Most Dangerous Human Being From Each State

By molly atherton 1 year ago
Who holds the title of the most formidable, the most enigmatic, and perhaps, the most perilous human in each state? Buckle up as we embark on a hair-raising journey to uncover the tales of the most daring individuals that each corner of America has ever produced. Get ready to meet the faces behind the reputation—those whose adventures tread the fine line between intrigue and intimidation, making them the most intriguing, and often, the most dangerous, from every state in the union.

1. Kentucky - Donald Harvey

Donald Harvey, an Ohio native, crossed state lines and found his haunting legacy in the serene grounds of Kentucky's Marymount Hospital. Settling into this unsuspecting environment, between the years 1970 and 1987, Harvey orchestrated a chilling symphony of tragedy.Donald Harvey

Image Source: kyhi.org

Born in Ohio, American serial killer Donald Harvey spent much of his life living and working in Kentucky, at the Marymount Hospital. There, between 1970 and 1987, he began killing patients by purposely cutting off their oxygen supplies. His total victim count stands at between 37 and 57 patients, which gained him the title 'angel of death'.Original content sourced from Femanin.com

2. New York - David Berkowitz

In the blistering heat of a New York summer, the city's heartbeat quickened with fear as the enigmatic figure known as the Son of Sam, born David Berkowitz in the borough of Brooklyn, unleashed a reign of terror that plunged the metropolis into a state of unrelenting dread.David Berkowitz

Image Source: history.com

Calling himself the Son of Sam, Brooklyn native David Berkowitz terrorised New York in the summer of 1977. Despite a huge man hunt and media attention, he managed to escape capture and patronised the police in mocking letters. In total, he killed eight people, but the psychological affects of his killings on the city were far greater.

3. Illinois - John Wayne Gacy

John Wayne Gacy's name echoes through the corridors of infamy, etched in the annals of America's most haunting narratives. Nestled within the heartland of Illinois, Gacy crafted a chilling legacy that transcended the bounds of horror in history.John Wayne Gacy

Image Source: chicagotribune.com

John Wayne Gacy is one of America's most notorious serial killers, who murdered 33 young boys and men in Illinois starting in the early 1970s. He killed all of his victims in his home before storing the bodies in the crawl space between the foundations and the ground floor. Gacy is also known as the 'Clown Killer', as he met many of his victims at children's parties where he dressed up as a clown.

4. Maine - Christian Nielsen

Christian Nielsen's story, rooted in the quaint landscapes of Maine, took a grotesque turn during a fateful Labor Day weekend celebration, morphing into a tale of inexplicable horror that continues to baffle law enforcement to this day. An unassuming cook in a local restaurant.Christian Nielsen

Image Source: thecinemaholic.com

A cook at a restaurant in Maine, Christian Nielsen was convicted in 2007 of killing four people during a Labor Day weekend celebration. He killed his victims over a two day period and dismembered their bodies with a chain saw, hacksaw, and axe. To this day, the police don't understand why he did it.

5. Louisiana - Derrick Todd Lee

Derrick Lee, etched in the grim chronicles of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, earned a chilling epithet—the Baton Rouge Serial Killer—a title that resonates with a foreboding air, encapsulating the magnitude of his menace. From 1992 to 2003, Lee's shadow loomed over the city.Derrick Todd Lee

Image Source: theadvocate.com

Derrick Lee is widely known as the Baton Rouge Serial Killer, which should tell you enough about his danger level. He murdered seven women around Baton Rouge between 1992 and 2003, and was only convicted in 2004. During the manhunt for Lee, he was placed at number three on the list of American's top 10 fugitives of 2002.

6. Pennsylvania - Harvey Miguel Robinson

Harvey Robinson's descent into infamy began at an alarmingly tender age, etching his name into the harrowing annals of American criminal history. In the quiet neighborhoods of Pennsylvania, this young man charted a path of unfathomable darkness.Harvey Miguel Robinson

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Harvey Robinson is one of the youngest serial killers in America's history, and certainly one of the most dangerous people from Pennsylvania (he is still imprisoned on death row today). He started killing aged just 17, and eventually killed three women and attempted to kill a further two.

