A new analysis of serial-killer data suggests the US remains far ahead of every other country in total known cases, and it also points to the states where residents are statistically most likely to have lived near one.
According to the study, 3,615 known serial killers have been documented in the United States so far. That total is more than 18 times higher than the figures recorded in Russia and the UK, which rank second and third with 196 and 190 respectively.
Some of the country’s best-known offenders include Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy, whose crimes continue to shape public memory and policing alike.
The report suggests that the risk is not spread evenly across the country, with some states standing out far more than others on a per-capita basis.
Wyoming takes the top spot.
The state recorded 13.59 serial killers for every one million people, which works out at roughly one for every 73,584 residents, according to the PokerTube study. Wyoming’s small population plays a significant role in its ranking—the state has recorded eight known serial killers, including Mark Allen Hopkinson, who was eventually executed for four murders committed in the 1970s.
Alaska is next on the list, with 12.21 serial killers per one million residents. Based on that rate, the odds of living next door to one are estimated at about 1 in 81,900. The remote state’s high rate is linked to notorious cases from the 1970s and 1980s, particularly Robert Hansen, known as the “Butcher Baker,” who confessed to killing 17 women and was sentenced to 461 years in prison. Hansen abducted women and hunted them in Alaska’s remote wilderness. The influx of people to Alaska during the trans-Alaska oil pipeline construction boom of the 1970s created conditions that some experts believe contributed to criminal activity during that period.
Oregon ranks third. The state has 32 known serial killers, or 7.49 per one million residents, along with 175 known serial-killer victims. The estimate there puts the chance of living next door to one at around 1 in 133,500.
“America’s biggest serial killer hotspots appear to cluster heavily in the West, with six of the top 10 states being western states.
“While there is no single way to identify a serial killer before a crime occurs, concerning patterns like repeated violent behavior, a lack of empathy or remorse, manipulation and a history of harming others could be potential red flags.”
“Recognizing these patterns and encouraging early intervention, support and professional help can play a role in preventing harm.”
Montana comes in fourth, with 6.99 serial killers per one million residents. That is roughly one known serial killer for every 143,062 people.
Missouri completes the top five, with 41 recorded serial killers in total, equal to 6.54 per one million residents.
Psychology Today says experts usually define a serial killer as someone who has killed three or more people over a period longer than a month.
Some criminal psychologists apply an even narrower definition, arguing that the crimes should also involve a psychological motive such as sexual gratification.
Although the labels are sometimes confused, specialists draw a distinction between serial killers and mass murderers.
Both are responsible for multiple killings, but the difference lies in how those crimes unfold.
Serial killers are generally said to have a “cooling off” period between attacks, whereas mass murderers typically carry out all of their killings in a single event.
It’s worth noting that despite the prevalence of serial killer cases documented throughout U.S. history, such murders represent a small fraction of overall homicides. Serial killings account for less than 1 percent of all murders in the United States. Additionally, the number of active serial killers has declined sharply in recent decades. The number of active serial killers peaked in the late 1980s with estimates between 35 to 50 operating at any given time, according to the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. By contrast, recent assessments suggest fewer than 25 active serial killers in the U.S. Experts attribute this decline to advances in forensic science, improved investigative techniques, DNA technology, and changes in social behavior such as the reduced prevalence of hitchhiking, which made it harder for potential offenders to operate undetected.