Number of Serial Killings in Missouri Will Totally Blow Your Mind

I don't know about you, but I tend to be a bit naive. I had the question come up recently how many serial killings have happened in Missouri over the years. My guess was completely way off and I predict the total will totally blow your mind also.

I saw World Atlas share a new ranking which reveals how many serial killings have taken place in each state. Spoiler Alert - Missouri is near the top and the grand total is staggering.

What is your guess? A few dozen? Maybe one hundred? Nope. Way worst than that.

Grand total of serial killings in Missouri - 350

Blame geography, but many of the most notorious serial killers weren't born in Missouri, but thanks to vast interstate highways that cross the state, you have terrible villains like the I-70 killer that do their terrible deeds here.

According to Wikipedia, there are 34 serial killers native to Missouri though. One of the worst you may not have heard of was Earle Nelson who was known as the Gorilla Killer, Gorilla Man and Dark Strangler. He raped and/or murdered up to 29 people prior to his death in 1928. He reportedly had bizarre behaviors as a child which got worse after he suffered a serious head injury. He was allegedly the inspiration for the Alfred Hitchcock movie "Shadow of a Doubt". He was notorious for raping victims after they died and one who perished at his hands was a 13-year-old girl.

This is one of those strange factoids I wish I did not know now. I prefer being naive.