7. California - Thomas Silverstein

Thomas Silverstein's journey into the depths of the American penal system commenced with a brush with the law—a chapter entwined with armed robbery, an act that marked the beginning of a life cloaked in shadows. What began as a brush with criminality alongside his father and cousin soon spiraled.Thomas Silverstein

Image Source: allthatsinteresting.com

Thomas Silverstein spent 42 years in prison after being arrested for armed robbery along with his father and cousin. In prison, he developed a reputation as a dangerous and lethal killer, and eventually was put in solitary confinement at a high-security prison for 32 years after killing a Correction Officer.

8. Texas - Clyde Thompson

Clyde Thomas, a name etched in the chilling echelons of Texas folklore, transcended the ordinary contours of criminality to earn a title that reverberated with dread—the "Meanest Man in Texas." His notoriety wasn't merely confined to a life marked by ruthless killing sprees, either...Clyde Thompson

Image Source: txliving.com

Clyde Thomas is known as the "Meanest Man in Texas" for his ruthless killing sprees, which took place even while he was incarcerated. By 1935, he had received three life sentences, and spent time in a prison known as Little Alcatraz for holding only the most dangerous killers.

9. Florida - Daniel Harold Rolling

Daniel Rolling's name casts a haunting shadow over the serene campus of the University of Florida, forever intertwined with a chilling narrative that transcends the confines of mere criminality. His gruesome acts of violence not only stained the grounds...Daniel Rolling

Image Source: aetv.com

Daniel Rolling is such a prolific murderer that he is said to have inspired the Scream films. In 1990, Rolling began a violent killing spree on the campus on University of Florida, killing five students in just four days. He even mutilated the bodies to keep souvenirs from his killings.

10. Virginia - Charles Stanard Severance

Charles Severance's reign of terror shattered the tranquility of Alexandria, Virginia, leaving a trail of unfathomable horror that defied the norms of safety and community. What set his crimes apart wasn't just the callousness of his actions, but the audacity to commit them in broad daylight.Charles Severance

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Charles Severance's crimes are somehow even more horrifying because he killed in broad daylight, scaring neighbours throughout the city of Alexandria, Virginia. Horrifically, he would knock on a stranger's door and immediately shoot them with his gun. In total, he killed three times and was sentenced to life in prison plus 48 years.

11. Alaska - Robert Hansen

Robert Hansen's menacing presence cast a foreboding shadow over the rugged and isolated terrain of Alaska, earning him the ominous moniker "Butcher Baker." Within this frozen landscape, Hansen's actions etched a chilling saga of violence and depravity that rattled the very foundation of Anchorage and its surrounding areas.Robert Hansen

Image Source: allthatsinteresting.com

Robert Hanson was also known as "Butcher Baker", as is most certainly one of the most dangerous people from the isolated state of Alaska. Between 1971 and 1983, Hansen raped and murdered at least 17 women in and around Anchorage, but it's suggested that he assaulted over 30.

12. Georgia - Wayne Williams

Wayne Williams, a haunting figure in the annals of Georgia's history, stands as a spectral reminder of one of the most chilling periods in Atlanta's past—the era known for the harrowing chapter of the Atlanta Child Murders. From 1979 to 1981, this enigmatic figure lurked in the shadows.Wayne Williams

Image Source: womenshealthmag.com

There's nobody who even comes close to Wayne Williams when it comes to the most dangerous person in Georgia. He is suspected of committing many of the so-called Atlanta Child Murders between 1979 and 1981. He was eventually only convicted of two, but after he was put away, the murders stopped.

13. Utah - Gary Ridgway

Gary Ridgway's name is etched in the harrowing chronicles of American serial killers, his infamy transcending state lines to become a chilling embodiment of evil. Dubbed the Green River Killer, his reign of terror in Washington unraveled a saga of unspeakable horror.Gary Ridgway

Image Source: arrowintmedia.com

Gary Ridgway is probably one of the most dangerous people in the US, never mind in Utah. Called the Green River Killer, he was convicted of 48 murders in Washington, mainly of teenage girls and women. His main MO was strangling, though he would sometimes have his victims run from him in the woods near his house so he could 'hunt' them.

