H. H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer

Herman Webster Mudgett (May 16, 1861–May 7, 1896), aka Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, was one of the 1st American serial killers in the modern times of a blossoming America. In Chicago at the 1893 World's Fair, Holmes opened a hotel which he had designed and built for himself, containing trap doors, secret passage ways, and even a dungeon. Holmes did eventually confess to 27 murders, of which 4 were confirmed but the actual body count could reach as many as 200! He took an unknown number of his victims from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, which was less than two miles away from hotel which became known as the "Murder Castle." When searched the castle revealed confusing passageways built to bewilder victims as well as a large wooden table stained deeply with blood and hair. Before his capture, Holmes would trek across the country committing frauds and scams with Benjamin Pitezel whom he would later murder along with his entire family including young children. Henry also married and murdered having as many as 3 wives at the same time. Holmes disposed of his victims by cleaning the bones in his dungeon and selling the results to classrooms and colleges.

Holmes ultimate undoing came in the murder of the Pitezel Family and the arrest led to the horrors of his castle in Chicago. The notorious case received wide publicity and even rivaled the horror story of Jack The Ripper in London. Found guilty, Henry was executed but his neck did not snap in the noose instead lingering for 20 minutes.

Actor Leonardo Dicaprio and a group representing his interests, have purchased a script for a H.H. Holmes, America's First Serial Killer, movie. This legendary yet mostly forgotten story finds new life in the death of the murderers tale.