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How These Sneaky Serial Killers Finally Got Caught

The Infographics Show・2 minutes read

Multiple serial killers, such as Dennis Nilsen, Dennis Rader, and Albert Fish, committed gruesome murders and were eventually caught due to various mistakes, like sending letters with metadata and leaving evidence behind, leading to their convictions. Another killer, Andrei Chikatilo, was also captured and sentenced to death for his extensive killing spree in Russia.

Insights

  • Dennis Nilsen, a seemingly respectable grandfather, was a clever serial killer who confessed to killing multiple people, burying their bodies under floorboards, and was caught when human remains were found in his drains after moving to a new house.
  • Albert Fish, a deranged killer known for his extreme brutality, claimed to have murdered over 100 victims, developed a taste for human flesh, and believed God instructed him to harm people, ultimately being caught due to leaving a crucial envelope with his name on it and executed in the electric chair in 1936.

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Recent questions

  • How did Dennis Nilsen get caught?

    Nilsen's move to a new house led to his downfall when a drain cleaner found human remains in the drains.

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Summary

00:00

"Serial Killers: Nilsen and BTK's Downfall"

  • A bullied nerd becomes a serial killer, leaving a toothless head on a golf course and getting away with multiple murders for years.
  • Another killer, a child whose brother was eaten by neighbors, becomes an almost invisible murderer.
  • A respectable grandfather, Dennis Nilsen, explains how he killed people and sat with their bodies as he laughed and joked with them.
  • Nilsen, a clever man, was caught in a strange way after killing for company and burying bodies under floorboards.
  • Nilsen's move to a new house led to his downfall when a drain cleaner found human remains in the drains.
  • Nilsen calmly confessed to killing 15-16 people since 1978, with bits and pieces of bodies found all over his house.
  • The BTK Killer, Dennis Rader, known for "Bind, torture, kill," terrorized the Midwest for years before being caught in 2004.
  • Rader, a seemingly normal family man, had a dark past of torturing animals and fantasizing about killing from a young age.
  • Rader murdered the Otero family in 1974 and continued killing, leaving clues and letters that eventually led to his capture.
  • Rader's ego and mistakes, like sending letters with metadata, ultimately led to his arrest and confession, likened to an Academy Awards speech.

10:12

"Sadistic Serial Killer: Albert Fish's Confession"

  • Fish had 28 needles embedded in his thighs and groin area when arrested
  • Fish beat himself with a studded paddle and set his nether-regions on fire
  • Fish claimed to have murdered 100 victims, earning nicknames like "Brooklyn Vampire" and "Moon Maniac"
  • Fish developed a liking for human meat, feeding himself and his kids raw meat
  • Despite hallucinations, psychiatric doctors deemed Fish sane
  • Fish's psychosis led him to believe God told him to hurt people, especially young ones
  • Fish lured Grace Budd to her death under false pretenses
  • Fish confessed to killing Grace Budd and other young individuals
  • Fish was apprehended after leaving a crucial envelope with his name on it
  • Fish was executed in the electric chair in 1936, confessing to his crimes before his death

20:08

"Serial Killers' Brutal Crimes and Capture"

  • Sutcliffe, a serial killer, believed he could continue his murders due to poor police work and a lack of connection between his crimes.
  • Sutcliffe killed multiple women, including attacking a student at Leeds University, despite being charged with a DUI.
  • Sutcliffe was eventually caught in Sheffield after a routine police stop revealed his fake license plate, leading to the discovery of incriminating evidence.
  • Sutcliffe was found to have hidden weapons on his person, including a knife and a V-neck sweater used for easy access during killings.
  • In court, Sutcliffe callously referred to his victims as "filth" and claimed he was merely cleaning up the area.
  • Israel Keyes, a remorseless serial killer, began his spree in 1998, targeting victims in isolated areas like campgrounds.
  • Keyes abducted Samantha Koenig from a coffee stand, later killing her and disposing of her body in a lake after withdrawing money from her account in multiple states.
  • Keyes was eventually caught in Texas after being identified as a kidnapper, leading to the revelation of his numerous murders and criminal activities.
  • Joel Rifkin, another serial killer, meticulously dismembered his victims, including removing teeth and fingertips to avoid leaving clues.
  • Rifkin targeted vulnerable individuals like prostitutes and drug addicts, disposing of their bodies in various ways to avoid detection.

30:01

"Rifkin's gruesome crime and Chikatilo's capture"

  • The killer, Mr. Rifkin, took his victim's body to his mother's house, intending to dismember it.
  • He made a stop at a hardware store to purchase tarp and rope, essential for his gruesome task.
  • Leaving the body in a wheelbarrow in the garage for three days accelerated decomposition due to the summer heat.
  • Rifkin, driving to a dumping spot, was caught by State troopers due to a missing license plate on his car.
  • After a high-speed chase, Rifkin and his victim crashed into a utility pole, leading to his arrest.
  • Andrei Chikatilo, a notorious Russian serial killer, was eventually caught and sentenced to death for 52 murders.
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