California has the highest number of documented serial killers in the United States, with 128 individuals linked to the state, according to figures compiled by World Population Review. Texas follows with 90, and Florida with 76. Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, and New York round out the top seven states with the most serial killers.
When adjusted for population size, the rankings shift, placing states with smaller populations at the top. Wyoming, with only eight documented serial killers, has the highest ratio, equivalent to approximately one offender for every 73,584 residents. Alaska ranks second by this measure, followed by Oregon.
These figures represent documented historical offenders associated with each state and do not indicate the current number of active serial killers. Serial killings constitute less than one percent of all homicides in the US, with the majority of recorded cases occurring between 1970 and 2000. The rate has declined significantly since the 1990s.
Historically, most serial killers have been men operating alone. Financial gain is the most frequently recorded motive, accounting for 32 percent of cases, while 25 percent reportedly killed for pleasure. Anger motivated 18 percent, and gang activity accounted for six percent.
Common methods of killing in the US have included shooting, strangulation, and stabbing. Victims have been almost evenly divided between men and women, with a median age of 30.
Some of the most notorious serial killers in US history have been linked to specific states. Joseph James DeAngelo, known as the Golden State Killer, and Edmund Kemper operated in California. John Wayne Gacy terrorized Illinois, while Dean Corll was active in Texas. Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer, committed murders in Kansas, and David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam, was active in New York. Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, was convicted in Washington, and Jeffrey Dahmer committed many of his crimes in Wisconsin.
Between 1990 and 2020, the US recorded 12,236 victims of serial killings. California had the largest total with 1,777 victims, followed by Texas with 984. These numbers do not account for population differences among states.