The Most Notorious Serial Killers in History

American culture has always been fascinated with the mind set behind these vicious heartless killers and what brought them to do it. Here is a list of some of the most notorious serial killers in history.

Mudgett, also know as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, was a horrific serial killer in Chicago in the 19th century. He confessed to murdering over 27 women by luring them into his castle ,where he tortured and killed them after they were forced to sign over their life savings. He was later hanged for his crimes.

Owner of his family candy store business, Corll was resposible for killing 27 young men and boys in Houston in the early 1970's. He had two accomplices who assisted him in the abductions. One of his accomplices, Elmer Wayne Henley fatally shot Corll and confessed to everyones involvement in the Houston Mass Murders.

Watts confessed to over 80 murders. His killing method was random as he would murder in different states and counties rarely engaging in sexual activity with his victims thus making it difficult to find DNA linking him to the crimes. He was later arrested for his crimes but due to the fact the Texas prosecutors felt they did not hold enough evidence against Watts, the state arranged a plea bargain, charging Watts with only burglary with intent to murder. He died in Prison from cancer in 2007.

It's said that Gunness killed over 40 people including her husbands and children. Other victims were lured onto her farm by personal ads. Her death remains a mystery to this day as some say she was killed in a fire or some say she fled with the money she accumulated by the men she killed.

Resendiz murdered 24 people in the United States and countless others in Mexico. He traveled by train murdering and robbing people in Texas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky and Georgia. He was executed in Texas in 2006.

Fish was a convicted child molester/serial killer in New York during the "Great Depression". He was later executed for his crimes.

"The Night Stalker" was one of southern California's most notorious serial killers in the 1980's.

Also known as "The Iceman", Kuklinski was one of the most famous mafia hit men in history. A movie was released about him starring Michael Shannon as Kuklinski.

The BTK killer was caught in 2005 after three decades worth of murders.

Although never caught, Jack the Ripper haunted the streets of London for years in the mid-19th century.

One of the only publicized serial killers in the Soviet Union.

The Zodiac Killer case has never been solved and remains a mystery to this day.

David Berkowitz, also known as the "Son of Sam", terrorized New York City in the summer of 1976, leaving six innocent victims dead. He is now serving a life sentence for his crimes.

Although DeSalvo was convicted of 13 murders in Boston, some DNA evidence has suggested others could have been involved.

Responsible for at least 11 known murders. Lucas died of heart failure while serving a life sentence.

Also known as the Green River Killer, Ridgeway confessed to over one hundred murders in the Washington State area.

Toole was convicted of six counts of murder in 1984. Police suspect he was involved in the murder of Adam Walsh, the son of the host of "America's Most Wanted" John Walsh.

Wuornos was convicted of killing six men while working as a prostitute in Florida. The movie "Monster" was made about her life.

Dahmer liked to prey on homosexual men by luring them back to his apartment and murdering them. He was caught and murdered by fellow inmates while in prison.

It has been said that the fictional movie characters Norman Bates and Leatherface were loosely based on this serial killer.

Gacy liked to dress up as a clown to trick his victims into hand cuffing themselves as part of his act and later murdered them. He was later caught and executed for his crimes.

The Manson family, orchestrated by Charles Manson, was one of the most publicized murder cases in the late 60's. One of the Manson family's victims was actress Sharon Tate.

Bundy is one of the most infamous serial killers in American history, committing over 30 murders.

Countess Bathory was one of the first documented female serial killers. Born in Hungary in the mid 1500's, Bathory murdered numerous victims and would even bathe in their blood.

Bram Stoker's "Dracula" was heavily based on this mass murderer.