Art, obsession, and identity
Ed Gein was a notorious serial killer who operated in the United States during the 1950s. Initially apprehended for grave-robbing, he ultimately admitted to the murder of two women. While his body count may be relatively low, the sheer brutality of his crimes served as inspiration for some of cinema's most haunting characters.
Gein became famous for gathering the skin of his victims to create a range of objects, such as masks, corsets, and lampshades. The local police in a small Wisconsin town were shocked by his terrifying dwelling (pictured). Gein served as the inspiration for iconic figures like Leatherface in the 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' series, Norman Bates in the film 'Psycho' (1960), and Buffalo Bill in 'Silence of the Lambs' (1990).
Jeffrey Dahmer, commonly referred to as the "Milwaukee Cannibal," was responsible for the brutal killings and dismemberment of 17 males, spanning from 1978 to 1991. His morbid fascination began with preserving the head and genitals of a victim using acetone.
His habit escalated, leading to him accumulating a collection of dismembered body parts in his freezer. Upon his eventual arrest, the first person to arrive at the scene discovered a recently severed man's head resting on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator.
Dennis Rader, self-dubbed the "BTK Killer," coined the name in the letters he sent to law enforcement and the press as he carried out a murderous rampage spanning twenty years. BTK represents his modus operandi: "bind, torture, kill."
Rader committed 10 murders from 1971 to 1994, yet evaded capture until 2005. This was partly due to his habit of holding onto keepsakes from the crimes, such as the victims' driver's licenses and photographs of their bodies.
Ted Bundy, one of America's most infamous serial killers, is remembered for his astonishing ability to charm and manipulate his victims. His horrifying crimes involved the brutal murder of at least 36 women, a fact that continues to unsettle society.
Bundy admitted to police that he had beheaded 14 victims and retained their heads for playing purposes. He went as far as styling their hair and applying makeup to them. According to reports, he told detectives, "If you’ve got time, they can be whatever you want them to be."
John Wayne Gacy, the notorious killer clown, horrifically killed and sexually assaulted no less than 33 young boys and men during his reign of terror. Following the connection of Gacy to a missing schoolboy and subsequent search of his residence, authorities discovered keepsakes he had collected from various other victims.
A class ring that belonged to a different high school boy who went missing after graduation was among the personal items discovered. This finding would establish a connection between Gacy and multiple other disappearances, ultimately exposing the horrifying extent of his crimes.
Dennis Nilsen could be compared to Jeffrey Dahmer in the British context. He enticed vulnerable men to his flat under the pretense of offering alcohol and companionship, ultimately ending their lives by strangling them. Subsequently, he would bathe the corpses, redress them, and violate them.
Nilsen was apprehended after retaining the body parts and organs of his victims. The obstruction of his neighbor's sink exposed the presence of human flesh, which he failed to discard properly, causing it to clog the pipes. During the investigation of his apartment, law enforcement discovered bags containing human remains.
In 1985, Alex Mengel was initially captured as a potential suspect in a police murder case. He caused harm to an officer during an unprovoked traffic stop and was subsequently apprehended following a car pursuit. Upon searching his vehicle, authorities discovered various curious objects, including what seemed to be a wig.
The car he operated actually belonged to a woman who had recently vanished, and the wig was in fact her scalp and hair. Mengel had taken it following her murder and appeared to be intending to impersonate her.
Ivan Milat gained notoriety as Australia's most infamous serial killer. Dubbed the Backpack Killer, he would extend rides to backpackers and hitchhikers. Milat deceived his unsuspecting victims, leading them into the forest where he would mercilessly shoot or stab them before burying their lifeless bodies.
During the police search of his residence, a vast assortment of stolen camping gear was discovered, referred to as an impressive collection including sleeping bags, tents, and clothing.
Ed Kemper, who was also called the "Co-ed Killer," took the lives of six young female college students during the early 1970s. Prior to these heinous acts, he had already spent time in a juvenile detention facility for killing his own grandparents at the age of 15.
Kemper concluded his series of killings by murdering and beheading his mother, who psychologists argue was always the central target of his deadly intentions. He preserved her head, using it as a dartboard before eventually surrendering to the police.
