22 Serial Killers Who Were Adopted
Aileen Wuornos was born in 1956 to 16-year-old Diane Wuornos. Two months later, Diane filed from divorce from Aileen's father, Leo Dale Pittman, who was incarcerated for sex crimes against children. Diane abandoned Aileen and her brother, Keith, in 1960, before Aileens 4th birthday. Aileen never met her father. He was diagnosed as schizophrenic and hanged himself in prison in 1969. Diane's parents, Lauri and Britta Wuornos, officially adopted Keith and Aileen in 1960.
Aileen Wuornos killed 7 men from 1989-1990 while working as a prostitute. She believed that each man attempted to sexually assault her and was therefore killing them in self-defense. She was sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection in 2002.
- Age: Dec. at 46 (1956-2002)
- Birthplace: Rochester, Michigan, USA
Joel Rifkin was born in 1959 to two college students, aged 20 and 24. At three weeks old, he was adopted by Benjamin and Jeanne Rifkin. Three years later, the family adopted another baby, a daughter.
Rifkin killed at least 9 prostitutes, although some believe he is responsible for the more. When he was caught in 1993, he was sentenced to 203 years in prison.
- Age: 66
- Birthplace: New York
- Photo:
- Florida Memory
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- Public domain
Ted Bundy was born in 1946 to Eleanor "Louise" Cowell, who claimed to have been seduced by a sailor named Jack Worthington. Until he was three years old, he was raised by his grandparents, Samuel and Eleanor Cowell, who he believed to be his actual parents. Bundy did not know the true circumstances of his birth until he was in his early 20s. When he was five years old, Louise married Johnny Culpepper Bundy, who formally adopted Ted later that year. Louise and Johnny had four children.
Bundy killed at least 30 women between 1974 and 1978. He kidnapped, raped, and killed victims in multiple states. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Ted Bundy was executed by electrocution in 1989.
- Age: Dec. at 42 (1946-1989)
- Birthplace: Vermont, USA, Burlington
Every Actor Who Has Played Ted BundySee all
- 1Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile146 Votes
- 2The Deliberate Stranger97 Votes
- 3No Man of God103 Votes
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One of the "Hillside Stranglers," Kenneth Bianchi was born to a prostitute in 1951. At three months old, he was adopted by Nicholas and Frances Bianchi, and he was their only child.
With his cousin, Angelo Buono - the son of Frances's sister - Kenneth Bianchi was half of the Hillside Strangler duo, responsible for the rape and murder of 12 women. During his trial, Bianchi attempted an insanity plea but was unsuccessful. He was sentenced to life in prison.
- Age: 73
- Birthplace: Rochester, New York, USA
- Photo:
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Richard Speck tortured, raped, and killed 8 student nurses from the same hospital. The nurses were all living together in the same townhouse when Speck broke in and attacked them. One nurse stayed hidden from him and was able to survive. He was sentenced to death but it was overturned. He later died of heart failure while in prison.- Age: Dec. at 49 (1941-1991)
- Birthplace: Kirkwood, Illinois
- Photo:
- Tommy Lynn Sells claims to be responsible for the deaths of over 70 people, although less than a dozen of those alleged crimes were proven. He was sentenced to death and was executed in April 2014.
- Age: Dec. at 49 (1964-2014)
- Birthplace: Oakland, California
Christian Longo
Christian Longo killed his wife and three young children in 2001. He spent some time on the FBI's most wanted list while hiding out in Mexico. He was caught in 2002 and sentenced to death.Charles Albright
Sometimes known as The Eyeball Killer, Charles Albright killed at least 3 women in 1991. He was sentenced to life in jail.- Age: Dec. at 49 (1830-1880)
- Birthplace: Pennsylvania, USA
- Photo:
Jane Toppan killed at least 31 people in 1901 while working as a nurse. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity and died of natural causes in 1938.- Age: Dec. at 81 (1857-1938)
- Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts
Thomas Hamilton
Thomas Hamilton killed 17 people after bringing 4 handguns into a school. Sixteen of the victims were children. He then killed himself.Steven Catlin
Steven Catlin killed his fourth and fifth wives as well as his adoptive mother by poisoning then in order to collect insurance money. He was sentenced to death in 1990.- Photo:
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- Public domain
Gerald Stano killed 22 women between 1969-1980, but has confessed to over 40 murders. He was caught in 1980 and sentenced to death.- Age: Dec. at 46 (1951-1998)
- Birthplace: Schenectady, New York
- Photo:
Alton Coleman
- Photo:
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- Public domain
Alton Coleman killed 7 people in a killing spree that lasted a month in 1984 and went across multiple states. He was only convicted of one of the murders and sentenced to death. He was executed in 2002.- Age: Dec. at 46 (1955-2002)
- Birthplace: Waukegan, Illinois
- Photo:
Robert Otis Coulson
Robert Otis Coulson killed his adoptive parents, Otis and Mary and siblings by placing plastic bags over their heads before lighting their house on fire. It is believed that he committed the murders in order to claim insurance money.
