To think that serial killers can’t exist these days?

[Snooks1971]

Or actually get away with murder enough to become a serial killer maybe I should say. Just finished Night Stalker on Netflix, which made me think about this, although I’ve thought along these lines before. Have always been fascinated with Jack The Ripper after visiting Madame Tussaud’s as a young teen (late 40s now).

I haven’t googled any facts and I’m just an armchair observer, but surely with mobile phones, cctv, forensic developments, tech interfaces actually talking to each other this wouldn’t be possible now.

Then I wonder how many serial killers from the past that we have never of who must have got away with it. Makes my mind boggle a bit.

I'm afraid I think they can.

Absolutely; there have been a couple in the last few years. Stephen Port (I think his name was) was convicted a couple of years ago for a series of killings of men he met on Grindr

Well, you'd like to think wouldnt you. But Harold Shipman was hiding in plain sight. Who knows how many he actually killed?

Harold Shipman was not long ago. There's always an opportunity somewhere for that kind of evil mind.

They use the tech to their advantage, like Stephen Port for example. Shocking that he got away with it for so long.

Harold Shipman was 20 odd years ago. A lot has changed since then in terms of forensics and data collection, to enable a suspicious pattern of deaths to be spotted earlier.

I think it must be much harder now to be a serial killer. There was a thread about this not long ago!

Recent thread

No, it's just more difficult to get away with now but certainly not impossible.

A lot of people dont have mobiles, social media, internet even. They live remotely etc. Others are just very technically savvy.

Where there's a will ...

They just get better at working under the radar. There will always be serial killers.

I know what you all mean, but god only knows how they get away with it now.
Shipman I’m aware was probably the most prolific and perhaps his social standing and title as a trusted GP plus his choice of victims gave him the leeway.

@CutsOffCorners

Recent thread

@CutsOffCorners thank you I genuinely wasn’t aware of this thread!

They can and do.

Didn’t a nurse get caught literally a few weeks ago for killing babies?

Pretty sure there are quite a few in action at any one time. It’s rare for anyone to become a victim of one but they definitely exist.

@PerfidiousAlbion

No, it's just more difficult to get away with now but certainly not impossible.

A lot of people dont have mobiles, social media, internet even. They live remotely etc. Others are just very technically savvy.

Where there's a will ...

Yeah I get you... maybe in my tiny mind I was looking for a safe sort of closure to this sort of thing. I need to change my genre of choice on Netflix!

Serial killers these days are more likely to continue on their rampage because they target the vulnerable, those who will not be reported missing and are not missed. Same old.

Then I wonder how many serial killers from the past that we have never of who must have got away with it. Makes my mind boggle a bit.

There's quite big stretches of lonely highways in the states / Canada that have a lot of missing people on, I always think this could be a serial killer. Vast thick wooded areas too so difficult to uncover any bodies.

Look up highway of tears.

If the definition of a serial killer is murder ing more than one person, then Ian Stewart, who murdered his partner Helen Bailey and has recently been charged with the murder of his first wife, probably counts as one?

And he was only in the past couple of years

Apparently the FBI thinks there are hundreds of undetected serial killers in the US, factors like huge distances, empty roads, transient populations, lack of co operation between law enforcement departments mean that there are many unsolved killings many of which are likely to have been committed by serial murderers.

Steve Wright also wasn't so long ago IIRC they got his DNA but he wasn't in the system for it to actually ID him it was only when they traced his car via CCTV from the red light district and went and arrested him they managed to get his DNA for comparison. I think it's harder to be a serial killer these days because of advances in forensics and often the offender will have come to police notice prior to escalating to murder so will have a forensics profile of file but it's certainly not impossible look at the recent arrest of the nurse in Chester who is suspected of murdering a number of babies, she may yet be found innocent but you think the police must have a certain amount of evidence to get to the charging stage.

@ladyvimes

Didn’t a nurse get caught literally a few weeks ago for killing babies?

Pretty sure there are quite a few in action at any one time. It’s rare for anyone to become a victim of one but they definitely exist.

Yes of course... sorry. I was thinking more of the stalkery stranger danger killers, Yorkshire Ripper etc. Totally take your point and makes me think differently - a bit like Shipman that they operate under different guises and can hide in plain sight.

If the definition of a serial killer is murder ing more than one person

Think generally it's three or more to be considered a serial killer.

Randomly, whilst awake in the middle of the night I came across this fact!

@covetingthepreciousthings

Then I wonder how many serial killers from the past that we have never of who must have got away with it. Makes my mind boggle a bit.

There's quite big stretches of lonely highways in the states / Canada that have a lot of missing people on, I always think this could be a serial killer. Vast thick wooded areas too so difficult to uncover any bodies.

Look up highway of tears.

@covetingthepreciousthings thank you I will do.

@LucyLime

If the definition of a serial killer is murder ing more than one person, then Ian Stewart, who murdered his partner Helen Bailey and has recently been charged with the murder of his first wife, probably counts as one?

And he was only in the past couple of years

That’s so true!

@Whirlwind14

Randomly, whilst awake in the middle of the night I came across this fact!

That's a frightening, sobering thought!