Aileen Carol Wuornos

Aileen Carol Wuornos was the daughter of a sociopathic child molester who was killed in prison by strangulation. Her childhood was anything but storybook, and she was pregnant at 14, soon after turning to prostitution. In a very brief, two-year span of time, she killed seven men who had picked her up while she was hitchhiking, claiming that they either raped her or attempted to rape her. She was executed October 9, 2002 by Lethal Injection in Florida where her murdering spree took place.

David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) (.44 Caliber Killer)

David Berkowitz, better known as Son of Sam, was not only a serial killer, but an arsonist as well. He also professed to being a member of a satanic cult and blamed some of the killings for which he had been charged, on other members of that cult, which he had joined when he was a mere 22 years old. AT the time of his killing spree, there were those that believed that more than one person could have been involved in the crimes, but Berkowitz was the only person ever charged.

As is almost always the case in the background of serial killers, Berkowitz claimed he was abused in his childhood (by his adoptive father's second wife).

Berkowitz claimed that his attacks began in 1975 when he attacked two women on Christmas Eve with a knife. One of his alleged victims was never identified, but the injuries inflicted on the other woman were serious enough to get her hospitalized. From that time, through the next two years, Berkowitz killed six people and wounded seven.

At one point before he was caught, he sent a letter to a police captain that read:

I am deeply hurt by your calling me a wemon [sic] hater! I am not. But I am a monster. I am the "Son of Sam." I am a little brat. When father Sam gets drunk he gets mean. He beats his family. Sometimes he ties me up to the back of the house. Other times he locks me in the garage. Sam loves to drink blood. "Go out and kill," commands father Sam. Behind our house some rest. Mostly young — raped and slaughtered — their blood drained — just bones now. Papa Sam keeps me locked in the attic too. I can't get out but I look out the attic window and watch the world go by. I feel like an outsider. I am on a different wavelength then everybody else — programmed too kill. However, to stop me you must kill me. Attention all police: Shoot me first — shoot to kill or else keep out of my way or you will die! Papa Sam is old now. He needs some blood to preserve his youth. He has had too many heart attacks. "Ugh, me hoot, it hurts, sonny boy." I miss my pretty princess most of all. She's resting in our ladies house. But I'll see her soon. I am the "Monster" — "Beelzebub" — the chubby behemouth. I love to hunt. Prowling the streets looking for fair game — tasty meat. The wemon of Queens are prettyist of all. It must be the water they drink. I live for the hunt — my life. Blood for papa. Mr. Borrelli, sir, I don't want to kill anymore. No sur, no more but I must, 'honor thy father.' I want to make love to the world. I love people. I don't belong on earth. Return me to yahoos. To the people of Queens, I love you. And I want to wish all of you a happy Easter. May God bless you in this life and in the next. And for now I say goodbye and goodnight. Police: Let me haunt you with these words: I'll be back! I'll be back! To be interpreted as — bang bang bang, bank, bang — ugh!! Yours in murder, Mr. Monster

On May 30, 1977, columnist Jimmy Breslin of the New York Daily News received a hand-written letter from someone who claimed to be the .44 shooter. The letter was postmarked early on May 30 in Englewood, New Jersey. On the reverse of the envelope was hand-printed a precisely-centered quatrain:

Blood and Family/Darkness and Death/Absolute Depravity/.44

The letter read:


Hello from the gutters of N.Y.C. which are filled with dog manure, vomit, stale wine, urine and blood. Hello from the sewers of N.Y.C. which swallow up these delicacies when they are washed away by the sweeper trucks. Hello from the cracks in the sidewalks of N.Y.C. and from the ants that dwell in these cracks and feed in the dried blood of the dead that has settled into the cracks. J.B., I'm just dropping you a line to let you know that I appreciate your interest in those recent and horrendous .44 killings. I also want to tell you that I read your column daily and I find it quite informative. Tell me Jim, what will you have for July twenty-ninth? You can forget about me if you like because I don't care for publicity. However you must not forget Donna Lauria and you cannot let the people forget her either. She was a very, very sweet girl but Sam's a thirsty lad and he won't let me stop killing until he gets his fill of blood. Mr. Breslin, sir, don't think that because you haven't heard from me for a while that I went to sleep. No, rather, I am still here. Like a spirit roaming the night. Thirsty, hungry, seldom stopping to rest; anxious to please Sam. I love my work. Now, the void has been filled. Perhaps we shall meet face to face someday or perhaps I will be blown away by cops with smoking .38's. Whatever, if I shall be fortunate enough to meet you I will tell you all about Sam if you like and I will introduce you to him. His name is "Sam the terrible." Not knowing the what the future holds I shall say farewell and I will see you at the next job. Or should I say you will see my handiwork at the next job? Remember Ms. Lauria. Thank you. In their blood and from the gutter "Sam's creation" .44 Here are some names to help you along. Forward them to the inspector for use by N.C.I.C: [sic] "The Duke of Death" "The Wicked King Wicker" "The Twenty Two Disciples of Hell" "John 'Wheaties' -- Rapist and Suffocator of Young Girls. PS: Please inform all the detectives working the slaying to remain. P.S: [sic] JB, Please inform all the detectives working the case that I wish them the best of luck. "Keep 'em digging, drive on, think positive, get off your butts, knock on coffins, etc." Upon my capture I promise to buy all the guys working the case a new pair of shoes if I can get up the money. Son of Sam

