The most common myths about serial killers encompass such factors as their race, gender, intelligence, living conditions and victim characteristics. Persistent misinformation, stereotypes and hyperbole presented in the media have combined with the relative rarity of serial murder cases to foster a number of popular myths about serial murder. However, the statistics reveal that serial homicide is quite rare and it represents a small portion of all murders committed in the U.S.

Serial killers are always present in society. If there are fifty, then each one is responsible for an average of three murders per year. 1 The FBI estimates that there are between twenty-five and fifty serial killers operating throughout the U.S. Based on recent FBI crime statistics, there are approximately 15,000 murders annually, so that means there are no more than 150 victims of serial murder in the U.S. Serial killings account for no more than 1 percent of all murders committed in the U.S. The Reality of Serial Homicide in the U.S. Media stereotypes and hyperbole create myths and great distortions in the public consciousness regarding the true dynamics and patterns of serial murder in the U.S. Colorful story lines are written to pique the interest of audiences, not to paint an accurate picture of serial murder.īy focusing on the larger-than-life media images of socially constructed “celebrity monsters,” the public becomes captivated by the stylized presentation of the criminals rather than the reality of their crimes.

Much of the general public’s knowledge concerning serial homicide is a product of sensationalized and stereotypical depictions of it in the news and entertainment media. Excerpted with permission from Why We Love Serial Killers: The Curious Appeal of the World’s Most Savage Murderers, by Scott Bonn.

Active serial killers