Serial Killers discussion

Theres an abundance of serial killers who get fame and notoriety for killing... Ted Bundy, John Gacy and Ed Gein spring to mind...

But has anyone ever heard of Pedro Lopez? He apparently has the highest body count in history yet not many people have heard of him...
http://www.wickedhorror.com/top-horro...

Not that we should have a favorite killer... but who do you find most fascinating? Albert Fish has to be one of mine...

I've never heard of him, I feel like America doesn't publicize killers from other countries so much. Maybe I'm wrong though.

My first "favorite" killer was Ed Gein. Harold Schecter's book about him got me hooked.

The one I find most fascinating is Dr. H.H. Holmes. So intelligent, so devious, so cold-hearted.

Adnan Syed

^joke btw ..

So far, I would say Jeffery Dahmer or Edmund Kemper. I just find them as some of the most fascinating.

The Green River Killer - for not getting caught for a long time and one of the profilers (John Douglas) thought it must be 2 people because of the high number of victims. When they caught him, he looked just like the friendly guy from next door.
Close second the two ones not caught: Zodiac and Jack the Ripper, Jack is certainly dead and it is suggested that the Zodiac also died - if it was one person, the Zodiac could also be a team of two or some kills by a copycat.

Ted Bundy had the looks, but Ian Brady has the mind. He's a fantastic author, has anybody here read "Gates of Janus"? Awfully masturbatory but a very insightful glance into the mind of a serial killer.

Bought it and started it, but it is rather strong stuff, so I stopped but will try to pick it up again when I feel like it (probably never).
Would have liked it to be shorter, more in the style of the Unabomber Manifesto.
In school I graduated with advanced Philosophy, not that I was ever any real good, but I read Nietzsche, Russell (Bertrand, my favourite Philosopher), Einstein, also looked into Hitler. And knowing that Ian Brady read some of these works (and probably Nietzsche and Hitler in German) helps understanding him.
Still he is suffering and waiting for his death, having been declined suicide.

Thought about mentioning reading The Gates of Janus and its contents to shut up some Jehova's Witnesses who come around every other year to discuss some religion...

Yes, it's rather a heavy book, but if you ever have the chance I highly recommend it. It is fascinating how every one of his profiles of other killers reveals so much about him. If only they'd let Dennis Nilsen publish his autobiography! I get the feeling somehow he'll come off as much less of a hateable prick.

Interesting, I just looked this up on Wikipedia. That would be a book for me to read, prick or not.
For an interesting personal account I really liked the Comic My Friend Dahmer .

Oh man it's hard to pick one. I'm fascinated with H. H. Holmes, Richard Ramirez, and Robert Hansen. I also am fascinated with Nannie Doss, Elizabeth Báthory, and Belle Gunness.

I agree about the Zodiac Killer being intriguing since 'he' was never found. Same with Jack the Ripper. Gary Ridgeway went a long time before he was caught making him captivating.

The ones I've read in depth about because their disorders or crimes were unusually intriguing to me were Tommy Lynn Sells (Cross Country Killer), Dennis Rader (BTK), Ed Kemper (Co-Ed Killer) and Ted Bundy.
I've read 4 books on Bundy this month and there is still new facets to him and his crimes I'm discovering, I'm not surprised he's many crime buff's "favorite" hence.

Ren wrote: "The ones I've read in depth about because"
Just skimmed what books about Bundy you read, and what not, and I think, while I have to hunt down a copy of The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy I strongly suggest reading The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer (you already have that on your list), I thought how the original notes or recordings from the interview would be like, it seems disjointed and Keppel tried to bring some order in the answers, not always successfully. The book is therefore like a stream-of-conciousness in part, like William S. Burroughs, an ordeal, and also a rare glimpse into Bundy's state of mind shortly before receiving the death penalty.
And after reading it, you wonder wether he killed more or what else could have been learned.

Ingo, I read on your profile you don't like pdf, but since the "The Phantom Prince" doesn't sell for under 200 Euros (usually higher) I thought I'd just shoot you this link:

https://www.reddit.com/r/serialkiller...

Thanks for the suggestion - I already ordered "The Riverman", "The only Living Witness" and I'm about to start with "Conversations with a Killer". I hope to conclude "Bundy month" in my house with these three. :-)

I don't have any "favorites," but these guys were disturbing.
Robert Black- UK
Peter Kurten- Germany
Robert Pickton- Canada
Cleophus Prince, Jr.- USA
Herbert Mullen-USA