Wicked Wanderings
Delve into the enigmatic realms of the mysterious, unearth tales of haunting encounters, explore the chilling depths of true crime, and unravel the threads of the unexplained. Join us on the Wicked Wanderings Podcast for a riveting journey through the realms of the unknown and the haunting mysteries that linger in the shadows.
Wicked Wanderings
Ep. 69: Top 50 Serial Killers: The Chilling Countdown
Our latest episode takes you through a chilling countdown of the top 50 serial killers throughout history, offering insights into their lives, crimes, and the societal failures that allowed them to thrive. It serves as a reflection on the dark side of human nature and encourages conversation about crime, mental illness, and victimhood.
• Discussion of the first serial killer on the list, Karl Denke
• The infamous cases of Larry Hall and Charles Manson
• An exploration of Ted Bundy’s charisma matched with savagery
• A critical look at Eileen Wuornos and her narrative as a female killer
• Insights into Dr. Harold Shipman, a medical professional who abused his position for murder
• Conversations around societal perceptions of violence and male dominance in cases
• Reflection on the lasting societal impacts of serial killer prevalence
If you think the ranking should be different or someone is omitted, let us know.
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Wicked Wanderings is hosted by Hannah & Courtney and it's produced by Rob Fitzpatrick. Music by Sascha Ende.
Wicked Wanderings is a Production of Studio 113
All right, let's do this.
Rob:So how was everyone's New Year's Eve last night?
Hannah:I'm sorry, we can't ask that because it hasn't happened yet. That's weird.
Rob:What do you mean? It hasn't happened, it just happened last night.
Courtney:Hannah. It's literally the first. We're writing this at 1 am. Hannah is a liar, guys. She's a hater.
Hannah:I do want to say, though make the whitney houston again oh, the pink whitney yeah, the whitney houston is what I called it the whitney houston.
Courtney:Sure, I don't know how I made it, because I'm pretty sure I was intoxicated when I made it.
Rob:Well, if you go back to the episode we told the recipe, did I give the recipe?
Hannah:in the lobster pot, okay, okay, hi. I'm Hannah and I'm Courtney. Join us as we delve into true crime, paranormal encounters and all things spooky.
Courtney:Grab your flashlight and get ready to wander into the darkness with us.
Rob:This is Wicked Wanderings. Hey Hannah, hey Rob, hey Courtney, Hi Rob, how are we doing today?
Courtney:We are great, we're excited that you're coming to us with an episode.
Rob:Yes, and I just want to wish everybody a happy new year. This episode is coming out on the first, so I hope everyone was safe last night, got home safe and sound and you're listening to this episode all hungover.
Courtney:Partied like it was 1999.
Rob:So happy 2025. And here's to another year.
Courtney:Cheers.
Rob:Cheers. So we're going to do a special episode today. We are going to do a top 50 countdown of serial killers. So I asked ChatGBT to comprise a list of the top 50 serial killers and this is what it gave us. So we have the name, We'll tell you where they're from, give you a little summary, a background, if they were captured, the trial and where they're at today. Some key details as well.
Courtney:Sounds great. I'm excited. Yeah, let's do this.
Rob:All right, so we're going to start with number 50. His name is Karl Denke D-E N-K-E.
Hannah:Yeah, I'm going to say Dentke.
Rob:Dentke from Germany. Quick summary is known as the cannibal of Zebeis, dentke murdered and cannibalized at least 30 people in the early 20th century.
Courtney:Oh, he's starting with a cannibal guys, you know I hate this.
Rob:Some key details he was a respected member of his community. Uh danky sold human flesh disguised as pork oh so this is a uh damn it.
Hannah:I'll say ever scissor hands. That's a wrong movie.
Rob:Yeah, sweet todd, sweet, yes, yes, yes yes, his ledger contained detailed records of his murders, the capture he was exposed in 1924 after a victim escaped, revealing Denke's crimes.
Courtney:Escaping a cannibal.
Rob:Yes, and then some of the trial. He committed suicide in custody before standing trial leaving behind limited insights into his motives.
Hannah:He sounds interesting.
Courtney:Potential episode. Yeah, if you hear something that you want to hear more about, send us some mail guys, let us know. We'll do a full episode Cousin.
Mom:Mark Cousin. Mark, we got to have you on an episode Cousin Mark. We got your message from.
Courtney:Rob, you just tell us when you're available.
Rob:All right, so number 49, hannah's going to take it. This is a case we already did.
Hannah:Yes, this sounds very familiar Larry Hall, usa. The summary is Hall is suspected of being a serial killer responsible for dozens of murders across the Midwest, primarily targeting young women, in the 1980s and 1990s. The key details presented is a Civil War reenactor, hall lured victims through his travels and is believed to have killed while passing through towns for reenactments. Known for vague confessions and a history of desecrating graves, his capture was he was arrested in 1994 for the kidnapping of Jessica Roach, leading to further suspicions about his involvement in many unsolved cases and his trial. He was convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment, but his suspected murder count remains unconfirmed. Haunting.
Rob:Yeah, there's a great show on apple tv. It's called blackbird. It's a I don't know seven or eight part series it's really good about.
Courtney:I still haven't seen that yet, because I never just did this episode, me neither. Okay, number 48, charles manson. You know, I just say I'm surprised he's at 48. Yeah, I was a little surprised too, big guy, like I was. Like, did I read from the wrong? Um, obviously, uh, charles manson, obviously, usa, sorry, sorry. What'd you say, mom, before?
Mom:I don't think it's the number of people he killed, it's the notoriety of the people he killed yeah, definitely that would make sense.
Courtney:Sorry, court, um. His. Manson was the leader of the Manson family, a cult responsible for a series of brutal murders in 1969, including actress Sharon Tate. Key details Manson didn't commit the murders personally, but directed his followers to carry out the killings as part of his delusional belief in a race war. He called Helter Skelter. He was arrested in 1969 after the murder spree. Details about his trial. He was arrested in 1969 after the murder spree. Details about his trial. He was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in 1971. Originally sentenced to death, his sentence was committed to life in prison after California's death penalty was briefly abolished. Manson died in 2017.
