# Most successful (famous, wealthy, respected) person who turned out to be a serial killer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315 "2014-07-04T01:43:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/21 "2014-07-04T16:06:33Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > Jones – that preacher who took his people to the Congo and killed all of them… Not a serial killer. Mass murderer. > **[Serial killer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer)** > > Note: Varies by jurisdiction > Note: Varies by jurisdiction > A serial killer (also called a serial murderer) is a person who murders three or more people, with the killings taking place over a significant period of time in separate events. Their psychological gratification is the motivation for the killings, and many serial murders involve sexual contact with the victims at different points during the murder process. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) states that the motive... > **[Mass murder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_murder)** > > Note: Varies by jurisdiction > Note: Varies by jurisdiction > Mass murder is the violent crime of killing a number of people, typically simultaneously or over a relatively short period of time and in close geographic proximity. A mass murder typically occurs in a single location where one or more persons kill several others. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/22 "2014-07-04T16:15:06Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > No votes for [Harold Shipman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Shipman)? A doctor (respected occupation) who murdered hundreds of his patients. (The wiki article says 250.) He gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/23 "2014-07-04T16:16:50Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > Jones – that preacher who took his people to the Congo and killed all of them… Missed edit window. Jim Jones. The incident took place in Guyana in 1978. > **[Jim Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones)** > > James Warren Jones (May 13, 1931 – November 18, 1978) was an American cult leader and mass murderer who founded and led the Peoples Temple between 1955 and 1978. In what Jones termed "revolutionary suicide", Jones and the members of his inner circle planned and orchestrated a mass murder-suicide in his remote jungle commune at Jonestown, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. Jones and the events that occurred at Jonestown have had a defining influence on society's perception of cults. > As a child, Jo... ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/24 "2014-07-04T16:32:15Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Adolf Hitler and Mao Zedong were not serial killers. > [Serial killer - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer) Thank you. Some people seem to be ignoring the word “serial” (and nominating “parallel killers”). ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/25 "2014-07-04T16:39:03Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Thank you. Some people seem to be ignoring the word “serial” (and nominating “parallel killers”). Yes, serial killer, mass murderer and spree killer are all distinctly different things. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/26 "2014-07-04T17:28:40Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > He gets my vote. Shipman is the most prolific as a killer, but I’d say Russel Williams was the more respected of the two. He was commander of Canada’s largest military base and slated (until he was caught) for the very top military commands; he hob-nobbed, literally, with royalty. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/27 "2014-07-04T17:41:25Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > H.H. Holmes gets serious consideration in the success category. He had his very own commercial building in which to despatch victims, which is a rarity among serial killers.\* > > \*if we can’t call Holmes successful because of legal troubles, … Everything Holmes had was a result of crime. When he bought the drugstore across the street from his future castle, he murdered the former owner so he wouldn’t have to pay her. In the building of the castle, he did not pay contractors, construction workers, and suppliers. He murdered guests at his hotel for their money, and murdered his lovers for theirs. He was not a successful businessman. His apparent wealth was a house of cards built on a foundation of embezzlement, theft, and death. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/28 "2014-07-04T17:42:26Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Adolf Hitler and Mao Zedong were not serial killers. > [Serial killer - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer) Glad somebody corrected/questioned that, did Hitler, Mao or indeed Stalin ever actually personally kill anyone? One of the most unpleasant individuals in history Adolf Eichmann who pushed for and facilitated mass murder in Eastern Europe was reportedly physically sick and shaken when he visited the scene of a mass shooting. Didn’t stop him from pursuing his policies leading to those shootings though… And on the topic, although I can’t find his name there was a recent serial killer who was caught when he had been accepted for and was in training with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which I always found kind of ironic in a chilling sort of way. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/29 "2014-07-04T17:45:54Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Glad somebody corrected/questioned that, did Hitler, Mao or indeed Stalin ever actually personally kill anyone? One of the most unpleasant individuals in history Adolf Eichmann who pushed for and facilitated mass murder in Eastern Europe was reportedly physically sick and shaken when he visited the scene of a mass shooting. Didn’t stop him from pursuing his policies leading to those shootings though… > > And on the topic, although I can’t find his name there was a recent serial killer who was caught when he had been accepted for and was in training with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which I always found kind of ironic in a chilling sort of way. Stalin had an earlier career as a bank robber. I don’t think he ever personally killed, though. