Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down The Worst Serial Killers Of All-Time

People Break Down The Worst Serial Killers Of All-Time
Kyle Johnson/Unsplash

History has shown us the sinister capabilities of mankind, especially serial killers.

The most terrifying thing about them is that murderers can be anyone in our midst–from a seemingly "friendly" acquaintance or a complete stranger who seems to have a good reputation in their community.

You never know if you're an eventual target or someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

While there are sadly countless evildoers in the world, there are still those who continue to haunt us long after they've been caught.


Curious to hear from strangers online, Redditor Relative_Plantain_29 asked:

"Who do you think is the worst serial killer in history?"

These were not the brightest, but nonetheless, despicable.

Plumbing Problem

"Dennis Nilsen. He lived in a London apartment building. The way he disposed of bodies was grinding them up and sending them down the plumbing. Eventually the drains for the building clogged and someone called and complained so a plumber was called to the building. The plumber ended up finding the sewer line for the building clogged with ground human meat."

"Twist: it was Dennis Nilsen who called to complain about the plumbing issue."

– Clcooper423

Dead Giveaway

"'Worst' like really bad at it? Peter Goebbels really wasn't anywhere near sophisticated and quite dumb. On his days off he'd find a woman in a secluded place and then choke them. He was immediately caught because he accidentally left his ID at a crime scene."

– shaka_sulu

Some thought those who have targeted children were the most contemptible.

Gilles de Rais

"Gilles de Montmorency-Laval (Gilles de Rais). Dude killed, assaulted, and ate 100-200 children between 1432 and 1440."

– transzient

"Moon Maniac"

"Albert Fish is disgusting. Read his wiki and it’s baaaaad."

– MontStuart

The Killer Clown

"John wayne gacy legit a serial killer there couldn't be anything worse than this."

– Time_Restaurant_9776

Milwaukee Cannibal

"Jeffery Dahmer for me, he did some truly awful and stomach turning things."

– lonesomeartis

Not The Nurturing Type

"Amelia Dyer. She pretended that she was caring for/adopting out babies from unwed mothers, but really she was just taking the money the mothers provided and killing all the babies. She got away with the scheme for 30 years and she is estimated to have killed up to 400 infants—through neglect/starvation, strangulation, and possibly other means. She just changed names and moved towns when someone got suspicious."

– qwertyuiiop145

Castle Of Terror

"Possibly Elizabeth Báthory? She was a Hungarian noblewoman who lived in the 1500s in a castle and was reputed to have tortured and killed more than 600 young women and girls."

"She was an utterly sadistic creature who thanks to her large wealth & status (which in Medieval feudal Hungaria, pretty much afforded her almost total power over the people in the lands under her care), was able to terrorize the local population unchecked for a very long time. Towards the end, she didn't even bother hiding the bodies (they were simply dumped around the castle to rot in plain sight) but young women in the local area had no power to resist her calls to the castle. The only thing that tripped her up in the end was when she killed a girl she had summoned to her court to sing for her but hadn't realized that the girl actually came from a relatively high status family. Upon their daughter disappearance, it was this noble family who then forced open an investigation at the castle, whereupon the horrifying scale of the psycho noblewoman's years-long killing spree became apparent."

– Creative_Recover

Some thought the methods by which killers committed their unspeakable acts of horror were among the worst

Taking Sight

"Andrei Chikatilo. Reading the dudes wiki pages made me cringe with horror multiple times. Something about stabbing people in the eyes before you kill them is reaaaaal gross to me"

– MonkeyDDeclan

Household Tools Were Weapons Of Choice

"The Tool Box Killers did some absolutely horrific things to their victims as well."

– Greystorms

Lady Killer

"Possibly Elizabeth Báthory? She was a Hungarian noblewoman who lived in the 1500s in a castle and was reputed to have tortured and killed more than 600 young women and girls."

"She was an utterly sadistic creature who thanks to her large wealth & status (which in Medieval feudal Hungaria, pretty much afforded her almost total power over the people in the lands under her care), was able to terrorize the local population unchecked for a very long time. Towards the end, she didn't even bother hiding the bodies (they were simply dumped around the castle to rot in plain sight) but young women in the local area had no power to resist her calls to the castle. The only thing that tripped her up in the end was when she killed a girl she had summoned to her court to sing for her but hadn't realized that the girl actually came from a relatively high status family. Upon their daughter disappearance, it was this noble family who then forced open an investigation at the castle, whereupon the horrifying scale of the psycho noblewoman's years-long killing spree became apparent."