Rob:Oh, I didn't realize he was dead.
Courtney:I didn't realize it was so recent yeah.
Hannah:Well, I know. So one of his followers just got out of jail this year. I think it was Also interesting fact Zach Bagan from Ghost Adventure, her boyfriend Zach.
Hannah:Bagan, If you're listening please send her a DM or something. He has, a haunted museum that he has haunted objects in. Send her a dm or something he has, um, like a haunted museum that he has haunted objects in, and one of them is, I believe, the television that charles manson and his followers had in their home, and it's just that's kind of cool haunted so I remember these.
Mom:I was very young. I remember being at the beach with my dad, always got that sunday paper again a daily paper. My dad was a newspaper guy to have that newspaper right yeah and I can remember reading about them. And it was, it was frightening. It was frightening. What year was it?
Courtney:1969 it was 69, but the murders took place 71, when he was convicted so this is all the time we were reading about the vietnam war.
Mom:There's a lot of stuff going on Flower power, yep, flower children. And then he had their cult out in California. It was scary.
Rob:All right, we're on to number 47. Robert Pickton, from Canada, which we actually just covered. This case we did, so here's a brief summary. Pickton he was a pig farmer murdered dozens of women in Vancouver in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was charged with 27 murders but believed to have killed about 49. And during his trial he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007.
Hannah:And usually they were women of the night.
Rob:And he actually just committed suicide or he died or something that was this year. Oh yeah, that was this year he was killed. He was killed in prison. That's what it was.
Courtney:Right around the same time that Hannah did her episode.
Rob:Yes, that's correct.
Courtney:We keep having fluky timing like that with people.
Mom:Is there a correlation between men with bad hygiene and being serial killers?
Courtney:Maybe I don't know we could probably make one. I believe you could make a correlation between anything, though. Very true, I mean, how many would you need to?
Hannah:make a correlation.
Courtney:There's no definitive number. That's the thing about it. That's why I say you could do it for anything. You could say, oh well, these three, and then base it off of that. But Ted Bundy was very handsome and well-spoken, so maybe the theory doesn't hold water. Probably depends on their motive for doing things.
Rob:I would say yeah, all right, number 46.
Hannah:Hannah, you want to take this one sure william bonin of the usa, uh known as the freeway killer bonin raped, tortured and murdered at least 21 boys in the late 1970s. Uh often worked with accomplices. Oh interesting, and he was executed in 1996. Well, I kind of want to know how he was executed.
Courtney:Yeah, he's definitely one I would like to learn more about, because I don't think I know anything about him either.
Rob:Well, there's a new case to put on the list of cases to do His birth date's a steak.
Courtney:Number 45, patrick Kearney, usa. He was known as the trash bag killer. He preyed on young men in California during the 1970s. He killed and dismembered at least 21 victims, disposing of them in garbage bags, and he pleaded guilty in 1978 and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Hannah:All right Interesting.
Rob:Number 44 is John Christie from the UK. Christie murdered at least eight people in his London home during the 1940s and 1950s. Some of the key details he lured victims with promises of medical assistance. He was captured and apprehended in 1953. And during the trial he was executed by hanging the same year. Wow.
Hannah:He must have had a medical degree of some sort, why would you offer medical assistance?
Courtney:That's true. He'd definitely be another one I would be interested in.
Mom:Yeah, remember the healthcare system was very different back then too.
Courtney:In the 50s and he was in the UK, so he wasn't in the US.
Mom:There was no NHS or anything. I don't think. Yeah, I would look into it.
Hannah:Next one, 43,. Richard Chase from the USA oh, he was known as the Vampire of Sacramento Killed six people in the late 1970s, drinking their blood and engaging in necrophilia Yum, fun stuff. His murders were linked to untreated schizophrenia.
Courtney:Makes sense.
Hannah:Sentenced to death in 1979, but committed suicide in prison in 1980.
Mom:Would they give a death penalty to somebody who's diagnosed with schizophrenia? Wouldn't that be?
Courtney:something that I don't know. If they can, I think they can.
Hannah:I just think they choose not to I don't think there's like a you can't the thing is, I feel like every murder has a mental disorder so then in the end 2025 now and everybody's got some kind of mental illness going on.
Courtney:You could make a case for any one of us in this room if we had done something to say it was under. It's the people who say not me, lynn, what was in that quiche, ma right 42, we have a woman. It sounds like dorothea puente. I hope I'm saying that right. Uh, usa. She ran a boarding house where she killed tenants to steal their benefits. Bodies of nine victims were found in her Sacramento yard in 1988. She was convicted in 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Rob:And we love a female serial killer out here.
Courtney:So she's definitely also going to be on the list.
Mom:She was motivated by money, which is almost a little more understandable than just rage. That's true, she was motivated by money. I mean it's horrible, don't get me wrong, but at least she was motivated because she wanted that money At least for a reason.
Courtney:Right, it wasn't just like random killing just because it feels good.
Mom:I think I'm a little bit more concerned about that.
Courtney:Yeah, she wasn't motivated by rage or a parent or something Wasn't in Sacramento in 1988. Yeah, exactly.
Rob:Wasn't quite alive. All right, number 41.
Hannah:You were no.
Rob:In 1980? Eight oh, 1988. Okay, yes, I was alive, but I was two years old.
Courtney:He was too young for benefits. Sorry, Dorothea.
Rob:All right, number 41. Robert Henson, from the USA. All right, so a quick summary. The Butcher Baker abducted women and hunted them in the Alaskan wilderness.
Mom:Ooh oh.