14. Washington - Robert Lee Yates

Robert Lee Yates Jr.'s nefarious presence cast a haunting shadow over the state of Washington, particularly Spokane, etching a gruesome chapter in the annals of the region's history. His callous actions unfolded within the dark underbelly of society, targeting vulnerable women.Robert Lee Yates

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Yates killed at least 11 women in Washington, most of which were sex workers working in Spokane. He killed most of his victims by shooting them in the head, before dumping the bodies in rural areas. The aftermath of his brutality unfolded in rural landscapes.

15. Massachusetts - Alfred Gaynor

Alfred Gaynor's descent into the abyss of violence commenced in 1995, marking the genesis of a chilling killing spree that struck fear into the hearts of the community. His initial act, the murder of a 45-year-old woman within the confines of her own apartment, served as a dark prologue.
Alfred Gaynor

Image Source: dailymail.co.uk

Alfred Gaynor started his killing spree in 1995, when he killed a 45-year-old woman in her own apartment. After that, he started killing more regularly, a few women each year, often raping them as well. He was finally arrested in 1998 and received four life sentences.

16. Ohio - Anthony Sowell

The name "Cleveland Strangler," Anthony Sowell, became synonymous with a chilling narrative that shook the very foundations of Cleveland, Ohio. His sinister acts unfolded in the shadows, hidden from the gaze of the community until a horrifying revelation laid bare the extent of his depravity.Anthony Sowell

Image Source: wykc.com 

The "Cleveland Strangler", Anthony Sowell killed 11 women around Cleveland, Ohio. In the end, his crime was only discovered when bodies were uncovered in the backyard of his home. We can't imagine how grisly this must have been for the police officers who found it.

17. New Jersey - Charles Cullen

Charles Cullen's name looms ominously in the corridors of healthcare, a chilling figure whose role as a hospital worker was overshadowed by a hidden malevolence. His actions echoed the haunting narrative of the 'angel of death,' Donald Harvey, as he became an unlikely harbinger of death.Charles Cullen

Image Source: stamfordadvocate.com

Like the 'angel of death' Donald Harvey, Charles Cullen was also a hospital worker who killed his own patients. Though police have officially linked him to 29 victims, they suggest that he could have killed up to 400 people - making him without a doubt the most dangerous person on this list.

18. Arizona - Robert Comer

Robert Comer's notoriety in Arizona's criminal history epitomized the depths of danger and brutality. His name became synonymous with a chilling episode that culminated in the first execution of a prison inmate in the state since 2000, a testament to the gravity of his crimes and the threat he posed to society.Robert Comer

Image Source: nbcnews.com

Robert Comer was deemed so dangerous, he was the first prison inmate to be put to death in Arizona since 2000. He was convicted of murder after the killing of camper Larry Pritchard near Apache Lake in Arizona in 1987. After stabbing Pritchard in the neck, Comer and his girlfriend stole some of their victims' belongings, including his dog.

19. Michigan - Tamera Williams

Tamera Williams the chilling narrative unravels against the backdrop of Michigan, where the hunt for her escalates in the aftermath of the brutal murder of David Carter. His grisly fate, dismembered remains found along a desolate stretch of highway.Tamera Williams

Image Source: wxyz.com

Tamera Williams is still wanted for the brutal murder of her boyfriend, David Carter. This makes her one of the most dangerous people in Michigan right now. David's remains were found along a stretch of highway in Michigan - Tamera had killed and dismembered him. Now, rewards stand at $10,000 for information.

20. South Carolina - Henry Louis Wallace

Henry Louis Wallace's reign of terror in South Carolina marked a period of unimaginable horror for the community, a dark chapter etched in the annals of American crime history. His monstrous acts targeted 11 black women, a string of brutalities that unfolded between 1990 and 1994.Henry Louis Wallace

Image Source: aetv.com

Henry Louis Wallace is a serial killer who killed 11 black women in South Carolina between 1990 and 1994. His first victim was an 18-year-old student, whose body he dumped in a lake. He was finally arrested in March 1994, and over 12 hours he confessed to his horrific crimes.

