Worst Serial Killers of All Time Ranked by Pure Evil

If you've ever fallen into a late-night YouTube hole or marathoned an entire Netflix docuseries in one sitting (guilty), then welcome to the deep end. We're diving headfirst into the worst serial killers of all time — yes, those real-life monsters who haunted headlines and gave generations a reason to double-check their locks. These aren't your average criminals. Oh no, these are the most vile, twisted, and straight-up evil people to ever walk the earth. We’re talking about serial killers who committed multiple murders. Well, many of whom were convicted and executed (or are rotting in prison, where they belong).

In this no-nonsense ranking, we’re breaking down 10 of the worst serial killers based on body count, cruelty, public fear, and just how messed up their minds were. And yes, it's opinionated. If you disagree with the order—hey, blame the killer clowns, not the messenger.

Let’s jump into the madness.

#10. Dean Corll – The Candy Man Nobody Wanted

Dean Corll might not be a household name, but this guy was a straight-up horror movie villain. Known as “The Candy Man,” he lured young boys with sweets and ended up torturing and killing at least 28 victims in Houston, Texas during the early 1970s.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1939, Corll’s early life seemed unremarkable on the surface. He was in his early 30s when the murders began.

What made him extra terrifying? He had teenage accomplices—Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks—who helped lure the victims in exchange for money, drugs, or gifts. The boys who vanished were often from troubled homes or running away, making them easier targets for this predator. Corll’s crimes went unnoticed for years, largely because of how meticulously he concealed his victims’ bodies. The horror was only discovered when Henley shot and killed Corll in what he claimed was self-defense.

One chilling fact not many know? Corll had a literal torture board—a plywood slab with handcuffs and restraints—set up in his home. He used it to secure the boys before torturing them. Police found boxes of teenage boys’ clothing, Polaroid pictures of victims, and even handwritten notes describing the killings.

Despite the staggering number of victims, the Corll murders are rarely as heavily covered as other serial killings, making it one of the most horrifying yet under-discussed cases in U.S. history.

• Victims: 28 confirmed, more suspected
• Crime Scene: Houston, Texas
• Executed? No, he was shot by his accomplice Elmer Henley

#9. Richard Ramirez – The Night Stalker With Satanic Swagger

Let’s just say if evil had a face in the ‘80s, it was this guy. Richard Ramirez, aka the Night Stalker, terrorized California from 1984 to 1985 with a mix of rape, satanic rituals, and cold-blooded murder. Ramirez was not only a murderer but also a notorious rapist, further amplifying the terror he spread across California. He would break into homes at night, randomly choosing victims, sometimes killing them on the spot, and other times forcing them to watch their loved ones suffer.

Ramirez was wildly unpredictable. His crimes involved guns, knives, hammers, and even machetes. He left satanic messages on walls, showed zero remorse, and laughed during his trial. The dude was a literal nightmare in high-top sneakers.

Here’s the part that rarely gets mentioned: Richard Ramirez had been heavily influenced by his cousin, Miguel “Mike” Ramirez, a Vietnam War veteran who showed young Richard photos of women he claimed to have raped and killed during the war. Mike even shot his wife in front of Richard when he was 13 years old. Talk about trauma laying the groundwork for future evil.

Ramirez also used a specific Avia sneaker, which helped detectives link the murders. It was a rare shoe brand at the time, and the unique footprint at several crime scenes helped investigators narrow things down. His eventual arrest came after the public saw his face on the news and beat him up until the police arrived.

He was convicted of 13 murders, 5 attempted murders, and 11 sexual assaults. But many believe he was involved in more separate events that were never solved.

• Victims: 14+ confirmed
• Executed? No, he died of cancer while on death row in 2013

#8. Gary Ridgway – The Green River Killer Who Just Wouldn’t Stop

Gary Ridgway was the ultimate suburban boogeyman. Quiet guy, married multiple times, held down a job… oh, and casually murdered 71 women. Most of them were vulnerable, young women, including runaways and sex workers, and he targeted them throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Many of his victims were sex workers, as Ridgway specifically targeted them due to their perceived vulnerability and the likelihood that their disappearances would go unnoticed.

Ridgway would often pick up women in his truck, strangle them, and dump their bodies near the Green River or in the woods. Sometimes he’d return to the bodies to commit disturbing acts after death. Ugh. Disgusting.

Not widely known: Ridgway passed a lie detector test during an early investigation, which led police to focus on other suspects for years. That delay gave him more time to continue killing.

