Obsessed with True Crime discussion

how would that be quantified? most kills? types of torture?

oh gosh. i dunno. does Jim Jones count?

He was a mass murderer, though, not a serial murderer.

I'd vote for Karla Homolka.

Mary Bell

Huh? She was a child. You seriously think she was worse than, say, John Wayne Gacy?

Gertrude Banizewski...

not a serial killer but the worst serial killer(s) that comes to mind I can't even begin to recall the name.

It was a husband and wife in the 1800's or early 1900's that used to "experiment" on their black servants. Sexual assult, torture, Frankenstein like experiments, and eventual death all in their attic in uppercrust New Orleans.

I still have yet to read a book about the Ice Man. I want to read the Philip Carlo book cause I loved his book about Ramirez.

Hmm Ramirez is a good candidate? he murdered everyone, kids old people.

Did The ice man enjoy the killings? I know he got paid for it.

Mary Bell I do not agree with. I've read the book but there are so many worse out there.

I would have to say Jeff Dahmer. He not only ate his victims, but he was able to ELUDE authorities for almost two decades.

For sheer number of victims, I would say The Green River Killer (Gary Ridgway) and/or Ted Bundy (because I don't think his true victim count is known.

As far as just the terror, I would go with Ramirez. Carlo's book on him scared me to death - - I couldn't even sleep with that book in my room.

Laura wrote: "He was a mass murderer, though, not a serial murderer.

I'd vote for Karla Homolka."

Paul Bernardo

The video interview was the most chilling documentary I've ever seen where he was interviewed by a psychiatrist I believe-the name escapes me. He so thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't realize how much--money became almost incidental.

Gilles de Rais. He killed several hundred children.

Dero wrote: "Gilles de Rais. He killed several hundred children."

Yes! Reading of him made me SICK.


Also Albert Fish bothered me really bad as well.

Though they may not be classified as serial killers I would say Karla Homolka & Paul Bernardo. They really sickened me. Reading about their lives together was horrifiying. They were just sick people. I was stunned that she was able to cut a deal before those video tapes were found & now she's free, married & has a child of her own. They tortured & murdered two teenage girls. She even let Paul have her own kid sister!!

Amy, is that the couple they called the Ken and Barbie murderers?

I think so because of the fact that they both had blonde hair. they were just awful!!

I know, using one's kid sister is terrible!

That shocked me when I read that! I read 3 books about them. I can't believe she did everything he told her to do! She was worse than him! I am appalled that she is walking around free today!

Amy wrote: "That shocked me when I read that! I read 3 books about them. I can't believe she did everything he told her to do! She was worse than him! I am appalled that she is walking around free today!"

Amy,

Can you list the books? I have wanted to learn more about these 2 cretens but have never come across books dedicated toward them and their crimes. What I know about them I have gotten from documentaries.

Tracy,
The books I have read about them are:

Invisible Darkness:The Strange Case of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka by: Stephen Williams

Deadly Innocence by: Scott Burnside

Lethal Marriage: The Unspeakable Crimes of Paul Bernardo & Karla Homolka by: Nick Pron

There is also another book that I have not read about Karla. she wrote letters to a reporter while in solitary confinement. It's called:
Karla: A Pact With The Devil by: Stephen Williams

let me know what you think!

Thank you Amy.

No problem!

Amy wrote: "Though they may not be classified as serial killers I would say Karla Homolka & Paul Bernardo. They really sickened me. Reading about their lives together was horrifiying. They were just sick peopl..."

I'm sure all of us on this list are used to violence and perversity but even I felt like throwing up when I learned about this on a tv show and they showed pictures of the sister, etc. Your kid sister, for heavens sake, and yet she is free. Unbelievable.

Laura wrote: "Huh? She was a child. You seriously think she was worse than, say, John Wayne Gacy?"

Fair enough. When a little kid carves 'i'm a prostitue and proud of it' on a little murdered child and then flays the penis of another, yeah, that fits my bill of an unformed mind that is already totally twisted. Granted, have to have to take childhood into analysis so perhaps I should have more compassion, but I don't. John Wayne Gacy just strikes me as a run of the mill serial killer but maybe I don't have all the info. Someone like Dahmer who drilled holes in heads, that awful woman who mistreated Sylvia Likens or the zebra killers who trussed victims up like turkeys, all seem so much worse to me.

Marge wrote: "I think John Wayne Gacy is the most disgustring creep/serial killer. I'm a mother of a son and I can understand how the parents felt about their sons' being tortured and then murdered by that loat..."

Marge, he certainly was disgusting, I watched a programme about him last night, its sad how he lured the boys to him. He made himself seem like an ordinary man and thats whats creepy, I hate it when they actually look like they could be someones father, thats what freaks me out! Makes you wonder what your friends fathers are up to when their not at home. Also he was a well liked man in the community, another reason to dislike him even more, he carried on like a normal human being.

At least apparently before he was put to death he felt remorse because he said at least the jury did what he was trying to do for the last 10 years, and that was to ruin himself... at least he is no longer around to do anything anymore

Alie wrote: "Laura wrote: "Huh? She was a child. You seriously think she was worse than, say, John Wayne Gacy?"

Fair enough. When a little kid carves 'i'm a prostitue and proud of it' on a little murdered chil..."

