Holmes Americas First Serial Killer - 1139 Words

According Florida Gulf Coast University Serial Killer Database, there has been 2,625 serial killers so far in the United States, the most of any country in the world. However, this trend all started out with H.H. Holmes: America’s first serial killer. H.H. Holmes was born in New Hampshire as Herman Webster Mudgett in 1861. He was extremely bright in school and excelled beyond the other kids in his class. Because of this, he was bullied a lot by his jealous schoolmates. One incident stands out among all others, which was when Mudgett was dragged into the town doctor’s office and forced to confront a skeleton which he had previously found revolting. Despite the bully’s intentions, this cured Mudgett of his fear of skeletons, and made him more curious about the study of the human body and medicine, which piloted the rest of his career. Mudgett studied at the University of Michigan, where he finished college and medical school. Mudgett then moved to Chicago and chang ed his name to Henry Howard Holmes (H.H. Holmes) in 1886, where his torturous fantasies all began. Although this criminal mastermind only made one small mistake to make investigators red hot on his trail, H.H. Holmes should’ve been caught sooner because of his suspicious activities including the building of his castle and being involved in scams at the same time numerous people he was affiliated with went missing while selling copious amounts of skeletons shortly after they went missing. When Holmes moved toShow MoreRelatedDr. H. H. Holmes: Americas First Serial Killer Essay1527 Words   |  7 Pagesinspiration to sing – I was born with the Evil One standing as my sponsor beside the bed where I was ushered in the world, and he has been with me since† (Troy, Taylor). This statement was a quoted confession from Dr. H. H. Holmes himself in 1896. Holmes was the first major serial killer in America, even though he came after many others in his time. Thomas Neil Cream , the Austin Axe Murderer, the Bloody Benders, and Jack the Ripper came before him. His name was originally Herman Webster Mudgett. He wasRead MoreAmerica s First Serial Killer1347 Words   |  6 PagesH.H. Holmes, born in 1861 as Herman Webster Mudgett, was an extremely notable con man, fraud and murderer. More popularly known as America’s first serial killer, Holmes had a vast and varying criminal record. For instance, his criminal record ranged from forging checks and life insurance claims, to killing off entire families in his â€Å"murder† hotel. The one most identifiable pattern to his offenses resides in his economic struggle. As seen in a documentary directed by John Borowski, most of the individualsRead MoreSerial Killers: H. H. Holmes Essay2491 Words   |  10 Pagesnightmares, both fascinating and terrifying. Serial killers hide behind bland and normal existences. They are often able to escape being caught for years, decades and sometimes an eternity. Thes e are America’s Serial Killers (America’s Serial Killers). â€Å"Even when some of them do get caught, we may not recognize what they are because they don’t [sic] match the distorted image we have of serial killers† (Brown). What is that distorted image? That killers live among everyday life, they are the ones whoRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Devil Of The White City : Murder, Magic, And Madness At The Fair2200 Words   |  9 PagesThe textbook definition of a serial killer is someone who murders more than three victims one at a time in less than a month (â€Å"Serial† 1). H.H. Holmes was a devious and handsome young man. He was a very dangerous person that could not be trusted. On the other hand, the textbook definition of an architect is a person who designs buildings and in many cases helps supervise those projects. One of America’s greatest architects in history was Daniel Hudson Burnham. He led America to do great things inRead Mor eIs America s First Serial Killer Essay908 Words   |  4 PagesConsidered America’s first serial killer, H.H. Holmes demised a plan like no other to torture and kill woman in the early 1890’s in Chicago, Illinois (H.H. Holmes, 2004). Masquerading as a charismatic prominent businessman, and caring doctor, H.H. Holmes was a true monster (H.H. Holmes, 2004). Known later as the â€Å"torture doctor† or the â€Å"monster of 63rd street†, he methodically planned, attacked, and controlled his victims till the very end (H.H. Holmes, 2004). Born Herman Webster Mudgett on MayRead MoreAnalysis Of Erik Larson s The Devil 1250 Words   |  5 Pagesthe evolution of a serial killer. In doing so, Larson is able to explore the details of the fair in-depth, while keeping the interest of the reader. By using this organizational structure, Larson is also able to tell the gruesome tale of a serial killer without scaring away his audience. Overall, the pairing of these two stories helps to balance out the novel. Throughout parts I and II of the novel, Larson switches between the plotline of Burnham and the plotline of Holmes. The 1893 ChicagoRead MoreIn The Devil In The White City, Erik Larson Tells The Story1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson tells the story of two men, an architect and a serial killer, operating in Chicago during the 1890’s This novel describes the years surrounding the building of the 1893 Chicago World s Fair, also known as The World s Columbian Exposition, which was designed to commemorate the landing of Columbus in America. It is divided into four parts with the first three primarily taking place in Chicago between the years 1890-1893. However, Part four of the novelRead MoreThe City Of Chicago, A New City Block And Towering Three Stories Above Englewood1472 Words   |  6 PagesH.H. Holmes, who was formally known as Herman Webster Mudgett came to the city of Chicago. Throughout his lifetime Holmes had several other aliases that he used to elude numerous creditors and former acquaintances he feared would step forward with accusations of fraud, poisoning and murder, so deciding he would change his identity now going by Henry Howard Holmes. But, to the rest of the world he would forever become H.H. Holmes, torcher doctor, monster of 63rd street, America’s first serial killerRead MorePsychology of Serial Killers1430 Words   |  6 PagesWe serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands we are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow. Theodore Robert Bundy In the past decade, Americans and researchers have given more and more of their attention to serial killers. The United States alone has contributed about 85% of the worlds serial killers. It has been said that they come in many different forms. Society has many words for serial killers. Holmes and DeBurger define serial murders as consistingRead MoreEssay On The Devil In The White City883 Words   |  4 Pagesfair together. He dealt with economic struggles, union strikes, as well as injuries and death during construction. Along with Burnham, H.H. Holmes has come into to the spotlight during the fair’s days of service. However, he brought the fear to travelers and the locals, as well as the entire country. H.H. Holmes is well known for being America’s first serial killer whose main targets were females, and his motives lay sprawled across a particular margin varying from one crime to another. As Chauncey Depew