– Creative_Recover

House Of Horrors

"H.H. Holmes. He built a literal murder castle."

– JwSatan

Elusive Malaise

"Cancer. They still haven't caught him."

– Poorly-Drawn-Beagle

For Pure Entertainment

"The Toy Box Killer wasn't the most prolific but he is probably up there with the most terrifying. The way he took his time with his victims and how much he enjoyed it. Most people haven't even heard of him, either."

– Badger_1066

Zodiac Killer

"The dude taunted the police with series of letters Claimed he killed more Made a f*king language that only he would understand and mailed the police Most of the letters aren’t still decoded and so far the ones said to decoded isn’t 100% sure Source: Based on what I’ve seen so I can’t say for sure if he did send the letters"

"But other than that -He hasn’t been caught. -Clean crime scene as he was able to escape swiftly without giving valuable evidence which could lead to his arrest. -Still no definite answer on who the zodiac killer is. Still no solid suspects."

– Scoobys_panacake

The Ripper Of Rostov

"Andrei Chikatilo. Over 200 confirmed victims over 30 years. Avoided Soviet police became he was a government employee and never suspected. This was pre-DNA days. Finally caught, they put him in a cage for his trial. He was sentenced to death."

– otcconan

People glorify sadistic torture scenes in movies.

There's something thrilling about watching a crazed masked killer on the loose on the screen because audiences who love horror films can take comfort in the fact they will come out of the experience with their lives intact.

But the real monsters are not of the Michael Myers and Freddie Krueger variety.

The notorious, real-life killers previously mentioned can outrank any of these boogeymen as "the worst," any day.


More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Mike Johnson; Elon Musk
left & right: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Mike Johnson Fires Back After Musk Rips GOP Spending Bill As A 'Disgusting Abomination'

On May 22, the GOP controlled House of Representatives finally managed to pass MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's unpopular budgetary One Big Beautiful Bill by just one vote. Holdout Republicans were enticed by late-night, last-minute provisions added to the bill that multiple MAGA Republicans now claim they knew nothing about.

The bill funds and furthers Project 2025 with cuts to programs that aid the poor and middle class coupled with tax cuts for the wealthy. Voters across the political spectrum have taken issue with the bill.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cynthia Erivo
Theo Wargo/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Erivo shuts down MAGA backlash!

Broadway and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo gave her take on the Christian outrage over her casting in the titular role in the Hollywood Bowl’s Jesus Christ Superstar. In February, it was announced Erivo would play Jesus in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which will take the stage at the iconic amphitheater from August 1-3.

This is not the first time Erivo has been cast in a role for Jesus Christ Superstar, as she played Mary Magdalene in an all-female recording of the musical titled She Is Risen released in 2020.

Keep ReadingShow less
Madeline Brewer
Michael Loccisano/WireImage/Getty Images

'You' Star Claps Back At Looks-Shaming Trolls Who Called Her 'Ugly' Online

Content Warning: misogyny, body-shaming, 'You' season five spoilers

With the arrival of season five, Netflix's beloved and creepy show You has come to a close, and with it came some surprises—not just for the fans but for the cast members.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nick Offerman
John Nacion/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Nick Offerman Rips MAGA 'Dumb F**k' Who Edited 'Parks & Rec' Clip To Trash Pride Month

The son of convicted felon and disgraced former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn picked the wrong actor to express how triggered he is by equality and basic human rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

Michael Flynn Jr., a right wing MAGA influencer milking his daddy's former proximity to Trump for all he can grift, took to X early Sunday morning—the first day of LGBTQ+ Pride Month—to make sure everyone knows he's a homophobic and transphobic bigot, as if anyone had any doubts.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Marcelo Gomes and protesters
CBS Boston/YouTube

Community Stages Massive Protests After ICE Arrests High School Student On His Way To Volleyball Practice

Students at Milford High School in Massachusetts staged a walkout on Monday to protest the arrest of their classmate, 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, by ICE agents over the weekend.

Gomes Da Silva was on his way to volleyball practice when he was detained over the weekend by ICE agents who were reportedly seeking his father. A Brazilian national, Gomes Da Silva entered the U.S. in 2012 on a student visa, which has since lapsed, according to a court filing by his attorney. The filing states that he is eligible for asylum and plans to apply.

Keep ReadingShow less