Serial Killers By State

United States
152# of Serial KillersNational Total
Homicide RateNational Average
Crime RateNational Average
Number of Serial Killers 2024Question Mark
Map visualization
118
1
New YorkNew York
18
2
CaliforniaCalifornia
15
3
TexasTexas
8
4
IllinoisIllinois
7
4
OhioOhio
7
6
IndianaIndiana
6
6
LouisianaLouisiana
6
8
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
5
9
WashingtonWashington
4
9
South CarolinaSouth Carolina
4
9
MassachusettsMassachusetts
4
9
KentuckyKentucky
4
9
GeorgiaGeorgia
4
14
MissouriMissouri
3
14
AlabamaAlabama
3
14
OklahomaOklahoma
3
14
MarylandMaryland
3
14
IowaIowa
3
14
ConnecticutConnecticut
3
14
MichiganMichigan
3
14
WisconsinWisconsin
3
22
DelawareDelaware
2
22
New JerseyNew Jersey
2
22
South DakotaSouth Dakota
2
22
UtahUtah
2
22
MinnesotaMinnesota
2
22
OregonOregon
2
22
North CarolinaNorth Carolina
2
22
ArkansasArkansas
2
22
New MexicoNew Mexico
2
31
HawaiiHawaii
1
31
MississippiMississippi
1
31
VirginiaVirginia
1
31
MaineMaine
1
31
KansasKansas
1
31
AlaskaAlaska
1
31
TennesseeTennessee
1
31
FloridaFlorida
1
31
ColoradoColorado
1
31
District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia
1
31
MontanaMontana
1
31
Rhode IslandRhode Island
1
31
North DakotaNorth Dakota
1
31
VermontVermont
1
31
ArizonaArizona
1
31
West VirginiaWest Virginia
1
31
New HampshireNew Hampshire
1
31
IdahoIdaho
1
Serial Killers By State
Share

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.

Sources & Notes

# of Serial Killers

Total number of identified serial killers.

Crime Rate

Crime rate per 100,000 people.

Keep reading

Additional Rankings

Murder Rate By State
Crime
States

Murder Rate By State

Crime Rate By State
Crime
States

Crime Rate By State

Missing Persons By State
Crime
States

Missing Persons By State

Domestic Violence By State
Crime
States

Domestic Violence By State

Rape Statistics By State
Crime
States

Rape Statistics By State

Most Dangerous States
Rankings
States

Most Dangerous States