How Many Active Serial Killers Stalk Your Streets?
When we leave the house we never know who could be stalking our every move, waiting for us to misstep. Would you know a serial killer by sight? Probably not. Knowledge and lifestyle choices are our best defense to lessen the chances of becoming a victim.
With that in mind, let’s look at technology that finds active serial killers.
FBI Serial Killing Initiative
In 2003, too many dead bodies littered the sides of highways for the FBI not to notice. Using this narrow data pool, they developed a technology — called FBI Serial Killing Initiative — to help find the killers of highway murder victims.
“Your mind tells you it’s a deer. It’s a goat. It’s anything but a human being,” said an Oklahoma salesman, who told the Oklahoman Newspaper about a grim discovery off the Interstate 40 exit ramp, where he stopped to relieve himself. “My mind would not even allow me to entertain that as reality until, as I looked at her limbs and followed her arm out to one of her hands, I saw a ring on her finger. At that moment, in that second, it was undeniable, and my mind finally accepted that this was a human.”
The body he’d discovered belonged to Sandra Beard, a 43-year-old prostitute who frequented truck stops in search of Johns. From 2003 to January 2004, Beard was one of seven women murdered on or near highways in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Texas. These homicides prompted the FBI to develop a way to track the spike in highway bodies. To date, the FBI Serial Killings Initiative has identified more than 750 people whose bodies were dumped near US highways. The database, which also identified 450 potential suspects, allows local, state, and federal agencies to share vital information and recognize trends that could link victims to each other, as well as to potential suspects. Not surprisingly, several of the suspects were long-haul truckers.
“It’s not unusual for a driver to pass through five or even seven states in one day,” said Palazzolo, FBI analyst. “The amount of ground they cover and the lack of any connection to where they’re passing through makes it difficult to tie cases back to them.”
Based on information obtained from trucking company logs, gas station receipts, and other records, law enforcement can determine where the suspect was when a murder or an assault took place.
The Department of Transportation expects the number of long-haul truckers to grow over the next several years, as will long-haul serial killers.
“So, if we’ve already identified a population from which we are getting a significant number of offenders, and if we are going to be seeing more and more trucks on the road, the potential for additional highway serial killings is definitely there.” ~ Palazzolo
According to the FBI, over the past 40 years, more than 500 people have been killed near or along highways. Most are women who live “high-risk, transient lifestyles,” which often involve substance abuse and prostitution. They’re frequently picked up at truck stops or service stations and are sexually assaulted, murdered, and dumped along a highway. The FBI has compiled a list of about 200 potential suspects, consisting of mainly long-haul truck drivers. Even though the bureau refuses to identify the suspects or victims, USA Today reported that at least ten suspects have been arrested in at least 30 deaths. As far as the Oklahoma cases go, none have been adjudicated.
Charges have been filed in only one of the 2003 deaths.
In 2004, John Robert Williams, 33, and his girlfriend, Rachel Cumberland, were charged with capital murder in the death of Vickie Helen Anderson, 45, a prostitute last seen in Sayre. They dumped her body in the Texas Panhandle. At trial, Williams pleaded guilty to Anderson’s abduction and murder. The judge sentenced him to life in prison. Cumberland pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 20-year sentence. The deadly duo was also charged with the 2003 death of Jennifer Hyman, 24, an Oklahoma City prostitute, but the charges were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Williams remains a suspect in the 2004 death of another prostitute, Casey Jo Pipestem, 19, of Oklahoma City. Her body was later discovered in Grapevine, Texas.
Serial Killer Algorithm
The Murder Accountability Project (MAP) has developed an algorithm capable of detecting serial killers who target multiple victims within a specific geographic area. Using the similar MO to help link cases, this technique can be useful to police in identifying difficult-to-see patterns over a period of several years or even decades.
The algorithm is based upon a reasonable premise — a serial killer can dramatically reduce the normal clearance rate for groups of similar victims killed through similar methods. The algorithm looks for clusters with extremely low clearance rates. It has successfully detected both well-known serial killers and killers whose homicidal patterns were not recognized by police.
“We are delighted to provide an online version of our serial-detection algorithm,” said MAP Chairman Thomas K. Hargrove. “We hope homicide detectives, police supervisors, and the public will use it to identify threats to community safety.”
Hargrove estimates that 2,000 serial killers are still at large in the United States. According to the FBI, 1,400 murders remain unsolved but are linked to other killings through DNA. That’s only a smidgen above 2% of murders investigated by the FBI.
“Those are just the cases they were able to lock down with DNA,” said Hargrove. “And killers don’t always leave DNA. It’s a gift when you get it. So, two percent is a floor, not a ceiling.”
Care to test out the algorithm?
Now, we can search for active serial killers without expensive statistical software or advanced computer knowledge. Go HERE to find victim profiles, offender profiles, crime stats, and other statistical data for your region. You can also use MAP website’s search function for unsolved murder cases in your area.
In Other News …
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If you haven’t noticed my new video logo in the header, check it out below. Thanks to my amazing Facebook friends, I won the custom logo from Dark Digital Designs. I highly recommend them for all your video needs, including book trailers. Tell them Sue sent you!
Well, did you search your area using the tool? Share your results in the comments.
