List of rampage killers (familicides in the United States)
This is a list of familicides that occurred in the United States. Being part of the list of rampage killers, the latter's terms of inclusion are also applied here.
A rampage killer has been defined as follows: This list should contain every case with at least one of the following features:
- Rampage killings with 6 or more dead
- In all cases the perpetrator is not counted among those killed or injured.
All abbreviations used in the table are explained below. __TOC__
Rampage killers
Perpetrator |
Date |
Year |
Location |
State |
Killed |
Injured |
W |
Additional Notes |
Ref. |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. |
Simmons, Ronald Gene, |
Dec. 22–28 |
1987 |
Russellville |
Arkansas |
FMO |
Sentenced to death and executed |
|||
2. |
Banks, George Emil, |
Sep. 25 |
1982 |
Wilkes-Barre |
Pennsylvania |
F |
Sentenced to death |
|||
3. |
Ruppert, James Urban, * |
March 30 |
1975 |
Hamilton |
Ohio |
F |
Sentenced to eleven consecutive life terms |
|||
4. |
Pardo, Bruce Jeffrey, |
Dec. 24 |
2008 |
Covina |
California |
FAE |
Committed [...] |
|||
5. |
Clemmens, Abel, 33* |
Nov. 10 |
1805 |
Clarksburg |
Virginia |
M |
Sentenced to death and executed |
|||
6. |
Woolfolk, Thomas George, 27* |
Aug. 6 |
1887 |
Macon |
Georgia |
M |
Sentenced to death and executed |
|||
7. |
Hassell, George Jefferson, 39* |
Dec. 5 |
1926 |
Farwell |
Texas |
FM |
Sentenced to death and executed |
|||
8. |
Waszak, John, * |
April 18 |
1937 |
Muskego |
Wisconsin |
E |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
9. |
Acquin, Lorne Joe, |
July 22 |
1977 |
Prospect |
Connecticut |
MA |
Sentenced to 105 years to life |
|||
10. |
Wesson, Marcus Delon, * |
March 12 |
2004 |
Fresno |
California |
F |
Sentenced to death |
|||
11. |
de Capua, Tony, 42 |
Sep. 3 |
1927 |
Youngstown |
Ohio |
F |
Found not guilty by reason of insanity |
|||
12. |
Purrington, James, 46* |
July 9 |
1806 |
Augusta |
Maine |
M |
Committed [...] |
|||
13. |
Heinze, Guy, 22* |
Aug. 29 |
2009 |
Brunswick |
Georgia |
M |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
14. |
Torres, Rafael, 40* |
June 25 |
1969 |
Jersey City |
New Jersey |
M |
Arrested |
|||
15. |
Russell, Francis Lloyd, * |
June 4 |
1925 |
Hamilton |
Ohio |
F |
Found not guilty by reason of insanity |
|||
16. |
Gonzalez, Celestino P., 36 |
July 9 |
1936 |
Indiana Harbor |
Indiana |
FM |
Committed [...] |
|||
17. |
Gragg, Ralph M., * |
May 2 |
1951 |
Collettsville |
North Carolina |
FMA |
Committed [...] |
|||
18. |
Akulonis, Peter Joseph, 39* |
April 15 |
1953 |
Lawrence |
Massachusetts |
FM |
Committed [...] |
|||
19. |
Pierce, Etheridge, 17 |
March 26/29 |
1992 |
New York City |
New York |
F |
Sentenced to 75 years for three of the murders |
|||
20. |
Speight, Christopher Bryan, 39 |
Jan. 17/19 |
2010 |
Appomattox |
Virginia |
F E |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
21. |
Conley, David Ray, 48 (suspect) |
Aug. 8 |
2015 |
Houston |
Texas |
F |
Arrested and charged |
|||
22. |
Godbolt, Willie Corey, 35 (suspect) |
May 27 |
2017 |
Bogue Chitto & Brookhaven |
Mississippi |
F |
Arrested |
|||
23. |
Salcido Bojorquez, Ramon, |
April 14 |
1989 |
Sonoma County |
California |
FM |
Sentenced to death |
|||
24. |
Hildebrandt, Hannah, * |
Jan. 13 |
1896 |
Marysville |
Kansas |
P |
Committed [...] |
|||
25. |
Collett, George M., 45 |
Jan. 8 |
1935 |
Mount Vernon |
Kentucky |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
