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10 Serial Killers That Were Never Caught

When we talk about serial killers, we usually follow the law enforcement authorities as they investigate the murders and look for clues that will lead them to their culprit. Most of the time, the culprit is usually found and brought to justice. However, this is not normally the case for all serial killer cases as there have been killers who terrorised the community and were never found despite efforts put in by the police authorities. Therefore, this article will explore ten of these serial killers who committed atrocious crimes but they were never caught.

1 The Zodiac Killer

The sketch of who is beleived to be the Zodiac killer. , , via Wikimedia Commons

This serial killer was active from the 1950s to the 1970s in northern California. He killed 5 victims and injured 2 others while he was active but he claims responsibility for 37  murders which happened in California. What made the Zodiac killer unique from other serial killers what the fact that he toyed with the authorities and the press each time that he killed, unlike other serial killers who do not contact the police. 

The Zodiac would send cryptic letters to the press and inform them that he wanted them to crack the puzzles if they wanted to know his identity. Of the many cryptic letters that he sent, only one was deciphered and it revealed that the killer murdered his victims because he was collecting slaves for his afterlife. However, his identity was never revealed and his crimes went unpunished.

2 The Alphabet Murders

The killer who was active in the early 1979s in New York committed a series of murders that remain unsolved to date. The serial killer went after victims who had their first name and second name starting with the same letter and that is how they earned the nickname the Alphabet Killer. The killer’s victims were Wanda Walkowicz, Michelle Maenza and Carmen Colon. Law enforcement authorities put a lot of effort into investigating the murders but their efforts bore no fruit and to date, the case has not been determined.

3 The Black Doodler

A sketch of the Black Doodler. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

 Popularly known as the Doodler, this serial killer was active in the San Francisco area in the 1970s. He is believed to have killed between six and sixteen people. The killer sought his victims in gay bars, clubs and restaurants. Before killing his victims, he would sketch them hence earning the nickname the doodler and proceed to sexually assault them before stabbing them to death. The killers’ victims were all white males and their bodies were usually found close to where they were killed. To date, the identity of the Black Doodler is not known.

4 The Long Island Killer

This serial killer is the most recent one as he has been active from 1996 to 2010. He has also been dubbed as the Craigslist Killer or the Gilgo Beach Killer. The killer targeted sex workers as his victims and he is responsible for several murders. The bodies of his victims were found near Gilgo Beach hence the name Gilgo Beach Killer. Even though there has been a lot of investigation and extensive media attention, the identity of the killer is still unknown.

5 Jack the Ripper

An image of people gathered at the place that Jack the Ripper killed two of his victims. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Considered to be among the world’s most notorious and mysterious serial killers, Jack the Ripper was active in 1888 in the Whitechapel district of London. The identity of Jack the Ripper remains unknown to date. The killer killed five women and the murders were later described as the Canonical Five His mode of killing included the removal of organs, throat slashing and mutilation. The brutality of the murders made the case receive a lot of attention but the killer was not identified. To date, the story of Jack the Ripper captivates true crime enthusiasts as they come up with different theories that may solve the murders.

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6 Bible John

The serial killer operated in the 1969s in Glasgow, Scotland. The killer got his nickname from the fact that he used to quote biblical texts to his victims. It is believed that the killer murdered three women after meeting them at the Barrowland Ballroom. These murders happened between 1968 and 1969. Even though law enforcement authorities put in a lot of effort to unearth the killer, their efforts were in vain and to date it remains one of Scotland’s longest-standing unsolved murder cases.

7 The Highway of Tear Killer

A map showing the highway of tears. , , via Wikimedia Commons

This is one of the longest-running serial killer cases as the serial killer who killed people on Highway 16 of Brutish Columbia was active since 1969 to present. There have been so many women who have been killed along Highway 16 and the killings can be traced back to 1969 which is quite chilling. The police think that this might be the work of several killers considering the lengthy time frame. Out of the 40 murders committed on the highway, only one was prosecuted meaning that there are still many unsolved ones.

8 The Babysitter Killer

The serial killer was active between 1976 and 1977 in Oakland County. He was also dubbed as the Oakland County Killer. The killer targeted children as his victims and during the time that he was active, he killed two girls and two boys. Law enforcement authorities reveal that the victims were held captive before being killed. He killed his victims by strangling or shooting them. The bodies of the boys show that they were sexually assaulted. To date, the killer has not been found.

9 The Servant Girl Annihilator

A newspaper describing the servant girl annhilator.

Also known as Austin axe murderer, the serial killer killed 8 victims between 1884 and 1885 in Austin, Texas. The killer targeted domestic staff as his victims and the bodies found in their beds show that they were killed while sleeping or outside their homes. There have been many theories about who the serial killer was with others even claiming that it was Jack the Ripper but no one was ever arrested and convicted for the murders.

10 The Freeway Phantom

The Freeway Phantom was active in Washington DC between 1971 and 1972 and during this period, he killed 6 victims. All of his victims were black girls ranging from 10 to 18 years. The killer abducted his victims who were walking to school, work, home or the store and after he killed them, he dumped their bodies on the highway. One of his victims had a note that was signed by the Free-Way Phantom that said that he was insensitive to people especially women and taunted the police to catch him if they could. The freeway Phantom was never found as some of the case files got lost making the investigation hard.

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