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0 / 31 Fotos
30. Manuel Octavio Bermúdez, Colombia
- Victims: 21 confirmed, possibly more than 50.
Where and when: Colombia from 1999 to 2003.
A child molester and serial killer known as "the Monster of the Cane Fields," he was an ice-cream vendor who lured his victims to cornfields.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
29. Earle Nelson, USA
- Victims: 22 confirmed, possibly 25.
Where and when: USA and Canada in 1926 and 1927.
Also known as "Gorilla Killer" or "the Dark Strangler," he targeted boardinghouse landladies.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
28. Ronald Dominique, USA
- Victims: 23 confirmed.
Where and when: Louisiana from 1997 to 2006.
He targeted men in gay bars who were willing to have intimate relationships for money.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
27. Béla Kiss, Hungary
- Victims: 23 women and one man confirmed.
Where and when: Budapest area from 1912 to 1916.
Kiss strangled his victims and drained their blood before placing them in barrels on his property. Kiss escaped and his fate remains a mystery.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
26. Fritz Haarmann, Germany
- Victims: 24 confirmed, possibly 27 or more.
Where and when: Hanover from 1918 to 1924.
Known as the "Vampire of Hanover," he was notorious for biting through his victims' throat before dumping them in the Leine River.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
25. Mikhail Popkov, Russia
- Victims: 22 confirmed, possibly 81.
Where and when: Angarsk, Irkutsk, and Vladivostok from 1992 to 2010.
Nicknamed "The Werewolf," he targeted women he considered immoral.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
24. Juan Vallejo Corona, Mexico/USA
- Victims: 25 confirmed.
Where and when: Sutter County, California in 1971.
He targeted migrant farm workers and buried them in fruit orchards along the Feather River.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
23. Maoupa Cedric Maake, South Africa
- Victims: 27 confirmed, possibly over 35.
Where and when: Johannesburg area from 1996 to 1997.
Known as the "Wemmer Pan Killer," he used guns, rocks, a knife, and a hammer, and targeted victims of various types.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
22. Dean Corll, USA
- Victims: 29 confirmed.
Where and when: Southeast Texas from 1968 to 1973.
Known as the "Candy Man," he assaulted and tortured young boys with the help of two teenaged accomplices, one of whom later killed Corll.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
21. Karl Denke, from modern-day Poland
- Victims: 30 confirmed, possibly 40 or more.
Where and when: committed crimes in modern-day Germany from 1900 to 1924.
Often regarded as "The Forgotten Cannibal," the Prussian criminal killed and cannibalized travelers and vagrants.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
20. Ramadan Abdel Rehim Mansour, Egypt
- Victims: 32 confirmed.
Where and when: Egypt from 1999 to 2006.
Also known as "al-Tourbini," the gang leader targeted homeless children, mostly boys, aboard trains.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
19. Vasili Komaroff, modern-day Russia
- Victims: 33 confirmed.
Where and when: Russia from 1921 to 1923.
Known as "The Wolf of Moscow," the horse trader invited clients into his home and gave them vodka before killing them.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
18. Ali Asghar Borujerdi, modern-day Iran
- Victims: 33 confirmed.
Where and when: Modern-day Iran and Iraq from 1907 to 1934.
Known as "Asghar the Murderer," he killed and assaulted his first victims at 14.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
17. John Wayne Gacy, USA
- Victims: 33 confirmed, possibly 34 or more. Known as the "Killer Clown," Gacy lured boys to his home where he normally suffocated them.
Where and when: Chicago area from 1972 to 1978.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
16. Ted Bundy, USA
- Victims: 35 confirmed, possibly 36 or more.
Where and when: USA from 1974 to 1978.
Regarded as charismatic and handsome, he approached women and girls feigning injury or impersonating authority, and abducted them.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
15. Gennady Mikhasevich, modern-day Belarus
- Victims: 36 confirmed, possibly between 43 and 55.
Where and when: Polotsk and surrounding rural areas from 1971 to 1985.
