26 Serial Killer Trivia Questions

Serial killers have always fascinated and horrified society with their gruesome crimes and chilling stories. 

While it’s crucial to approach this topic with sensitivity and respect for the victims and their families, there is a legitimate interest in understanding the psychology and history of these individuals. 

In this blog post, we’ll delve into a set of trivia questions about serial killers, designed to both educate and intrigue readers about this dark aspect of human behavior. 

Remember to handle this topic with care and avoid glorifying or romanticizing the actions of these criminals.

Serial Killer Trivia Questions

1. The “Killer Clown”: What was the pseudonym used by John Wayne Gacy for his performances at children’s parties and parades, and how many victims are officially attributed to him?
   
   
2. “The Milwaukee Cannibal”: What is the name of the serial killer known for not only murdering but also dismembering and consuming parts of his victims in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the late 1980s and early 1990s?
   
   
3. “The Zodiac Killer”: This unidentified serial killer operated in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. How many confirmed victims did the Zodiac have, and what was unique about the communications he sent to the press?
   
   
4. Ted Bundy’s Escape: Ted Bundy, one of America’s most infamous serial killers, escaped from custody twice. In which state did these escapes occur, and during which year did his final escape take place?
   
   
5. “The BTK Killer”: Dennis Rader, known as the BTK Killer, committed his crimes in Kansas. What does “BTK” stand for, and how did he eventually get caught?
   
   
6. Aileen Wuornos’ Victims: Aileen Wuornos was a female serial killer who murdered seven men. What was her primary method of luring her victims?
   
   
7. “The Green River Killer”: Gary Ridgway was dubbed the “Green River Killer.” Approximately how many victims are attributed to him, and what was his occupation during his killing spree?
   
   
8. “The Night Stalker”: Richard Ramirez was a notorious serial killer in California. What were the two primary regions in California where he committed his crimes, and what was unusual about his range of criminal activities?
   
   
9. “The Monster of the Andes”: What is the name of the South American serial killer who claimed to have killed over 300 people, primarily young girls, and in which countries did he commit these crimes?
   
   
10. “The Yorkshire Ripper”: What is the name of this British serial killer who operated in the late 1970s, and what misleading piece of evidence initially diverted police investigations?
    
    
11. “The Moors Murderers”: Identify the two individuals known as the Moors Murderers, and what unique aspect characterized their choice of burial sites for their victims?
    
    
12. “The Angel of Death”: What was the profession of Charles Cullen, an American serial killer, and approximately how many patients did he confess to murdering during his career?
    
    
13. Andrei Chikatilo’s Nickname: What was the nickname given to Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, and what was unusual about his choice of victims?
    
    
14. “The Beast of Birkenshaw”: Name the Scottish serial killer known as “The Beast of Birkenshaw,” and mention one of his unique behaviors during his crime spree in the 1950s.
    
    
15. Dr. Harold Shipman’s Method: What was the primary method used by Dr. Harold Shipman to murder his victims, and what profession did he hold?
    
    
16. Pedro López’s Release: South American serial killer Pedro López was convicted of multiple murders. What unusual circumstance led to his release from prison?
    
    
17. “The Rostov Ripper”: How did Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo lure most of his victims, and what was the primary demographic of his victims?
    
    
18. “The Werewolf of Wysteria”: What was the alias used by Albert Fish, and what unique and disturbing characteristic did he have that set him apart from many other serial killers?
    
    
19. Israel Keyes’ Crime Methodology: What was unique about the way American serial killer Israel Keyes prepared for his crimes, particularly in terms of his planning and travel?
    
    
20. “The Killer Nurse”: What is the name of the British nurse who was convicted of murdering four children in her care, and what was the method she used?
    
    
21. “The Gainesville Ripper”: What was the nickname of the serial killer who inspired the movie “Scream”, and in which city did he commit his murders?
    
    
22. “The Düsseldorf Vampire”: Identify the German serial killer known as “The Düsseldorf Vampire,” and what was one of his unusual criminal behaviors?
    
    
23. “The Grim Sleeper”: What nickname was given to American serial killer Lonnie David Franklin Jr., and what notable gap occurred in his series of crimes?
    
    
24. “The Genesee River Killer”: Name the serial killer known as “The Genesee River Killer,” and what was his distinctive method of disposing of victims?
    
    
25. “The Happy Face Killer”: Who was the serial killer known as “The Happy Face Killer,” and why did he receive this nickname?
    
    
26. “The Hillside Stranglers”: Who were the two individuals known as “The Hillside Stranglers,” and how were they related?

