Some murderers leave behind more than bodies—they leave behind legacies of fear, frustration, and mystery. While most serial killers eventually face justice, a chilling number have managed to vanish into the shadows, leaving investigators and entire cities haunted by the unknown.
These are the stories of 10 serial killers who were never caught. Their cases remain open. Their identities remain hidden. And their crimes continue to terrify.
Each killer on this list evaded capture, left behind a trail of unanswered questions, and in some cases, may still be alive today.
1. The Zodiac Killer (California, 1960s–70s)
Probably the most infamous unidentified killer in U.S. history, the Zodiac taunted police and newspapers with cryptic letters, ciphers, and threats. He claimed responsibility for 37 murders, though only 5 have been confirmed.
Despite numerous suspects, including a recently re-examined man named Gary Francis Poste, the Zodiac’s identity remains officially unknown. His coded messages and eerie symbol still fascinate true crime fans to this day.
2. The Long Island Serial Killer (LISK)
For over a decade, bodies of mostly female sex workers were discovered near Gilgo Beach on Long Island. The killer used burner phones and manipulated online ads to target his victims.
In 2023, Rex Heuermann was arrested in connection with several murders, but it’s still unclear whether he was the Long Island Serial Killer or merely one of them.
Multiple remains found near Gilgo remain unidentified. The full truth may never come to light.
3. The Cleveland Torso Murderer (1930s)
Also known as the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, this killer dismembered at least 12 victims during the Great Depression. Many of the victims were decapitated and disposed of in the most brutal fashion imaginable.
The case frustrated famed lawman Eliot Ness, who never managed to catch the killer despite massive investigations. The murderer’s identity remains one of Cleveland’s oldest cold cases.
4. The Servant Girl Annihilator (Austin, Texas, 1884–85)
Before Jack the Ripper terrorized London, another shadowy killer struck in Austin. The Servant Girl Annihilator murdered at least eight people, mostly African-American women, with axes and knives. Some were dragged outside and mutilated in horrifying ways.
Despite mass panic, police never found the killer, and some believe the same person may have later traveled to England—possibly becoming Jack the Ripper himself.
5. The Freeway Phantom (Washington, D.C., 1971–72)
This unidentified killer abducted, raped, and murdered six young Black girls, aged 10–18, leaving their bodies near highways. In one chilling case, he forced a victim to write a note taunting police.
Despite multiple task forces, the case was never solved. Some believe a gang was involved. Others suspect a lone predator who knew the area well.
6. The West Mesa Bone Collector (New Mexico, 2003–2005)
In 2009, a woman walking her dog discovered a human bone on Albuquerque’s West Mesa. Excavations uncovered the remains of 11 women and an unborn child, all believed to be sex workers who had vanished between 2003 and 2005.
The suspected killer used the desolate desert landscape as a dumping ground. The West Mesa murders remain one of New Mexico’s most disturbing unsolved serial cases.
7. The Colonial Parkway Killer (Virginia, 1986–89)
Between 1986 and 1989, at least four couples were attacked—three found murdered, one pair missing and presumed dead—along Virginia’s Colonial Parkway.
The killer (or killers) left behind few clues, and the rural, lovers’-lane-style attacks suggest careful planning. Some theorize it was a rogue law enforcement officer, based on witness accounts and forensic details.
8. The Highway of Tears Killer(s) (British Columbia, Canada)
Since 1970, dozens of women, mostly Indigenous, have disappeared or been murdered along Highway 16, known as the Highway of Tears.
While some cases have been solved, many remain open, and authorities suspect multiple serial killers may have used the vast, remote region to prey on vulnerable women.
Government inaction and systemic racism have further complicated investigations.
9. The Chicago Strangler(s) (2001–Today)
In the early 2000s, dozens of African-American women were found strangled and dumped in abandoned buildings or alleys across Chicago. Despite clear patterns, little attention was paid for years.
Community activists and data analysts later uncovered over 50 unsolved cases with striking similarities. Police still insist these murders are unrelated, but many suspect one or more active serial killers remain at large.
10. The Doodler (San Francisco, 1974–75)
Targeting gay men in San Francisco, the Doodler would meet his victims in bars, sketch them, then kill them—often by stabbing.
At least five victims are confirmed, but the number may be much higher. Police had a suspect in custody but were unable to move forward due to lack of testimony. In 2022, the SFPD renewed the case with new leads and DNA analysis, but no arrest has been made.
These ten killers remind us of an uncomfortable truth: some monsters get away with it. Whether protected by luck, intelligence, or sheer police error, their identities remain unknown. Their stories continue to haunt families, investigators, and entire communities.
As forensic technology advances, cold cases are being reopened—but some mysteries may never be solved.
Until then, these killers remain ghosts in the system—and SinisterArchive.com will keep their stories alive.