He once told investigators that strangling his victims gave him more pleasure than sex. It took over two decades to catch him, and only modern DNA testing sealed the deal. During interrogation, he referred to the murders like it was a routine. Chilling.

• Victims: 71 confirmed, possibly over 90
• Sentence: Life without parole

#7. Albert Fish – The Boogeyman of 1920s New York

Think you’ve heard all the worst stories? Think again. Albert Fish is easily one of the most disturbing murderers ever. This man preyed on children, enjoyed cannibalism, and sent detailed letters to family members describing exactly what he did to their missing kids. At the age of 55, Fish began his most notorious killing spree, shocking the public with the advanced age at which he committed such heinous acts.

Fish called himself the “Gray Man” and claimed to have murdered over 100 children, though only three were confirmed. His known crimes were so brutal they made even seasoned investigators sick to their stomachs.

One disturbing detail? Fish inserted needles into his own groin and pelvis as part of his masochistic rituals. When he was X-rayed in prison, doctors found over 29 needles embedded in his pelvic region. The man was a walking nightmare.

He also believed he was carrying out God’s will. During trial, he claimed he heard voices commanding him to torture children. A psychiatrist described him as having “the most filthy mind” he had ever encountered. Despite being clearly mentally troubled, the jury still found him guilty.

• Victims: 3 confirmed, 100+ suspected
• Executed: Electric chair in 1936

#6. Aileen Wuornos – The Vigilante Killer With a Death Wish

Aileen Wuornos was a rare case: a female serial killer whose story made global headlines. She murdered seven men in Florida and claimed each one tried to sexually assault her, framing her actions as self defense.

Her tragic life included childhood abuse, homelessness, and exploitation. Born to a convicted child molester and abandoned by her mother, Wuornos turned to sex work as a teenager. She was pregnant at 14 and gave the baby up for adoption. After years of living on the streets and going in and out of reform school, her hatred toward men spiraled into violence.

What many don’t know is how intelligent and self-aware she was, even while deeply unstable. Her IQ tested above average, and she spoke openly about her crimes, even stating in interviews that she was glad she killed those men. She felt society had abused her, and this was her way of fighting back.

During her trial, multiple experts diagnosed her with borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. Her bizarre courtroom behavior, including sudden outbursts and claims that the prison was trying to poison her food, painted a picture of someone mentally unraveling.

Wuornos fired her legal team and pleaded no contest to the charges. She was executed by lethal injection in 2002, but her story lives on in documentaries and movies that debate whether she was a monster, a victim, or both.

• Executed: Lethal injection in 2002
• Victims: 7 men

ALSO READ: Strangest Places on Earth You Won’t Believe Exist

#5. John Wayne Gacy – The Killer Clown Next Door

Y’all. This man was THE killer clown. Not even joking. John Wayne Gacy performed at kids’ parties as “Pogo the Clown” and buried 29 bodies under his house.

He was a respected businessman and political volunteer by day, and a nightmare by night. Gacy preyed on young men, often using fake IDs and impersonating a police officer to lure them in. Once they were in his home, he used tricks to handcuff them before torturing and killing them. Gacy's first murder occurred in 1972, setting off a series of killings that would continue for years before he was finally caught.

Here’s a detail that doesn’t always get talked about: Gacy had multiple accomplices, or at least people who were suspicious but kept quiet. Several neighbors complained about the smell coming from his house. One even warned police, but no action was taken until much later. Gacy also confessed that he dumped several victims in the Des Plaines River when he ran out of room under his crawl space.

He was eventually arrested in 1978 after police obtained a search warrant and found damning evidence, including a class ring belonging to one of the missing boys. In total, he was convicted of 33 murders and sentenced to death. He was executed in 1994 by electric chair.

Gacy painted dozens of clown portraits while on death row, many of which still circulate in the true crime collector world. That’s right, people buy this stuff.

• Victims: 33 confirmed
• Executed: 1994

#4. Ted Bundy – The Devil in a Suit

Ted Bundy is one of the most well-known notorious serial killers ever. And for good reason: the man was smooth, smart, and psychotic. He lured women by pretending to be injured or needing help. Once they let their guard down, he struck.

He confessed to killing over 30 women, but the real number is likely much higher. Bundy's first murder is believed to have taken place in 1974, marking the beginning of his infamous killing spree. His crimes spanned multiple states, and he even escaped from custody—twice!

Bundy had a long-term girlfriend and helped raise her son like a normal dad. He also worked at a suicide prevention hotline, where he was reportedly kind, calm, and helpful. Chilling, right?

