The FBI did not recognize female serial killers until the 1990s. They called these crimes sexual killing, and sexual killing is almost always indicative of a male murderer. But there are well-known women who murdered far more victims than men did. Jolly Jane Toppan was a nurse in Boston in the late 1800s.
Aileen Wuornos, America's first female serial killer.
Researchers have identified certain characteristics of female serial killers, finding they tend to be white, married at least once, of at least average intelligence, and are more likely to be employed in healthcare professions.
Female serial killers are a rare but real phenomenon. While they account for only 15% of all serial killers in the United States, their impact is far-reaching and often devastating. From 1800 to 2015, 599 known American female serial killers have been identified; 64% were involved in the healthcare industry.
Eight-year-old Amarjeet Sada was all smiles when he was brought to the police station in 2007 in connection with the murder of an infant. Sada, known as the world's youngest serial killer, was held after three murders, two of which went unreported.
The most prolific modern serial killer is arguably doctor Harold Shipman, with 218 probable murders and possibly as many as 250 (see "Medical professionals", below). However, he was actually convicted of a sample of 15 murders.
The most common myths about serial killers encompass such factors as their race, gender, intelligence, living conditions and victim characteristics. Myth #1: All Serial Killers Are Men. Reality: This is simply not true but it is understandable why the public would hold this erroneous belief.
The Phantom of Heilbronn, often alternatively referred to as the "Woman Without a Face", was a hypothesized unknown female serial killer whose existence was inferred from DNA evidence found at numerous crime scenes in Austria, France and Germany from 1993 to 2009.
Mallika had called Nagveni for a special ritual, made her consume cyanide and fled with her jewellery. The police found the jewellery with her when they caught her. In 2012, Cyanide Mallika was handed out the death sentence following her conviction, which was later commuted to a life term.
Kempamma was arrested in 2000 by the police in Bidadi. She had been trying to rob valuables from a house where she had been tasked with performing a ritual. The victim was able to escape unscathed by screaming. The victim was saved by her family, and Kempamma was arrested.
Amarjeet Sada, an eight-year-old alleged serial killer, was labeled a sadist by psychologists. Amarjeet Sada, the enigmatic figure shrouded in darkness and mystery, emerged from the quaint village of Mushahar in Bihar, India.
Who are Surinder Koli and Moninder Singh Pandher a.k.a. the Nithari brothers. Surinder and Mohinder are known to be two of the most popular serial killers in India. Their case received a lot of media and public attention due to its vicious and uncommon nature.
In 2007, India earned a world record for having the Youngest Serial Killer. It was never a record to be proud of. Unlike other serial killers, Amarjeet Sada was only seven years old when he committed three brutal murders.
While the origin of the term "serial killer" may be slightly ambiguous, it is quite clear which country is home to the highest number of serial killers. The United States is the runaway leader in this category, with more documented serial killers in its history than the next ten closest countries combined.
Numbers peaked in the 1970s when there were nearly 300 known active serial killers in the U.S. In the 1980s, there were more than 250 active killers who accounted for between 120 and 180 deaths per year. By the time the 2010s rolled around there were fewer than 50 known active killers.
New York. Coming in at number one, we have New York. As of 2023, New York has been home to 18 serial killers, and has a total number of 677 serial killer victims. David Richard Berkowitz, known as “The Son of Sam,” is New York's most infamous serial killer.
While each of these types and their crimes have distinguishing characteristics, a general profile of serial killers indicates they are generally white males from 25 to 34 years old.
There has been around 60 notorious female serial killers in United States history.
All serial murders are not sexually-based. There are many other motivations for serial murders including anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking.