It seems that the press love to attach monikers to serial killers. In my upcoming book The Hunt(Ballantine, February 2006), the press dubbed the man who tortures, rapes and hunts women in the wilderness as The Bozeman Butcher. But my killer is fictional . . . and as they say, truth is stranger than fiction . . .
Most nicknames seem to fade away after the killer is apprehended . . . for example, I never knew until recently that Jeffrey Dahmer had been called the “Milwaukee Cannibal.” Some killers are better known by their moniker, such as “Son of Sam” David Berkowitz and the “Hillside Stranglers” Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono. And some names are downright dumb: whoever thought up “The Plainfield Ghoul,” “Mad Beast,” or “Moon Maniac” was having an off day.
So I’m hosting a contest. Match the serial killer with his press-assigned moniker and win an early copy of The Hunt.
Don’t google these guys (or gals), just give it your best guess. If you don’t know one, skip it. The winner is going to be randomly chosen so whether you have the right answers or not isn’t important. The rules? Everyone who comments on this post by midnight Pacific time Saturday 1/7/06 will be entered. I’ll post the correct answers with some background information on the crimes . . . and the winner . . . on Sunday.
What famous serial killers are known by the following nicknames?
“Sunset Slayer”
“Stocking Strangler”
“Demon of the Belfry”
“Lonely Heart Killers”
“Gainesville Ripper”
“Pied Piper of Tucson”
What were the nicknames of these serial killers?
John Wayne Gacy
Richard Chase
Richard Ramirez
Albert Fish
Paul John Knowles
William Bonin
Remember, just post a comment and, right or wrong, you’ll be entered into the contest. (Only one entry, though, no matter how many posts!)
Stay tuned for chilling — and true — stories on Sunday.
For more fascinating and truly terrifying information about serial killers, check out The Serial Killer Files by Harold Schechter.