Ohio is the American state best known for its corn and soybean fields. It is also known for its rich culture, love for sports, and as the birthplace of Neil Amstrong, the first man to walk the surface of the moon. However, this midwestern state is also home to a large number of serial killers. Even though California and Washington have had the most number of serial murderers in America, several serial killers from Ohio, such as Anthony Sowell and Martha Wise have been etched in the public memory owing to the horrific nature of their crimes.
In this article, we will explore ten of the most notorious serial killers from Ohio:
Cincinnati Strangler
The Cincinnati Strangler, an infamous serial killer, terrorized Cincinnati, Ohio, by raping and strangling seven primarily elderly women between 1965 and 1966. The suspect widely believed to be the Cincinnati Strangler is Posteal Laskey, a former cab driver. Although officially charged with only one murder, the panic gripping the city subsided after Laskey’s arrest and subsequent conviction, coinciding with the sudden halt in killings. This reinforced investigators’ assertion that they had apprehended the elusive Cincinnati Strangler.
Initially sentenced to death, Laskey’s punishment was later commuted to life imprisonment following the Supreme Court’s ruling against the death penalty. In February 2007, his parole was denied due to the heinous nature of the crime, his prior record, and the community’s opposition to early release. Laskey, incarcerated at Pickaway Correctional Institution, passed away on May 29, 2007, from natural causes, still behind bars.
Thomas Lee Dillion
Thomas Lee Dillon, a convicted serial sniper in Ohio, unleashed a wave of terror that claimed the lives of five innocent victims. Motivated by delusions and tormented by voices in his head, Dillon’s disturbing actions were driven by grandiose illusions that warped both his perception of reality and the lives of those he targeted. Operating from his pickup truck, he targeted unsuspecting individuals who were simply enjoying the serenity of nature. The motive behind his murderous spree remains a mystery, perplexing investigators to this day.
A manhunt was launched for Dillon after he claimed the life of his fourth victim on federal grounds, necessitating the involvement of the FBI in the investigation. A year later, Dillon’s illegal possession of a silencer led to his arrest, setting in motion a thorough examination that uncovered a trail of heinous killings. Ultimately, Thomas Dillon was found guilty of the murders of five people and faced the weighty consequence of a 165-year prison sentence. He ultimately passed away due while serving his sentence on October 21, 2011.
Martha Wise
Martha Wise, the oldest documented serial killer in Ohio, USA, gained notoriety as “The Borgia of America.” Born in 1885, Martha found herself widowed and destitute by the age of 40, residing alone on a farm in Ohio. It was during this time that she developed an infatuation with a much younger man. Despite her yearning to marry him, Martha’s family opposed the union, subjecting her to ridicule and exclusion.
Driven by a toxic mix of resentment and vengeance, Martha embarked on a chilling path of destruction. Using doses of arsenic, she attempted to poison seventeen of her family members, starting with her mother and extending to uncles, aunts, and other relatives. Tragically, her sinister plan succeeded in claiming the lives of three victims, while the others managed to survive the poisonings and grow suspicious of Martha’s actions.
Faced with mounting suspicion, Martha’s family members reported their concerns to local authorities, prompting an investigation. Soon enough, the truth unraveled, and Martha’s guilt became undeniable. She eventually confessed to the murders of three relatives, initially attempting to evade responsibility by pleading insanity. However, the judge deemed her mentally fit to stand trial. She was sentenced to life imprisonment and spent the remainder of her days behind bars before eventually passing away on June 28, 1971.
Ariel Castro
Ariel Castro, hailing from Puerto Rico, relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, during his early years. Little did anyone know that this unassuming man would go on to become a notorious kidnapper, rapist, and serial killer. In 2002, Castro imprisoned 20-year-old Michelle Knight in his residence. The following year, he ruthlessly abducted 16-year-old Amanda Berry, and in 2004, he forcefully took 14-year-old Gina DeJesus, holding her captive in his basement. For an agonizing period, Castro chained these three women, and whenever any of them got pregnant he would cause a miscarriage.
Despite his sinister actions, Castro cunningly maintained a façade of normalcy, seamlessly blending into society. He continued his job as a school bus driver, successfully diverting any suspicion. But in 2013, Amanda managed to break free from captivity and alerted the authorities, leading to his arrest and the rescue of the other women held captive. He was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole before ultimately committing suicide while serving his sentence on September 3, 2013.
Donald Harvey
Donald Harvey, an infamous American serial killer, gained notoriety for his chilling crimes committed between 1970 and 1987. Dubbed the “Angel of Death,” Harvey claimed to have killed 87 people, although official estimates suggest a range between 37 and 57 victims. His heinous acts took place while he worked as a hospital orderly, earning trust and access to vulnerable individuals.
Enduring years of abuse by an uncle during his early childhood in the 1950s, Harvey found solace neither in education nor stability. By the age of 18, he found himself caring for his ailing grandfather at Marymount Hospital. Impressed by his presence, the hospital offered him a position. Little did they know the horror that awaited them.
