying 鈥業 forgive you all. I have made my peace. I hope you can find it someday 鈥�

7 Dennis Rader

The serial killer was popularly known as the Bind, Torture, Kill (BTK) serial killer. He was active in Kansas for quite a long time from the 1979s to the early 2000s.  He killed ten people during the time that he was active and then taunted law enforcement authorities by sending letters to the media that explained his crimes.

His kills took on a ritualistic aspect in that he would first bind his victims before proceeding to torture them and then kill them. He was finally apprehended in 2005 and sentenced to ten consecutive life terms without parole. At the time of his sentencing he unapologetically said, 鈥榃hen you are ready, I am ready鈥�.

8 James French

The criminal was a killer sentenced to death after killing two people. French had been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a man known as Boone but he appealed and stated that he wanted a death sentence which was denied despite several appeals.  While serving his sentence, French was placed in a cell with an inmate known as Eddie Lee Shelton. He strangled Shelton to death when he was having his last meal as it was tradition for inmates on death row.

He then went on to make a confession which earned him a death sentence.  During his execution by the electric chair, his last words were 鈥楬ow鈥檚 this for your headline?, French fries which were quite ironic in that he was being executed in an electronic chair.

Explore this article on the 15 serial killers who operated in florida

9 Carl Panzram

He was an American serial killer, robber and burglar who was active from 1899 to 1929. He was a notorious serial killer having confessed to a lot of crimes that include 21 murders of young boys even though his victim count is believed to be higher than that, and the rape of more than a thousand victims. When he was put on the stand, he was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. While on the gallows,  he was asked if he had any last words and he said 鈥榃ell hurry it up, you Hoosier bastard. I could kill a dozen men while you’re screwing around. This is quite chilling s one would expect someone who is staring at death to be remorseful but he was not.

10 Peter K眉rten

The German serial killer was famously known as the Vampire of D眉sseldorf who was active from February to November 1929 in D眉sseldorf. Before his arrest for the murders he had committed, the serial killer had a long criminal record with a rap sheet of several offences that included attempted murder and arson. He was charged with nine counts of murder after his arrest and sentenced to death by beheading in April 193q. His execution finally happened in July that year and for his last words he said 鈥楢fter my head has been chopped off, I will still be able to hear at least for a moment the sound of my own blood gushing from the stump of my neck. That would be a pleasure to end all pleasures

11 Thomas J Grasso

Grasso was an American serial killer responsible for the murder of an 85-year-old woman known as Hilda Johnson in December 1990 in Tusla. The killer also murdered another old woman who was 81 years old known as Leslie Holtz in Staten Island. He was finally arrested in 1992 for the murder of Leslie where he was given 20 years to life and then charged with the murder of Johnson later that year where he pled guilty.

 He was sentenced to death and in 1995, March 20, Grasso was executed. At the execution chamber, there were members of the press as well as his lawyer and when asked if he had any last words, he said 鈥� I did not get my SpaghettiOs. I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this. His statement was regarding the meals he had requested as his last meal.

12 George Engel

The criminal was responsible for the deaths that happened at the Haymarket riots along with his associates August Spies, Adolf Fisher and Albert. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to death by hanging. When he was being executed on November 11, 1887 his last words were ‘Hurray for anarchy! This is the happiest moment of my life鈥�.

13 John Alba

John Alba had been arrested for molesting Brandi Taylor a 12-year-old who had gone for a slumber party at Alba鈥檚 house. At the time of his arrest, he was given an opportunity to speak to his wife and he told her that he better get him out of jail or he would kill her. After being released from prison for the molestation charges, he went and killed his wife as he had promised her with their son watching. He was arrested the next day and charged with capital murder and sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection on 25 May 2010 and his last words were 鈥極kay Warden, let鈥檚 do it. I love y鈥檃ll. I can taste it already. I am starting to go.鈥�

Read this article on the scariest Chicago serial killers

14 Timothy McVeigh

A mugshot of Timothy McVeigh. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Timothy McVeigh was a terrorist who was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing which happened in 1995. The bombing killed 168 people which was a great tragedy that had an irreparable impact on the people of Oklahoma as many people lost their family and friends. The bombing also left 680 victims injured. His reason for the bombing was that he wanted to start a revolution against the federal government. He was arrested and charged with the murders shortly after the bombing found guilty and sentenced to death. Before being executed by lethal injection, he said 鈥業 am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul鈥�.