Joel Rifkin, a serial killer, operated in Long Island during the early 1990s. Although officially convicted for the murders of nine women, it is suspected that his total body count reached 17. In 1993, he was apprehended after being stopped by police for driving without a license plate, revealing a concealed body wrapped in a tarp within his vehicle.
Rifkin admitted to his offenses and guided authorities to his residence, where they discovered a collection of keepsakes he had taken from his victims. The belongings he retained consisted of undergarments, IDs, accessories, and even a solitary library card.
Anatoly Onoprienko, also known as "The Terminator," was a highly active Ukrainian killer responsible for the deaths of 52 individuals, primarily within a single year.
In 1996, upon his arrest, authorities discovered more than 100 belongings of the victims in Onoprienko's possession, including the undergarments of his female victims.
The Englishman John George Haigh, also known as the "Acid Bath Killer," was responsible for the murders of a minimum of six individuals during the 1940s. However, it is possible that his body count may have reached as high as 10. Haigh earned his notorious nickname due to his method of disposing of the victims' remains by dissolving them in acid to eliminate any trace.
Haigh was cautious not to hold onto too many mementos that could incriminate him. Nevertheless, he disregarded his own principle following the murder of a well-to-do couple named Archibald and Rose Henderson. While he disposed of the majority of their belongings, he chose to retain their dog.
John Christie, an English serial killer, took the lives of at least eight individuals. He earned the moniker of "The Rillington Place Strangler" due to his regular practice of strangulation in his apartment on Rillington Place.
Instead of retaining personal possessions or individual body parts, Christie kept whole bodies in his apartment. This led to his arrest after he sublet his home to renters who found three dead bodies hidden in a secret alcove in the kitchen.
David Parker Ray, also referred to as the "Toy-Box Killer," is believed to have been an exceptionally prolific serial killer, despite the absence of any discovered bodies. His gruesome modus operandi involved kidnapping and subjecting women to prolonged sexual abuse. To eliminate any recollection of the traumatic experiences, he would drug them before setting them free. His accomplices have claimed that he ended the lives of numerous women, leading authorities to speculate that his death count could be as staggering as 60.
Ray passed away in 2002 due to a heart attack, never having received a conviction for murder. The FBI shared a collection of photos on their website, displaying various items it's believed he took from his victims. Their intention was to encourage anyone with information to step forward and identify these belongings. The collection includes diverse items like underwear, jewelry, and even children's clothing.
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In homicide cases, a "trophy" signifies an item taken by a killer from the victim as a crime memento. The FBI distinguishes between souvenirs, which fuel the killer's imagination, and trophies, serving as evidence of their proficiency. Despite this distinction, the ultimate purpose remains consistent: murderers use these possessions to relive the thrill of the crime or to feel powerful again. Throughout history, notorious serial killers have amassed items from victims, either as cherished keepsakes or repurposed for macabre ends. Each disturbed mind develops its rationale for hoarding, yet the practice is almost universal among serial killers.
To explore the eerie souvenirs confiscated by these murderers, click on the gallery.
In homicide cases, a "trophy" signifies an item taken by a killer from the victim as a crime memento. The FBI distinguishes between souvenirs, which fuel the killer's imagination, and trophies, serving as evidence of their proficiency. Despite this distinction, the ultimate purpose remains consistent: murderers use these possessions to relive the thrill of the crime or to feel powerful again. Throughout history, notorious serial killers have amassed items from victims, either as cherished keepsakes or repurposed for macabre ends. Each disturbed mind develops its rationale for hoarding, yet the practice is almost universal among serial killers.
To explore the eerie souvenirs confiscated by these murderers, click on the gallery.
Unusual souvenirs from history's most notorious criminals
The terrifying world of murderous mementos in true crime stories
LIFESTYLE Serial killers
In homicide cases, a "trophy" signifies an item taken by a killer from the victim as a crime memento. The FBI distinguishes between souvenirs, which fuel the killer's imagination, and trophies, serving as evidence of their proficiency. Despite this distinction, the ultimate purpose remains consistent: murderers use these possessions to relive the thrill of the crime or to feel powerful again. Throughout history, notorious serial killers have amassed items from victims, either as cherished keepsakes or repurposed for macabre ends. Each disturbed mind develops its rationale for hoarding, yet the practice is almost universal among serial killers.
To explore the eerie souvenirs confiscated by these murderers, click on the gallery.