MOST EVIL: A LOOK INTO THE MINDS OF THE TRULY EVIL

Article BY Kait Wellman - Art by NICOLAS CASTELAUX

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Psychopaths, cult leaders, and spree killers. These are just a few on the Most Evil list according to forensic psychiatrist Michael Stone of Columbia University. Michael Stone has spent the majority of his career studying the minds and actions of various murderers, psychotics, and serial killers all over the world. What Michael Stone has devised is a list of the very worst and terrifying people who have committed heinous crimes throughout the centuries. The following is a compiled ranking from the very worst and heinous killers (22) to the least criminal (1) of the Most Evil.

 

Psychopathic Killers

Knowing right from wrong distinguishes the psychopathic killer from many others. They do not have hallucinations, nor do they suffer from a mental illness. In addition, they do not feel sorry for the crimes they have committed and do not have a conscious. However, they are responsible for their crimes- and they know it.

#17. -“Sexually perverse/violent/dominant”
Ted Bundy
Childhood: Sister was actually his mother/never knew his biological father
Killings: Over 35 young women
Apprehension: February 15, 1978
Killed by the electric chair January 24, 1989

#18. - “Psychopathic-torture murderer”
Gary Ridgeway AKA “The Green River Killer”
Childhood: Unknown
Killings: Possibly over 90+
Apprehension: November 30, 2000
Serving a life sentence with no parole

#22. - “Callous/Fearless/Sadistic”
Tommy Lynn Sells AKA “Cross Country Killer”
Childhood: Unknown
Killings: 9+
Apprehension: January 2, 2000
On death row

#22. – “Psychopathic/torture-murders/prolonged tortures”
John Wayne Gacy AKA “The Killer Clown”
Childhood: Father constantly belittles him, beat him, and called him a sissy
Killings: 33
Apprehension: December 1978
Death by lethal injection 1994

 

Psychotic Killers

There is a difference between psychopathic killers and the psychotic. The psychotic killer is legally insane and cannot understand the difference between right and wrong. They can suffer from hallucinations, hear voices, and are mentally unstable. These psychotic killers also have deep-seeded psychosis, a loss of contact with reality and cannot understand actuality and imagination.

#13. – “Inadequate psychopathic/raging personalities”
Ed Gein AKA “The Plainfield Ghoul”
Childhood: Fiercely close with his mother, schizophrenic, and unable to attach himself with others
Killings: In love with corpses, known to have killed 2, possibly more
Apprehension: November 16, 1957
Died in 1984 by heart failure

#17. – “Sexually perverse /rape/serial murderers”
Arthur Shawcross AKA “The Rochester Strangler”
Childhood: Molested by his mother many times
Killings: 14
Apprehension: January 5, 1990
Died of cardiac arrest November 10, 2008

#22. – “Torture-murderers/serial sex homicide”
Gary Heidnik AKA “Brother Bishop”
Childhood: Father deeply humiliated him, tortured him, and it is documented that Gary Heidnik had brain damage.
Killings: Kidnapped 6, murdered 2
Apprehension: March 24, 1987
Death by lethal injection

 

Perverted Serial Killers

The perverted serial killers believe that their “prey” is not human, rather a toy meant to be played with- tortured and hurt. They are sexually stimulated by the hurt and pain they can inflict on their victims. The worst kind of killers are perhaps this particular form of killing, attacking their victims sexually and sadistically. Some more remorseful perverted serial killers have had what is called a chemical castration, which helps curb their sex drives so they might return to society as productive individuals without the urge to sexually assault victims.

#18. – “Serial sexual murderer-mutilation/dismemberment”
Jerome Brudos AKA “The Lust Killer”
Childhood: Brudos was obsessed with women’s shoes to which his mother would ignore, throw out, and call her son a sissy.
Killings: 4
Apprehension: May 25, 1969
Died of liver cancer in May 2006

#22. – “Serial torture killer-prolonged torture”
Jeffrey Dahmer AKA “The Milwaukee Cannibal”
Childhood: collects road kill, deviant behavior, and fear of abandonment.
Killings: 17
Apprehension: July 22, 1991
Was suppose to have a life sentence, but was killed by another inmate in prison in 1992

#22. - “Suspected serial torture-killer/sexual sadism/torture”
David Parker Ray
Childhood: Unknown
Killings: As many as 60, possibly more
Apprehension: March 22, 1999
Died in prison in 2002

#22. – “Serial torture killer- sexual sadism torture”
Wesley Dodd
Childhood: Loner as a child/exhibition as a youngster, showing his genitals to younger classmates
Killings: 3
Apprehended: November 1989
Died by hanging in 1993

 

Stalkers

Having an obsessive personality, stalkers have immense trouble understanding when their victim shuns them. Stalkers are notoriously self-centered and egotistical, believing that they are truly a part of the lives they chose to follow. In fact, stalkers are more prevalent in society than one might assume. 1 out of 12 women will find themselves as victims of stalkers in their lifetime. Movie stars and musicians are even more unlucky when it comes to the average stalker. A stalker will not stop even after they are arrested. They honestly believe that their victims share a kinship with them, no matter how different their lives may be.