15 Peter Manuel

Manuel was an American-Scottish serial killer who was active from 1956 to 1958. During these two years, he killed seven victims across Southern Scotland and Lanarkshire. He was popularly known as the beast of Birkenshaw. He was finally arrested in January 1958 and charged with murder.  Manuel was sentenced to death by hanging and during his execution, his last words were 鈥楾urn up the radio. I鈥檒l go quietly 鈥�.

16 Richard Kuklinski

The legendary American serial killer Richard Kuklinski, often known as “The Iceman,” was active in the second part of the 20th century. He got his moniker because he used freezing to hide the time of death in some of his victims. Kuklinski was a cold-blooded killer who committed multiple murders, frequently for his own advantage or that of organised crime. His rather mysterious final words, spoken just before he passed away in prison in March 2006, were, “I think your producer will make a lot of money with this. “Goodbye”. This unsettling detachedness represented his sociopathic and merciless personality.

17 Mary Blandy

A painting of serial killer Mary Blandy. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Mary Blandy was hanged in England in 1752 after being found guilty of creating an arsenic-laced concoction to murder her father. Her last statements revealed either excellent humour or an example of upholding English propriety to the very end because she was concerned about her modesty while wearing a dress to the gallows. His last words were 鈥橣or the sake of decency, gentlemen, don鈥檛 hang me high鈥�.

18 Johnny Ray Johnson

Johnny Ray Johnson was a criminal who was charged and convicted of the murder of a drug addict in 1995. Before killing her, Johnson sexually assaulted her first. The drug addict had been given cocaine by Johnson but then she refused to offer him sex in exchange. He was finally apprehended and charged with murder and sentenced to death. On death row, his last words were ‘Bye Aunt Helen, Luise, Joanna, and to all the rest of y’all. You may proceed. Warden’

19 Robert Alton Harris

A mugshot of Robert Alton Harris. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

 Robert Alton Harris was a notorious American serial killer who committed horrible atrocities. In 1978, he was found guilty of kidnapping, robbing, and murdering two teenage boys in a horrific manner. Before getting into the gas chamber where he was going to be executed, his last words were 鈥楨verybody dances with the Grim Reaper鈥�. The death sentence in America has been a topic of discussion since Harris’ case got extensive media coverage.

Read this article on the 15 infamous women serial killers

20 David Berkowitz

Popularly known as the Son of Sam and the 44 Caliber Killer, David Berkowitz was a prolific serial killer who was active in 1976 and 1978 around New York City. The serial killer went on a killer spree that left six people dead. He did not have a specific target audience which means that he picked his victims at random thus making him more dangerous. He was arrested in 1977 after law enforcement authorities traced the letters that were left on the scene back to him. He was sentenced to six consecutive life terms. His last words at his sentencing were ‘I’m sorry. I wish I could die more than once to tell you how sorry I am’.

21 Charles Manson

A mugshot of Charles Manson. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the most notorious criminals in history, Charles Manson was the brains behind the Manson Family cult, which committed a string of horrifying murders in the late 1960s. Manson declared, “I’m the king of the world!” in his final statement before his death in 2017. This remark revealed his eccentric and delusional nature right up until the very end. Manson used his followers as pawns to brainwash them into carrying out the gruesome Tate-LaBianca murders in an effort to start a race war he dubbed “Helter Skelter.” People all across the world are still enthralled and horrified by his perverted magnetism and the horrible crimes of violence committed by his cult.

22 Jeffrey David Matthews

Jeffrey was responsible for the death of his great-uncle Otis Short. Otis’s wife Minnie Short was also shot but he survived. He committed these crimes with his accomplice Tracy Dyer and after killing them, they made away with his great uncle鈥檚 truck, a gun and $500. He was arrested and he pled guilty to the murder. Jeffrey was sentenced to life in prison and even when he appealed, the result was the same. His last words were, “Let my mother know I love her. I just want to thank everyone for their support. I also want to thank all my buddies on death row. I hear you banging. I hate to see you all in this situation,” Matthews told his relatives. “I’m sitting here enjoying my last moments. Enjoy your life. I think that the governor’s phone is broken. He hadn’t called yet.”

