Serial killers, despite their calculated acts of violence, aren’t immune to making incredibly dumb mistakes. While most of us can brush off our blunders, for a serial killer, a single slip-up can mean the end of their deadly career. Let’s dive into the top 10 dumbest mistakes that actually brought down some of history’s most notorious killers.
10. Driving Under the Influence with a Corpse
Randy Kraft, infamously known as the “Scorecard Killer,” was convicted of murdering 16 people, though the actual number is suspected to be as high as 67. His downfall came in 1983 when police pulled him over for driving erratically. Kraft’s attempt to casually toss aside his beer bottle upon exiting the vehicle only sealed his fate. The real kicker? The arresting officer found a dead body in the passenger seat. Talk about a buzzkill! This proves that drinking and driving is a bad idea for so many reasons.
9. Grand Theft Auto: Serial Killer Edition
Stealing a car is generally a bad idea, but it’s especially foolish when you’re a serial killer trying to evade the law. Ted Bundy, who murdered at least 30 people, was apprehended in 1978 thanks to a simple traffic stop. Officer David Lee noticed Bundy’s vehicle acting suspiciously, ran the plates, and discovered the car was stolen. After years of evading authorities, Bundy’s career ended due to a stolen vehicle. Couldn’t he have sprung for an Uber?
8. Parking Ticket Troubles
A parking ticket is usually just a minor annoyance, but for David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam,” it was a crucial piece of evidence that led to his capture. The parking ticket placed Berkowitz near the scene of Robert Violante’s murder in July 1977. Combined with eyewitness accounts, this was enough to secure a search warrant, leading to his arrest. One has to wonder if Berkowitz ever paid that parking ticket!
7. Toilet Troubles: When Body Disposal Goes Wrong
Clogged drains are a nuisance, but for serial killer Dennis Nilsen, they were his undoing. Nilsen, convicted of six murders in North London in 1983, had to find a new method of body disposal after moving to an upstairs apartment without a yard. His solution? Flushing body parts down the toilet. Predictably, this caused major plumbing issues for the entire building, leading investigators to discover human remains and ultimately arrest Nilsen.
6. Trusting the Police
Trust is a tricky thing, especially when you’re a serial killer taunting the authorities. Dennis Rader, infamously known as the BTK killer (Bind, Torture, Kill), evaded police for thirty years, killing ten people between 1974 and 1991. In 2004, he reemerged, sending coded messages and packages to investigators. Rader even asked if it would be safe to communicate via floppy disk. The police responded with a reassuring ad, and when Rader took the bait, they were able to extract the necessary information from the disk to track him down. Ouch!
5. Dropping Your ID at the Scene
Rule number one of getting away with murder? Keep your identity a secret. Peter Goebbels, a serial rapist and murderer, apparently missed that memo. He strangled four victims in Berlin between 1984 and 1985. Goebbels is best remembered not for his crimes, but for his sheer stupidity in leaving his ID at the crime scene. Talk about making it easy for the police!
4. The Power of Flattery
Most people understand that killing is wrong. They also agree that if you do kill, you shouldn’t release a victim simply because they pretended to like you. Bobby Joe Long learned this lesson the hard way.
Lisa Noland, a 17-year-old, was captured and raped by Long. Having past experience with abuse, she skillfully manipulated Long into believing she had feelings for him. Long even gave her a ride home afterward. This act of releasing Noland broke the unwritten serial killer code and ultimately led to his arrest. Pro tip: Don’t trust your victims when they say they like you.
3. Bragging Rights Gone Wrong
Keeping quiet is a vital skill for any aspiring serial killer. Bragging will quickly end your career. The Lainz Angels of Death, a group of nurses-turned-serial-killers, discovered this firsthand.
Operating in a Vienna hospital, the group, led by Waltraud Wagner, poisoned, overdosed, and drowned at least 42 patients (possibly over 200). They were caught in 1989 after a doctor overheard them joking about their latest kill. This loose talk led to their arrest and conviction. Word to the wise: What happens in the hospital, stays in the hospital… unless it’s murder.
2. Bad Hair Day, Worse Decisions
Most barbers offer shampoo services, but you should probably skip it if you have your victim’s blood in your hair. Earle Leonard Nelson, the “Gorilla Strangler,” missed that crucial piece of advice.
Nelson, accused of killing 26 women, decided to get a shave and haircut after murdering Emily Patterson. He apparently didn’t consider that the barber might notice the dried blood or the scratches on his scalp. When Patterson’s body was found, the barber provided a detailed description of Nelson, linking him to the crime. Always shampoo, kids!
1. Show and Tell: Murder Edition
Artists often like to showcase their work, and friends are usually happy to oblige. For Charles Schmid, his “work” involved two teenage corpses, marking the end of his run as the “Pied Piper of Tucson.”
Schmid, known for luring teenage girls, was only convicted of three murders. He likely would have continued had he not taken his friend, Richard Bruns, to a gravesite to show off the bodies of the Fritz sisters. Bruns, understandably horrified, turned Schmid in. Someone should have told Schmid that “show and tell” doesn’t include murder victims.
From driving drunk with a corpse to seeking grooming with a head full of blood, these serial killers prove that even the most meticulous criminals can be undone by the simplest, dumbest mistakes. These blunders serve as a reminder that no one, not even a serial killer, is immune to human error.
What do you think about these killer mistakes? Leave your comment below!