#14. – “Psychopathic/egocentric/scheming”
Richard Farley
Childhood: Unknown
Killings: 7 (injured 4)
Apprehended: February 16, 1988
Currently on Death Row at San Quentin

#6. - “Impulsive/Aggressive”
Robert Bardo
Childhood: manic depressive/suicide attempts/psychotic
Killings: Rebecca Schaffer
Apprehended: July 18, 1988
Serving life in prison without parole.

#7. – “Narcissistic/psychotic/jealously/resentment”
Mark David Chapman
Childhood: Obsessed with the Beatles/religion/hears voices
Killings: John Lennon
Apprehended: December 8, 1980
Serving 20 years-life in prison. His paroles have all been denied since 1981.
“I killed John Lennon because I couldn’t handle being a nobody anymore”

#16. – “Psychopathic/extreme violence”
Gerald Atkins
Childhood: Violence as a teen/fanatical/suffers from errotomania
Killings: 1 (injured 3)
Apprehension: November 13, 1996

 

Unsolved

Frustrating to many, unsolved cases plague the minds of forensic psychiatrists and other police investigators. Innocent men and women stand trial for crimes they claim not to have committed. The following are just a few unsolved cases that have gone down in history.

#18. – “Sexually perverse/psychopathic/murder/torture”
The Lipstick Killer
Killings: 3
Apprehension: June 26, 1946
Bill Heirens has been in jail for 60 years for this crime.

#22. – “Psychopathic/torture-murder/serial killer/sexual homicide”
The Black Dahlia
Killings: 1
George Hodel has been a suspect for 60 years

#16. – “Psychopathic/extreme violence”
Unknown killer(s)
Killings: James McVay Jr. (victim)

 

Cult Followers

Followers of cults do not chose to live the lifestyle that tears them away from their families, hurt their mentalities and end relationships. As it has been said many times before, cult followers do not chose to join a cult. They are drawn in by many factors, but most followers are unaware that they have joined an actual cult. Followers are often brainwashed and will do anything that is asked of them- committing crimes, believing irrational or paranoid thoughts, and even killing those their leaders demand.

#9. – “Jealousy/psychopathic/humiliation”
Ron Luff
Childhood: Fifth Generation Mormon
Killings: 5
Apprehension: 1990
Cult leader Jeffrey Lundgren was executed in 2006

#15. – “Psychopathic/cold-blooded/multiple murder”
“Tex” Watson
Childhood: Middle class child
Killings: 7
Apprehension: November 30, 1969
Serving a life sentence

 

Spree Killers

Unlike the serial killer who kills at least 3 and then has a cooling off period, the spree killer will commit his crimes quickly and without regard to who he is harming along the way. Spree killers are often those who stand at the top of towers with a loaded gun, lock themselves up in a restaurant and begin a murderous rampage, or in extreme cases, target students at school who have teased and tortured the spree killer. These gunmen will vow revenge at any cost.
#13. – “Violent/rage/mental illness”
Martin Bryant
Childhood: Detached as a child, bullied and found to be mildly mentally retarded & schizophrenic.
Killings: 35 (21 injured)
Apprehended: April 1996
Serving 35 life sentences & 1,035 additional years with no parole.

#8. - “Impulsive/violent”
Charles Whitman
Childhood: Violent father
Killings: 16 (32 injured)
Apprehended: August 1966
Killed by police in August 1966

#15. – “Psychopathic/cold-blooded/multiple murderer”
Charles Starkweather
Childhood: social rejection in school.
Killings: 11
Apprehended: January 1959
Death by the electric chair June 1959

#15. – “Psychopathic/cold-blooded/multiple murderer”
Andrew Cunanan
Childhood: abandoned by father as a young child
Killings: 6 including famed designer Gianni Versace
Apprehended: July 1997
Shot himself in the head before police could arrest him.

#13. – “Violent/rage/psychopathic/socially incompetent”
Yusef Rahman
Childhood: suffered from anti-social personality disorder
Killings: 1 (4 wounded)
Apprehended: February 1989

 

Attention Seekers

The insecure killer who must commit murder to show the world he can indeed conquer and get the attention of every person is the attention seeker. These killers are desperate for attention, willing to go to the ends of the earth to show the world he is an important person in society. Showing his face or doing small deeds in society is not enough for this killer. He must find a more brutal and magnified way to show his devotion to his own ego. These killers are famously known to taunt police with cryptic notes and teasing. These killers will stop at nothing to show the world that they are accomplished in anything, and that includes killing.