Rob:Some of the key details are he's responsible for deaths of at least 17 women in the 1970s and 1980s. He was arrested in 1983 after a victim escaped it seems like always, if someone escapes, you're done, you're done, you're toast yeah and during his trial he was sentenced to 461 years in prison.
Hannah:Oh, that's a piece of cake.
Courtney:Yeah, I mean 17 women that almost seems like not enough time, in my opinion 17 lives equates out to 461 years.
Mom:Does it say how he found his victims?
Courtney:I mean Alaska's not like it just says he abducted them and hunted them. So I'm assuming it was kind of like what we were thinking about with Johnny's case, where it's like taking them to a place and then being like run victims. Books on that we do, but it's different. Books are fantasy and this is real life.
Hannah:Number 40, beverly Allitt, from the UK. She was dubbed the Angel of Death. Allitt was a nurse who murdered four children under her care in 1991. Oh, not the kids she used lethal doses, not the kids, not the pets. Used lethal doses of insulin or air to kill patients. She was sentenced to 13 life sentences in 1993.
Courtney:It's interesting how we will put a higher sentence on people who hurt children than we will on like I mean and I don't say that I disagree, obviously, but it's just interesting from a legal standpoint how we can say oh, a child's life is worth more in sentencing time than in adults.
Mom:I think because you're hoping that the adult would have some awareness of what was going on. Our child is just so vulnerable. I guess it's the vulnerable.
Rob:Yeah.
Mom:I guess that's why that's where we are with the pets we were talking about. That's true.
Rob:Don't hurt the pets yeah.
Mom:You know, when the dog gets let go, we're all like a woman was murdered, but the dog got let go. We're like, oh good, you know All the scary movies. I always say let the dog go, don't bring a pet in All right.
Rob:So this kind of sounds like a case that we did over the summer. Hannah, do you remember this?
Hannah:Kristen Gilbert. She worked for the VA up in Leeds or Northampton. Once it said nurse, I thought of her the poison.
Rob:So didn't they call her the angel of death as well?
Courtney:I would have to look at it. I haven't read the book. I did put it on my TBR but I didn't read it. But I think it might have been something along the same lines, if not the same thing.
Rob:She was the one that was killing the vets, right? Yes, and I believe Jess covered that over the summer.
Mom:right, yeah, but her motivation is she wanted the. There was some guy she was in love with a security guy or something. Hers was weird and see her be a hero, saving these people.
Rob:Hers was a weird one. Yeah Well, she enjoyed killing them.
Courtney:Yeah, sicko. Yes 39, Dennis Nilsen, United Kingdom. He was known as the Muswell Hill murderer and killed at least 12 men in London between 1978 and 1983. He was very busy. He often kept corpses in his home for long periods. Wow, oh gross. He was arrested after human remains were found clogging his drains oh God, I hate when that happens, messy. And he was convicted in 1983 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Hannah:I will never complain about hair in the drain, ever again.
Courtney:No, Hair, not, you know, skin, teeth and bones.
Rob:Yeah, need a good plumber to clear that out.
Mom:Oh God, that's it, that's it.
Rob:Number 38, Otis.
Courtney:To that out. Oh god, number 38 otis tool from the usa tool a partner of lucas.
Mom:Lucas is listed below yes okay, I was like
Courtney:who's lucas? More to come on lucas.
Rob:Yes, yes yes, yes, so tool, a partner of number 37 which we will talk about in a second, committed multiple murders and was known for arson and cannibalism Courtney's favorite. I hate cannibalism Confessed to killing Adam Walsh, even though the case remains controversial. He was convicted in 1980s of multiple murders and sentenced to life. He died in prison in 1996. So, if you don't know, adam Walsh is the son of john walsh from america's most wanted interesting, so don't tell me he ate his son uh, no.
Rob:So this gentleman here tool just confessed to killing adam walsh, but it seems like the case remained controversial. Like he was just confessing just to say he didn't.
Hannah:They don't know if he actually did my turn yeah, so his partner number 37 all right, henry lee lucas of the usa. Uh, lucas confessed to hundreds of murders hundreds, oh god. But many claim. But many claims remain unverified. He is known for his partnership with otis tool, listed above. His confession led to solving numerous cold cases, though their accuracy was questioned. He was arrested in 1983 for unlawful possession of a firearm. That's the reason why.
Courtney:Such a silly way to get caught, huh.
Hannah:They didn't go to Steve Nagel's.
Rob:College of Knowledge.
Hannah:And sentenced to life in prison, but died in 2001.
Mom:Isn't it unusual for people to team up like that? You don't see that a lot, you don't, mama?
Hannah:That's a very good point.
Courtney:They usually trust no one kind of mindset.
Hannah:Yep, because shit. Well, I guess that wasn't his fault.
Courtney:But All right. 36, pedro Lopez, colombia, ecuador and Peru. I'm hoping that he committed crimes in all three, because I don't love that. We're just like slash, slash, slash in his location Known as the monster of the Andes.
Courtney:Lopez confessed to murdering over 300 girls across Colombia, ecuador and Peru in the 1970s and 80s. He targeted young girls, luring them with promises of gifts before killing them. He was arrested in Ecuador in 1980 after being caught attempting to abduct a girl, and he was convicted of 110. Arrested in Ecuador in 1980 after being caught attempting to abduct a girl, and he was convicted of 110 murders in Ecuador and released in 1998 after serving just 14 years, his current whereabouts are unknown.
Courtney:Oh my God. So if you're going to commit a crime, do it in Ecuador, I guess. Wow, that's scary, and keep your children out of Ecuador. That's scary, and keep your children out of Ecuador. That's scary. They had said in the 70s and 80s and I don't have here, although now I'm interested on what his age was at the time because potentially if he was older, right, he could be deceased- yeah. But if he was younger at the time, he could very much still be alive.
Rob:Yeah.
Hannah:So let's say like 40. Yeah, midlife right Like yeah, that's midlife, right Like yeah, that's scary that one's concerning I don't like this Sorry about that everybody.