Berkowitz has been imprisoned since 1977

John Wayne Gacy (The Chicago Killer)

John Wayne Gacy, like most other serial killers, was the son of an alcoholic, abusive father. He would grow up to appear outwardly normal, but kill 33 young boys that he buried beneath his home. He was found guilty on all counts, and after many unsuccessful appeals, he was executed by lethal injection on May 9, 1994.

Albert de Salvo - (The Boston Strangler)

Albert de Salvo's father was a vicious and violent drunk, forcing his children to watch him have sex with prostitutes that he brought home.
He was murdered in a maximum security prison infirmary on November 25, 1973,

Albert Fish (Gray Man, Werewolf of Wysteria, Brooklyn Vampire, Boogeyman)

Albert Fish was one of the most notorious serial killers who ever lived, but he looked like he could have played the part of Mr. Rogers on children's television. He looked quiet, mild and gentle, but like most serial killers he came from a dysfunctional family with a background of mental illness. Abandoned at a very young age, he was sent to an orphanage and was subjected to unspeakable brutality, according to Fish. It was at the orphanage during beatings that Fish came to realize that he enjoyed physical pain. (He often achieved an erection during the beatings and was teased for it by the other children in the orphanage).

Fish started killing when he was about 20 years old, after he had moved to New York City from his birthplace in Washington, D.C. Fish, working in New York as a male prostitute, began luring children away from their homes, and torturing them in various ways. One way of torture was to hit them with a paddle laced with small nails. Then, they were raped. His bizarre sexual attacks on children only grew worse over the years, with Fish beginning to murder and cannabalize the young victims. Some years later, Fish married and had six children. After his wife left him and the children, he would use that same paddle, making his children hit him with it until blood dripped down his legs. His sado-masochistic rituals also included pushing needles deep into his own skin.

Fish, before he was captured, was known by a variety of different names, including the Gray Man, the Werewolf of Wysteria, the Brooklyn Vampire, and the Boogeyman.

Fish blamed his killings of hundreds of children on "voices" that he heard in his head, but smiled as he described the horrible details of the killings to police in graphic detail. Psychiatrists agreed with Fish when he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, but a jury didn't agree, and on January 16, 1936, Fish was electrocuted at Sing Sing.

Jeffrey Dahmer

All serial killers are monsters, but Jeffrey Dahmer was one of the most depraved killers ever born. We will never know the reasons why he not only killed his victims but cut their bodies into pieces and buried them. Later, he would dig up some of his victims and further mutilate their bodies, years after they were killed.

Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy's killing spree lasted four years, from 1974 to 1978, and the total number of victims is unknown, but most think the number to be about 35-50. Anyone who was a young adult at that time (like myself) will never forget the photos of the charismatic-looking, undeniably-handsome monster.

Bundy, born in a home for unwed mothers to Eleanor Louise Cowell, for many years believed that his mother was his older sister. It was not until he was probably in his late teens or early 20's that he learned that she was his mother. When his mother met Johnny Culpepper Bundy and married him, Ted was adopted by the man and had his name legally changed.

The couple had more children and Ted spent a lot of time baby-sitting his younger siblings, all-the-while he remained totally detached from his adoptive father. Ted was a good student in school (although remaining an introvert) and was active in the Methodist church in Tacoma, Washington, and was a member of the Boy Scouts of America. But, before he graduated from high school in 1965, he had become a compulsive thief, and was already becoming an amateur criminal.

Bundy met Ann Rule, a policewoman in Seattle, and a struggling crime writer, while he was working at a suicide hot line in Seattle. Later, she penned a book about him entitled "The Stranger Beside Me". According to Rule, Bundy didn't learn about his mother until he visited his birthplace and went through public records. This was during the time that he was a university student at the University of Washington, also according to Rule.

By all accounts, Bundy was an impressive person. He managed the Seattle office of presidential hopeful Nelson Rockefeller in 1968, and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in psychology in 1972.