The chilling truth about serial killers is that not all of them face justice. From shadowy figures who terrorized cities to modern-day predators lurking in plain sight, here are 10 serial killers that were NEVER caught. These unsolved cases—spanning decades and continents—reveal how some of the most brutal murderers evaded capture, leaving behind mysteries that haunt investigators to this day.
1. The New York Ripper Murders (1915)
While Jack the Ripper dominated headlines in London, a copycat terrorized New York, proving that some serial killers were NEVER caught. Between March and May 1915, the so-called “New York Ripper” brutally killed two young people in Manhattan’s East Side tenements. Taunting police with letters signed “Jack the Ripper,” the killer promised more bloodshed. Despite a massive manhunt, the New York Ripper vanished, leaving behind a legacy of fear and unanswered questions.
2. The Cleveland Torso Murderer (1930s)
Meanwhile, in Cleveland, a butcher with surgical precision became one of the most infamous serial killers that were NEVER caught. Known as the “Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run,” this killer dismembered at least 12 victims, leaving their body parts scattered across the city. Even the legendary crime fighter Eliot Ness failed to catch the killer. The case remains one of America’s most gruesome mysteries.
3. The Axeman of New Orleans (1918)
No stranger to chaos, New Orleans faced its axe-wielding nightmare—a killer who vanished without a trace, joining the ranks of serial killers that were NEVER caught. Between 1918 and 1919, the Axeman targeted Italian-American families, breaking into their homes and brutally murdering them. In a bizarre twist, the killer even wrote a letter to the local newspaper, demanding that jazz be played across the city to spare lives. The Axeman was never identified, and his crimes remain unsolved.
4. The Servant Girl Annihilator (1884–1885)
Decades earlier, Austin, Texas, grappled with a killer targeting marginalized women, another case of serial killers that were NEVER caught. Known as the “Servant Girl Annihilator,” this predator murdered at least eight women, often attacking them in their sleep. Despite widespread panic and hundreds of suspects, the killer was never apprehended. Some even speculated that Jack the Ripper had traveled to the U.S., but the truth remains a mystery.
5. The Doodler (1974–1975)
Jumping to the 1970s, San Francisco’s gay community faced a predator who remains one of the serial killers that were NEVER caught. Known as “The Doodler,” this killer targeted gay men, often sketching their portraits before attacking them. Despite a clear description of the suspect, witnesses refused to come forward due to the stigma surrounding homosexuality at the time. The Doodler’s identity remains unknown.
6. Bible John (1960s)
Across the Atlantic, Scotland’s Bible John weaponized scripture, leaving behind a legacy of fear as one of the serial killers that were NEVER caught. In the late 1960s, this killer targeted women at Glasgow dance halls, quoting Bible verses before murdering them. Despite a massive investigation and numerous suspects, Bible John was never identified. Some believe he may have died or moved abroad, but his crimes remain unsolved.
7. The Butcher of Mons (1996–1997)
In Belgium, dismembered bodies hinted at a killer with medical expertise, yet another example of serial killers that were NEVER caught. Between 1996 and 1997, the “Butcher of Mons” murdered and dismembered at least five women, leaving their body parts in bags near roadsides. Despite extensive investigations, the killer’s identity remains a mystery, and the case continues to baffle authorities.
8. The Vending Machine Killer (1980s)
Japan’s poisoner exploited everyday trust in vending machines, becoming one of the most mysterious serial killers that were NEVER caught. In the 1980s, this killer laced drinks with poison, killing 12 people and sickening dozens more. The case sparked nationwide panic, but the killer was never identified. Some believe the murders stopped because the killer died or was imprisoned for unrelated crimes.
9. The Smiley Face Killer (1990s–Present)
A modern enigma, the Smiley Face Killer’s taunting graffiti marks him as one of the serial killers that were NEVER caught. Since the 1990s, dozens of young men have been found drowned in bodies of water across the U.S., often near smiley-face graffiti. While some dismiss the cases as accidents, investigators believe a highly organized killer or group is responsible. The Smiley Face Killer remains at large, and the mystery deepens with each new victim.
10. The Colonial Parkway Killer (1986–1989)
Finally, Virginia’s lovers’ lane became a hunting ground for a predator who remains one of the serial killers that were NEVER caught. Between 1986 and 1989, the Colonial Parkway Killer targeted couples, strangling, stabbing, or shooting them. Despite multiple suspects and extensive investigations, the killer was never identified. The case remains one of Virginia’s most haunting mysteries.
Conclusion
These 10 serial killers that were NEVER caught remind us that even in the modern age, some predators slip through the cracks of justice. Their stories are a chilling testament to the darkness that can lurk in the shadows, leaving behind questions that may never be answered.