He strangled women and often robbed them of money and other valuables, which he would then give to his wife.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
14. Serhiy Tkach, modern-day Russia
- Victims: 36 confirmed, possibly between 80 and 100.
Where and when: Ukraine from 1984 to 2005.
A former Ukrainian police officer, he killed girls before engaging in intimate acts postmortem.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
13. Moses Sithole, South Africa
- Victims: 38 confirmed.
Where and when: South Africa from 1994 to 1995.
Known as South Africa's Ted Bundy, he lured unemployed women with job promises.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
12. Tiago Henrique Gomes da Rocha, Brazil
- Victims: 39 confirmed.
Where and when: Goiás area from 2011 to 2014.
The security guard targeted women, homeless people, and gay men. He approached on motorcycle pretending to be an armed robber.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
11. Ahmad Suradji, Indonesia
- Victims: 42 confirmed, possibly more than 80.
Where and when: Medan area from 1986 to 1997.
He strangled women and buried them up to their waists in a sugarcane plantation as part of a ritual, seeking magical powers.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
10. Wang Qiang, China
- Victims: 45 confirmed, possibly over 60.
Where and when: Liaoning from 1995 to 2003.
He is regarded as one of the most notorious murderers and rapists in Chinese history.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
9. Alexander Pichushkin, Russia
- Victims: 48 confirmed, possibly 60.
Where and when: Moscow from 1992 to 2006.
Also known as the "Chessboard Killer," he used vodka to lure victims, mainly elderly homeless men. Many suspect he wanted to become the worst killer in Russian history.
© Reuters
22 / 31 Fotos
8. Gary Ridgway, USA
- Victims: 49 confirmed, possibly over 90.
Where and when: Washington state from 1982 to 2000.
Also known as the "Green River Killer," the truck driver preyed on vulnerable women.
© Reuters
23 / 31 Fotos
7. Anatoly Onoprienko, Ukraine
- Victims: 52 confirmed.
Where and when: Ukraine from 1989 to 1996.
He selected isolated houses and gained the occupants' attention by creating a commotion. He always killed the older male occupant first.
© Reuters
24 / 31 Fotos
6. Andrei Chikatilo, Ukraine
- Victims: 53 confirmed, possibly 56.
Where and when: Rostov area, Russia, from 1978 to 1990.
Known as "The Rostov Ripper," the former school teacher is notorious for mutilating his victims, often eating their sexual organs.
© Reuters
25 / 31 Fotos
5. Yang Xinhai, China
- Victims: 67 confirmed.
Where and when: Anhui, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong between 2000 to 2003.
He entered victims' homes and killed all of the occupants with axes, hammers, and shovels. He always wore new clothes and large shoes.
© Reuters
26 / 31 Fotos
4. Pedro Rodrigues Filho, Brazil
- Victims: 71 confirmed, possibly over 100.
Where and when: Minas Gerais from 1967 to 2003.
At 14, he killed a politician. He went on to focus on inmates, but he also killed his father, eating part of his heart.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
3. Daniel Camargo Barbosa, Colombia
- Victims: 72 confirmed, possibly 180.
Where and when: Ecuador, Colombia, and possibly Brazil from 1974 to 1986.
Because he preyed on virgins, the majority of his victims were children. Though he killed 72, he is said to have assaulted at least 150.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
2. Pedro López, Colombia
- Victims: 110 confirmed, possibly more than 300.
Where and when: Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador from 1969 to 1979.
Known as "The Monster of the Andes," he preyed on young girls. He was imprisoned before being release on bond, after which he fled and his whereabouts remain unknown.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
1. Luis Garavito, Colombia
- Victims: 138 confirmed, possibly over 300. See also: Notorious killers in American history
Where and when: Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela from 1992 to 1999.
Known as "The Beast," he more frequently preyed on homeless boys, luring them with money. He often tortured the victims severely before killing them.
© Reuters
30 / 31 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
30. Manuel Octavio Bermúdez, Colombia
- Victims: 21 confirmed, possibly more than 50.
Where and when: Colombia from 1999 to 2003.
