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No matter how horrific the crime, perpetrators often provide their own twisted justifications: "Voices commanded me to kill those women," "He betrayed me with my spouse," or "I acted in the name of [insert deity here]." These chilling explanations frequently dominate headlines.
Occasionally, a killer steps forward with motives so peculiar that society is forced to pause and take notice. Humanity's fascination with violence and the mysterious makes these cases both horrifying and captivating.
10. Dennis Nilsen, Murdering for Companionship
Dennis Nilsen ranks among Great Britain's most notorious serial killers, shrouded in mystery. From 1978 to 1983, he lured 15 men with charming dates, only to end their lives. He typically strangled or drowned his victims, often after they were intoxicated. Nilsen would then meticulously care for the bodies, bathing and dressing them before arranging them in eerie displays around his home. He treated the corpses as companions, sometimes engaging in acts of necrophilia, earning him the moniker "The Kindly Killer."
Nilsen's murderous spree began at 195 Melrose Avenue in London, where he killed 12 men. He later moved to 23 Cranley Gardens, also in London, where he claimed three more victims. The discovery of suspicious bones by Dyno Rod, a drain clearing company, led to a police investigation. Bags filled with human remains found in Nilsen's closet resulted in his arrest.
Despite his detached demeanor, Nilsen cooperated fully with the police investigation. He assisted in locating the remains of his victims at both addresses and provided detailed accounts of the murders and the individuals he killed.
Nilsen has often been likened to American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, as both were driven by profound loneliness. His habit of keeping body parts and even entire corpses in plain sight and interacting with them is both tragic and horrifying. Dennis Nilsen is among the few British prisoners serving life sentences with no possibility of parole.
9. Robert Lyons, Avril Lavigne’s Most Dangerous and Devoted Fan
How far would someone go to see their favorite artist perform live? In 2011, Robert Lyons, 39, brutally murdered his mother after she refused to secure Skybox tickets for an Avril Lavigne concert in Chicago. In a fit of rage, Lyons attacked his 61-year-old mother, striking her with a champagne (or cognac) bottle and stabbing her nine times in the back. The assault was so ferocious that the knife's blade snapped off, forcing him to use a second weapon.
Lyons' violent outburst didn't stop there. In a bizarre twist, he poured Drano and other cleaning chemicals on his mother's body to "humiliate her," left the apartment to go shopping, and was later apprehended at a nearby Hooters restaurant. He was convicted and handed a 40-year prison sentence.
8. Brenda Ann Spencer, “She Didn’t Like Mondays”
"The silicon chip inside her head/Gets switched to overload"—I don’t like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats.
The hit song by Bob Geldof’s band topped Britain’s Singles Chart for a month. Unlike typical chart-toppers, this track was inspired by a chilling shooting spree carried out by 16-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer at a San Diego school. The troubled teen lived across from Cleveland Elementary School. On January 9, 1979, she opened fire from her home on students waiting to enter the school.
School principal Burton Wragg was killed while attempting to aid injured children, and custodian Mike Suchar was also shot and killed while trying to assist Wragg. As police arrived at the gruesome scene, Spencer began shooting at them.
During a 7-hour standoff inside her home, Spencer spoke to a journalist over the phone. She eventually surrendered to authorities and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Her next parole hearing is scheduled for 2019.
When asked why she committed the atrocity, Spencer’s only explanation, given to the journalist during the shootout with police, was: "I don’t like Mondays."
7. Craig Walter, The Disgruntled Fisherman
In 2005, two friends from East London headed to a canal near the Isle of Dogs for a fishing trip. Craig Walter, 34, and Maurice Wilson, 48, believed that cannabis and alcohol would make their outing more enjoyable. The pair smoked 15 joints and consumed large amounts of alcohol, with Walter indulging in the majority of both.
Unsurprisingly, both men were heavily intoxicated. While some people become cheerful and relaxed under the influence, others grow paranoid. Unfortunately for Maurice Wilson, Walter fell into the latter category. Wilson spent the day enthusiastically praising life and its joys, which seemed to irritate Walter. When Wilson declared, "I love life!" Walter snapped, attacking him with a knife. Wilson was stabbed 17 times simply for expressing his love of existence.
6. Uroko Onoja, 1 Wife too Many
Successful businessman Uroko Onoja was with his youngest wife when his other five wives stormed in, demanding he satisfy their desires as well. While this might sound like a fantasy, it turned into a nightmare. Armed with knives and sticks, the women forced him to engage with each of them simultaneously. After several rounds, Onoja collapsed and died, likely from cardiac arrest caused by exhaustion and shock. Reports suggest he was essentially raped to death.