During his time on the run, Bundy committed multiple murders in separate events. One of his worst attacks was at the Chi Omega sorority house in Florida, where he brutally assaulted four women in under 15 minutes, killing two of them. Later that night, he broke into another apartment and attacked a fifth woman.

He represented himself in court and used the opportunity to manipulate, delay, and soak up media attention. His final words before execution? “Give my love to my family.”

• Victims: 30+ confirmed
• Executed: 1989 via electric chair

#3. Andrei Chikatilo – The Butcher of Rostov

Andrei Chikatilo committed unspeakable crimes in Soviet Russia. He preyed on children, young women, and even men, luring them into forests and abandoned buildings. Chikatilo's victims ranged in age from as young as 7 to adults in their 40s, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of his violence. He was known for his violent method: stabbing his victims dozens of times in separate events.

What makes Chikatilo especially terrifying is his psychological profile. He was sexually impotent and could only achieve arousal through violence. Early in life, he was bullied for bed-wetting and called a failure by his parents. His mother reportedly traumatized him with stories of cannibalism during Stalin-era famines, telling him his brother was eaten by neighbors. Whether or not it was true, it shaped his view of humanity.

For years, Soviet authorities refused to believe a serial killer could exist in their society. This denial led to multiple wrongful arrests and even executions of innocent men. When Chikatilo was finally caught in 1990, he led investigators to body after body.

He was executed in 1994 by a single bullet to the head—Russia didn’t mess around.

• Victims: 52 confirmed
• Executed: 1994

#2. Jeffrey Dahmer – The Milwaukee Cannibal Who Shocked the World

Jeffrey Dahmer is arguably the most infamous of them all. Dubbed the Milwaukee Cannibal, his crimes were so twisted they left seasoned police officers in tears.

He lured young men into his apartment, where he would drug them, kill them, and then engage in necrophilia and cannibalism. His apartment contained body parts, a drum of acid, and even a human head in the fridge. Many of Dahmer's victims were found dead in various states of dismemberment, shocking investigators with the gruesome scene.

What’s rarely discussed? One of his victims actually escaped and flagged down the police, but they believed Dahmer when he claimed it was a “lovers’ quarrel” and let the man go back inside. That victim was later murdered.

Dahmer also kept a twisted altar of skulls and candles, planning to make a shrine to his victims. He told investigators he wanted to keep parts of them forever, so they’d be with him in death. Totally unhinged.

He was finally arrested in 1991, confessed to 17 murders, and was sentenced to multiple life sentences. But he didn’t last long. In 1994, another inmate beat him to death in prison.

• Victims: 17
• Executed? No, he was allegedly killed by the other inmates when a fight broke our inside the prison.

#1. Pedro López – The Monster of the Andes

Pedro López confessed to killing over 300 children in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. López is one of the most prolific serial killer in history. His status as a prolific serial killer cemented by the staggering number of victims attributed to him. Known as the Monster of the Andes, he targeted young girls, often from poor families, abducting them during broad daylight.

López claimed to have been gang-raped in prison as a teenager. In which, according to him, awakened his thirst for revenge against humanity. He was arrested in 1980 after a failed abduction, and later on confessed to over 300 murders. He even led police to over 50 graves in separate events.

Despite the unimaginable scale of his crimes, he was declared sane and sentenced to just 16 years in Ecuador. He was released in 1998 for “good behavior.” No, this isn’t a joke. He was briefly arrested again in Colombia but released shortly after.

López disappeared in 2002, and to this day, his whereabouts are unknown. There is still an active search, but many fear he may have continued killing under a new identity. He could be anywhere.

• Victims: 300+
• Current Status: Missing, possibly still alive

Final Thoughts: What Even Is Humanity?

o there you have it—a front-row seat to the darkest corners of humanity. The worst serial killers of all time didn’t just rack up body counts. They shattered communities, manipulated trust, and reminded us all that monsters don’t always wear masks. Sometimes they wear suits. Or clown makeup. Or live right next door.

But here's the thing: this list isn't just a trip through terror for shock value. It's a brutal reminder that we have to stay informed, stay alert, and keep questioning what we think we know. Because these killers didn't operate in shadows alone—they slipped through cracks in systems, in communities, in judgment.

It’s not about fear. It’s about awareness.

So share their stories. Honor their victims. Question the charmers. Watch for patterns. And for the love of all things holy—trust your gut.

Now go light a candle, hug someone tight, and maybe triple-check the locks.

UP NEXT: 7 Of The Most Haunted Places In The World