The history of serial killers is a dark and disturbing one, and tracing its origins can be challenging. While the term “serial killer” was not coined until the 1970s, there are historical records of individuals who committed multiple murders over an extended period. In this essay, we will explore the history of serial killers and identify some of the earliest known examples.
One of the earliest known serial killers was Ancient Rome’s Locusta, who lived in the 1st century AD. She was a notorious poisoner who was known to have killed several high-profile individuals, including members of the Roman aristocracy. Locusta was eventually caught and executed, but her crimes were so notorious that her name has survived in historical records.
Another early example of a serial killer was Gilles de Rais, a French nobleman who lived in the 15th century. Gilles was a companion to Joan of Arc and fought alongside her during the Hundred Years’ War. After the war, Gilles became obsessed with the occult and began to kidnap and murder young boys. He was eventually caught, tried, and executed.
In the 16th century, Hungary was terrorized by a serial killer known as Elizabeth Bathory, also known as the “Blood Countess.” Bathory was a noblewoman who was rumored to have tortured and killed up to 650 young girls. She was eventually caught and tried, and although she was not found guilty of all the charges against her, she was sentenced to life imprisonment in a bricked-up room in her castle.
Moving forward to the 19th century, one of the earliest known serial killers in the United States was H. H. Holmes, who lived in the late 1800s. Holmes built a hotel in Chicago that was specifically designed to trap and kill his guests. He is known to have killed at least nine people, but some estimates suggest that the true number of his victims may be much higher. Holmes was eventually caught and hanged for his crimes.
Another infamous serial killer from the 19th century was Jack the Ripper, who terrorized the streets of London in 1888. Jack the Ripper was responsible for at least five brutal murders of women in the Whitechapel district of London. Despite an extensive investigation, the killer was never caught, and his identity remains a mystery to this day.
In conclusion, the origins of serial killers can be traced back to ancient times, with Locusta in Ancient Rome and Gilles de Rais in the 15th century. The concept of serial killers as we know them today did not emerge until the 20th century, but the early examples of these criminals demonstrate that the phenomenon is not a recent one. While some early serial killers, such as Locusta and Gilles de Rais, were motivated by personal gain or a desire for power, others, such as Elizabeth Bathory, seem to have been driven by sadistic and violent impulses. The cases of H. H. Holmes and Jack the Ripper demonstrate that the modern era of serial killers has its roots in the late 19th century.
