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7 American Serial Killers Who Might Still Be out There

True Crime

Updated: Jun 13, 2018 3:04 pm·

By Samantha Lear

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Fact is stranger (and scarier) than fiction, so it’s no wonder true crime is all the rage these days. From docu-series like Netflix’s cultural phenomenon Making a Murderer to dramatized versions of real stories like criminal profiling series Mindhunter, serial killers are definitely our national fascination.

There’s only so many stories the the networks, streaming channels, and even movies can tell, though. And you might be surprised to learn that a number of serial killer cases have not only never been solved, but the murderers themselves are still at large!

It’s time we refresh ourselves on some of the most famous cold cases in the US. Scroll down for seven serial killers who might still be on the loose.

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Zodiac Killer

Location: Bay Area, CA
Years active: 1968-early 1970s
Number of Victims: 7 confirmed; 37 claimed

It might come as a shock that the most famous case on this list — it was even made into the big-screen flick Zodiac — is still ongoing. Though the killer claimed to be responsible for nearly 40 victims, only seven were confirmed and two even survived! He got his name for the four cryptograms he sent to the press, and only one has definitely been solved. Though a Vallejo man named Arthur Leigh Allen — who died in 1992 — was believed by many to be the culprit, the case remains open.

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The Long Island Serial Killer

Location: Gilgo Beach, NY
Years active: 1996-present
Number of Victims: 10

You might also know this guy as the Craigslist Strangler (not to be confused for the Craigslist Killer), who was notable for luring prostitutes through the classifieds website by responding to their posts. Officials have profiled the killer as a white man between 20 and 40 years old, and initially they believed him to be long gone. However, in September 2017, a carpenter named John Bittrolff was sentenced to prison for murdering two prostitutes, and officials believe he may be responsible for one or more of the unsolved deaths connected to the Long Island serial killer case.

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Original Night Stalker

Location: Northern California
Years active: mid-1970s-1986
Number of Victims: 12 murders; 50 rapes

This killer, also recognized as the East Area Rapist or the Golden State Killer, went on a raping and murdering spree in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Many suspects have been identified through the years, but all of them were cleared. In June 2016, the FBI announced they’d doubled down on finding the culprit, offering up $50,000 in reward money for his capture.

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West Mesa Serial Killer

Location: Albuquerque, NM
Years active: 2001-2005
Number of Victims: 11

This murderer targeted prostitutes and drug traffickers, and almost all were Hispanic women. The only exception was one African-American woman who was four months pregnant. The culprit got the name The Bone Collector for the initial discovery of human bones sticking out of the ground in his New Mexico hunting ground.

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The Jeff Davis 8

Location: Jennings, LA
Years active: 2005-2009
Number of Victims: 8

With this case, it was all personal, as the eight victims were a mix of cousins, roommates, and close acquaintances — and the murderer is suspected to have known them, as well. The victims were all involved in some way to the local sex and drug trade, however, detectives are still completely at a loss about the killer’s identity.

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Redhead Murderer

Location: TN, AR, KY, MS, and PA
Years active: late 1970s-1983
Number of Victims: 8 confirmed; more suspected

Yet another case linked to prostitution, this West Virginia-based murder spree focused solely on female victims with red hair. All of the women — many who are still unidentified — are believed to be either hitchhiking or engaging in sex work. The murders remain unsolved to this day.

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Freeway Phantom

Location: Washington D.C.
Years active: 1971-1972
Number of Victims: Six confirmed

In the span of just one year, six African American girls, ranging in age from 10 to 18, were found raped and murdered along a freeway in the nation’s capital. The victims were said to be running errands when they were captured. In 2012, the Metropolitan Police Department offered a $150,000 reward for anyone who could help in solving the cold case.