21. Oregon - Dayton Leroy Rogers

Dayton Rogers emerges as a shadowy figure, shrouded in infamy as the 'Molalla Forest Murderer,' an epithet etched in the harrowing tales of rural Oregon. His modus operandi, preying on vulnerable individuals, often s*x workers, paints a grim picture of a serial predator.Dayton Rogers

Image Source: oregonlive.com

Dayton Rogers currently sits on death row in Oregon for his crimes. His nickname was the 'Molalla Forest Murderer', as he dumped many of his victims' bodies in rural forest in Molalla, Oregon. He would most often pick up prostitutes and kill them in the forest.

22. Indiana - John Dillinger

The notorious John Dillinger—the flamboyant and charismatic leader whose exploits during the Great Depression colored the pages of American crime lore. Dillinger's larger-than-life persona blended with a cunning intellect and unparalleled skill, etching his name as a formidable figure.John Dillinger

Image Source: fbi.gov

We're going back in time for this criminal. John Dillinger was the leader of the Dillinger Gang during the Great Depression, and was a well-known criminal with a colourful personality. However, he was also highly skilled, and he and his gang became some of the most dangerous people in Indiana at the time.

23. Minnesota - Paul Michael Stephani

Paul Stephani's chilling reign of terror in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul areas during the 1980s left a community gripped by fear and uncertainty. However, what set his case apart was the haunting pattern that emerged after each heinous act—a remorseful and desperate call to the authorities.Paul Michael Stephani

Image Source: wikimedia.org

Paul Stephani killed a number of women around Minneapolis and Saint Paul in the 1980s. Stephani's case is interesting, as he would often call up police after the murders and plead with them to find him, saying he couldn't stop killing. Because of this, he was known as the Weepy-Voice Killer, because of the remorseful way he would sound on the calls.

24. Maryland - Joe Metheny

Joe Metheny's presence in the realm of criminality casts a chilling shadow, his actions transcending the bounds of conventional horror. Amidst the tapestry of Maryland's history, Metheny's notoriety stems from a grisly narrative that defies the very essence of humanity.
Joe Metheny

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Joe Metheny might be one of the scariest killers on this list, and is certainly one of the most dangerous people from Maryland. He is known to have killed five people, but the most shocking thing about his crime is that he frequently ate the flesh of his victims, and may have also cooked it into hamburgers which he sold to unwitting people.

25. Tennessee - Michael Cummins

The tragic events that unfolded in April 2019 sent shockwaves through the heart of Tennessee, leaving a community shattered by an incomprehensible act of violence—the deadliest mass killing in over two decades. The heinous crime spree that ravaged Sumner County claimed the lives of eight victims.Michael Cummins

Image Source: wreg.com

In April 2019, the people of Tennessee were left reeling after the deadliest mass killing in over 20 years. In total, eight victims were found across Sumner County, including one which was headless. The killings were perpetrated by Michael Cummins, who is still waiting to stand trial owing to delays.

26. Missouri - John Robinson

John Robinson's seemingly benign exterior masked a malevolent presence—one of the most sinister serial killers to emerge from Missouri. Behind the facade of an unassuming demeanor lay a dark and chilling reality, a reality that shattered lives and left a trail of devastation in its wake.John Robinson

Image Source: kansascity.com

He might look like a sweet man, but this is one of the deadliest serial killers to come from the state of Missouri. John Robinson was sentenced to death not once but twice and is thought to have killed many more than the three people he is convicted for. Many of his suggested victims vanished without a trace, and have still never been found.

27. Oklahoma - Mikell Patrick Smith

Mikell Patrick Smith emerges as an enigmatic figure whose presence within an Oklahoma prison sends ripples of fear and apprehension through the system. His reputation as a lethal and remorseless individual garners him the chilling accolade of being dubbed the "most dangerous man" ever admitted to the state's prison.Mikell Patrick Smith

Image Source: tulsaworld.com

This one is confirmed - Mikell Patrick Smith has actually been described as the "most dangerous man" to ever be admitted to prison in Oklahoma. Since being admitted, he has killed multiple other inmates and prison guards, and had to have a special cell built for him because of his lethality.