26. |
Lias, Frankie, * |
Feb. 18 |
1974 |
Fayette |
Mississippi |
F |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
27. |
Kirby, Judy, |
March 25 |
2000 |
Martinsville |
Indiana |
V |
Sentenced to 215 years in prison |
|||
28. |
Aldridge, Joseph Jesse, 36 |
Feb. 26 |
2015 |
Tyrone |
Missouri |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
29. |
Kaiser, Moritz, 50* |
Feb. 28/ |
1878 |
Monroe County |
Illinois |
MA |
Perished in the fire |
|||
30. |
Reid, Nathan |
Dec. 25 |
1887 |
Worth County |
Georgia |
MA |
Committed [...] |
|||
31. |
Boecker, John, 34* |
Sep. 26 |
1897 |
Carrolton |
Iowa |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
32. |
Krauss, Adolph* |
March 12 |
1903 |
Bellefontaine |
Missouri |
M |
Committed [...] |
|||
33. |
Markham, Julia* |
Sep. 30 |
1905 |
Cambridge |
Illinois |
MA |
Committed [...] |
|||
34. |
Ayer, Charles H., 43* |
Jan. 17 |
1906 |
Pembroke |
New Hampshire |
FO |
Committed [...] |
|||
35. |
Grant, James T.* |
Dec. 26 |
1911 |
Benton |
Arkansas |
M |
Committed [...] |
|||
36. |
O'Kane, Daniel, * |
March 6 |
1916 |
Lawton |
Oklahoma |
FM |
Committed [...] |
|||
37. |
Stravisar, Mary* |
July 29 |
1919 |
Kimberly |
Ohio |
A |
Committed [...] |
|||
38. |
Lawson, Charles Davis, * |
Dec. 25 |
1929 |
Germanton |
North Carolina |
FM |
Committed [...] |
|||
39. |
Geller, Ethel, 44* |
May 6 |
1930 |
Columbus |
Ohio |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
40. |
Gravlin, William G., * |
Sep. 29 |
1964 |
Troy |
Michigan |
FM |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
41. |
Belcher, Harry M., * |
Jan. 25 |
1965 |
Ferndale |
Michigan |
A |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
42. |
Hanks, Lee M., |
July 6 |
1981 |
Syracuse |
New York |
A |
Sentenced to 20 years to life |
|||
43. |
Haggart, Robert Lee, * |
Feb. 17 |
1982 |
Farwell |
Michigan |
F |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
44. |
Lynam, Daniel Patrick, * |
July 12 |
1987 |
Tacoma |
Washington |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
45. |
Schnick, James Eugene, 36* |
Sep. 25 |
1987 |
Elkland |
Missouri |
FM |
Sentenced to death |
|||
46. |
Avanesian, Jorjik, 40* |
Feb. 6 |
1996 |
Glendale |
California |
A |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
47. |
Spirit, Don Charles, 51* |
Sep. 18 |
2014 |
Bell |
Florida |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
48. |
Helde, Paul* |
July 17 |
1881 |
Eagle Creek Valley |
Wisconsin |
FM |
Committed [...] |
|||
49. |
Crump, Danny Eugene, |
Sep. 20 |
1980 |
Olathe |
Kansas |
E |
Sentenced to six consecutive life terms |
|||
50. |
Dotson, Jessie L., |
March 2 |
2008 |
Memphis |
Tennessee |
FM |
Sentenced to death |
|||
51. |
Kline, Sherman, 38 |
Dec. 18 |
1968 |
Carlinville |
Illinois |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
52. |
McConaughy, Robert, 31* |
May 30 |
1840 |
Hill Valley |
Pennsylvania |
FM |
Sentenced to death and executed |
|||
53. |
Cooper, ---, 42* |
June 12 |
1908 |
Cadillac |
Michigan |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
54. |
Schoch, Kathryn, 37* |
Dec. 22/23 |
1934 |
Dunkirk |
New York |
FP |
Committed [...] |
|||
55. |
David, Rachel, 38* |
Aug. 3 |
1978 |
Salt Lake City |
Utah |
O |
Committed [...] |
|||
56. |
Bell, King Edward, 31 |
Aug. 21 |
1981 |
Indianapolis |
Indiana |
F |
Sentenced to six consecutive 40-year terms |
|||
57. |
Haskell, Ronald Lee, 33 (suspect) |
July 9 |
2014 |
Spring |
Texas |
F |
Arrested and charged |