Rob:I just Googled Pedro Lopez and he's 76 years old.
Courtney:And they know where he is.
Rob:Nope Currently unknown.
Courtney:So he could be dead also, right.
Rob:He could be being 76 now.
Courtney:Or just being a convicted murderer of many people.
Hannah:I can imagine you have many enemies. I can't believe he only had prison for that. Like what.
Courtney:I really want to learn more about that case, just to know, like, what the prison system's rationale was for like, hey, four years will do.
Rob:Yeah, exactly.
Courtney:Sorry about that. You know what was it I have to go back in A hundred and ten murderers and was released after 14 years. I'm sorry 14, yes 14. 14 just seems like four in the comparison.
Rob:All right, the next one is number 35. It's Randy Kraft from the USA, dubbed the scorecard killer. Kraft is believed to have murdered at least 16 young men, though his tally may be much higher. Some of the key details he kept a coded list of his victims and used strangulation, overdosing or other methods to kill. He was arrested in 1983 after police discovered a body in his car.
Hannah:Was he stupid?
Rob:During his trial. He was sentenced to death in 1989. And one of the legacies of Kraft is the case remains notorious for its methodical, chilling nature.
Hannah:Very interesting, so they still have his remains.
Rob:Sounds like it.
Hannah:That reminds me of that. The guy, god. So this was way back in the day where these two guys were realizing they can make money off of cadavers for the medical schools. Yeah, and then his skeleton is in England, atland, at one of the museums because it got donated to science, all right. 34. Herbert mullen of the usa. Mullen killed 13 people in california in the early 1970s, believing his actions would prevent catastrophic earthquakes.
Mom:Oh, wow, talk about mental health disorders uh.
Hannah:So he targeted random victims using a gun and knife, often with no clear pattern. He was arrested after being caught in the act of murder. He was convicted in 1973 and sentenced to life in prison. His case is often studied for its ties to schizophrenia and delusional thinking. Schizophrenia, mom. There you go.
Rob:There you go.
Courtney:Again, 33 is actually a twofer. So we have leonard lake and charles nge and it's just ng ng ng. Thank you this one's just ng, and I even, like, did some extra research on top of it and there's no pronunciation, so I'm just gonna call him ng uh from usa. This duo kidnapped, tortured and murdered at least 11 people in a remote California cabin during the 1980s. So methods were inspired by survivalist fantasies. They targeted families and videotaped some of their heinous acts Lake was arrested for theft and committed suicide.
Courtney:NG was captured years later in Canada. He was sentenced to death in 1999 for multiple murders, and their crimes highlight the dangers of extremism and unchecked violent fantasies as a legacy interesting jinx.
Rob:You owe me a coke by your own all right number 32 ronnell akala. Is that how you would say it, akala? Yeah ronald akala from the great country of the usa. Uh, he was dubbed the dating game killer, which I believe we just talked about this recently because there's a new uh show on netflix netflix yep so he was dubbed the dating game killer after appearing on the tv show the Dating Game during his killing spree.
Rob:Mccullough was a photographer who lured victims into deadly traps. He used his charm to lure victims, often taking photographs before killing them. He was convicted in 1980 for multiple murders, though investigators believe he killed many, many more. He was sentenced to death and died of natural causes in 2021. His crimes shed light on the misuse of trust and charm in predatory behavior. So I have not seen that show yet. I did start watching it, me too, but I think I only got like maybe 20 minutes into it and fell asleep, and then I never turned it back on.
Courtney:I feel bad because I found it one day when I was looking for something to get into and I ended up just changing it to something else. I just sometimes I feel like when they use too big of an actor actress, I have a hard time getting into that. This actually happened. I have a really hard time with, like, the fiction version of nonfiction things and they used one of the actresses from glee is in there and I was like I, I the acting was anacondra.
Courtney:It was, yeah, the acting was just so cheery for what the production was about that I had a really hard time getting into it personally all right.
Hannah:31, carl pans ram of the usa. He was a self-confessed serial killer. Panzram claimed to have murdered 21 people and committed hundreds of crimes across the United States and abroad. Panzram's crimes included murder, arson and assault, often driven by deep-seated hatred for humanity. He was arrested for burglary. He confessed to his broader crimes. He was executed in 1930 for the murder of a prison guard. His memoirs provide chilling insights into his psyche, becoming a key resource for understanding criminal psychology.
Rob:Interesting.
Courtney:Number 30 is one many people are familiar with the Zodiac Killer from the USA, one of America's most notorious unsolved cases. The Zodiac Killer claimed to have killed 37 people in California during the 1960s and 1970s. He targeted young couples and lone individuals, leaving cryptic letters and ciphers for the police and media. Despite extensive investigations, the zodiac killer was never caught and his identity remains a mystery. His taunting communications and unsolved status have inspired books, films and and ongoing investigations.
Hannah:I don't think I realized he wasn't caught.
Rob:Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Courtney:Yeah.
Rob:Oh my God, I don't think I realized that he's a whole rabbit hole.
Courtney:I'm actually shocked that he I say only like he made the list, but I'm shocked he's only at 30, just because of how big his case, their cases, we should say we say his, but we don't we don't know right until you have a, an actual person who's convicted in my opinion.
Rob:You don't know right, exactly all right. Number 29 a very popular one israel keys. Usa keys was a methodical and organized killer who targeted victims across the us, committing murders without a consistent pattern. He used kill kits hidden in various locations, choosing victims randomly, using various methods to kill. He was captured and arrested in 2012 after using a victim's credit card. During the trial, keyes confessed to 11 murders, but committed suicide in his jail cell before standing trial, and the legacy he leaves behind is his case remains open-ended, with investigators still linking him to additional crimes. We covered israel keys right we did.
Hannah:Yes, yep, that was a just one early, early on in the podcast number 28 leonardo cianciulli, from italy, the soap maker of corregio. Oh my god, my italian's really bad. Uh, she untruly murdered women and turned their bodies into soap and tea cakes in the 1930s she lured victims by promising to help them with their problems, then killed them with an axe.