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Sue Coletta
Sue Coletta is an award-winning crime writer and an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as “Best 100 Crime Blogs on the Net.” She also blogs on the Kill Zone (Writer's Digest "101 Best Websites for Writers"), Writers Helping Writers, and StoryEmpire. Sue lives with her husband in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Her backlist includes psychological thrillers, the Mayhem Series (books 1-3) and Grafton County Series, and true crime/narrative nonfiction. Now, she exclusively writes eco-thrillers, Mayhem Series (books 4-9 and continuing). Sue's appeared on the Emmy award-winning true crime series, Storm of Suspicion, and three episodes of A Time to Kill on Investigation Discovery. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her murder of crows, who live free but come when called by name. And nature feeds her soul.
20 Comments
shien
hi Sue
i loved your interesting article and it’s also important for American people because lots happen in those streets. So most people in America carry a gun. They think it’s safer for them but in reality, it’s not safe to carry guns legally or illegally. it’s the mentality they should change.
Sue Coletta
Thank you, Shien. While I don’t believe ALL guns should be banned from responsible gun owners, I do agree mentalities need to change.
Tuttle N. Texas
Love the trailer and the topic. I was hitchhiking across Texas when Henry Lee Lucas was active and highly prolific. In all those situations I only ever have one get dicey–but as you stated your opening line, we never know.
Sue Coletta
Wow, Tuttle. You were lucky. Henry Lee Lucas was a nasty individual. I’d hate to think of you coming face-to-face with a monster like him.
UPDATE 1/3/2020: If you haven’t seen the Netflix documentary regarding Henry Lee Lucas, I highly recommend it. No spoilers! All I’ll say is, the facts in the case of Henry Lee Lucas will blow your mind.
Mae Clair
Several years ago there was a truck driver serial killer who murdered a woman a few miles from where I live. The story hit national news. He attempted a few more murders before the father of his last intended victim apprehended him, beat the crap out of him and held him until police arrived. I live in a small town with next to no crime, but he came up off a highway and just happened to spy a woman who was in the wrong place (her back patio at 2:00 AM talking on her cell to a friend) at the wrong time. Even now when I drive by that house I think of the husband and son she left behind.
And I have to say that although I am not a big fan of book trailers, that one kicks butt, Sue. I LOVE it!!!
Sue Coletta
Thanks, Mae!!! I remember that case. The poor woman was talking on the phone (if memory serves), just chilling on her back patio. Wow, I didn’t know you lived so close. Frightening!
Garry Rodgers
Interesting program, Sue. I played around to see what’s going on in the Seattle area just south of me where someone has now taken over Gary Ridgway/Green River Killer’s job. It got me thinking – ever wonder how many serial killers tap into sites like this to check on their status and how many of their victims have been located? Info like this might make them change MO and make it harder to catch them.
Sue Coletta
Wow. I didn’t realize a copycat started dumping bodies by the Green River like Ridgway. I’ll have to dig into the case.
Good point, Garry! I bet at least one serial killer is using the tool as we speak. Brrr …
CS Boyack
Wow, can’t get away with nothin no more. Now all you serial killers listen up there are 2000 of you but only 1400 victims, so not everybody is going to get one. Some of you are going to have to share.
Sue Coletta
Hahahahahahaha!!! 2000 active serial killers times 3 victims, min., should equal at least 6000. Where they got 1400 I have no idea.
C.S. Boyack
Maybe a few of them could kill each other to make the math work.
Sue Coletta
Great idea! I’ll pass it along to
my closest friendscrime writer buddiesthe authorities. 😉Paul Dale Anderson
Thanks, Sue. Stats prove serial killers are more prevalent than even I thought, and I’ve written more than a dozen novels about serial murders. Not all serial killers move around from place to place. Many stay close to home and hide the bodies so no one suspects they may be a next door neighbor or a co-worker or even a spouse. Heh Heh. Or a demented crime writer like you or me!
Sue Coletta
So true, Paul. Statistics show an increase in serial murders, but perhaps it’s only because we’re more informed than ever before. Or there’s a ton of demented crime writers. Hahahahahaha. You never know!
SK Nicholls
We recently had a serial killer down here in Tampa terrorizing a neighborhood. He was caught, but now there is a lawsuit wherein people are fighting for the reward money. A lady from Wendy’s called him into authorities, but a couple had filmed him with their home surveillance camera, which is what the lady at Wendy’s had seen. I’m just glad he’s off the streets.
Sue Coletta
Wow, Susan. Why can’t they split the reward money? As you say, what’s important is that he’s off the street. Money makes people crazy. I always tell my husband if we hit the lottery, the first thing I’ll do is give most of it away. Glad you’re safe. <3
Barbara Cameron
You should look into this Tampa killer ,Sue. He’s very unusual in that he’s very young. Only 24. Well educated. But, he gave the gun to his boss at McD’s & she called the cops on him. Wondering if he wanted to be caught…
Sue Coletta
Hmm, I doubt he wanted to get caught, Barbara. Often times their compulsions cause them to make a mistake, and that one mistake can be their undoing. Perhaps he had a fleeting moment of remorse. Interesting. Now I need to dig into the case. 😉
Margot Kinberg
It’s unsettling to think of how many multiple or serial murderers here are out there, Sue. I think as technology and psychology get better, we’ll know more about them. And that will have its own consequences. Thanks for sharing that online tool. Very interesting!
Sue Coletta
Very true, Margot. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. When our 1st grandchild was born, I signed up to get alerts when/if child predators moved to our area. After a while I had to turn it off. It was making me crazy! I wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who harmed a member of my family, but my sweet, innocent grandbabies? If someone dares to cross that line, they won’t even be able to imagine the hell I’d reign down on him. Admittedly, this may be one area where it’s healthier for me to remain ignorantly blissful. 😉