The 3 Worst Serial Killers Of The Victorian Era

Introduction and Background

The Victorian Era, which lasted from 1837 to 1901, was a time of significant social and economic change in England. The era was marked by the rise of the middle class, the expansion of the British Empire, and a shift towards more modern social and cultural norms.

However, this time period was also marked by some of the most notorious serial killers in history.

During the Victorian era, a number of individuals gained notoriety for their brutal and shocking crimes. These killers, who often targeted vulnerable members of society, including women and children, left a lasting impact on the public psyche and continue to fascinate and horrify people to this day.

One of a series of images from the Illustrated London News for October 13, 1888 carrying the overall caption, "With the Vigilance Committee in the East End". This specific image is entitled "A Suspicious Character". Jack The Ripper, 1888. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

Jack the Ripper

Jack the Ripper is perhaps the most well-known serial killer of the Victorian era. This infamous killer is believed to have been responsible for the murders of at least five women in the Whitechapel area of London between August and November of 1888. The victims of Jack the Ripper were all prostitutes, and their bodies were left in public places, often with their throats slit and their abdomens mutilated.

Police photograph of the murder scene of Mary Jane Kelly, the 5th canonical victim of Jack the Ripper. November 9, 1888. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

The killer’s gruesome modus operandi captured the attention of the public and the press, and the case quickly became one of the most high-profile investigations of the era. Despite an extensive investigation, the identity of Jack the Ripper remains a mystery to this day. The killer was never caught, and the case continues to inspire speculation and conspiracy theories.

One of the most notable aspects of the Jack the Ripper case is the way it captured the imagination of the public. The press coverage of the murders was intense and sensational, and the killer was given a number of sensationalized nicknames, including “The Whitechapel Murderer” and “Leather Apron.”

Illustration from The Illustrated Police News, 6 October 1888. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

The case also sparked widespread fear and paranoia among the people of London. Women were advised to take precautions when walking alone at night, and there were calls for increased police patrols in the Whitechapel area. While the identity of Jack the Ripper remains a mystery, the case had a lasting impact on society. The killer became a symbol of the violence and social unrest of the era, and the case has inspired countless books, films, and other works of popular culture.

Amelia Dyer

Amelia Dyer was a prolific "baby farmer" and one of the most notorious female serial killers of the Victorian era. Dyer is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of as many as 400 infants and young children. Dyer operated in the late 19th century, offering her services as a “baby farmer” to unwed mothers and other women who were unable to care for their infants. In exchange for a fee, Dyer would take in the babies and provide them with care and shelter.

Photograph of Amela Dyer upon entry to Wells Asylum in 1893. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

Instead of caring for the children entrusted to her, Dyer would often neglect and abuse them, allowing them to starve or die of illness. In some cases, she even killed the children outright, using methods such as strangulation or drowning. Dyer’s crimes eventually came to light in 1896, when the body of a baby was found floating in the Thames River.

The police were able to trace the child back to Dyer, and an investigation revealed the extent of her crimes. Dyer was tried and found guilty of murder, and she was hanged in 1896. Her case shocked and horrified the public, and it helped to expose the dangers of the unregulated and largely unmonitored practice of baby farming, which was a common practice in Victorian England.

The case of Amelia Dyer also highlighted the vulnerability of children in Victorian society. Many poor and working-class families were unable to care for their infants and young children, and the lack of social support and resources for these families meant that many turned to baby farmers like Dyer as a last resort. The horrific nature of Dyer’s crimes shocked the public and helped to bring about changes in the way society viewed and protected children.

In addition to her crimes, Dyer’s life story is also notable for the fact that she appeared to be an otherwise unremarkable and ordinary woman. She was a wife and mother who had worked as a nurse before turning to baby farming, and she did not fit the popular image of a "brutal and sadistic killer".

Mary Ann Cotton Mary Ann Cotton was another notorious serial killer of the Victorian era, who is believed to have killed as many as 21 people, including her own children and stepchildren. Cotton operated in the mid-19th century in northern England, and her crimes were marked by a pattern of insurance fraud and poisoning.

Mary Ann Cotton. English serial killer believed to have murdered up to 20 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning. Circa 1870 (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

Cotton married four times, and three of her husbands, as well as several of her children and stepchildren, died under mysterious circumstances. In many cases, Cotton had taken out life insurance policies on her victims, and she was suspected of poisoning them in order to collect the payouts.

Cotton’s crimes were finally exposed in 1872, when she was arrested and tried for the murder of her stepson. An investigation revealed the extent of her crimes, and she was ultimately found guilty of the murder of her stepson and hanged in 1873.

The case of Mary Ann Cotton is notable for several reasons. The murder for gain was largely unheard of at the time. Cotton’s manipulation of her victims and her subsequent use of poison as a murder weapon was also considered shocking and unusual at the time, and her case helped to expose the dangers of toxic substances in the home.

Cotton’s case also highlights the gendered nature of crime and punishment in Victorian society. As a woman, Cotton was initially seen as a sympathetic figure, and it was only when the extent of her crimes was revealed that she was seen as a monster. Her case also sparked debates about the role of women in society and the need for greater social protections for women and children.

In popular culture, Cotton’s case has like Jack The Ripper, been the subject of numerous books, films, and TV shows, and she has become a symbol of female violence and criminality. However, her case also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed, manipulation, and the abuse of power.

Conclusion The serial killers of the Victorian era continue to fascinate and horrify people to this day. Their crimes reflect the societal anxieties and fears of the time, and they highlight the vulnerabilities and dangers faced by women, children, and the poor.

The cases of Jack the Ripper, Amelia Dyer, and Mary Ann Cotton highlight the different motivations and methods of serial killers, from the sadistic violence of Jack the Ripper to the financial gain of Mary Ann Cotton. These cases also highlight the impact of these killers on society, from the fear and paranoia sparked by Jack the Ripper to the need for greater social protections for women and children exposed by the case of Amelia Dyer.

While the Victorian era may be long gone, the legacy of its serial killers continues to resonate with people today, reminding us of the darkest aspects of human nature and the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of society.

The Victorian era was marked by significant social, cultural, and economic changes, but it was also a time of great violence and brutality. The serial killers of the era, including Jack the Ripper and Amelia Dyer, left a lasting impact on society and continue to fascinate and horrify people to this day.

These killers targeted vulnerable members of society, including women, children, and the poor, and their crimes reflected the societal anxieties and fears of the time. The cases of Jack the Ripper and Amelia Dyer highlight the violence and social unrest of the era, as well as the dangers of the unregulated and largely unmonitored practices of baby farming.

Although these killers may have faded into history, their legacy lives on, reminding us of the dark side of human nature and the importance of protecting the most vulnerable in society.