August M
From Jack the Ripper to Ted Bundy: the worst of the worst
From Jack the Ripper to Ted Bundy: the worst of the worst
A chilling look at humanity’s darkest figures
Serial killers have long gripped the public imagination—not just for the horror of their crimes, but for the chilling patterns behind them. These individuals, responsible for multiple murders over time, often leave behind a legacy of fear, , and unanswered questions.
This gallery explores seven of the most infamous serial killers in history, whose gruesome acts shocked the world and changed how we think about crime.
Where the facts come from
The list you’re about to read draws primarily on information compiled by Encyclopaedia Britannica, alongside publicly documented sources and verified historical records.
While we’ve rephrased and reorganized the material to enhance readability, all key facts and quotes reflect the known public record.
Jack the Ripper – the killer who vanished
Jack the Ripper remains one of the most notorious unsolved cases in history. In 1888, the killer prowled London’s Whitechapel district, brutally murdering five women—all of whom were sex workers.
The bodies were horribly mutilated, suggesting medical knowledge. Taunting letters sent to the police only deepened the mystery. Despite numerous suspects over the years, the Ripper’s identity has never been confirmed.
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer began killing in 1978 at just 18 years old. Over 13 years, he murdered 17 people, mostly young men of color.
His crimes included dismemberment, necrophilia, and cannibalism. He was caught in 1991 after one intended victim escaped and led police to Dahmer’s apartment, where body parts and grisly photographs were found. He was beaten to death in prison in 1994 by another inmate.
Harold Shipman – a doctor turned mass murderer
Harold Shipman, often called “Dr. Death,” used his position as a trusted general practitioner in England to kill as many as 250 of his patients.
Operating undetected for decades, Shipman often targeted elderly women. His crimes only came to light when a suspicious forged will triggered an investigation. He was convicted in 2000 and took his own life in prison four years later.
John Wayne Gacy
To his neighbors, John Wayne Gacy seemed like a regular guy—he worked in construction, hosted parties, and even dressed as a clown for children’s events. But in 1978, authorities discovered a horrifying secret: the bodies of 29 young boys buried beneath his home.
He ultimately confessed to 33 murders and was executed in 1994. Gacy’s double life remains one of the most disturbing in criminal history.
H.H. Holmes – America’s first serial killer?
In the lead-up to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, H.H. Holmes built what appeared to be a hotel—but was really a death trap.
Inside were secret rooms, soundproof chambers, gas lines, and chutes to the basement where he burned bodies. Holmes lured victims with promises of work or lodging before killing them. He admitted to over 30 murders and was hanged in 1896.
Pedro López – the monster of the Andes
Pedro López may be one of the most prolific serial killers in modern history. Linked to over 300 murders across Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, López targeted young girls, many from Indigenous communities.
Arrested in 1980, he was convicted of killing 110 children in Ecuador and confessed to hundreds more. Disturbingly, he was released from prison in 1998—and has not been seen since.
Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy used his good looks and charisma to mask a deeply violent nature. Operating across several U.S. states in the 1970s, he murdered an unknown number of young women—many of them college students.
Bundy acted as his own lawyer during a televised trial, giving interviews and courting public attention. He was sentenced to death and executed by electric chair in 1989.
The legacy of fear
The individuals on this list committed unspeakable crimes—but their stories continue to disturb and intrigue. From the mystery of Jack the Ripper to the horrifying scale of Pedro López’s crimes, each case reveals something unsettling about the human capacity for violence.
Studying these killers isn’t about glorification—it’s about understanding patterns, improving detection, and remembering the victims they left behind.
This article is made and published by auk1, which may have used AI in the preparation