A child molester and serial killer known as "the Monster of the Cane Fields," he was an ice-cream vendor who lured his victims to cornfields.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
29. Earle Nelson, USA
- Victims: 22 confirmed, possibly 25.
Where and when: USA and Canada in 1926 and 1927.
Also known as "Gorilla Killer" or "the Dark Strangler," he targeted boardinghouse landladies.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
28. Ronald Dominique, USA
- Victims: 23 confirmed.
Where and when: Louisiana from 1997 to 2006.
He targeted men in gay bars who were willing to have intimate relationships for money.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
27. Béla Kiss, Hungary
- Victims: 23 women and one man confirmed.
Where and when: Budapest area from 1912 to 1916.
Kiss strangled his victims and drained their blood before placing them in barrels on his property. Kiss escaped and his fate remains a mystery.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
26. Fritz Haarmann, Germany
- Victims: 24 confirmed, possibly 27 or more.
Where and when: Hanover from 1918 to 1924.
Known as the "Vampire of Hanover," he was notorious for biting through his victims' throat before dumping them in the Leine River.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
25. Mikhail Popkov, Russia
- Victims: 22 confirmed, possibly 81.
Where and when: Angarsk, Irkutsk, and Vladivostok from 1992 to 2010.
Nicknamed "The Werewolf," he targeted women he considered immoral.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
24. Juan Vallejo Corona, Mexico/USA
- Victims: 25 confirmed.
Where and when: Sutter County, California in 1971.
He targeted migrant farm workers and buried them in fruit orchards along the Feather River.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
23. Maoupa Cedric Maake, South Africa
- Victims: 27 confirmed, possibly over 35.
Where and when: Johannesburg area from 1996 to 1997.
Known as the "Wemmer Pan Killer," he used guns, rocks, a knife, and a hammer, and targeted victims of various types.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
22. Dean Corll, USA
- Victims: 29 confirmed.
Where and when: Southeast Texas from 1968 to 1973.
Known as the "Candy Man," he assaulted and tortured young boys with the help of two teenaged accomplices, one of whom later killed Corll.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
21. Karl Denke, from modern-day Poland
- Victims: 30 confirmed, possibly 40 or more.
Where and when: committed crimes in modern-day Germany from 1900 to 1924.
Often regarded as "The Forgotten Cannibal," the Prussian criminal killed and cannibalized travelers and vagrants.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
20. Ramadan Abdel Rehim Mansour, Egypt
- Victims: 32 confirmed.
Where and when: Egypt from 1999 to 2006.
Also known as "al-Tourbini," the gang leader targeted homeless children, mostly boys, aboard trains.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
19. Vasili Komaroff, modern-day Russia
- Victims: 33 confirmed.
Where and when: Russia from 1921 to 1923.
Known as "The Wolf of Moscow," the horse trader invited clients into his home and gave them vodka before killing them.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
18. Ali Asghar Borujerdi, modern-day Iran
- Victims: 33 confirmed.
Where and when: Modern-day Iran and Iraq from 1907 to 1934.
Known as "Asghar the Murderer," he killed and assaulted his first victims at 14.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
17. John Wayne Gacy, USA
- Victims: 33 confirmed, possibly 34 or more. Known as the "Killer Clown," Gacy lured boys to his home where he normally suffocated them.
Where and when: Chicago area from 1972 to 1978.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
16. Ted Bundy, USA
- Victims: 35 confirmed, possibly 36 or more.
Where and when: USA from 1974 to 1978.
Regarded as charismatic and handsome, he approached women and girls feigning injury or impersonating authority, and abducted them.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
15. Gennady Mikhasevich, modern-day Belarus
- Victims: 36 confirmed, possibly between 43 and 55.
Where and when: Polotsk and surrounding rural areas from 1971 to 1985.
He strangled women and often robbed them of money and other valuables, which he would then give to his wife.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
14. Serhiy Tkach, modern-day Russia
- Victims: 36 confirmed, possibly between 80 and 100.
Where and when: Ukraine from 1984 to 2005.