The motive? Pure jealousy. What makes this case unusual is that it was the collective jealousy of multiple wives. According to recent updates, two of the wives have been arrested.
5. Walter Seifert, Hate Doctors, Kill Children.
—Taken from his Open Letter to Pharmaceutical Companies, Doctors and Medical Agencies written by the “Cologne School Massacre” perpetrator Walter Seifert.
These haunting words were penned by a man driven to madness by perceived injustices from the medical community and, to a lesser degree, the government. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Seifert believed he was denied his war pension due to doctors declaring his lung TB mostly inactive. His wife’s death during childbirth further fueled his resentment. Needless to say, he harbored a deep hatred for doctors.
Why this led him to carry out a horrific school massacre defies logic. Seifert crafted a lance from a broom handle and a triangular scraper, and a flamethrower using an insecticide sprayer filled with motor oil and paint thinner. He killed eight students, aged 8 to 12, and two teachers. The deranged man later consumed insecticide and died before facing justice.
4. The Matrix Defence
Blaming popular media for society's problems is nothing new. Whether it's rock music allegedly turning kids into Satan-worshipping baby-eaters (like The Who’s Mama’s got a Squeezebox) or pro-wrestling inspiring people to suplex their siblings, people love pointing fingers at institutions. Since The Matrix first captivated audiences, numerous cases have emerged where killers justify their actions by claiming they are living in the film’s reality—or rather, that this reality is an illusion. Confusing, right?
In recent years, the so-called Matrix Defense has gained surprising traction. Tonda Lynn Hamilton was acquitted on grounds of insanity after claiming she was "sucked into the matrix" when she shot her landlady. Vadim Misieges, Joshua Cooke, and Lee Malvo have also linked their crimes to the movie in various ways.
Don’t be surprised if a wave of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues-inspired crimes pops up after its release!
3. Fergus Glen, Two Little Words
We should all be more mindful of our manners. Whether it’s thanking the bus driver, saying “please” when ordering drinks, or expressing gratitude to a loved one who’s cooked you a meal (seriously, don’t forget this one!), politeness goes a long way.
In 2003, Fergus Glen, 36, from Wainuiomata, New Zealand, prepared dinner for his younger brother Craig, 33. Craig ate the meal without a word of thanks, which infuriated Fergus. In a fit of rage, Fergus killed his brother with an axe, later stating, "He just annoyed me and I did it. I’m not proud, but I did it."
The brothers had a long-standing feud, dating back to a physical altercation years prior. However, it was Craig’s lack of gratitude that pushed Fergus over the edge. Fergus is now serving a life sentence.
2. Jeffrey Hudson, Pride before a Fall
The tale of the legendary “Lord Minimus,” an English dwarf, court jester, and slave, is truly extraordinary. Born in 1689 in Oakham, Rutland, his life was filled with remarkable events, including being captured and enslaved for 25 years by Barbary Pirates. He shared his royal palace quarters with a Welsh giant named William Evans and a monkey called “Pug.” However, one of the most astonishing stories involves his duel with William Crofts, the brother of Queen Henrietta’s Master of Horses.
Despite being accustomed to ridicule as the Queen’s personal dwarf—famously presented to her by emerging from a giant pie in miniature armor—Hudson reached his breaking point after one insult too many. He challenged Crofts to a pistol duel on horseback and shot him in the head. At the time, the Queen’s court had relocated to France to escape England’s civil war, and dueling was strictly forbidden. Hudson was banished by the Queen and, after enduring 25 years of slavery, returned to England, where he was later imprisoned for his Catholic faith.
One lingering question remains: Why hasn’t Terry Gilliam turned this incredible story into a film?
1. Armin Meiwes, Mail Order Cannibal
An overwhelming desire to kill and eat human flesh is typically a clear sign of insanity. However, the methodical and almost courteous manner in which Armin Meiwes fulfilled his “childhood fantasy” of consuming someone raises the question: Was he a criminal or simply a taboo-shattering individual?
Meiwes posted an ad on the Cannibal Cafe website, seeking a willing participant. After several respondents backed out (likely realizing he was serious), Bernd Jürgen Armando Brandes, an engineer from Berlin, agreed. The two met, and Bernd was consumed. Was this murder? Initially, Meiwes was convicted of manslaughter, but a retrial later confirmed it was murder, resulting in a life sentence.
This case challenges the definition of murder, but one thing is certain: Meiwes’ actions were deeply immoral. Even he acknowledges this, urging others with similar cannibalistic urges to seek professional help before committing such acts. He has since become a vegetarian.