28. Connecticut - William Devin Howell

William Devin Howell's name reverberates through the annals of Connecticut's history as a chilling epitaph to the state's darkest chapters. His heinous acts, targeting vulnerable women in a haunting sequence of disappearances in 2003, unveiled a saga of unspeakable horror.William Devin Howell

Image Source: mirror.co.uk

William Devin Howell is widely known as one of the most dangerous people in Connecticut's history. His victims - all women - all disappeared in 2003, but some of their bodies weren't found until as late as 2015. In 2017, while already in prison for manslaughter, he was convicted of six life sentences, equalling 360 years in prison.

29. Kentucky - Boone Helm

In historical narratives, some serial killers have been known to engage in cannibalistic acts, which adds an extra layer of macabre horror to their already gruesome crimes. The act of consuming their victims, whether for survival or sadistic pleasure, creates an unimaginable and chilling dimension to their atrocities.Boone Helm

Image Source: wikimedia.org

The "Kentucky Cannibal" may be one of the earliest American serial killers, as well as one of the most dangerous people from Kentucky. As is obvious from his name, he's known for eating many of his murder victims, sometimes for survival but sometimes for plain enjoyment.

30. Nevada - Patrick McKenna

Patrick McKenna emerges as a chilling figure within the confines of Nevada's prison system. His legacy, marked by an unparalleled tenure on death row and a disturbing trajectory of violence, paints a grim portrait of a man who descended into the abyss of criminality at a shockingly young age.Patrick McKenna

Image Source: lvcriminaldefense.com

Patrick McKenna is widely known as Nevada's most dangerous prisoner. Before his death, he was the longest serving inmate on death row in the state, and was first sent to prison when he was just 14. During his time in prison, he killed a Correctional officer and his own cellmate.

31. Alabama: Joseph Dewey Akin

Joseph Dewey Akin emerges as a haunting figure within the healthcare landscape—a professional entrusted with the sacred duty of caring for the sick and vulnerable, yet harboring a dark and malevolent streak that defied the very essence of his profession.Image Source / Only In Your StateJoseph Dewey Akin was a nurse responsible for the lives of others - and he took that power and used it to take lives instead of saving them. Over a ten year period, and at around 20 different healthcare facilities, it's suspected that he's responsible for killing 100 people. He pled guilty to killing one person with a lethal dose of lidocaine.

32. Arkansas: Andrew Golden and Mitchell Johnson

At Westside Middle School, this pair of boys would be responsible for one horrific school shooting, with four students and a teacher dying from the attack. Ten others were wounded from the attack, where multiple weapons were used by the two, Golden and Johnson.Image Source / Reader's DigestThis pair of young boys were actually school shooters, at only 11 and 13 years old at the time of their crimes. The fact that they were still alive following the attack, paired with the scaringly young age they were when they murdered, make them the most notorious killers in this state. They were even released from prison at the age of 21.

33. Colorado: Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris

Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are infamously known for perpetrating the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999, in Columbine, Colorado. Both teenagers, aged 17 (Harris) and 18 (Klebold) at the time of the attack, committed one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.Image Source / Criminal Minds Wiki - FandomAnother pair of young men responsible for another horrific school shooting. This pair were responsible for the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, which they'd been planning for over a year. It was said they wanted revenge on the people who had bullied them. They killed 12 students and 1 teacher before killing themselves.

34. Delaware: Steven Brian Pennell

Steven Brian Pennell, also known as the "Route 40 Killer," was an American serial killer who operated in Delaware during the 1980s. He was convicted of the murder of at least three women, although he is suspected of being responsible for more deaths along Route 40 in the state.Image Source / WikipediaKnown as the Route 40 Killer, Pennell is the only known serial killer in the history of the state of Delaware. He was executed in 1992 for three murders, and it was actually the first execution in Delaware since 1976. To commit his crimes, he would hunt down women on this particular highway route.

35. Florida: Aileen Wuornos

Aileen Wuornos remains one of the most infamous female serial killers in American history. Born in 1956, she gained notoriety for a series of murders committed in Florida between 1989 and 1990. Wuornos was a former sex worker and claimed that the men she killed had assaulted or threatened her.Image Source / Reader's DigestAileen Wuornos is one of the most famous killers to come out of Florida, and also one of the most dangerous. She was responsible for the murder of 6 men between 1989 and 1990. She was executed in 2002 for her crimes, but her story has inspired lots of attention, including the movie about her life, Monster.

