Serial killers have been around since the beginning of time, but since their peak in the ’80s, the number of active serial killers and their victims has seemingly begun decreasing. In a world with over 8 billion humans, why are there fewer serial killers than when the world had nearly half the current population?
Is it just that we are becoming worse at tracking them down? Have they become more adept at keeping their crimes hidden? Or are serial killers truly beginning to decline, and they become a thing of the past in our distant future?
Come along on the journey as we learn why there are fewer serial killers in the present day and what is causing their decline since their golden days during the ’80s.
| Decade | Active Serial Killers |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 254 |
| 1990s | 227 |
| 2010s | 66 |
Forensic Science Has Improved
When looking at why there are currently fewer serial killers in the modern day, we will start with one of the largest reasons, the improvement, and advancements made in Forensic Science. Yes, forensics is not always accurate, and they still make mistakes, but we have come forward from the new and budding modern version of forensics.
One of the biggest advancements we have seen in forensics is better DNA profiling and genetic testing that can be done to catch these killers before they can kill again and again. An excellent example is the Golden State Killer, a serial killer who operated between 1976 – 1986 and was finally identified via DNA. It was shown to be a man named Joseph DeAngelo, who is currently serving multiple life sentences without the chance for parole.
Alongside this improvement in forensic science, serial murder has simply become a much more dangerous prospect for people considering it. Serial killers who are caught are less likely to receive parole chances, have lengthier sentences, and police are more aware of the societal phenomena known as serial killers. All of this creates an unfriendly environment for potential serial killers and helps dissuade them.
A “Safer” Society
Something that can not be denied is that the ’80s were just a vastly different time and, overall, were less safe. The world is still incredibly unsafe, especially for minority groups and women, but the environment is less suited for serial killers now.
During the ’80s, people were more likely to go hitchhiking; they did not have mobile phones on them to call for help, cameras were everywhere, and children were rarely sent out to play all over town on their own. That, of course, begs the question, have we given up our privacy for safety? But that is a question for another day and another article.
Thanks to the increase in “safety” within our societies, serial killers have access to fewer easy-to-target people, and predators starve when there is no prey. People can call for help more easily; they no longer hitchhike and enter strangers’ cars, doors remain locked, and children are carefully watched.
But these improvements to anti-serial-killer safety features are not the only aspect of today’s society helping to decrease the number of serial killers. Psychology, a still new and evolving science, was barely prevalent during the ’80s. Sure, it existed in a sense, but they lacked the understanding we have today of the human brain and how it works.
Thus, we now have a better chance of helping those who may have mental states making them more disposed to becoming serial killers once they become older. It is important to realize that serial killers come from a mix of nature and nurture. By working on creating a society that prioritizes the mental well-being of its people, the likelihood of someone becoming a serial killer is decreased.
If you want to learn more about the common childhood signs that could indicate someone will potentially become a serial killer, check out this article! However, someone who exhibits some or all of these signs will not necessarily become a serial killer; it simply means they are at a heightened risk.
Hidden Killers Fooling Algorithms
On average, there are 15,000 homicides in America each year, and only around 150 of those are considered by the FBI to be committed by serial killers. Those 150 serial murder cases are done by 20 – 50 people each year, as there are, on average, still around 50 active serial killers each year. Now, how many of those 15,000 homicides have convictions each year? Police successfully solve only around 10,000 or 60% of all homicide cases.
That means 40% or 5,000 homicide cases are unsolved each year, which raises the question of how many of those are committed by serial killers. Do we simply believe that serial killers are becoming less prevalent because we never connect them to one of the 5,000 yearly unsolved homicides? Perhaps, and that is why Thomas Hargrove, a homicide archivist, created an algorithm to identify similarities detectives may overlook in cases.
Serial murder is difficult to catch because serial killers are good at what they do and often get caught because they slip up at some point. However, algorithms struggle with detecting serial killers just as much as an organic brain does, and that is because serial killers may change what they do. They may switch their method of murder and target different genders or races, which skews the data put into the algorithm.
Culture has Sensationalized Serial Killers
During the ’80s, serial killer sensationalism was at an all-time high, as everyone was focused on the present-day murders, and serial killers live for attention. Rarely does a serial killer commit their killings without some desire for attention, to have everyone know about them, which is one of the reasons that a serial killer may finally slip up, allowing law enforcement to capture them.
In modern times, though, we focus on the past serial killers. We all know Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, and Gacy, but current active serial killers are rarely discussed. Even with serial killers becoming more popular in modern culture, it is all about past ones and never really about modern ones.
So if someone who desires attention is unlikely to get through killing, they may turn to something else that does not involve murdering their neighbors. While this may play a smaller part in why serial killers have become less popular, it is still a piece of the puzzle.
Conclusion
Serial killers are thankfully becoming less prevalent compared to previous decades, and hopefully, in our future, and our children’s future, they will become a tale of bygone eras. If you enjoyed this article and found it helpful, check out some of our other articles! Until next time, stay safe out there, dear readers, and I will see you next time!