Top 10 Most Evil Americans Ever

Ted Kaczynski

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As a young man, Kaczynski was a mathematics prodigy. At Harvard University, he underwent psychological experimentation designed to abuse and humiliate its subjects, which may have been part of the CIA’s mind-control program, MKUltra. He began a promising career at UC Berkeley, then suddenly resigned and retreated to the wilderness, determined to fight industrialization and the destruction of nature. Between 1978 and 1995, he mailed or delivered explosives to targets at tertiary institutions and aviation companies across the country, killing three people and injuring 23. The FBI dubbed him the University and Airline Bomber - leading to the nickname, the Unabomber. A manhunt finally caught Kaczynski in 1996, after which he was given eight life sentences.

Also known as the “Night Stalker,” Richard Ramirez was a serial killer who operated in California from April 1984 to August 1985. A frequent drug user, Ramirez initially began stealing to fund his addiction, before devolving into much worse. He carried out a number of home invasions, assaults, and murders, with a victim count of over 15. His interest in the occult provided a twisted trademark to his crimes, as he would order his victims to profess love for Satan or swear on Satan that they weren’t hiding any more valuables. The killing spree led to an extensive list of convictions, including 13 counts of murder and 11 assaults. Ramirez died awaiting execution from complications due to lymphoma.

After co-founding the film production company Miramax in 1979, Harvey Weinstein’s influence in Hollywood grew steadily. While he was known for his violent outbursts, his inappropriate behavior with women did not become public knowledge for many years. That is, until October 2017, when The New York Times and The New Yorker detailed multiple accusations of harassment and sexual assault. Subsequently, many other women in Hollywood also bravely came forward. Some recounted Weinstein coercing them into illicit acts, and threatening to end their careers if they spoke out. In 2018, Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Outrage over his abuses helped spark the #MeToo movement.

Better known as the Golden State Killer, DeAngelo’s reign of terror started in the early 1970s, while he was a police officer in Exeter, California. Although he began with burglaries and thefts, DeAngelo eventually advanced into more serious crimes, including kidnappings, sexual assaults, and murders. His terrifying methods involved stalking his intended victims, then breaking into their homes. For decades, the feared killer evaded capture, until 2018 when advancements in genealogical DNA testing led investigators to him. DeAngelo eventually pleaded guilty to 13 murders, among his additional crimes, which earned him multiple consecutive life sentences.

Ed Gein

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Although Ed Gein’s criminal activities were restricted to his home state of Wisconsin, they nonetheless made him one of the most notorious figures in the entire country. Gein was mostly infamous for stealing bodies from graves and keeping parts of them in his home as souvenirs. While searching his property for missing hardware store owner Bernice Worden, police found Gein’s disturbing collection, including clothing and other items fashioned from cadavers. The ‘Butcher of Plainfield’, as he was called, eventually admitted to two murders, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity. His disturbing methods served as the basis for many fictional characters, such as Norman Bates in “Psycho” and Leatherface in “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”.

Jeffrey Epstein

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Celebrity financier Jeffrey Epstein’s dealings earned him a lavish lifestyle and close ties to many high-profile individuals. In 2008, Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in prison for charges on prostitution charges. After his release, however, he continued to engage in similar crimes. Together with associate Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein trafficked underage victims, many of whom were taken to parties at his private Caribbean island. Arrested in 2019 on trafficking charges, Epstein was awaiting trial when he was found unresponsive in his jail cell and later pronounced dead. The circumstances surrounding his death generated controversy and were hotly debated, although reports ruled that he ended his own life.

Charles Manson

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The horrific crimes of the Manson Family brought about a destructive end to the 1960s. While struggling to make it as a musician, Manson accumulated a group of younger followers who became part of his infamous family. Manson developed a doomsday theory that involved a supposed apocalyptic race war, fueled by his interpretation of The Beatles’ song “Helter Skelter”. His cult murdered people in homes around Los Angeles, most notably Hollywood actress Sharon Tate. The gruesome crimes shocked the nation and, after a tumultuous court trial, Manson was put behind bars for good. The cult leader died on November 19th 2017.

He might not be a household name, but he’s considered by the FBI to be the most prolific serial killer in American history. He’s had more confirmed victims - 60 - than anyone else. And he confessed to murdering 93! Little’s activities spanned over three decades across multiple states, leading to him being arrested in at least 11 of them throughout his lifetime. Little was convicted in 1984 of attempting to kill two women. He was put in prison for two and a half years, but returned to his murderous lifestyle once released. It wasn’t until 2012, when Little was arrested again, that he was linked to several killings and sent to prison for the remainder of his life.

One of the most heinous figures in 19th century America, Nathan Bedford Forrest represents one of the country’s darkest chapters. His service as a Confederate general alone is highly controversial, to say nothing of the fact that he was a known slave trader. During the American Civil War, Forrest played a significant role in the Fort Pillow Massacre, which saw a group of mostly black Union soldiers killed after surrendering. Forrest’s radical leanings later led to his association with the Ku Klux Klan. As the far-right terrorist group’s first Grand Wizard, Forrest’s influence helped spread a wave of racist violence through Reconstruction-era America. Despite his clear offenses, some of Forrest’s supporters still seek to put a positive spin on his legacy.

Jim Jones

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As the leader of the Peoples Temple, Jim Jones was responsible for one of the worst mass deaths of US citizens. While his religious movement preached the wonders of an equal society, there was something much more sinister lurking underneath. Following a series of controversies and negative press, the cult leader moved his congregation to Guyana, where he set up a commune called Jonestown. In 1978, Congressman Leo Ryan traveled to Guyana to investigate whether or not Jonestown was holding individuals captive, but he was killed while trying to return home. Not long after this attack, Jones ordered his followers, at gunpoint, to drink poison - resulting in the deaths of 909 people.