23 John Allen Muhammad

Muhammad was one of the terrorists responsible for the D.C. sniper attack that happened in the metropolitan area of Washington DC in 2002. Muhammad committed his crimes along with his accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo. The serial killer did not have a specific target and just picked his victims who were at their cars at random and killed them using a high-powered rifle. He was later arrested and sentenced to death by lethal injection in 2009. His last words were, 鈥楩or you, Mr., Buba, die in hell. Die in Hell鈥�. His sentiments were directed at the lawyer who represented him at his trial.

24 Andre Crawford

Andre Crawford was a serial killer who was active in the 1990s around the Chicago area of the United States of America. During the time he was active, he murdered 11 women with his primary target being African American women. He targeted vulnerable people like sex workers and drug addicts who were easy to be lured into his trap. His modus operandi involved strangling his victims.  He was finally arrested in 2000 and convicted of several counts of murder.  He was executed in 2017 and his last words were 鈥業鈥檝e been hanging on this tree for a long time. You can come up anytime. I鈥檓 still here鈥�.

25 Dennis Niksen

Popularly known as the Muswell Hill Murderer, Dennis Nilsen was a British serial killer who was active between 1978 and 1983 in London. During this time, he was responsible for the murder of 12 men most of whom were homeless people and drug addicts. Niksen convinced his victims to go back with him to his apartment where he strangled them to death before committing necrophiliac acts on them. He was arrested in 1983 and sentenced to life imprisonment.  When he was dying in 2018 his last words were 鈥業 have always been against capital punishment, and now I have got 20 minutes to go. No more comments.  Thank you ‘.

Have a loo at this article on the 20 scariest Los Angeles serial killers

26 Gilles de Rais

A painting of serial killer Gilles de Rais. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He is one of the oldest serial killers to ever exist in that he was active in the 14^th century.  He is a historical figure and is often used as a legend. Gilles was a nobleman and a military captain who was involved in some gruesome activities during the Hundred Years War. He was accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting young children before proceeding to kill them. He was put on trial in 1430 which resulted in his conviction and execution. His last words before execution were 鈥� Let me have just a moment to pray to God for forgiveness 鈥�.

27 John Haigh

Haigh popularly known as the Acid Bath Murderer was a British serial killer who was active in the 1940s. He had a unique way of disposing of his victims’ bodies in that he would use sulphuric acid to get rid of the evidence hence the nickname. He killed at least six people while he was on a killing spree. He was finally arrested in 1949 after he was found with human remains. He was found guilty of the murder charges and his last words showed no remorse. He said 鈥楢fter my arrest, when the police were questioning me, I told them I didn鈥檛 want to answer any questions,  but just be left alone to think about things

28 Velma Barfield

She was also known as the Death Row Granny and he was active between the 1950 and the 1960s. The American serial killer would kill his victims by poisoning them with some of his victims being her family member. Her poison of choice was arsenic where she would lace food and drinks with it and this milled his victims. Her motivation for her crimes was financial as she would get insurance payouts when her family members died. He was arrested and sentenced to death in 1978. She was the first woman that be sentenced to death after the death penalty was reinstated. Her last words were 鈥榃hat I鈥檝e done, I did in a state of insanity 鈥�.

29 Ottis Toole

Ottis Toole. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Ottis Toole was a notorious serial killer who was an associate of Henry Lee Lucas.  Toole had a criminal record that included murders, arson, and cannibalism. His most infamous act of criminality was the kidnapping and murder of Adam Walsh, the son of John Walsh, who later worked as the host of “America’s Most Wanted.” Although Toole admitted to a number of murders, he later changed his mind about several of those admissions, raising questions about the accuracy of his assertions. In the end, he was found guilty of numerous killings and given a life sentence. His last words were “I just want to say I’m sorry for the family of Adam Walsh.”

30 Kenneth McDuff

He was also known as the Broomstick Killer. Kenneth was active in the Texas region in the 1960s where during this time, he killed three teenagers. He was arrested and convicted for these murders and sentenced to death. During his execution which took place on 17^th November 1998, he said, 鈥業鈥檓 ready to be released. Release me鈥� his lack of remorse for his crimes was quite chilling.