Hannah:She boiled their remains to make soap and baked their blood into cakes. Oh my god, she's brutal, yeah. Relatives of a victim grew suspicious, which led them to her arrest. She was convicted of three murders, 1946. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison and three years in an asylum. Her crimes remain infamous in italy for their grotesque nature wow, yeah, that's a, that's a doozy 27.
Courtney:If you thought hannah, hannah's Italian was bad, you're going to hear how bad my Japanese is.
Rob:Good luck with this one.
Courtney:Mayuki Ishikawa.
Rob:Oh wow, that was great. I'm never going to say it again. From.
Courtney:Japan. She was a Japanese midwife who killed dozens of infants in the 1940s, claiming she was helping families who could not afford to raise children. Ishikawa neglected or directly killed infants under her care. Authorities discovered at least 103 bodies, though the true number could be much higher. Police stumbled upon the crime when two officers discovered infant remains, which is how she was captured, and in her trial she was sentenced to eight years in prison. Her punishment was seen as lenient due to social attitudes about poverty, and the legacy she left behind is that it sparked debates about abortion and child care policies in post-war Japan. Wow, I don't love that one at all.
Rob:No, not at all that one sits very poorly with me Number 26. I'm not even sure if I can attempt this.
Hannah:How's your Russian Rob my Russian is horrible.
Rob:I'm going to need some help Someone I've got Daria Nikolavin, Lavinia Salty Koba. Perfect, call her DNS, dns. There we go. That's what we're going with DNS, so known as the Salty Chica.
Courtney:Yeah, yeah, that's what it says. Salty Chica, salty.
Rob:Chica DNS was a Russian noblewoman who tortured and murdered her serfs.
Hannah:Yep.
Rob:What's a serfs?
Hannah:Like her servants.
Rob:Oh, her servants, Okay. Murdered her servants in the 18th century, earning her reputation as one of the Russians' most infamous female killers. Some of the key details she used extreme physical abuse to kill at least 38 female servants. Some reports suggest the number may have been higher. Complaints from the villagers eventually reached empress catherine of the great, who ordered an investigation. During the trial, she was found guilty in 1768 dns, was stripped of her title and imprisoned for life in a monastery Dungeon. Ooh, ooh. That does not sound pleasant, that sounds dark, and the legacy she leaves behind is her case highlighted the unchecked power of the Russian nobility over servants during that era.
Hannah:Number 25, Mary Ann Cotton of the UK. Mary Ann Cotton, Britain's first serial killer, poisoned over 20 people, including her husband's husbands.
Courtney:Husbands and children.
Hannah:And children in the 19th century.
Rob:Okay, was she Mormon?
Hannah:Well, she must have had multiple husbands, is what I'm going to say and all of the children. So Cotton used arsenic to murder her financial gain cashing in on life insurance policies. The authorities grew suspicious after the death of her stepson. So that's how she was captured, her trial, she was executed in 1873 for the murder of her stepson. Her case popularized forensic toxicology in murder investigations.
Rob:Oh wow, that's in the 19th century. Okay, so 1873.
Courtney:Number 24 is also in the UK. Amelia Dyer, One of Britain's most infamous killerselia dyer was a baby farmer responsible for the deaths of hundreds of infants in the late 90s. Why do I keep getting all the baby killers? Uh, dyer took in unwanted babies for money and killed them to avoid expenses authorities discovered bodies weighted down in the thames, executed in 1896 for her crimes, and her legacy led to stricter regulations on adoption and child care in the UK. So I guess, at least something good came of all these dying babies. That's so sad.
Rob:All right, now we're heading down to Mexico for number 23. Juana Barraza Did I say that, right? Sure, sounds good. The little old lady killer.
Courtney:Juana Barraza was a mexican serial killer who targeted elderly women I was hoping she was going to be an old lady killing people.
Rob:The little old lady killer. Yes uh barraza posted as a social worker to gain victims trust before strangling them. Arrested in 2006 after being caught fleeing a crime scene During the trial, she was sentenced to 759 years in prison for killing 16 women, and her case shook Mexico City, revealing societal neglect of the elderly.
Hannah:Jane Topin of the USA. A nurse-turned-killer, jane Topin, known as Jolly Jane, confessed to killing at least 31 patients in Massachusetts in the late 19th century. Topin poisoned patients with morphine and atrophin, taking pleasure in their suffering. Suspicion arose after multiple, multiple deaths in her care. She was declared insane and committed to an asylum for life. Her case raised awareness about unchecked power and medical professions again.
Rob:I mean this. This sounds exactly like kristen gilbert. Yeah, it does. And it's so much closer too, because it's in massachusetts.
Courtney:I'm gonna look into that one because that one has my interest peaked girl, you can't look at all of them.
Hannah:I want to look at them.
Courtney:Well, just offer uh for 21. I'm gonna go back to japan here again. Sutomiya miyazaki yeah, great no, no is. The Ataku Killer abducted and murdered four young girls in Japan during the late 1980s. Miyazaki's crimes involved abduction, murder and acts of necrophilia oh geez, he also sent taunting letters to victims' families. What a jerk. He was arrested after being caught attempting to assault another child At trial. He was executed in 2008 for his crimes. His case highlighted concerns about Japan's subculture of extreme media consumption.
Rob:All right, number 20, charles Subaraj. Why am I getting all the hard ones too? They're all getting hard.
Courtney:I was going to make a joke at first, like wow, you guys realize how quickly it went back USA, usa, usa.
Rob:And now I'm like phewhew, we're not the most f-ed up. There's lots of other countries in here. Now, all right for number 20, charles sabaraj from india, nepal and thailand it's all in that same little area. Nicknamed the serpent for his slippery escapes, sabaraj was a conman and serial killer who preyed on western tourists across asia in the 1970s. Sabaraj used his charm to befriend victims after poisoning them before robbing or killing them. After evading authorities for many, many years, he was finally arrested in nepal in 2003. Why are you laughing?
