Lecture Notes: Infamous Serial Killers

Charles Edmund Cullen

• Birth: February 22, 1960, West Orange, New Jersey
• Background: Troubled upbringing, orphaned as a teenager
• Career: Nurse; struggled with depression
• Crimes: Began in 1988, killed patients in NJ and PA hospitals
  • Method: Lethal doses of medications
  • Exploited lack of communication between hospitals
• Capture: 2003, after suspicious deaths led to investigation
• Confession: Admitted to at least 29 killings, possibly 400+
• Sentence: Multiple life terms without parole
• Impact: Exposed flaws in healthcare, led to stricter regulations

Robert Pikton

• Birth: October 24, 1949, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
• Background: Dysfunctional family, pig farm upbringing
• Crimes: Lured women from Vancouver, killed and dismembered them
  • Victims often fed to pigs
• Capture: 2002, firearms warrant led to discovery of evidence
• Confession: Admitted to 49 killings
• Sentence: Life in prison without parole
• Impact: Criticism of police handling, raised awareness of vulnerable women

Rodney Alcala

• Birth: August 23, 1943, San Antonio, Texas
• Background: Intelligence masked disturbed personality
• Crimes: Started in 1971, involved posing as photographer
  • Sadistic methods: Repeated strangulation and assault
• Capture: 1979, linked to disappearance of Robin Samso
• Sentence: Death in 2010 for 5 killings
• Death: Natural causes in 2021

Yang Xinhai

• Birth: July 29, 1968, Henan Province, China
• Background: Intelligent but troubled
• Crimes: Began in 2001; targeted families, used tools for killings
• Capture: 2003, routine police check
• Confession: Admitted to 67 killings
• Sentence: Execution in 2004
• Impact: Heightened awareness of public safety, mental health issues

Charles Ng and Leonard Lake

• Background: Ng from Hong Kong, Lake from California
• Crimes: Early 1980s, involved kidnapping, torture, killing
• Capture: 1985, Lake died by suicide; Ng fled and was extradited
• Sentence: Death for Ng in 1999

Tsutomu Miyazaki

• Birth: August 21, 1962, Tokyo, Japan
• Crimes: 1988-1989, abducted and killed young girls
  • Methods included mutilation, cannibalism
• Capture: 1989, caught during abduction attempt
• Sentence: Executed in 2008
• Impact: Raised concerns over media influence and mental health

Ed Gein

• Birth: August 27, 1906, Wisconsin, USA
• Crimes: Known for body snatching, making household items from human remains
• Capture: 1957, after disappearance of Bernice Worden
• Sentence: Found insane, confined to mental institution
• Impact: Inspired numerous horror films

Richard Trenton Chase

• Birth: May 23, 1950
• Crimes: Known for consuming victims' blood, crimes in 1977-1978
• Capture: Arrested after mass killing
• Sentence: Death, later died by overdose

Carl Panzram

• Birth: June 28, 1891, Minnesota
• Background: Violent upbringing, hatred for humanity
• Crimes: Early 1900s, targeted sailors, drifters
• Capture: 1928, confessed to numerous killings
• Sentence: Executed in 1930

Joachim Kroll

• Birth: April 17, 1933, Germany
• Crimes: 1955-1976, involved cannibalism
• Capture: 1976, after missing child investigation
• Sentence: Life in prison, died in 1991

Robert Hansen

• Birth: February 15, 1939, Iowa
• Crimes: 1973-1983, hunted victims in Alaska
• Capture: 1983, after victim escape
• Sentence: 461 years in prison

Patrick Kearney

• Birth: September 24, 1939, California
• Crimes: 1975-1977, known for disposing bodies in trash bags
• Capture: Confessed to avoid death penalty
• Sentence: Life in prison

Dean Corll

• Birth: December 24, 1939, Indiana
• Crimes: 1970-1973, targeted young boys
• Capture: Killed by accomplice in 1973
• Impact: Raised concerns about child safety

Donald Henry Gaskins

• Birth: March 13, 1933, South Carolina
• Crimes: Known for "coastal kills"
• Capture: 1975, sentenced to death twice
• Execution: 1991

Fritz Haarmann

• Birth: October 25, 1879, Germany
• Crimes: 1918-1924, targeted young boys
• Capture: 1924, evidence found in river
• Sentence: Executed in 1925

Conclusion

• Impact: These cases highlight systemic failings and raise awareness about mental health, societal vulnerabilities, and law enforcement challenges.
• Encouragement to engage with content and discussion.