List of serial killers who were adopted. In the U.S., therehave been at least 500 known serial killers. Of that select group, 16% wereadopted. The number of adopted kids who have turned to murder is astounding,leading some psychologists to believe that some of the feelings that come withbeing adopted can lead to murderous thoughts. In fact, adopted men and womenare 15 times more likely to kill their parents. Is there a link between beingadopted and murder? If so, what are the circumstances that make an adoptedchild want to kill?
Joel Rifkin famously tried to use his adoption as a defensein his murder trial in 1994. He claimed that he murdered 17 women because ofthe trauma of being adopted lead to his insanity. Ultimately the defense didn’twork but it started a conversation about the link between adoption and murder.Some psychologists believe that the resentment and anger from adoption could bea possible cause for murder, but no concrete link has been proven.
This list includes the serial killers that were adopted at ayoung age. Whether their adoptions lead to their murders is up for debate.
http://www.ranker.com/list/serial-killers-who-were-adopted/ranker-crime,
Aileen Wuornos
Aileen Wuornos killed 7 men from 1989-1990 while working as a prostitute. She believed that each men attempted to sexually assault her and was therefore killing them in self-defense. She was sentenced to death and was executed by lethal injection.
Albert DeSalvo
Albert DeSalvo was better known as the Boston Strangler, who was responsible for the murder of 13 women. He never went to prison for those murders, but was incarcerated for serial rape. He was stabbed to death in prison.
Joel Rifkin
Joel Rifkin killed at least 9 prostitutes, although some believe he is responsible for the more. He was sentenced to 203 years in prison after being caught in 1993.
Joseph Kallinger
Joseph Kallinger killed three people and tortured 4 families from1974-75 in New Jersey. He used his 13 year old son to help him commit his crimes. He was sentenced to life in prison, but died in 1996 of heart failure.
Kenneth Bianchi
Kenneth Bianchi was half of the Hillside Strangler duo which was responsible for the rape and murder of 12 women. During his trial Bianchi attempted an insanity plea but was unsuccessful. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Richard Speck
Richard Speck tortured, raped, and killed 8 student nurses from the same hospital. The nurses were all living together in the same townhouse when Speck broke in and attacked them. One nurse stayed hidden from him and was able to survive. He was sentenced to death but it was overturned. He later died of heart failure while in prison.
Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy killed at least 30 women from 1974 to 1978. He kidnapped, raped, and killed victims in multiple states. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was executed by electrocution in 1989.
Tommy Lynn Sells
Tommy Lynn Sells claims to be responsible for the deaths of over 70 people, although less than a dozen of those alleged crimes were proven. He was sentenced to death and is set to be executed in April 2014.
Christian Longo
Christian Longo killed his wife and three young children in 2001. He spent some time on the FBI's most wanted list while hiding out in Mexico. He was caught in 2002 and sentenced to death.
Max Gufler
Max Gufler used personal ads to lure women ibefore killing them. From 1946-1958, he killed 18 or more women using multiple methods, from poisoning to drowning. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1961 and died a few years later.