36. Hawaii: Byran Koji Uyesugi

Bryan Koji Uyesugi was involved in a tragic mass shooting in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1999. Uyesugi was a troubled employee at Xerox Corporation, where he worked as a service technician. On November 2, 1999, he committed one of the deadliest workplace shootings in Hawaii's history.Image Source / MurderpediaByran Koji Uyesugi was a Xerox technician who worked in the Xerox Engineering Systems office in Honolulu, Hawaii. Back in 1999, he shot seven people in the office before fleeing in a van. He was eventually caught by police, and his crimes went down as the worst mass murder in Hawaii history.

37. Idaho: James Edward Wood

Captured in 1993, this serial killer was a self-confessed one, showing no remorse for his crimes, it would seem. His criminal record extended far back, with a list of violent crimes, making him one of the most feared criminals - and men - in this state, and perhaps even America.Image Source / East Idaho NewsJames Wood from Idaho was responsible for the kidnapping and murder of an 11 year old girl in 1993. This alone would be horrific enough - and was enough to convict him - but he was also responsible for at least 85 rapes, dozens of murders and 185 robberies.

38. Iowa: Robert Ben Rhoades

Robert Ben Rhoades, commonly known as the "Truck Stop Killer," was an American serial killer and long-haul truck driver. He gained notoriety for his heinous crimes during the 1980s. Rhoades was convicted of multiple murders and was believed to have committed several more.Image Source / ThoughtnovaAlso known as the Truckstop Killer, Rhoades was a trucker who made the cab in his semi truck a place where he would trap and torture his victims. He was believed to have been responsible for the rape and murder of over 50 women. Only 3 victims have been confirmed for definite.

39. Kansas: Dennis Rader

Dennis Rader, also known as the "BTK Killer", was an American serial killer who terrorized Wichita, Kansas, for over three decades. Between 1974 and 1991, Rader committed a series of gruesome murders, targeting and killing ten individuals, including men, women, and children.Image Source / Reader's DigestBest known as the BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) Killer, Rader was responsible for the murder of 10 people in Kansas. On the outside, he was a hard working family man, but really he was a murderer who would taunt authorities with clues - which eventually led to his capture.

40. Mississippi: Edgar Ray Killen

Edgar Ray Killen was a prominent figure in a highly publicized case related to civil rights activism in the United States. He was a Ku Klux Klan member convicted of orchestrating the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner.Image Source / Reader's DigestKillen was a murderer whose crimes inspired the movie Mississippi Burning. In 1964, he planned and carried out the murders of three men: civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. He was convicted of their murders.

41. Montana: Ted Kaczynski

Between 1978 and 1995, Kaczynski orchestrated a campaign of mail bombings, targeting individuals involved in technology, universities, and airlines. His attacks resulted in multiple deaths and injuries across the United States. His nickname "Unabomber" stemmed from his early targets.Image Source / Reader's DigestTed Kaczynski, later known as the Unabomber, hailed from the backwoods of Montana. He was responsible for building his own bombs and mailing them between 1978 and 1995. The name Unabomber came from the combination of 'university' and 'airline', which were his main targets.

42. Nebraska: Charles Starkweather and Caril Fugate

Starkweather, a young man from Nebraska, embarked on a brutal murder spree in 1958, during which he killed eleven people, including Fugate's parents and half-sister. Fugate, who was only 14 at the time, accompanied Starkweather during part of the spree and was initially portrayed as a willing participant.Image Source / The Washington PostThe murder spree of Charles Starkweather and his girlfrind Caril Fugate began in Nebraska in 1958. He was 20 years old, while she was 14 years old. In seven days, Starkweather (and suspected Fugate) murdered 11 people, including Fugate's own mother, stepfather and half-sister. The rest of their murders were taken on the road throughout the state.