Courtney:it says for years. And he's like many, many, many, many, many, many, many years, lots of many years.
Hannah:You've been adding words Like it was Catherine the Great, catherine of the Great, he's getting tired Leave Rob alone.
Courtney:You laughed with me. I'm allowed to laugh. I'm Switzerland.
Hannah:You leave my husband out of this. Honey, I love you bunches and I love that you're doing this with us.
Rob:After evading authorities for many, many years, he was finally arrested in Nepal in 2003 and sentenced to life in prison. His life-inspired books and a Netflix series cementing his reputation as a master manipulator. I wonder what that Netflix series is called?
Hannah:All right, 19. Joachim Kroll from Germany. Kroll is known as the Rrrr Cannibal Killed at least 14 people, including children, over two decades, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Kroll strangled his victims and sometimes engaged in cannibalism, using party parts for meals.
Rob:Disgusting.
Hannah:He was arrested after a plumbing issue in his building.
Courtney:What are they going to learn?
Hannah:Stop flushing the pieces Revealed human remains in the pipes. He was convicted of eight murders in 1982. Kroll was sentenced to life imprisonment. He died in prison in 1991. Kroll's crimes exposed the lack of communication between police agencies and investigating disappearances. Huh, interesting.
Courtney:Very interesting. Oh, Fritz 18. Fritz Harman of Germany, known as the Butcher of Hanover. Fritz Harman was a German serial killer who murdered at least 24 young men and boys between 1918 and 1924. Harman lured victims, often runaways or drifters, and killed them by biting through their throats oh God, Earning him the nickname the Vampire of Hanover. He dismembered the bodies, disposing of them in rivers. Authorities linked him to missing persons when body parts were found in Hanover's waterways. He was convicted of 24 murders. Harmon was executed by guillotine in 1925. His gruesome crimes inspired cultural references, including characters in literature and film.
Rob:So did he have two nicknames the Butcher of Hanover or was he the Vampire of Hanover?
Courtney:I think we should ask the person who researched our episode today.
Rob:Chat GPT. So it looks like it's both, because, according to Wikipedia, he was a German serial rapist and serial killer known as the Butcher of Hanover, the Vampire of Hanover and the Wolfman, who committed the sexual assaults, murders, mutilation and dismemberment of at least 24 young men and boys in the city of Hanover between 1918 and 1924. Yeah, so he had a bunch of different names, Because even in his name up at the top it has quotations around Fritz.
Courtney:Oh, how do we catch these people when we don't even know their name?
Rob:exactly all right. Moving on number 17, we're heading to pakistan with jave iqbal. Jave iqbal was a pakistani serial killer who confessed to killing 100 boys in lahore in 1998 and 1999. His crime shocked the nation due to their scale and his methodical documentation. Iqbal lured street children to his home where he strangled them, dismembered their bodies and dissolved them in acid to hide evidence. Nice he left writing confessions and photos of his victims. He surrendered to authorities. After his confession was publicized, he was found guilty of 100 murders and he was sentenced to be executed in the same manner as his victims. Ooh Yikes, so he was executed in the same manner as his victims.
Courtney:I mean an eye for an eye. Mentality makes sense when you're talking about Pakistan.
Rob:So they dismembered his body and dissolved them in acid to hide the evidence. Yeah to hell with the ethics. However, he was found dead in his cell in 2001 under suspicious circumstances. His case highlighted issues with child exploitation and homelessness in Pakistan, prompting demands for better children protection measures.
Courtney:Yeah, I know that whole case was just a doozy and there was a lot of crap happening there.
Hannah:Number 16, louis Garavito, from Colombia. Louis Garavito, known as La Bestia or the Beast, is one of the most prolific serial killers in history, responsible for the murder and torture of an estimated 138 to over 300 young boys in Colombia during the 1990s. Wow, garavito targeted impoverished children, luring them with promise of gifts or money. He would torture, rape and kill them in secluded areas what a douche can do? In 1999, authorities connected garavito to the crimes using dna evidence from a pair of glasses found at a crime scene. Garavito confessed 138 murders and was sentenced to 1853 years in prison, although colombian law caps sentences at 40 years. His case exposed systemic failures in protecting vulnerable children in Colombia and led to reforms in law enforcement. I know, court, you're going to look into law down in South America, so that's interesting.
Courtney:They capped at 40. I also think it's interesting that, going into this list, I expected to see a lot of girls and young women to be the victims of most of these killers, and I feel like we're hearing boys.
Hannah:We are.
Courtney:Boys, men, boys Like we're hearing a lot more. I feel like the media always makes it seem like serial killers are going after women and we're hearing a lot more about male victims as well, which is surprising. Number 15, Dennis Rader, USA. Dennis was the BTK killer. Buy and torture, kill, terrorized Kansas for decades, killing 10 people between 1974 and 1991. Raider stalked and strangled his victims, often leaving cryptic messages for police and the media. A floppy disk he had sent to the police in 2004 led to his arrest. He confessed to all murders and was sentenced to 10 consecutive life terms in 2005. Raiders case highlights the dangers of narcissism and serial killers. That's a nice way to put that highlights the dangers. More like the correlation btk what does that stand for?
Courtney:we've done a lot of bonus episodes for people who are not subscribers. Bonus episodes come out for subscribers only. Hannah and I have done a lot of um when we do like serial killer trivia and things. Btk comes up a lot because we really the two of us we were like we don't really know too much about him and then we ended up having to look up we want to do an episode on him but I'm surprised he's not further down the list too all right number 14 bella Bella Guinness from the USA.