31 Hadden Clark

The notorious serial killer was famed for his gruesome crimes. He was active from the 1970s until the 1990s and during this time he targeted women as his primary victims. When he was arrested, he was convicted for the murder of two women, Michelle Dorr and Laura Houghteling. The last words that he uttered before he was executed in 1992 were ‘Tell my family I love them’ which was a bizarre statement as he was a brutal killer who is also said to have performed cannibalistic acts on his victims.

Explore this article on the 10 scariest Oklahoma serial killers

32 Martha Beck

He was part of the serial killer duo that was popularly known as the Lonely Heart Killers which operated in the 1940s. she and her lover Raymond Fernandez killed their victims after luring them through Lonely Hearts ads. “My story is a love story, but only those tortured by love can know what I mean,” were her last words which shows how twisted her perspective was as she saw the murder rampage they had gone as a form of a love story.

33 Joseph Paul Franklin

Franklin was a well-known American murderer and white supremacist who carried out a string of racially motivated slayings in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He went after Jews, racially diverse couples, and African Americans because he adhered to a perverted creed of racial hatred. Franklin was found guilty of numerous homicides, bombings, and other hate crimes. He was given a fatal injection on November 20, 2013, in Missouri, for the murder of Jewish man Gerald Gordon.  His last words before his execution were 鈥� I forgive them all. I hope God forgives them all’.  This is quite perplexing as he was the one who committed the murders.

34 Ronnie Lee Gardner

The serial killer was one of the most notorious serial killers in the history of the United States of America. He was charged and found guilty of two murders which happened in 1985 and thus sentenced to death. In 2010 when he was being executed, he requested a firing squad which is quite bizarre as one would expect that someone would choose a method that had less pain. Therefore, his last words were his request for a firing squad which was granted.

35 Ronnie DeFeo Jr.

A mugshot of Ronald Defeo. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

DeFeo Jr. became notorious for the horrifying 1974 slayings of his whole family in Amityville, New York. DeFeo shot and killed his parents, four brothers, and himself with a powerful rifle on the evening of November 13. He asserted throughout his trial that he killed the people as an act of self-defence after hearing voices ordering him to do so. DeFeo was convicted guilty of six charges of second-degree murder after the defence failed to convince the jury. “Kathy, I love you, Goodbye” were his ominous last words before being sentenced. The sentiments were directed at his lawyer.

36 Ricardo Ramirez

The serial killer was also known as the Monster of Andes and he was active in South America in the 1970s. by the time of his arrest, it is said that he had killed 25 people, a crime which he was charged with but his actual victim count is believed to be higher than that. His victims were mostly young boys whom he abducted before proceeding to sexually assault them and then kill them.  His last words before his arrest were 鈥業 am not crazy. Life is all right. Life goes on鈥�.

Check out this article on the 15 deadliest serial killers in the world

37 Richard Cobb

The Texas man was sentenced to death after he was charged with murder. Cobb went to rob a convenience store in 2013 and when he reached there, he abducted the clerk who was at the store and drove him to a nearby field where he proceeded to shoot him in the head. At the time of his execution, his last words which were directed at the warden were 鈥� Wow! That is great. That is awesome. Thank you, Warden. Thankyou Warden’

38 H.H. Holmes

A picture of the famed serial killer H.H. Holmes , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Considered to be one of the most prolific serial killers in the history of the United States. He was arrested in 1896 and charged with the 27 murders that happened in the hotel that he owned. He was found guilty and sentenced to death and when it was time for his execution, he said to his executioner ‘Take your time. Don’t bungle it’.

39 William Bonin

Popularly known as the Freeway Killer, William Bonin was a serial killer responsible for the deaths of 21 boys in 1979 and 198.  He would pick up his victims on the freeway when they were hitchhiking and proceed to kill them. He was sentenced to death after his arrest and executed in 1991. His last words were 鈥淚 would suggest that when a person has a thought of doing anything serious against the law, that before they did that they should go to a quiet place and think about it seriously.鈥�

40 Jake Bird

Serial killer Jake Bird.

He was also known as the Tacoma axe-killer. The serial killer broke into the home of Bertha Kludt and killed her together with her daughter with an axe. He was arrested after the incident and upon questioning, he confessed to 33 other murders. He was sentenced to death and his last words were 鈥淚鈥檓 putting the Jake Bird hex on all of you who had anything to do with my being punished. Mark my words, you will die before I do鈥�. Which is very creepy.

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