The Cruelest Serial Killers Of All Time

What drives a serial killer to kill again and again? Some claim mental instability, while others point to troubled childhoods or rejected love. Regardless of motive, one fact remains certain: the crimes of these killers are impossible to forget.

There are serial killers who manage to cross all borders before being caught. The lists of their victims count dozens of people who were unlucky to meet these animals on their way for the first and the last time.

One can hardly call these maniacs ‘humans’, or care about their motives. Here is the list of the cruelest serial killers who have been ever committing their crimes on Earth. Thanks Lord, most of them were caught and taken to jail.

1. Andrei Chikatilo

The Butcher of Rostov, the Red Ripper, and the Rostov Ripper – mean and cruel maniac from Russia. Known for committing the sexual assault, murder, and mutilation of at least 52 women and children between 1978 and 1990. However, police believe he is guilty of at least 100 episodes.

Chikatilo never attacked his victims with bare hands, using knives, hammers or mountings. He never left without trophies, cutting off genitals, breasts and taking out inner organs to eat them later. The reason for all his crimes was a serious mental disorder – there was no other way for him to emotionally discharge himself.

2. Dr. Harold Shipman

Dr. Harold Fredrick Shipman was an English doctor and is one of the world’s most prolific serial killers in recorded history. After a 2-years investigation, 218 victims were identified and estimated his total victim count at 250, about 80% of whom were women.

Shipman had purposely injected fatal doses of the drug in a huge number of patients, causing their death. The only doctor that convinced in murdering shocking amount of his own patients.

Shipman did it for money purpose. Forging their wills, he managed to inherit some good cash. The doctor took charge of completing cremation requests to cover up the tracks.

3. Pedro Alonso Lopez

Meet the most prolific serial killer from Columbia. His list includes 53 proved episodes and about 250 rumored ones. Pedro was accused of raping and killing girls and women across South America.

Due to his hard childhood and constant sexual abuse, Lopez committed his early crimes as a matter of revenge to his abusers. But later on, he was attacking males and females he had met for the first time. A significant sign of his murders was ripping of the skin of his victim after murders.

4. Ted Bundy

American serial killer, kidnapper, rapist, burglar, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women and girls during the 1970s, and possibly earlier. He accused about 30 episodes but the exact number of his victims is still unknown.

His cute face and natural charm helped him have people with him. He took them to more secluded locations to torture, rape and kill. After murders, he had sex with dead bodies and even ate flesh. Heads of victims were cut off to keep in his apartments as souvenirs.

5. Zodiac

The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. the only one from this list who have never been caught. The killer has committed about 40 crimes, only 7 of which were confirmed.

The maniac knew for his letters he sent to local press. These letters included four cryptograms. Of the four cryptograms sent, only one has been definitively solved.