Ohio’s history is steeped in the chilling tales of notorious serial killers. The state has been home to some of the most infamous murderers from Ohio, whose brutal crimes left communities in shock. Explore the dark stories of Ohio serial killers and uncover the twisted minds of these serial killers from Ohio.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Ohio Serial Killers:
Based on the number of confirmed victims and the notoriety of their crimes, the following are the famous serial killers in ohio:
1. Anthony Sowell (The Cleveland Strangler)
• Active: 2007-2009
• Victims: 11 women
• Crimes: Murder, rape, kidnapping
Anthony Sowell, infamously known as the “Cleveland Strangler,” was a serial killer from cleveland ohio from 2007 to 2009. A former Marine with a prior conviction for attempted rape, Sowell targeted vulnerable women, often struggling with addiction or homelessness. He lured them to his home with promises of drugs or alcohol, then brutally raped, strangled, and murdered them. The bodies of eleven victims were discovered in and around his house, shocking the community and revealing a horrifying pattern of violence. Sowell’s capture and conviction brought some closure, but the trauma inflicted on the victims and their families remains a painful reminder of the darkness that can exist within seemingly ordinary individuals.
2. Donald Harvey (The Angel of Death)
• Active: 1970-1987
• Victims: Estimated 37-87
• Crimes: Murder by various methods, including poisoning and suffocation
Donald Harvey, a seemingly unremarkable hospital orderly, harbored a chilling secret that would earn him the moniker “Angel of Death.” Over a span of nearly two decades, Harvey preyed upon vulnerable patients within the walls of various hospitals in Ohio and Kentucky. Driven by a twisted sense of control and a distorted belief in mercy killing, he methodically ended the lives of at least 37 individuals, though he claimed the number was much higher.
Harvey’s modus operandi was insidious, employing methods like poisoning and suffocation that often went undetected, disguised as natural deaths. This allowed him to continue his killing spree for years, leaving behind a trail of grieving families and a healthcare system grappling with a profound betrayal of trust.
3. Jeffrey Dahmer (The Milwaukee Cannibal)
• Active: 1978-1991
• Victims: 17 men and boys
• Crimes: Murder, rape, dismemberment, cannibalism, necrophilia
Jeffrey Dahmer, known as the “Milwaukee Cannibal,” was a serial killer and sex offender whose crimes shocked the world. Between 1978 and 1991, Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys, luring them to his apartment with promises of money or alcohol. His heinous acts included drugging, strangling, dismembering, and sometimes consuming his victims, often keeping body parts as trophies. Dahmer’s reign of terror finally ended in 1991 when a potential victim escaped and alerted police. The subsequent discovery of human remains in Dahmer’s apartment exposed the full extent of his horrific crimes, leaving a lasting scar on the city of Milwaukee and the nation as a whole.
4. James Opelton Bradley
• Active: 2000s-2010s
• Victims: At least 3
• Crimes: Murder
James Opelton Bradley, a former Army sergeant, is a convicted serial killer from North Carolina with a disturbing history of violence against women. In 1988, he murdered his 8-year-old stepdaughter, Ivy Gibson, and was sentenced to life in prison. Released on parole in 2013, he went on to kill two more women, Shannon Rippy Van Newkirk and Elisha Tucker, in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Bradley’s crimes were marked by a pattern of targeting vulnerable women and disposing of their bodies in secluded locations. His chilling short stories written in prison, depicting graphic violence against women, further revealed his dark fantasies. Bradley is currently serving a life sentence without parole, leaving a trail of grief and unanswered questions in his wake.
5. Robert Sylvester Alston
• Active: 1980s
• Victims: 4 women
• Crimes: Murder, sexual assault
Robert Sylvester Alston, a lesser known but equally disturbing figure in North Carolina’s criminal history, was a serial killer who preyed on vulnerable women in Greensboro during the early 1990s. Driven by a twisted desire for power and control, Alston targeted young Black women, often involved in prostitution or drug addiction. He would lure them into his car, subject them to horrific acts of violence and sexual assault, then brutally murder and dismember them, scattering their remains across various locations.
Alston’s reign of terror cast a dark shadow over the community, leaving many women living in fear. His capture and subsequent conviction in 1998 brought some closure, but the memory of his heinous crimes continues to haunt Greensboro to this day.
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- Aileen Wuornos: ‘Damsel of Death’ Serial Killer
Books About “Serial Killers”
Read “The Big Book of Serial Killers (An Encyclopedia of Serial Killers)”
This A-Z encyclopedia offers an unparalleled look into the chilling world of 150 serial killers from around the globe.
Read “Serial Killers of the ’80s Stories Behind a Decadent Decade of Death”
Step into the dark world of serial killers, where the unimaginable becomes reality. This illustrated collection takes you on a chilling journey through the lives and crimes of those who have terrorized America since the 1970s. Discover the twisted minds of infamous figures like Dahmer, Wuornos, and Ridgway, and uncover the shocking truths behind the more recent cases of Little and DeAngelo. This engrossing book will leave you questioning the depths of human depravity.
Read “Jeffrey Dahmer: The Milwaukee Cannibal”
Jeffrey Dahmer: a name synonymous with horror. This unflinching biography explores the life and crimes of the Milwaukee Cannibal, delving into his disturbing past and the lasting impact of his monstrous acts. Prepare to be both captivated and repulsed as you confront the man behind the headlines.
FAQs
Who was the Ohio serial killer in 1990?
Thomas Lee Dillon (July 9, 1950 – October 21, 2011) was an American serial killer who shot and killed at least five men in southeastern Ohio, beginning April 1, 1989 and continuing until April 1992. He was nicknamed “Killer” for boasting about shooting hundreds of animals.
What is the history of serial killers in Ohio?
Ohio has a history of serial killers spanning several decades, with various individuals committing heinous crimes.
What were the most shocking cases of serial killers from Ohio?
Cases involving Jeffrey Dahmer and Ariel Castro are among the most shocking.