A former Ukrainian police officer, he killed girls before engaging in intimate acts postmortem.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
13. Moses Sithole, South Africa
- Victims: 38 confirmed.
Where and when: South Africa from 1994 to 1995.
Known as South Africa's Ted Bundy, he lured unemployed women with job promises.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
12. Tiago Henrique Gomes da Rocha, Brazil
- Victims: 39 confirmed.
Where and when: Goiás area from 2011 to 2014.
The security guard targeted women, homeless people, and gay men. He approached on motorcycle pretending to be an armed robber.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
11. Ahmad Suradji, Indonesia
- Victims: 42 confirmed, possibly more than 80.
Where and when: Medan area from 1986 to 1997.
He strangled women and buried them up to their waists in a sugarcane plantation as part of a ritual, seeking magical powers.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
10. Wang Qiang, China
- Victims: 45 confirmed, possibly over 60.
Where and when: Liaoning from 1995 to 2003.
He is regarded as one of the most notorious murderers and rapists in Chinese history.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
9. Alexander Pichushkin, Russia
- Victims: 48 confirmed, possibly 60.
Where and when: Moscow from 1992 to 2006.
Also known as the "Chessboard Killer," he used vodka to lure victims, mainly elderly homeless men. Many suspect he wanted to become the worst killer in Russian history.
© Reuters
22 / 31 Fotos
8. Gary Ridgway, USA
- Victims: 49 confirmed, possibly over 90.
Where and when: Washington state from 1982 to 2000.
Also known as the "Green River Killer," the truck driver preyed on vulnerable women.
© Reuters
23 / 31 Fotos
7. Anatoly Onoprienko, Ukraine
- Victims: 52 confirmed.
Where and when: Ukraine from 1989 to 1996.
He selected isolated houses and gained the occupants' attention by creating a commotion. He always killed the older male occupant first.
© Reuters
24 / 31 Fotos
6. Andrei Chikatilo, Ukraine
- Victims: 53 confirmed, possibly 56.
Where and when: Rostov area, Russia, from 1978 to 1990.
Known as "The Rostov Ripper," the former school teacher is notorious for mutilating his victims, often eating their sexual organs.
© Reuters
25 / 31 Fotos
5. Yang Xinhai, China
- Victims: 67 confirmed.
Where and when: Anhui, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong between 2000 to 2003.
He entered victims' homes and killed all of the occupants with axes, hammers, and shovels. He always wore new clothes and large shoes.
© Reuters
26 / 31 Fotos
4. Pedro Rodrigues Filho, Brazil
- Victims: 71 confirmed, possibly over 100.
Where and when: Minas Gerais from 1967 to 2003.
At 14, he killed a politician. He went on to focus on inmates, but he also killed his father, eating part of his heart.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
3. Daniel Camargo Barbosa, Colombia
- Victims: 72 confirmed, possibly 180.
Where and when: Ecuador, Colombia, and possibly Brazil from 1974 to 1986.
Because he preyed on virgins, the majority of his victims were children. Though he killed 72, he is said to have assaulted at least 150.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
2. Pedro López, Colombia
- Victims: 110 confirmed, possibly more than 300.
Where and when: Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador from 1969 to 1979.
Known as "The Monster of the Andes," he preyed on young girls. He was imprisoned before being release on bond, after which he fled and his whereabouts remain unknown.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
1. Luis Garavito, Colombia
- Victims: 138 confirmed, possibly over 300. See also: Notorious killers in American history
Where and when: Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela from 1992 to 1999.
Known as "The Beast," he more frequently preyed on homeless boys, luring them with money. He often tortured the victims severely before killing them.
© Reuters
30 / 31 Fotos
Serial killers: these are the men who claimed the most lives
A ranking of serial killers by the number of people they killed
© Getty Images
Crime fills the news day in and day out. But every now and then, a particularly brutal criminal surfaces, making us question everything and everyone around us. A serial killer is defined as an individual who has killed more than three victims on two or more separate occasions. Who are the worst serial killers to have walked the face of the planet in modern history?
Click through the gallery to find out who the world's most prolific killers are.
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