Answers

1. The “Killer Clown”: John Wayne Gacy performed as “Pogo the Clown.” He is officially attributed with the murder of 33 young men and boys.
   
   
2. “The Milwaukee Cannibal”: Jeffrey Dahmer. He became infamous for the gruesome nature of his crimes, which included murder, dismemberment, and cannibalism.
   
   
3. “The Zodiac Killer”: The Zodiac Killer had 5 confirmed victims, but he claimed to have killed 37. He was unique for sending cryptograms to the press and police, taunting them with clues about his identity and crimes.
   
   
4. Ted Bundy’s Escape: Ted Bundy escaped custody in Colorado. His final escape occurred in 1977, leading to a series of crimes culminating in his recapture in 1978.
   
   
5. “The BTK Killer”: “BTK” stands for “Bind, Torture, Kill.” Dennis Rader was caught in 2005 after sending a floppy disk to the police, which was traced back to him.
   
   
6. Aileen Wuornos’ Victims: Aileen Wuornos lured her victims by posing as a hitchhiker along Florida’s highways.
   
   
7. “The Green River Killer”: Gary Ridgway is attributed with the murder of 49 confirmed victims, but he confessed to killing more than 70 women. He worked as a truck painter.
   
   
8. “The Night Stalker”: Richard Ramirez committed his crimes primarily in Los Angeles and San Francisco. His criminal activities ranged from burglary to murder, making him a versatile and unpredictable offender.
   
   
9. “The Monster of the Andes”: Pedro López confessed to killing over 300 people, mainly in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. He targeted young girls.
   
   
10. “The Yorkshire Ripper”: Peter Sutcliffe was known as the Yorkshire Ripper. Police were misled by a hoax tape and letters supposedly from the killer, known as the “Wearside Jack.”
    
    
11. “The Moors Murderers”: Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were known as the Moors Murderers. They buried their victims on the Saddleworth Moor, giving them their notorious nickname.
    
    
12. “The Angel of Death”: Charles Cullen was a nurse. He confessed to murdering approximately 40 patients but is suspected of killing as many as 400.
    
    
13. Andrei Chikatilo’s Nickname: Andrei Chikatilo was dubbed “The Butcher of Rostov.” He targeted women and children, a choice of victims that was particularly heinous and unusual for a serial killer.
    
    
14. “The Beast of Birkenshaw”: Peter Manuel was known as “The Beast of Birkenshaw.” Notably, he represented himself at his trial.
    
    
15. Dr. Harold Shipman’s Method: Dr. Harold Shipman used lethal doses of the drug diamorphine to kill his patients. He was a general practitioner.
    
    
16. Pedro López’s Release: Pedro López was released from prison on a technicality and later declared insane, leading to his transfer to a psychiatric hospital from which he was eventually released.
    
    
17. “The Rostov Ripper”: Andrei Chikatilo lured his victims by offering them rides or promising them gifts. His primary victims were young, vulnerable individuals, including runaways and orphans.
    
    
18. “The Werewolf of Wysteria”: Albert Fish was known as “The Werewolf of Wysteria.” He was known for his sadomasochistic behavior and for sending a letter to the mother of one of his victims describing the crime in horrifying detail.
    
    
19. Israel Keyes’ Crime Methodology: Israel Keyes was known for his meticulous planning, including burying “kill kits” across the country and traveling long distances to commit his crimes, which helped him avoid detection for a long time.
    
    
20. “The Killer Nurse”: Beverly Allitt, also known as “The Angel of Death,” used insulin injections to induce fatal cardiac arrests in her child victims.
    
    
21. “The Gainesville Ripper”: The nickname of the serial killer who inspired “Scream” was “The Gainesville Ripper,” or Danny Rolling. He committed his murders in Gainesville, Florida.
    
    
22. “The Düsseldorf Vampire”: Peter Kürten was known as “The Düsseldorf Vampire.” He was notorious for drinking his victims’ blood.
    
    
23. “The Grim Sleeper”: Lonnie David Franklin Jr. was dubbed “The Grim Sleeper” because he took a 14-year hiatus from his crimes between 1988 and 2002.
    
    
24. “The Genesee River Killer”: Arthur Shawcross, known as “The Genesee River Killer,” was notorious for mutilating and occasionally consuming parts of his victims.
    
    
25. “The Happy Face Killer”: Keith Jesperson was known as “The Happy Face Killer” because he drew smiley faces on his letters to the media and police.
    
    
26. “The Hillside Stranglers”: The Hillside Stranglers were Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, Jr., who were cousins. They worked together to commit their crimes.