|||
58. |
Stone, Bradley William, 35 |
Dec. 15 |
2014 |
Souderton, Lansdale, & Lower Salford Township |
Pennsylvania |
FM |
Committed [...] |
|||
59. |
O'Neil, Edward* |
Sep. 11 |
1846 |
Overton County |
Tennessee |
Committed [...] |
||||
60. |
Dakin, ---* |
March 25 |
1871 |
Stonefort |
Illinois |
M |
Committed [...] |
|||
61. |
Gallegos, Jose Trujillo |
Feb. 17 |
1885 |
Las Norias |
New Mexico |
M |
Arrested |
|||
62. |
Dunham, James C. |
May 26 |
1896 |
Campbell |
California |
FM |
Escaped |
|||
63. |
Hansen, Jens* |
Jan. 12 |
1896 |
Chicago |
Illinois |
P |
Committed [...] |
|||
64. |
Kloettke, Richard, 38* |
Feb. 5 |
1896 |
Chicago |
Illinois |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
65. |
Wurzer, Rosa, 40* |
Feb. 24 |
1901 |
Uniontown |
Washington |
MO |
Arrested |
|||
66. |
Naramore, Elizabeth A.* |
March 21 |
1901 |
Coldbrook Springs |
Massachusetts |
M |
Found not guilty by reason of insanity |
|||
67. |
Westrope, Mary E. "Mollie", 38* |
June 15 |
1902 |
Brandywine |
Mississippi |
FA |
Arrested |
|||
68. |
Stephens, Edwin, 35* |
May 24 |
1905 |
San Rafael |
California |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
69. |
McWilliams, William S., 44* |
Nov. 24 |
1905 |
Littleton |
Iowa |
M |
Sentenced to death |
|||
70. |
Johnson, Ellen C., 36* |
Oct. 23 |
1911 |
Braddock |
North Dakota |
A |
Perished in the fire |
|||
71. |
Wychopen, John, 40* |
April 29/30 |
1916 |
Holland |
Texas |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
72. |
Klocow, Frank, 49* |
Sep. 3/4 |
1921 |
Ormsby |
Minnesota |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
73. |
Taylor, Guy M., 35* |
Feb. 11/12 |
1927 |
Utica |
New York |
M |
Committed [...] |
|||
74. |
Millis, Phillip, 37* |
Dec. 12 |
1927 |
Hennessey |
Oklahoma |
M |
Committed [...] |
|||
75. |
Pasos, Marie, 35* |
Feb. 15 |
1929 |
New York City |
New York |
P |
Committed [...] |
|||
76. |
Jackson, George, 35* |
Oct. 25 |
1931 |
Wagener |
South Carolina |
F |
Sentenced to death |
|||
77. |
Albers, William A., 54* |
Jan. 23 |
1936 |
Danville |
Illinois |
FM |
Committed [...] |
|||
78. |
Nollen, Elsie, * |
Aug. 28/29 |
1937 |
Denison |
Iowa |
P |
Committed [...] |
|||
79. |
Curtis, Lillie May, 38* |
March 16 |
1938 |
Center |
Texas |
F |
Sentenced to 495 years in prison |
|||
80. |
Nicosia, Louise, 43* |
July 10 |
1940 |
New York City |
New York |
P |
Committed [...] |
|||
81. |
Gibson, Esker Washington, 32* |
April 24 |
1941 |
Irvington |
Alabama |
MA |
Sentenced to death and executed |
|||
82 |
Seipel, Thomas, 31* |
Jan. 16 |
1942 |
Plum City |
Wisconsin |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
83. |
Pulliam, Mark, 34* |
Nov. 2 |
1942 |
Chatsworth |
Georgia |
MA |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
84. |
Dalrymple, Carl, 27* |
May 17 |
1943 |
Crossville |
Alabama |
F |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
85. |
Bauer, William Dilworth, 48* |
Jan. 28 |
1956 |
Parsippany-Troy Hills |
New Jersey |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
86. |
King, Rufus A., * |
Oct. 2 |
1956 |
Clinton |
North Carolina |
FM |
Committed [...] |
|||
87. |
Soper, Roland L., * |
March 4/5 |
1959 |
Lancaster |
Ohio |
MP |
Committed [...] |
|||
88. |
Pitelka, Charles E., 34* |
May 13 |
1961 |
Lockport |
Illinois |
M |
Committed [...] |
|||
89. |
Bauer, Roland, 31* |
May 6 |
1962 |
Zion |
Illinois |
M |
Committed [...] |
|||
90. |
Gregor, Elizabeth, * |
June 17 |
1963 |
Prospect |
