11 Most Successful Serial Killers Who Have Never Been Caught

It’s crazy to think that some of the 11 most successful serial killers who have never been caught are still somewhere out there. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, we’ve somehow made it easier to track down criminals and killers on the loose. However, there are still some cases that have yet to be resolved. What’s scary about serial killers is how they can easily blend in normal society.

Some research suggests that serial killers most likely happen in some countries more than others due to culture and terrain differences. Situations of isolation or abuse can easily contribute to a twisted personality of a serial killer. While a lot of killers are eventually caught, it’s quite surprising that even these twisted minds have enough intelligence to cover their tracks and hide from the law. Some even dare to mock the authorities, sending letters boasting about their crimes.

What constitutes a successful serial killer? Probably the number of kills and crimes they were able to do before they stopped. While many serial killers boasted about the number of victims they claimed, we can only go by reports confirmed by the police and verified by news outlets. There are also a lot of infamous killers who didn’t really have as many victims compared to those who will be featured on this list. If you are looking for documentaries for some of the most famous serial killers, we have them listed in the 11 best serial killer documentaries on Netflix streaming in 2015.

Do take into account that we do not include serial killers who’ve been identified, even if they were never caught. We scour various news and information sites around the web and compile them so we can get more information about these infamous serial killers and their victims. Without any more delay, here are the 11 most successful serial killers who have never been caught:

11. Long Island Killer

Number of Victims: at least 10

The first victims of the Long Island Killer were discovered in December 2010 scattered along the Ocean Parkway. It was near two remote beach towns in Long Island, GIlgo Beach, and Oak Beach. Three months later, six more bodies appeared in the area, and all victims were reportedly from the sex trade. Most of these sex workers also advertised on Craigslist which was probably the method used by the killer to find victims. And now, let’s see what else we have in our list of most successful serial killers who have never been caught.

10. The Bone Collector

Number of Victims: at least 11

In 2009, a woman discovered a human bone on the West Mesa of Albuquerque, which led to a police investigation. The investigation revealed the remains of 11 women and a fetus buried in the area, most of which were involved in prostitution or drugs. Police believed it to be the work of a serial killer though no trace of evidence leading to anyone can be found.

9. The Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run

Number of Victims: at least 12

From 1935 to 1938, 12 victims were killed, and all of them had their bodies beheaded and dismembered. In some cases, the torso was cut in half, and most of the male victims were castrated. Most of the bodies were found a long time after they have been killed and the tension of the situation led to the burning of the Kingsbury Run which the killer took his victims from. The victims were identified as part of the lower class during the Depression-era of Cleveland.

8. Axeman of New Orleans

Number of Victims: at least 12

As the name would imply, victims of the Axeman who ranks 8th in our list of most successful serial killers who have never been caught, were often killed with an ax that belonged to the victim. Some of the other victims were killed using a straight razor and police could not trace the pattern of the kills. In one case, a letter was sent to the police stating that the Axeman would spare the life of those who played jazz music in the city leading to a night filled with jazz music playing everywhere. There were no murders that night and eventually the murders mysteriously stopped.

7. The Rainbow Maniac

Number of Victims: at least 13

Also known as the Paturis Park murders, the string of killings happened between 2007 and 2008 in Carapicuiba, Brazil. All of the victims were gay men aged from 20-40, and nearly all were shot in the head. The park was an area known for its prostitutes, and the last victim was shot 12 times in the head. The media dubbed the killer “The Rainbow Maniac”.

6. The Doodler

Number of Victims: at least 14

The Doodler is a serial killer that went on a rampage during 1974 to 1975, targeting the gay community in San Francisco. The killer visited gay bars, restaurants, and nightclubs looking for victims. He would then sketch them before their sexual encounter and eventual murder through stabbing. Despite having numerous suspects, the killer was never found which makes him part of the 11 most successful serial killers who have never been caught.

5. The Atlanta Ripper

Number of Victims: at least 15

In 1911, a body of a female African-American was found in Atlanta with her throat slit. By the next month, another black woman was found killed in the same way, and it started the search for a serial killer eventually called the Atlanta Ripper. All of the victims were black or dark-skinned, and all had been murdered in the same manner. Other reports that were filed stated that the murders were probably carried out by more than one person.

4. The Monster of Florence

Number of Victims: at least 16

In between 1968 to 1985, a series of murders took place in Florence, Italy. The main targets were couples, and the same gun was used in all murders. After the first murder has allegedly been resolved, another couple was found in 1974 with various gunshot wounds and stab wounds. The killings continued again over the next decade and reports were filed in about friends encountering a strange man a few days before the victims’ deaths. And now, let’s see the top three netries in our list of most successful serial killers who have never been caught.

3. The Highway of Tears

Number of Victims: at least 19

The Highway of Tears is known for a series of disappearances and murders from 1969 to 2011 in Canada. The Highway spans multiple areas of Canada, and most of the victims were aboriginal women. Due to a lack of public transportation, most women were forced to hitchhike in the area which led to the murders.

2. Stoneman

Number of Victims: at least 25

Starting from 1985, a series of 12 murders were done in Bombay with victims identified as beggars in the city. The victims’ heads were noticeably crushed with a single stone that weighed up to 30 kg. Most of the victims were killed in the streets and even though there was one who survived, he was not able to fully identify the killer. The killings mysteriously stopped in 1988, but during the summer of 1989 in Calcutta, the killings started again. During the next six months, at least 13 homeless people were killed in the streets of the city.

1. The Original Night Stalker

Number of Victims: at least 62

This serial killer and rapist is responsible for the deaths of at least 12 people and rape of at least 50 women from 1979 to 1986. Due to the nature of the pattern of the crimes, it was eventually concluded that it was all the work of one man. Similar crimes would occasionally spring up over the next few years. He’s been given numerous monikers, and in 2016 a $50,000 reward was announced by the FBI to anyone who could lead to the conviction of the Night Stalker. Due to the number of the crimes committed and the fact that he still remains at large, he tops this list of 11 most successful serial killers who have never been caught.