Between May 1918 and October 1919, the streets of New Orleans were gripped with terror. Families barred their doors. Newspapers screamed with theories. And all across the city, jazz filled the air—not just as music, but as a sinister omen.
The murderer was never caught. He never gave a name, but the public gave him one: The Axeman of New Orleans.
More than a century later, the case remains one of the most chilling unsolved serial killings in American history. In this article, we examine the Axeman’s brutal crimes, explore the theories behind his identity, and explain why the legend of the Axeman continues to haunt the world of true crime.
This is not folklore. This is a real story, with real victims, and a trail of horror still visible today.
The First Strike: May 23, 1918
The terror began at the home of Joseph and Catherine Maggio. Joseph, a grocer, and his wife were attacked while they slept. Their throats were slashed with a straight razor. Then, as if to ensure death, their heads were bludgeoned with an axe. The killer left the weapon behind.
Police noted no signs of forced entry. The murder weapon? It belonged to the Maggios. The razor? It came from Joseph’s barbershop.
Despite the brutality, nothing was stolen. This wasn’t a robbery. It was a slaughter. And it was just the beginning.
The Pattern Emerges
Over the following months, New Orleans saw a string of similarly gruesome attacks:
- June 27, 1918: Louis Besumer and his mistress Harriet Lowe were attacked in their bedroom with an axe. Both survived initially, but Harriet later died from her injuries.
- August 5, 1918: Anna Schneider, eight months pregnant, was found with a skull fracture. She survived. Her baby was born two days later.
- August 10, 1918: Joseph Romano, an elderly grocer, was struck with an axe and died two days later. His nieces, who were home during the attack, saw a shadowy man flee the scene.
Each attack occurred at night. Each victim was attacked in bed. Each crime scene featured a missing panel from the back door, suggesting silent entry. The killer always used an axe already present at the home, and nothing of value was ever stolen.
The victims? Primarily Italian-American grocers. The media took notice, and the public grew desperate for answers.
The Infamous Letter: A Killer Speaks
On March 13, 1919, the Axeman wrote a letter to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. It was a taunting manifesto, signed “The Axeman.” It read:
“I am not a human being, but a spirit and a demon from the hottest hell… At 12:15 (earthly time) on next Tuesday night, I am going to pass over New Orleans… I am very fond of jazz music, and I swear by all the devils in the nether regions that every person shall be spared in whose home a jazz band is in full swing…”
The threat was clear: play jazz, or face the axe.
That night, the city exploded in sound. Dance halls were packed. Families blasted records and hired live musicians. The Axeman struck no one.
Was it a joke? A stunt? Or a killer feeding off chaos?
More Bloodshed
Despite the chilling reprieve, the killings continued:
- August 10, 1919: Steve Boca, another grocer, was attacked with an axe in his home. He survived but remembered nothing.
- September 3, 1919: Sarah Laumann was attacked in her bed. She, too, survived.
- October 27, 1919: Mike Pepitone was found murdered in his home, his wife and six children asleep nearby. Blood soaked the walls. He would be the Axeman’s final known victim.
Theories and Suspects
Despite the brutality and media attention, the Axeman was never identified. Over time, investigators and theorists have proposed several suspects.
1. Frank “Doc” Mumphrey
Many believe the Axeman was Mumphrey, a shady figure involved in extortion and organized crime. He vanished from New Orleans shortly after the last murder. In 1921, he was reportedly shot dead by a woman named Esther Albano—a widow of Mike Pepitone.
This theory is compelling but not confirmed.
2. A Copycat Killer
Some believe the Axeman attacks were not the work of one man, but a series of unrelated murders sensationalized by the press. However, the consistency in method and timing suggests otherwise.
3. A Deranged Music Enthusiast
The jazz letter and the precise language suggest a theatrical killer who enjoyed fear and attention as much as violence. Was the Axeman a failed musician? A schizophrenic with a flair for performance?
We may never know.
The Axeman in Pop Culture
The legend of the Axeman has endured for more than a century. He has inspired books, music, and TV shows—including a fictionalized version in American Horror Story: Coven.
But beyond the myth is a real story. Real victims. Real trauma.
Searches for “Axeman of New Orleans real story,” “unsolved jazz killer,” and “historical unsolved serial murders” have surged as true crime fans seek to uncover the facts.
The Axeman of New Orleans was never caught. His victims are long buried. But his story remains—part fact, part folklore, entirely terrifying.
Was he a madman? A hitman? A devil in disguise?
Whatever the answer, his legend continues to echo, not just through jazz—but through every whisper of America’s darkest unsolved crimes.
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