#17. – “Sexually perverse/psychopathic/serial killers”
David Berkowitz AKA “The Son Of Sam”
Childhood: abandoned by his birth mother and later loses his adoptive mother
Killings: 6 (injured 7)
Apprehended: August 1977
Currently serving 6 life sentences in prison

#22. – “Psychopathic/torture-murderer/serial killer/sexual homicide”
Dennis Rader AKA “BTK killer”
Childhood: Unknown
Killings: 10
Apprehended: February 2005
Serving 10 life sentences

#16. – “Psychopath/extreme violence”
Terry Driver AKA “The Abbotsford Killer”
Childhood: Sent away to private school at young age
Killings: 1 (possibly 3)
Apprehension: 1997
Currently serving a life sentence

#18. – “Sexually perverse/psychopathic/murder/torture”
Keith Jesperson AKA “The Happy Face Killer”
Childhood: Violent father and teased as a child
Killings: 8
Apprehension: March 1995
Serving 3 consecutive life sentences

 

Revenge Killings

The vengeful killer is unlike the psychotic or mentally unstable killer. The revenge killer often takes actions and deeds as a personal attack to himself. What may be an affectionate hug from a friend to his girlfriend enrages the revenge killer, making it possible for him to harm or even kill the accused friend or girlfriend. Revenge killers know the difference between right and wrong, but have no control over what they might do.

#6. – “Impulsive aggressive”
Coy Wayne Wesbrook
Childhood: Abused at home/Humiliated at school
Killings: 4 (1 injured)
Apprehension: November 1997
Currently on Death Row

#15. – “Psychopathic/cold-blooded/multiple murders”
Archie McCafferty “Mad Dog”
Childhood: Abused by violent father
Killings: 4
Apprehension: 1973
Served 23 years in Australian prison, now free

 

Cult Leaders

Cult leaders are generally thought of as magnetizing, alluring, fascinating, and utterly spellbinding in any capacity. Showing their members that they are the true descendents of a higher power, cult leaders have been known to literally hypnotize even the most devout religious believer of another sect. Some cult leaders may be harmless individuals, loving their congregation and helping those in need of food and shelter. Other cult leaders are completely psychotic, luring innocent victims into their sect. The following is a list of the most dangerous and calculating cult leaders we have known so far.

#16 – “Psychopathic/extreme violence”
Shoko Asahara
Childhood: Sent to school for the blind where he was a bully
Killings: 13 by gas inhalation on Tokyo subway (5,000 wounded)
Apprehension: March 20, 1995
Sentenced to death by hanging

#22. – “Psychopathic/torture-murder/serial killer/sexual homicide”
Adolfo Constanzo
Childhood: Killed small animals as a child
Killings: Over 25
Apprehension: Never apprehended

#15. – Psychopathic/cold-blooded/multiple murderer”
Charles Manson
Childhood: Unwanted child/sent to many reform schools/killed small animals
Killings: None, cult members killed 7
Apprehension: October 1969

#22. – “Psychopathic/torture-murder/serial killer/sexual homicide
Jim Jones
Childhood: isolated/killed small animals and held funerals for them/father was an alcoholic
Killings: Served 909 cups of cyanide laced Kool-Aid
Apprehension: Killed self before he could be arrested.
Shot himself the day of the People’s Temple suicides

#22. – “Psychopathic/torture-murder/serial killer/sexual homicide
Jeff Lundgren
Childhood: Unknown
Killings: At least 5
Apprehension: 1990
Death by lethal injection October 24, 2006

 

Cannibals/Vampires:

Cannibals and vampires are a rare and unique strain of killers. Deriving pleasure in eating a human limb or drinking the blood of their victims, these killers are showing the ultimate form of domination. In society, they might be seen as meek and small, but to their victims, the cannibal or vampire towers over those who might look down upon them. Known cannibals and vampires have also confessed to psychologists that taking the “essence” of their victim fulfills their need to have another human part of them- for as long as possible.

#7. - “Narcissistic/Psychotic/Resentment”
Armin Meiwes
Childhood: Father abandoned the home at Armin’s young age/isolated and taunted at school/domineering mother.
Killings: 1 (ate his willing victim, Bernd Jürgen Brandes)
Apprehension: December 2002
Sentenced to life in prison
Said of Bernd Jürgen Brandes to Armin Meiwes: “I hope you find me tasty.”

#22. – “Psychopathic/torture-murderer/serial killer/sexual homicide”
Andrei Chikatilo AKA “The Rostov Ripper”
Childhood: Was told by his mother that his brother was cannibalized in the streets of Hungary as a small child. Chikatilo was then forever fascinated with cannibalism.
Killings: 53+
Apprehension: 1990
Sentenced to death- Shot in the back of the head.
Rumor has been said that the last thing Andrei Chikatilo said before his execution was that he did not want the Chinese to take his brain.