But Mary Bell did not write that on Sylvia's belly?. That was Gertrude Banizewski with help from kids. I must say I can understand where you are coming from. How can someone be so cruel? (just watched the 2 movies about the Sylvia Likens cage and it is so hard to watch)

I know someone else. Robert Berdella. The book about him has pictures in it of the men he tortured. You see one of them receiving an electric shock already on the verge of dying. (Rite of Burial by Tom Jackman)

Hello:
I agree with the person who said Gary Ridgway, and Ted Bundy. Sincerely, Judy

Kelsey wrote: "Dero wrote: "Gilles de Rais. He killed several hundred children."

Yes! Reading of him made me SICK.

Can anyone post the title of the book or name of the author? I've never heard of de Rais.


Also Albert Fish bothered me really bad as well."

Amy wrote: "Tracy,
The books I have read about them are:

Invisible Darkness:The Strange Case of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka by: Stephen Williams


I've read two or three about these monsters (not the last - have to get that.) I definitely would agree about those too. I've read so much about all sorts of disgusting acts and I'll never forget these two.
About Bell, being a child murderer makes no difference in my opinion and certainly not in Bell's case. I can see why someone would give her name as an answer for sure.

Deadly Innocence by: Scott Burnside

Lethal Marriage: The..."

I would like to read more about Gilles de Rais. On amazon there are quite few books about him. One of them is called: Trial of Gilles De Rais by George Bataille. So kelsey and Dero which book about him did you 2 read?

Thanks Marlene, here it is on GR too: The Trial of Gilles de Rais. I'm going to add that one and if anyone else chimes in with other titles I'll add those too.
When people talk about a book like this and comment like the few above I can't help but be interested.
Marlene, I have one out to start next, nothing special and I haven't listed it as currently yet but it's: Murder So Cold: A Father's Deadly Rage, a Daughter's Tragic Legacy. I have so many that I can't even really pick with any sort of plan. I just grabbed this one.
I've had more than a few people tell me about The Night Stalker and I got it after hearing recommendation after recommendation. It's on the long side and I've been trying to get books OUT, not IN, so I've been hesitant to start any of the longer books laying around. Can anyone give an opinion on that one?

Marlene, I came across this - Bluebeard: The Life and Crimes of Gilles de Rais - while adding the one you mentioned above. I haven't looked more yet but it looks like Wolf may have another one or two worth checking out.

deleted user wrote: "anything you want----the worst one that comes into your mind immediatly." Don't know if this gives any insight at all. But I before I became a full writer, I worked as a death investigator for many years and unfortunately I have seen the most awful things human beings do to one another. however having said that, In all the murders i've seen, still I've never seen anything as ghastly as the Mary Kelly murder attributed to Jack The Ripper. That is still my number one worst. Although I don't feel he was the worst serial killer. My vote would most likely go to Andrei Chikatilo.

Thomas, I'd have to agree with you on the awfullness of the Kelly Murder... the way he left her poor body was ghastly.
I love to read about Jack the Ripper, I think he's more of a legend now than one of the worst, but really he is still the first.

For any of you who are interested... Thomas and I do a little Q&A on some killers... check it out http://truefictioncrime.blogspot.com/...

Alie wrote: "Laura wrote: "Huh? She was a child. You seriously think she was worse than, say, John Wayne Gacy?"

Fair enough. When a little kid carves 'i'm a prostitue and proud of it' on a little murdered chil..."

Sorry, haven't been to this group for a while, but the person you're describing isn't Mary Bell. As others have noted, it's Gertrude Banizewski, who wasn't a serial killer.

The green river killer

Eva wrote: "Thanks Marlene, here it is on GR too: The Trial of Gilles de Rais. I'm going to add that one and if anyone else chimes in with other titles I'll add those too.
When people talk abou..."

I read the The Night Stalker and do recommend it. Yes it is long and detailed, but worth the time and effort in my opinion.

Carl Panzram would get my vote.

To me, the worst killers have to be the ones that prey on children (and specially those that prey on street children). Andrei Chikatilo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_C...) truly disturbs me, so does Pedro Alonso López, "The Monster of the Andes" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_L%...).

If you look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_... these beasts seem to be very successful in the numbers. It is, of course, very hard to actually trust these numbers.

I hope you appreciate the Wikipedia links, I encourage you all to supply links to resources on the ones that get your vote so that we can explore the reasons why you think they are worthy of "The Worst One" title.

I would say either ted bundy or ed gein. They looked like normal upstanding guys

The competition sure is stiff. For vilest dude, I vote Pee Wee Gaskins (see his Final Truth: The Autobiography of Mass Murderer/Serial Killer Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins if you dare), but of course he might have made it up. For the guy I'm most relieved they caught after only a few murders, I vote Neville Heath -- see Paull Hill's Portrait of a Sadist. For most messed in the head, I have to go with either Albert Fish (see The Cannibal) or Jeff Dahmer (The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer. For world's angriest man who will kill you just to see you die, the clear winner is Carl Panzram. See Panzram: A Journal of Murder.

Oh, and I have 2 other categories: For Cruelest of All I vote Bob Berdella (see Rites Of Burial), and for Guys Who Scare Me The Most Personally Because He Killed People Right In My Neighborhood, the only possible winner is Coral Eugene Watts (see Evil Eyes.