Pennsylvania |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
91. |
Burgan, James D., 28 |
Dec. 3 |
1964 |
Detroit |
Michigan |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
92. |
Sartin, Mary M., * |
Aug. 13 |
1965 |
Bay View |
Ohio |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
93. |
Suarez, Jose Antonio, 22* |
April |
1966 |
New York City |
New York |
M |
Not prosecuted and set free |
|||
94. |
Bray, Charles, * |
Dec. 19 |
1968 |
Napa |
California |
FA |
Committed [...] |
|||
95. |
O'Leary, George T., * |
June 8/9 |
1973 |
Boston |
Massachusetts |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
96. |
DeFeo, Ronald Joseph, * |
Nov. 13 |
1974 |
Amityville |
New York |
F |
Sentenced to six consecutive life terms |
|||
97. |
Nelson, Simon Peter, * |
Jan. 7 |
1978 |
Rockford |
Illinois |
M |
Sentenced to six concurrent prison terms of 100 to 200 years |
|||
98. |
Gilbert, Gene, * |
Jan. 3 |
1981 |
Delmar |
Iowa |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
99. |
Ellis, Ronald Quitman, |
May 2 |
1981 |
Clinton |
Maryland |
F |
Sentenced to five consecutive life terms plus 10 years |
|||
100. |
Day, James Alan, * |
Oct. 18 |
1984 |
Evansville |
Indiana |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
101. |
Dreesman, Robert, 40* |
Dec. 30 |
1987 |
Algona |
Iowa |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
102. |
Forsyth, Rick Wayne, |
June 14 |
1993 |
Norwalk |
Iowa |
F |
Sentenced to six consecutive life terms |
|||
103. |
Her, Khoua, * |
Sep. 3 |
1998 |
Saint Paul |
Minnesota |
M |
Sentenced to 50 years in prison |
|||
104. |
Pangle, Richard Vincent, * |
Sep. 4 |
2000 |
Ava |
Ohio |
FA |
Perished in the fire |
|||
105. |
Soltys, Nikolay Alekseyevich, * |
Aug. 20 |
2001 |
Sacramento |
California |
M |
Committed [...] while awaiting trial |
|||
106. |
Wise, Jesse Dee, * |
April 8/9 |
2006 |
Leola |
Pennsylvania |
M |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
|||
107. |
Isadore, Hersel Michael, * |
Dec. 16 |
2006 |
Kansas City |
Kansas |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
108. |
Lupoe, Ervin Antonio, * |
Jan. 27 |
2009 |
Los Angeles |
California |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
109. |
Shaffer, Jacob Levi, 30 |
July 18 |
2009 |
Fayetteville |
Tennessee |
M |
Arrested |
|||
110. |
Damas, Mesac, 33* |
Sep. 18 |
2009 |
Naples |
Florida |
M |
Arrested |
|||
111. |
Yazdanpanah, Aziz, 56* |
Dec. 25 |
2011 |
Grapevine |
Texas |
F |
Committed [...] |
|||
112. |
Mantooth, Chamberlain, 50* |
Oct. 13 |
1906 |
Newport |
Tennessee |
M |
Committed [...] |
|
Abbreviations and footnotes
* – Marks cases where all the victims were relatives of the perpetrator
W – A basic description of the weapons used in the murders
- F – Firearms and other ranged weapons, especially rifles and handguns, but also bows and crossbows, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, or slingshots
- M – Melee weapons, like knives, swords, spears, machetes, axes, clubs, rods, rocks, or bare hands
-
O – Any other weapons, such as bombs, hand grenades, Molotov cocktails, poison and poisonous gas, as well as vehicle and arson attacks
- A – indicates that an arson attack was the only other weapon used
- V – indicates that a vehicle was the only other weapon used
- E – indicates that explosives of any sort were the only other weapon used
- P – indicates that an anaesthetising or deadly substance of any kind was the only other weapon used (includes poisonous gas)