#22. – “Psychopathic/torture-murderer/serial killer/sexual homicide”
Jeffrey Dahmer
Childhood: Neglected/Lonely/Alienated others as a child/parents divorced which had a lasting effect on Dahmer throughout his teenage years/dissected small animals.
Killings: 17 young men
Apprehension: July 22, 1991
Ordered to serve 937 years in prison. Killed by another inmate November 28, 1994

#17. – “Sexually Perverse/Psychopathic/Serial Killers”
Richard Chase
Childhood: Killed small animals/Schizophrenic /Delusional mother/Violent father/Both parents inflicted torture on Chase/Chase was also a paranoid drug user
Killings: 6 (committed vampire acts on his victims believing them to be his life force)
Apprehended: January 27, 1978 (found sane although psychiatrists found him deeply disturbed and afflicted with schizophrenia)
Suicide by overdose

#10. –”Psychopathic/Impulsive/Devious”
Roderick Ferrell (Cult Leader)
Childhood: Subjected to a cult as a child/Abused/Outcast/Unstable
Killings: 2 known
Apprehension: February 12, 1998
Ferrell is convinced he is a 500-year-old Vampire
Sentenced to death, but now serving a life sentence without parole.

 

Murderous Women

Michael Stone has profiled over 600 murderers in his Most Evil ranking, finding most of them male- that is except for the 106 women who have been found guilty of various murders. When hearing the term serial killer, most people conjure up the image of a cunning male with a deranged will to kill. This is simply not true after realizing that 10% of serial killers are females. Perhaps it is easy to become a victim of a female serial killer because most people don’t believe that women are capable of committing incredibly heinous crimes. The simple truth is that women are just as dangerous as men.

#9. – “Jealousy/Psychopathic/Humiliation”
Betty Broderick
Childhood: Unknown
As an adult, Broderick was seen as a paranoid delusional individual. Believing her husband was having an affair; she endlessly harassed and threatened her ex-husband.
Killings: 2 (Her husband and his second wife)
Apprehension: 1991
Sentenced to 32 years life in prison. Broderick’s last parole in 2010 was denied.

#15. – “Psychopathic/Cold-blooded/Multiple-murderer”
Dorothea Puente
Childhood: Lived in poverty/Mother regularly Dorothea locked her in the closet/Parents died at Dorothea’s young age.
Killings: 9 (all boarders in Dorothea’s home)
Apprehension: November 11, 1988
Sentenced to life without parole
A cookbook was published in 2004 featuring Puente’s recipes. The book was called “Cooking with a Serial Killer.”

#22. - “Psychopathic/torture-murderer/serial killer/sexual homicide”
Judy Neelley
Childhood: Judy’s father died when she was very young and her mother brought home strangers to have sex with.
Killings: At least 3
Apprehension: 1983
Sentenced to life in prison.
Partner and lover Alvin Neeley fingered his accomplice for every crime the two committed together.

#13. – “Violent/Rage/Psychopathic/Socially incompetent”
Latasha Pulliam
Childhood: Molested by mother and uncle as a child.
Killings: 1 (Strangled a 6-year-old child)
Apprehension: 1994
On death row

 

Gangs

Loyalty, trust, and family are what wayward youth believe is what a gang can provide. Seeking approval and overall what they think is safety draws many teenagers to join dangerous gangs. The downside of gangs is not that they are often committing theft and other illegal activity, but some gangs require their members to kill rival gangs, or perhaps snitches already associated with the gangs. The following are just a few examples of gang members- gone bad.

#14. – “Psychopathic/Ego-centric/Scheming”
Paul & Herman Petrillo
Childhood: Experimented in witchcraft
Killings: Unknown, possibly 100+
Apprehension: 1938
Death by electric chair

#22. - “Psychopathic/torture-murderer/serial killer/sexual homicide”
Richard Kuklinski AKA “The Iceman”
Childhood: Neglected/Abusive father/murdered Richard’s brother in a brutal beating as a child.
Killings: Claimed 250+
Apprehension: 1988
Died in prison serving life in prison (Before his death, he believed he was being poisoned by a rival gang in prison).

#11. – “Callous/Psychotic/Ego-centric”
Ismael Cisneros
Childhood: Joined the infamous MS13 gang at 13.
Killings: 1 (known)
Apprehension: 2005
Serving a life sentence

#12. – “Psychopathic/Power-hungry/Violent”
Ervil LeBaron AKA “The True Prophet”
Childhood: Brought up in Polygamist Mormon life.
Killings: 25+
Apprehension: June 1, 1979
To serve life in prison, but died in 1981