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/30 "2014-07-04T17:50:03Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Everything Holmes had was a result of crime. When he bought the drugstore across the street from his future castle, he murdered the former owner so he wouldn’t have to pay her. In the building of the castle, he did not pay contractors, construction workers, and suppliers. He murdered guests at his hotel for their money, and murdered his lovers for theirs. He was not a successful businessman. His apparent wealth was a house of cards built on a foundation of embezzlement, theft, and death. I agree - Holmes would have been a scumbag grifter, even if he wasn’t a serial killer. What the OP is looking for, I think, is someone who is a real “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” type - who, if it were not for the serial killing thing, would be a highly successful, respected member of the community. To my mind, to date of the modern candidates (that is, excluding historucal figures) who are proven serial killers, I think Canada’s own Russel Williams is the best example. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/31 "2014-07-04T18:17:37Z")
Georgia Tann [http://www.examiner.com/article/georgia-tann-adoption-architect-child-advocate-and-baby-killer](http://www.examiner.com/article/georgia-tann-adoption-architect-child-advocate-and-baby-killer) They don’t tell a lot about her killing babies, but I saw her mentioned in a TV show where she would leave babies outside in the sun to die. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/32 "2014-07-04T18:43:45Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > Georgia Tann > [http://www.examiner.com/article/georgia-tann-adoption-architect-child-advocate-and-baby-killer](http://www.examiner.com/article/georgia-tann-adoption-architect-child-advocate-and-baby-killer) > > They don’t tell a lot about her killing babies, but I saw her mentioned in a TV show where she would leave babies outside in the sun to die. I couldn’t open the article for some reason, so I googled this person - what a nasty story. Pretty thoroughly evil. The articles I read suggested she was totally uncaring of the infants she stole and sold, and that many died of neglect. Is there evidence some were deliberately killed? And if so, why? From what I understand, to her they were merchandise. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/33 "2014-07-04T19:52:50Z")
Maybe not too wealthy and respected, but you’ve got to give [Charles Cullen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Cullen) credit for quantity! ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/34 "2014-07-04T20:20:45Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I couldn’t open the article for some reason, so I googled this person - what a nasty story. Pretty thoroughly evil. > > The articles I read suggested she was totally uncaring of the infants she stole and sold, and that many died of neglect. Is there evidence some were deliberately killed? And if so, why? From what I understand, to her they were merchandise. From what I’ve read if the baby wasn’t sold quickly or wasn’t what anybody wanted (s)he became a liability and Tann would have somebody take the baby out in the sun to die. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/35 "2014-07-04T20:22:37Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I couldn’t open the article for some reason, so I googled this person - what a nasty story. Pretty thoroughly evil. > > The articles I read suggested she was totally uncaring of the infants she stole and sold, and that many died of neglect. Is there evidence some were deliberately killed? And if so, why? From what I understand, to her they were merchandise. From what I’ve read if the baby wasn’t sold quickly or wasn’t what anybody wanted (s)he became a liability and Tann would have somebody take the baby out in the sun to die. [http://www.examiner.com/article/georgia-tann-adoption-architect-child-advocate-and-baby-killer](http://www.examiner.com/article/georgia-tann-adoption-architect-child-advocate-and-baby-killer) This should work ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/36 "2014-07-04T20:28:14Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > From what I’ve read if the baby wasn’t sold quickly or wasn’t what anybody wanted (s)he became a liability and Tann would have somebody take the baby out in the sun to die. So, basically, _unsalable_ merchandise. :eek: It isn’t the type of motivation one traditionally thinks of for serial killers, but I guess that would qualify. In fact, such callousness strikes me as almost worse in a way than sadistic sex murderers who are the more usual serial killers. She appears to have been well-connected, being buds with politicians and judges. So, a contender. Though I still think Russel Williams is the more prominent in terms of respect. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/37 "2014-07-04T22:28:58Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > So, a contender. Though I still think Russel Williams is the more prominent in terms of respect. The only time the Canadian Armed Forces have burned all kit issued to an individual. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/38 "2014-07-07T13:31:30Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > The only time the Canadian Armed Forces have burned all kit issued to an individual. Heh, I did not know that. They actually held a cleansing by fire? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/39 "2014-07-13T11:45:27Z")
Recently came across this one and thought it might be relevant (well if you consider being a police officer as a respectable occupation): > **[Tsui Po-ko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsui_Po-ko)** > > Tsui Po-ko (Chinese: 徐步高) (17 May 1970 – 17 March 2006) was a Police Constable of the Hong Kong Police Force, bank robber and serial killer. He is one of Hong Kong's most known serial killers. > He was killed during an ambush on two Police Constables in a Jordan subway which led to a shootout. The inquest into the events leading up to his death aroused great interest in Hong Kong, as it unravelled a string of intriguing events, and revealed the secret life of a policeman with a delusional state... Its certainly an odd one. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315/40 "2014-07-13T12:30:12Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > Jones – that preacher who took his people to the Congo and killed all of them… > [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Missed edit window. > Jim Jones. The incident took place in Guyana in 1978. > [Jim Jones - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones) The Congo is in Africa. Guyana is in South America. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-famous-wealthy-respected-person-who-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer/692315.md?page=3)