Are there still serial killers today?

[frogswimming]

I'm just watching the Yorkshire ripper documentary. All the famous serial killers seem to be 1960s-1980s, Dennis Nielsen, moors murderers, Ted bundy, zodiac. Are modern ones just not publicised the same?

What about the elderly couples in the North? Isn't there a theory that it's a serial killer?

Boris Johnson- killed thousands in March and April by not acting when advised to on Covid 19.

Probably loads who haven’t been caught.

I know there’s not much acceptance of the idea of the Manchester Pusher but family up north were concerned about it.

Isn’t there supposed to be an active serial killer targeting the elderly? Murders initially thought to be murder-suicides?

I think these more under-the-radar type serial killers get away with it more (unusual targets/medical staff)

@Thehogfatherstolemycurry

Also this thread has reminded me how much I miss Criminal Minds

I really miss Criminal Minds. It was pretty much the only decent thing on TV!

Derrick Bird in 2010.

Alisha mcPhail’s murderer would certainly have killed again if he hadn’t been caught.

Levi Bellfield and Peter Tobin were still active in the 00s.

But mobile phones make it much easier to track both killers and victims so potential serial killers will definitely be caught sooner these days.

Tony Blair has blood on his hands, with his illegal war.

Fred and Rose west were in the 90s

But I agree, we've had a few medical professionals but policing has got so much better they probably don't get chance to kill in volumes - thanks god

Yeah the recent ones seem to be mostly nurses / doctors. Must be easier to get away with it.

There don't seem to be many of those male trophy type ones who think they're really clever and leave clues anymore. In the Uk anyway. They must be getting caught first.

That list of Uk ones does show that the type of killer changes over time. Lots of 'baby farmers' in the 1800s. Probably because that was a common type of childcare then? Also lots of poisonings of wives and husbands, those must have fizzled out as poison got harder to get hold of and easier to detect.

@ZiggaZiggArrgggghhhh

I watched a documentary which said there is around 50 active serial killers in the US at any given time

That’s been being said for years and years. I can’t imagine it’s as true as it once was.

I think less in the U.K. but I read an article years ago by an FBI agent talking about there being over 100 active serial killers in the US

There is a theory that serial killers were more prolific in the 1970s because they grew up during World War II with missing or traumatised fathers and food shortages.

There was the one who killed i think 4 young men and left them in graveyard by his house. The police messed it up because they assumed they were drug deaths. It was only recognised because one of the victim's friends made a fuss.

Besom

Yes in East London. There was a documentary on iPlayer about him.

I've just googled it and his name was Stephen port and he was active 2014-15

Lucy Letby hasn't been tried or convicted of anything so far.

Stephen Port was active around 2014-15.

There's some theories about it being easier to get away with serial murder in the US in the 80s and earlier because states police forces didn't cooperate with each other so they went unnoticed for longer

Cross post re Stephen Port!

PeterTobin springs to mind. I dread to think how many more women he would have killed if not caught. There were several women killed in Glasgow on the 90s I'm sure, alll working as prostitutes. Unsure if they think it's the work of one person though.

Levi Bellfield and Christopher Halliwell are both recent. I shudder thinking about either of them

Lucy Letby hasn't been tried or convicted of anything so far.

Correct. I really hope she is innocent.

I was going to say Levi Bellfield

Here is another place to find information.

www.murderpedia.org

Crossbow Cannibal - convicted in 2010.