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A look into the horror: which state has the most serial killers

Every state has produced at least one serial killer, some have dozens of serial killers while others have harboured very few serial killers. The accurate way to measure these famous serial killers per state according to World Population Review is either by the rate of serial killings measured against the population or the actual number of serial killers who are known to have operated in each state. Over the years serial killers have tended to become the most popular topic in the news, entertainment forums and even pop culture. Most of these serial killers kill for financial gain, enjoyment, anger, sex or attention seeking. They also showed commonalities in the way they murdered their victims either by shooting, poisoning, strangulation or stabbing.

Their intriguing brutal acts have really terrified the states and left them in shock as they really showed a lack of remorse in their murders. Therefore, today we are going to explore the states that have produced the most serial killers throughout history.

1. Alaska

Alaska is among the most popular states with the most serial killers, that is 15.65 serial killings per one million residents. Between 1900 and 2014 a total of 51 murders took place. During the 1980s, Alaska led the nation in serial killer murders since it was at that time many serial killers were performing their unlawful acts. According to experts, the killers may have been affected by the long winter nights which affected their mental health leading to severe depression. Additionally, the nature of the workforce was another factor. The logging, oil industries and construction resulted in a high number of seasonal workers. Since this nature of work is populated by males, it contributed to a high number of sex workers who were among the main targets of a serial killer.

The most famous serial killer in Alaska was Robert Hansen 鈥淏utcher Baker.鈥� He murdered at least 17 women by abducting and raping them before murdering them. It is said that he might have murdered up to 30 victims over a period of 13 years before he was captured and sentenced to 461 years plus life in prison.

2. California

California is home to several serial killers in history which is why it falls in second place as the state with the most notorious serial killers. Serial killing in California rose in the 1980s when 1770 innocent victims were killed. Some of the famous serial killers include Patrick Kearney, the cult leader Charles Manson, William Bonin 鈥淔reeway Killer,鈥� Randy Ramirez, Richard Ramirez 鈥渢he Night Stalker,鈥� and the Zodiac Killer murders, which remains one of most unsolved serial murder cases up to today since his identity is still unidentified.

3. Florida

Florida has earned a place among the most lethal states associated with serial killings since 1900. It was documented by the FBI that there were 778 murder cases of innocent victims. Most of these killings happened in the 80s which marked the deadliest period in Florida’s history for serial killings. These high-profile serial killers in Florida include; the famous Ted Bundy who was found guilty of kidnapping, raping and murdering over 30 innocent victims from different states, Aileen Wuornes who was found guilty of killing seven men between 1989 and 1990 and Daniel Howard Rolling 鈥渢he Gainesville Ripper who raped and stabbed young women after which he would pose their corpses in sexually suggestive positions.

4. Oregon

Oregon has the 6^th greatest frequency of serial murders with 232 serial killings reported per year for every 100000 citizens. Although serial killings occur in Oregon at the rate of 7.36 serial murders per million inhabitants, it is considered one of the most peaceful places to live in as compared to other states. We cannot speak about Oregon killings and live behind the famous Dayton Leroy Rogers aka the Molalla Forest killer who stabbed 7 women. Oregon killers preferred to strangle their victims to death, however, most serial killers across the nation preferred using firearms to kill as compared to other killing methods.

5. Washington

Washington also rates high in serial killings with a total of 227 known serial killings. The data reveals they were 95 individual serial cases, the famous one being of Gary Ridgway 鈥渢he Green River Killer.鈥� It is believed that Gary murdered closer to 100 innocent victims but he confessed to only 48 murders, most of them being women. He is currently locked up in prison and he is serving his life sentence. Another individual case is that of Robert Lee Yates who was a helicopter pilot for the United States Army. Yates murdered at least 13 prostitutes between 1975 and 1988 in the Washington area.

6. Nevada

The serial murder rate is high in Nevada, in fact, it is considered the second highest rate of serial killings after Alaska with 98 serial murders since 1900. Nevada being a gambling state could explain the rise of serial killings in the 1980s. Also, the high number of tourists could have created ideal victims for anyone trying to commit a brutal act. Between 1970 and 2000, 8 victims who worked as prostitutes were murdered mysteriously. In 2003 again 3 prostitutes who had the same features; blonde hair, brown eyes, the same weight and about 5”5” were reported missing but eventually their bodies were located. It was after the death of Neal Falls who was shot by a prostitute that the killings of prostitutes stopped. 

7. Texas

Eight hundred serial killer murders took place in Texas since 1900, putting them in second place for the number of victims after California. One of the serial killers, Genene Jones, aka 鈥淭he Angel of Death,鈥� murdered between 11 and 46 innocent children. He worked as a paediatrician and it was during his working time that he committed these unlawful acts by injecting the children with lethal doses of drugs that would cause fatal paralysis or heart failure. The other famous serial killer in Texas was Robert Ben Rhoades who killed 50 innocent victims during his long-haul trucking days. He tortured his victims in his cab for so many highway miles before dumping their bodies. Others include; Kenneth McDuff, Dean Corll and Angel Maturino Resendiez.

8. Louisiana

Although Louisiana is known for great good things such as jazz music, Mardi Gras and their food, they are unfortunately involved in serial killings. Louisiana has six serial killers who murdered 344 victims. It averaged 13.7 murders per 100,000 inhabitants between 1989 to 2014. We cannot fail to mention some of the most prolific serial killers in Louisiana such as Derrick Todd Lee who murdered 7 women after a DNA tied him to all seven murders, Samuel little who confessed to 93 murders, of which 60 were confirmed, Henry Lee Lucas, Ronald Joseph Dominique and Danny Rolling.

9. Ohio

Ohio has a total of 505 serial killer victims which is quite a lower number as compared to other states. These statistics prove that Ohio can be a peaceful state to live in because of its fewer violent cases. When we mention Ohio, we cannot forget one of its famous serial killers, Shawn Gates who murdered five young women between 2006 and 2016. The police found trash piled up to the ceiling and several decomposing bodies when they went to rescue a woman who had been kidnapped by Shawn. He was captured and scheduled for execution in 2025.

10. Illinois

Illinois has seven serial killers with a total of 680 victims. They are the only state that has the same ranking for both killers and victims, as they are both positioned in fourth place. John Wayne Gacy’s name appears when we talk about Illinois because he was among the highest prolific killers who murdered at least 33 young men and boys in Illinois. Weirdly, Wayne used to work as a clown at children’s birthday parties as a part-time job, hence the nickname “Killer Clown.” Others include; Robin Getcht, Edward Spreitzer, Thomas Korkoraleis, and William Heirens 鈥淭he Lipstick Killer.鈥� All these people were from the 鈥淭he Chicago Rippers,鈥� which was basically a group of a satanic cult.

  Check out this article on the 15 most deranged serial killers from Texas here

Here is another on 15 infamous serial killers from Ohio