United States

152# of Serial KillersNational Total

6.19 per 100kHomicide RateNational Average

2,114.58 per 100kCrime RateNational Average

Number of Serial Killers 2024

118

1	New York	18
2	California	15
3	Texas	8
4	Illinois	7
4	Ohio	7
6	Indiana	6
6	Louisiana	6
8	Pennsylvania	5
9	Washington	4
9	South Carolina	4
9	Massachusetts	4
9	Kentucky	4
9	Georgia	4
14	Missouri	3
14	Alabama	3
14	Oklahoma	3
14	Maryland	3
14	Iowa	3
14	Connecticut	3
14	Michigan	3
14	Wisconsin	3
22	Delaware	2
22	New Jersey	2
22	South Dakota	2
22	Utah	2
22	Minnesota	2
22	Oregon	2
22	North Carolina	2
22	Arkansas	2
22	New Mexico	2
31	Hawaii	1
31	Mississippi	1
31	Virginia	1
31	Maine	1
31	Kansas	1
31	Alaska	1
31	Tennessee	1
31	Florida	1
31	Colorado	1
31	District of Columbia	1
31	Montana	1
31	Rhode Island	1
31	North Dakota	1
31	Vermont	1
31	Arizona	1
31	West Virginia	1
31	New Hampshire	1
31	Idaho	1

Table of Contents↑

Interactive Map
Introduction
Source

Last updated February 28, 2026

Serial Killers, State by State

The grim and chilling subject of Serial Killers tends to stir deep fascination coupled with a collective societal shudder. It's an underbelly of criminal activity that has been researched, analyzed, and profiled extensively, yielding intriguing insights and patterns. In the United States, a disproportionate number of the world's recorded serial killers have left their horrifying legacy, with the period between 1970 and 2000 marking the peak of such crimes. It's worth noting that while these crimes evoke shock and horror, they constitute less than 1% of total homicides.

Key findings from the data include:

New York tops the list with 18 recorded serial killers, followed by California, which recorded 15 known serial killers.
States like Texas, Illinois, and Ohio have seen relatively high numbers of serial killers as well, recording 8, 7, and 7, respectively.
At the other end of the spectrum, many states have had only one known serial killer.
A regional pattern is evident. The states with the largest populations are New York, California, Texas, and Illinois.