Episode One discusses Jack The Ripper (even though he’s not American), since he is pretty much the first recognized serial killer. Since a lack of real footage is obvious, this episode uses footage from an old black and white movie, loosely based on Jack The Ripper.
This episode is set in the 1800’s and talks of H. H. Holmes (Doctor Death), and Jane Toppan (The Angel of Death).
Episode Three is dominated by the story of Albert Fish (The Vampire of Brooklyn) mid-to-late-1800’s era. A depraved old man who killed, and ate, a child, mutilated himself with needles in his groin, and other strangeness. The episode shows how the Peter Lorre film, ‘M’, used Fish as it’s basis.
Episode Four moves in to the 1900’s covers The Boston Strangler, Ed Gein, and The Lipstick Killer.
Episode Five discusses The Zodiac Killer, The Son Of Sam, Charles Manson, and Ted Bundy.
Episode Six looks at John Wayne Gacy (The Killer Clown), and The Highway Killers.
Episode Seven shows The Hillside Stranglers and The Beltway Snipers. The Snipers were really very different in their serial killing, since they killed from a distance, something that hadn’t really been done, or considered, before.
Episode Eight discusses the Gainesville Ripper, the Unabomber and Henry Lee Lucas, showing that serial killers come from all walks of life and from all levels of intellect.
Episode Nine explains how killers such as, The Green River Killer and BTK, were caught. Usually using sheer luck, or small, seemingly insignificant items. Interestingly, it also pokes a finger at the cops saying how they are reluctant to involve the FBI, or even share information between one another.
Episode Ten tries to explain ‘Why Serial Killers Kill‘ using The Night Stalker, and Jeffrey Dahmer as example. Ramirez (The Night Stalker) basically became a rock star with women wanting to marry him, while Dahmer, using cannibalism, wanted to simply keep his victims forever.
