Hello, Tigers! We will be going through three of the worst true crime criminals who made history and are still well-known today: Jeffery Dahmer, Gary Ridgeway, and Nannie Doss. Stay tuned for these interesting, gruesome true crime stories!
Jeffery Dahmer
Between 1978-1991, Jeffery Dahmer murdered many teenage boys and young men. The Dahmer case is considered to be one of the most gruesome cases in history, shocking people from all over the world, and it continues to be discussed in documentaries, movies, and true crime stories today.
Early Life
Jeffery Dahmer was born on May 21, 1960, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He spent most of his childhood in Ohio, however. As a child, he was described as quiet and shy and he often had trouble making friends. His parents would argue a lot and his home life became stressful when he got older. During his teenage years, Dahmer had become very isolated from others and eventually developed a fascination with dead animals. He would collect animal bones and roadkill so he could study them. He also struggled with alcohol abuse at a young age; this affected his behavior and academics.
Crimes
Jeffrey Dahmer committed his first murder in 1978, not long after he graduated high school. His first victim was Steven Hicks, an 18 year old hitchhiker. Dahmer picked him up while Hicks was traveling near Dahmer’s home in Ohio. Investigators believe this crime marked the beginning of his criminal behavior. Dahmer ended up killing 16 more young men and boys. He attempted to kill 32 year old Tracy Edwards after leading him to his apartment. Edward immediately noticed something was off and was scared when Dahmer had handcuffs and threatened him. Edward cooperated and then managed to escape when Dahmer let his guard down. He flagged down police officers who ended up searching Dahmer’s apartment, finding photos of victims and remains. He was sentenced in 1992 after being convicted of 17 murders. He received 15 consecutive life sentences at Columbia Correctional Institution, where he was later killed on November 28, 1994, by Christopher Scarver.
This is Jeffery Dahmer on July 22, 1991, when he was convicted for 17 murders leading up to his 15 consecutive life sentences.
Gary Ridgway
Gary Ridgway, also known as the “Green River Killer,” is an American serial killer who was responsible for killing dozens of women in Washington State during the 1980s-1990s. His crimes are considered some of the largest serial murder cases is U.S. history. His investigation went on for decades before he got caught.
Early Life
Gary Ridgway was born on February 19, 1949, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He lived with his two brothers, mom, and dad in a poverty-stricken neighborhood near Seattle. Ridgway experienced a chaotic childhood marked by family abuse from his mother and academic challenges due to his dyslexia and low IQ.
Crimes
Ridgway committed his first crime when he was sixteen years old. He lured a six year old boy into the woods and stabbed him. The boy ended up surviving and Ridgway never got caught. The boy later said that Ridgway walked away laughing after he stabbed him.
Ridgway was later caught; a DNA sample connected him to his victims. Ridgway pleaded guilty to killing 49 women to avoid the death penalty, but investigators believe he had actually killed 70+ people. He’s now still in prison without the possibility of parole.
This is Gary Ridgway when he was convicted for 49 murders. He went to jail for the first time in 1982, having been sentenced to 49 life sentences. Now, he will spend the rest of his life at Washington State Penitentiary.
Nannie Doss
Nannie Doss was an American serial killer active in the early to mid 1900s. She was nicknamed the “Giggling granny” because she would laugh and smile when talking to investigators. Nannie Doss killed 11 people, and she would murder her victims by poisoning them.
Early Life
Nannie Doss was born on November 4, 1905, in Blue Mountain, Alabama. In her early life, she was forced by her controlling and abusive father to work on their farm; this made her childhood difficult. She received very little education and typically left school early to help with farm work and family responsibilities. At a young age, she was married off, which was common in the area they lived in during that time. Her marriage became troubled and unhappy and she ended up marrying multiple men thereafter.
Crimes
Nannie Doss killed 11 people by poisoning their food and drinks. Her main victims were people who she was close to, including her husband(s). The poison she used, arsenic, is highly toxic and was easy to get at the time. In 1954, one of her husbands suddenly died after being sick. Doctors became suspicious and tested him for poison; the results came back positive, leading to the arrest of Nannie Doss. During questioning, she confessed to multiple killings, leading to a life sentence in prison in 1954. She later died in 1965 from leukemia.
This is Nannie Doss when she was convicted of killing 11 people by poisoning their food in 1954. She was sentenced to 1 life sentence in 1955.
Jeffery Dahmer, Gary Ridgway, and Nannie Doss committed devastating, violent crimes. Each criminal had different motives and methods, but all three cases caused fear, pain, and lasting trauma for many families. These cases changed the way law enforcement investigates serial crimes.
We hope you were interested in reading a little about each of these chilling criminals and their cases!
References:
https://people.com/nannie-doss-giggling-granny-serial-killer-8761190
https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/serial-killers-part-7-jeffrey-dahmer