43. New Hampshire: H.H. Holmes

H.H. Holmes, whose real name was Herman Webster Mudgett, was an infamous American serial killer in the late 19th century. He is often regarded as one of the first documented serial killers in the United States. Holmes constructed a hotel in Chicago named the "World's Fair Hotel".Image Source / Encyclopedia BritannicaH.H. Holmes was born in New Hampshire in 1861. He began his life of crime with con games which later turned to murder. He was known as America's first serial killer, and was responsible for the death of around 200 people. He built a house specifically for his murder spree, known as the Murder Castle.

44. New Mexico: Billy the Kid

Billy the Kid, originally named William H. Bonney and also known as Henry McCarty, was a legendary figure from the American Old West during the late 19th century. Born around 1859, Billy the Kid became known for his involvement in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico.Image Source / Legends of AmericaBilly the Kid became a legend of the Wild West, and it's a name you've undoubtedly heard. He claimed to have killed 21 people, and was also involved in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico. He was captured and sentenced to death for the murder of a law officer - but then he escaped and killed some more guards. He was eventually shot in 1881.

45. North Carolina: Henry Louis Wallace

Henry Louis Wallace, also known as the "Charlotte Strangler," was an American serial killer responsible for a string of murders in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the early 1990s. Wallace's crimes targeted African-American women, most of whom he knew personally or through acquaintances.Image Source / A&EHenry Louis Wallace was a serial killer who went after people he knew - and specifically, African-American women. He was also known as the Taco Bell Strangler (as he was a manager of the chain restaurant and murdered several employees). There was also controversy that law enforcement didn't do enough to catch him sooner.

46. North Dakota: Harry Louis Carignan

The reason that killer Carignan was sentenced to death was a murder he committed in Alaska back in 1949. Due to a problem in the way Carignan's confession had been initiated, he actually had his sentence reversed. He was then in prison for 9 years on charges of rape.Image Source / Reader's DigestBut then he was paroled in 1960. His release then saw him go on to commit further crimes, specifically abducting, assaulting and murdering a number of women. When he was caught (again) he received a 40-year sentence - he should never have been released, to say the least.

47. Rhode Island: The Patriarca Crime Family

Headed by Raymond Patriarca, known as the Patriarca crime family, one of the most notorious organized crime syndicates in New England, particularly dominant in Rhode Island. Patriarca's reign over the criminal organization spanned several decades.Image Source / The Providence JournalThis notorious crime family was actually brought down due to a criminal turned informant, Whitey Bulger. This family was the largest organized crime group in Rhode Island. They've been charged time and again for racketeering, until they were eventually caught thanks to Bulger's information.

48. South Dakota: James Brudos

James Brudos, indeed, was a notorious serial killer known for his heinous acts and disturbing fetishes. Born in South Dakota in 1939, Brudos had a troubled upbringing marked by an unstable family environment. As an adult, he exhibited violent and deviant behavior.Image Source / YahooJames Brudos was a serial killer who was born in South Dakota in 1939. He had a troubled childhood, like so many serial killers, and his adult self developed some violent fetishes - including a shoe fetish. During his murder spree in the 1960s, he was dubbed the Shoe Fetish Slayer. He died in prison in 2006, and was also portrayed in the show Mindhunter.

49. Vermont: Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy was an American serial killer and necrophile who terrorized multiple states in the 1970s, confessing to the murders of at least 30 young women. He was charming and charismatic, using his looks and intelligence to gain the trust of his victims.Image Source / Reader's DigestTed Bundy is a serial killer name known around the globe, but did you know he was born in Vermont? Bundy, the man who appeared so charming and handsome, was actually responsible for killing 36 women (but believed to have killed many more) in the 1970s. Although he hailed from Vermont, his crimes took place mostly in Florida. He was executed in 1989.

50. Wisconsin: Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser

Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser gained notoriety for their involvement in the 2014 stabbing of a classmate in Waukesha, Wisconsin, commonly referred to as the "Slender Man stabbing." Anissa and Morgan, both 12 years old at the time, lured their friend into the woods.Image Source / BBCAnother disturbing story of children being responsible for horrific crimes, this pair of 12 year olds turned to murder when they tried to kill their friend - also 12 years old - Payton Leutner. If you're a fan of the Slender Man myth, this pair were apparently motivated to kill their friend to impress Slender Man. Luckily, Leutner survived.