Rob:Bella, known as the Black Widow of La Porte, was a Norwegian immigrant who lured men to her Indiana farm under the guise of marriage, only to kill them for financial gain. She poisoned or bludgeoned her victims, burying their bodies on her farm. After a suspicious fire in 1908, authorities unearthed over 40 bodies on her farm. After a suspicious fire in 1908, authorities unearthed over 40 bodies on her property. She's believed to have faked her death in the fire and her ultimate fate remains unknown. She is considered one of America's earliest and deadliest female serial killers.
Courtney:There you go. Hannah, you said you want to research some. I know you love a good female serial killer. Okay, Belle, I see you.
Hannah:Oh, number 13, Jeffrey Dahmer. Jeffrey Dahmer, the Milwaukee cannibal, is infamous for his gruesome killings of 17 young men between 1978 and 1991. His case shocked the world due to his acts of necrophilia and cannibalism. Dahmer drugged, strangled and dismembered his victims, often keeping body parts as trophies. He was arrested in 1991 when a victim escaped of course and alerted police. They found human remains in his apartment. Sentenced to life in prison, dahmer was killed by a fellow inmate in 1994. His story has been the subject of extensive media coverage, including films and series. So many cannibals on this list. I have one true crime, ick, and it's always cannibals on this list.
Courtney:Can I just say I have one true crime ick, and it's always cannibals. Number 12, richard Ramirez, usa. Known as the Night Stalker, richard Ramirez terrorized California in the 1980s with a series of brutal home invasions, murders and sexual assaults. Ramirez's crimes included a mix of stabbing, shooting and bludgeoning. He also performed satanic rituals at some crime scenes. He was identified through a fingerprint left at a crime scene. A group of citizens recognized and subdued him before the police arrived. He was convicted of 13 murders. Ramirez was sentenced to death in 1989. He died of cancer in 2013. While on death row, the cultural impact of his case became one of the most sensationalized in true crime history, leading to documentaries and books. Side note I've never heard of him.
Rob:I've never heard of him either.
Courtney:Which is interesting for being USA, and the fact that we're all into true crime as we are and haven't heard of him.
Mom:Yeah.
Courtney:Definitely another one to dig into All right.
Rob:Number 11, Albert Fish, USA. Dig into All right. Number 11, Albert Fish, USA. Albert Fish, also known as the gray man or the Brooklyn vampire yeah, Hannah, you ever heard of this one? He was a sadistic child killer and cannibal Active in the early 20th century. His crimes are considered some of the most grotesque in American history.
Courtney:Fuck the cannibals.
Rob:Fish targeted children, often luring them with promises of work or gifts, or maybe cookies, because he had a little white van. He confessed to molesting over 400 children and murdering several. His killing of Grace Budd in 1928 shook the nation when he sent a letter to her family detailing the crime. He was arrested in 1934, convicted and executed in the electric chair in 1936. That's a quick turnaround. Fish remains a symbol of extreme criminal depravity.
Courtney:Only so fitting, hannah. Really Well, before we get to that, let's take a quick break and criminal depravity. Only so fitting.
Rob:Hannah, really Well, before we get to that, let's take a quick break and hear from our sponsors. All right, and we're back for the top 10. We are on the final top 10. Are you girls ready? I am ready. Excellent. All right, Hannah, why don't you take this one? Because, one, it's your turn and, two, it's one of your favorite people.
Hannah:Okay, besides the, two of us. He's not my favorite person. I just find him fascinating.
Courtney:Oh, here she goes. I don't condone what he did, I just think he's interesting from a behavioral standpoint. Fast forward, go ahead.
Hannah:All right, hannah here you go.
Hannah:Free t-shirt for whoever can. Ted bundy. Ted bundy is one of america's most infamous serial killers, known for his charm and intelligence. He confessed to killing 30 women in the 1970s, though the true number may be higher. Bundy often lured victims by feigning injury or pertaining any help. He would then abduct, assault and kill them. Bundy escaped custody twice, committing more murders during his brief periods of freedom. His trial was one of the first to be nationally televised, with Bundy serving as his own lawyer. He was executed in 1989. Bundy's case has been studied extensively, inspiring film, books and documentaries.
Courtney:I don't even think we need to discuss number 10, right, because we've done it so many times.
Rob:We did three episodes on Bundy. I think it might have been four. Okay, moving on.
Courtney:Number nine, ed Guy, usa. Fun fact, I did a project on him in high school.
Mom:Oh wow, A history project.
Courtney:Okay, it's kind of weird how everything falls together. It is kind of weird Ed Gein, known as the Butcher of Plainfield inspired several fictional villains, including Norman Bates in Psycho and Leatherface in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Though only convicted of two murders, Gein's gruesome actions horrified the nation. Guyon exhumed corpses from cemeteries and created items from their remains, including lampshades and clothing. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Guyon was deemed unfit for trial initially and later confined to a mental institution. His crimes cemented his place in popular culture as a symbol of horror.
Hannah:I've been fascinated by that one, yeah.
Courtney:It's something about the, the like he wasn't really hurting. I mean, for me it's like a moral thing where, like he wasn't killing people, he was just like digging up their bodies and using them for stuff, which I guess is a little bit better. He didn't really want to deal with all the blood and gore and stuff I guess he just wanted the body parts. I don't know all right.
Rob:Number eight john way Wayne Gacy from the USA. John Wayne Gacy, known as the Killer Clown, was convicted of murdering 33 young men and boys in Illinois during the 1970s. Gacy lured his victims with promise of work or entertainment, often dressed as a clown persona. Pogo Grace sexually assaulted and strangled his victims before burying most of them in a crawl space in his home. A missing persons investigation led police to Gacy, where they discovered remains in his home. Gacy was executed by lethal injection in 1994, and his clown persona was influenced countless horror stories and films.
Courtney:I hate a clown. I'm not a fan of cannibals and clowns are my two like horror, oddity things and I'm like absolutely not. At least he didn't eat people dressed like a clown, I guess hh holmes oh, this is a good one.