Merely two months into his employment, Harvey committed his first murder. Using a pillow, he smothered a patient, claiming it to be an act of empathy. This act marked the beginning of a spree that claimed the lives of 15 individuals at the same hospital. After being dismissed for stealing hospital equipment, Harvey secured another job at the Veterans Administration Medical Centre, where he callously took the lives of 18 more victims. Later, at Cincinnati Drake Memorial Hospital, he continued his murderous path, ending the lives of 26 patients.
Later, Harvey’s wrath extended beyond hospital walls to neighbors, family members, and partners, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. When questioned about his motives, he chillingly admitted that he committed these acts simply because he derived pleasure from them.
Incarcerated and serving 28 life sentences at the Toledo Correctional Institution in Toledo, Ohio, Harvey attempted to evade execution by pleading guilty to murder charges. His macabre journey came to a grim end on March 28, 2017, when fellow inmate James Elliott took his life in the confines of his jail cell.
Edward Edwards
Edward Edwards, an American serial killer hailing from Akron, Ohio, left a trail of darkness in his wake. Though formally charged with five murders, authorities suspect his involvement in seven additional killings. Edwards’ troubled upbringing in an orphanage shaped his troubled path, marked by physical and emotional abuse at the hands of nuns. Released from juvenile detention, he joined the U.S. Marines but eventually deserted and faced a dishonorable discharge.
Engaging in criminal activities, Edwards was incarcerated for robbery, yet he managed to escape from a jail in Akron, Ohio 1955, subsequently earning a spot on the FBI’s notorious “Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals” list. Eventually recaptured, he returned to prison. Curiously, following his release, Edwards sought a public platform to advocate for prison reform, even participating in television programs centered around his past crimes.
However, just three years after regaining freedom, Edward Edwards committed two double homicides targetting couples in 1977 and 1980. His fifth confirmed kill happened in 2011 when he murdered his adoptive son for insurance money. Edwards faced justice and was convicted for the murder of five individuals in 2011, ultimately receiving a death sentence. He passed away due to natural causes while awaiting execution on death row.
Robert Bredella
Robert Berdella, also known as “The Kansas City Butcher” and “The Collector,” was born in Ohio, although he did not commit any murders in the state. Bredella, who had a troubled childhood marked by bullying, became a loner. At the age of eighteen, he moved to Kansas City to pursue studies at the Kansas City Institute of Art. However, he spiraled into drug use and alcohol abuse, leading to his expulsion during his second year for killing a dog in the name of art.
Between 1984 and 1987, Robert Berdella embarked on a horrific spree of torture and murder. He brutally mutilated, r*ped, and killed a total of five men. His methods became increasingly sadistic and audacious. However, when his sixth victim managed to escape, the police apprehended Berdella. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, just four years later, Berdella passed away from a heart attack on October 8, 1992, while in prison.
Michael Madison
Michael Madison, born out of an unwanted pregnancy and lacking a father figure in his life, embarked on a path of criminality during his teenage and young adult years. By 2002, he had already encountered legal troubles, including drug possession and an attempted r*pe, resulting in a four-year prison sentence.
Between 2012 and 2013, Michael Madison abducted and strangled three women after meeting them at a bar. Their lifeless bodies were disposed of in trash bags, concealed within his house, garage, and yard. The stench emanating from the decomposing remains aroused suspicions among Madison’s neighbors and authorities.
Michael Madison was charged with three counts of murder and received a death sentence. He is currently incarcerated at Chillicothe Correctional Institution, awaiting execution.
Anthony Sowell
Anthony Sowell, an African American serial killer from Ohio, claimed the lives of eleven individuals, leaving his community in shock owing to his prior military service and the commendations he had received. Despite his respectable facade, Sowell had a criminal history, having served time in jail for attempting to restrain and r*pe a pregnant woman.
The shocking revelation of Sowell’s true nature unfolded in October 2009 when a woman came forward to report being r*ped by him. Police officers who responded to the report were confronted with a gruesome scene upon entering his residence—an unsettling odor permeated the air, and two lifeless bodies lay in his living room. Further investigation uncovered a chilling reality—Sowell had not only taken the lives of eleven people but had also concealed their remains within his property, both inside his house and buried in the garden.
In 2011, Sowell was sentenced to death following his conviction for the murders. He eventually passed away due to a terminal illness while he was confined at Ohio’s Franklin Medical Center, at the age of 61.
Richard Lenardic
Richard, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, was born in 1929 and gained notoriety as a serial killer. Over the course of nearly four decades, from 1946 to 1983, he claimed the lives of five individuals, comprising four women and one man. Utilizing his position as a cleaner, he cunningly perpetrated these murders while also stealing valuable belongings from the victims’ residences.
Upon apprehension, authorities discovered a substantial cache of stolen items in his possession. Consequently, Richard faced murder charges and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He ultimately passed away at the age of 68 while serving his sentence in prison.