Hannah:Hh holmes, often dubbed america's first serial killer, operated in the late 19th century. He is is infamous for his Murder Castle, a building he designed with hidden rooms and traps to kill victims. During the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, holmes lured victims to his hotel where they were subjected to torture or murder. Initially arrested for insurance fraud, authorities uncovered evidence of multiple murders. Holmes confessed to 27 murders, though the exact number of victims remains unknown. He was executed in 1896. His story has inspired books and films, including the Devil and the White City we're really getting down here now.
Courtney:Number 6 Harold Shipman, uk. Dr Harold Shipman, also known as Dr Death, is one of the most prolific serial killers in history. Shipman, a respected general practitioner in England, murdered an estimated 250 patients over two decades.
Courtney:Not a good doctor to be going to. Shipman injected his mostly elderly victims with lethal doses of diamorphine. The unusually high death rate among his patients raised suspicions leading to investigations. A forged will intended to benefit shipman expose his actions. Shipman was convicted of 15 murders in 2000 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He hanged himself in prison in 2004. Wow, his crimes prompted significant changes in medical oversight in the uk. One should really hope.
Hannah:Oh, this is a good one, Rob.
Rob:Number five Elizabeth Bathory from Hungary. Elizabeth Bathory, the blood countess, is considered one of history's most prolific female killers, accused of torturing and killing hundreds of young women. In the 16th century, bathory's crimes became infamous for their alleged brutality. Now here's something new Myths versus reality. Legends claims she bathed in blood of virgins to retain her youth, though historians debate the accuracy of these tales. During the trial, evidence from over 300 witnesses led to her being walled up in her castle where she died in 1614. And the legacy that she left. Bathory's story inspired gothic horror tales and remains a symbol of excessive cruelty.
Hannah:Andrei Chikatilo from Russia. Number four Known as the Rostov Ripper. Andrei was convicted of murdering 52 people between 1978 and 1990 in the Soviet Union. His victims ranged from children to young adults and he often lured them with promises of money or gifts. Always some money and gifts Always. His crimes involved sexual assault, stabbing and mutilation. Andre claimed to derive sexual gratification from the act of murder. His capture flawed investigations in Soviet bureaucracy delayed his capture until DNA evidence linked him to the crimes. Andre was executed in 1994 after a high-profile trial. Wow.
Courtney:Down to the final three, the final three.
Courtney:Number three Eileen Wernos, usa. Eileen, a rare example of a female serial killer, murdered seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. She claimed the killings were in self-defense, stating her victims had attempted to assault her during her time as a sex worker. Eileen shot her victims at close range and often stole their belongings. Her confession and a lack of evidence supporting her self-defense claim led to her conviction and eventual execution in 2002. Werner's life story inspired the 2003 film monster. Earning charlie's theron an academy award yeah, burning Charlize Theron an Academy Award. Yeah, I've seen that movie. I didn't know about that Interesting.
Rob:All right. So number two and we've mentioned her many times on this list already and she's a local for us, kristen Gilbert. She is an American serial killer and a former nurse who was convicted of four murders and two attempted murders of patients admitted into the Veteran Affairs Medical Center, va in Northampton Massachusetts. She induced cardiac arrest in patients by injecting their IV bags with lethal doses of epinephrine, commonly known as adrenaline, which is an untraceable heart stimulant. She would then respond to the coded emergency, often resuscitating the patients herself. Prosecutors said Gilbert was on duty for about half of the 350 deaths that occurred in the hospital from when she started working there in 1989, and that the odds of this is merely being a coincidence were one in 100 million. However, her only confirmed victims were Stanley Yagodosky. Her only confirmed victims were Stanley Jagodowski, henry Hooten, kenneth Cudden and Edward Skewer.
Hannah:But probably more.
Rob:Sorry if I mispronounce any of those, but she was convicted of life sentence without parole plus 20 years. She is still currently incarcerated and she was dubbed the Angel of Death. So I was right on that. Yeah, good memory of death. So I was right on that. Yeah, good memory. All right. So we have come down from 50 to number two on this list of serial killers across the world. Miss hannah, would you like to take number one? I would love to. All right, and number one is jack the ripper.
Hannah:All right, which is fitting, very fitting so. Jack the ripper terrorized london's white chapel district in 1888. The killer targeted women, primarily sex workers, mutilating their bodies with surgical precision Very fitting so. Jack the Ripper terrorized London's Whitechapel District in 1888. The killer targeted women, primarily sex workers, mutilating their bodies with surgical precision. Five victims Mary Ann Nichols, annie Chapman, elizabeth Stride, catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly are attributed to him, though some believe the true number may be higher. Victims were found with their throats slashed and bodies mutilated post-mortem, suggesting a knowledge of anatomy. His crimes generated widespread media coverage and instilled fear, but the identity of Jack the Ripper remains one of history's greatest mysteries. The case led to advancements in forensic science and police procedures, though no suspect was conclusively identified. Wow, this was fun.
Courtney:That was a really good list. Yes, Thank you, Rob for coming up with this episode idea. Yes, thank you.
Rob:And thank you, chatgbt, for compiling that number. We might have switched it around a little bit, but yeah, overall pretty good. If you think it needs to be in a different order, or if you would add someone different or taking someone off, let us know. You can send us a text. The link is down in the show notes.
Courtney:Thank you Wonders, thanks Wonders.
Rob:Thank you, happy New Year. We'll see you next week.
Hannah:Bye. Thanks for listening today. Wicked Wanderings is hosted by me Hannah and co-hosted by me Courtney.
Rob:And it's produced by Rob Fitzpatrick.
Hannah:Music by Sasha N. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a rating and review and be sure to follow on all socials. You can find the links down in the show notes. If you're looking for some really cozy t-shirts or hoodies, head over to the merch store. Thank you for being a part of the Wicked Wanderings community. We appreciate every one of you. Stay curious, keep exploring and always remember to keep on wandering.
