21 Famous Serial Killer Quotes And The Context Behind Them

When sentenced to die in the gas chamber, Richard Ramirez responded: "Death comes with the territory. See you in Disneyland."

Some people might be terrified at the prospect of imminent execution, but the Night Stalker - and other famous serial killers like him - see the world a little differently than everyone else.

And they all have something to say.

From the downright insane to the weirdly insightful, here's our list of creepiest serial killer quotes of all time, and the context behind them.

1. Ted Bundy

Perhaps one of the most famous serial killers in modern history, Ted Bundy confessed to 30 homicides and was likely responsible for many more. Furthermore, he wasn't shy when it came to speaking his mind.

The Ted Bundy quote above comes from an interview by authors Stephen G. Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth for their book Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Serial Killer.

While the book was released in 1989, the interview took place considerable time before, during a time when criminal profiling wasn't anywhere near what it was today. Bundy was on death row at the time, and so had no incentive to keep his thoughts to himself.

This quote gave a brief glimpse into the psyche of Ted Bundy, the extractions of which have aided serial killer researchers to this day. As far as serial killer quotes go, this is one of the most famous of all time.

2. John Wayne Gacy

Another one of the more outspoken serial killers, John Wayne Gacy, aka the Killer Clown, also had a lot to say for himself after his capture.

The most famous quote attributed to John Wayne Gacy is "you know, clowns can get away with murder." Sure, it's creepy as hell, but this little nugget is actually much more revealing of Gacy's true character.

John Wayne Gacy famously denied all of the murders he was sentenced for. The Gacy quote above was said to his evaluating psychiatrist during his trial, who later claimed it was spoken out of a combination of compulsive lying and an inability to take responsibility for the atrocities he'd committed.

It's quite fascinating that the Killer Clown was presented with hard evidence that he'd murdered at least 33 people, yet through some twisted mental gymnastics, thought he could convince others that he was simply running an unlicensed morgue. John Wayne Gacy shirts here.

3. Richard Ramirez

Richard Ramirez, AKA the Night Stalker was known for his nocturnal prowls around the Los Angeles backstreets and is one of the most infamous serial killers in history.

Ramirez wasn't your atypical serial killer like Ted Bundy or Dennis Rader. He was disorganized and reckless, burgling, raping and murdering everything from teenagers to pensioners.

Unsurprisingly, the man dubbed the Night Stalker wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He made quite a few infantile, edgelord type comments during his trial and whilst imprisoned, which is why this quote in particular stands out.

Richard Ramirez spoke the words from the quote above to a journalist while incarcerated. For someone of Ramirez's character, it's surprisingly insightful and mature.

4. Charles Manson

The notorious Manson Family leader certainly has no shortage of killer quotes attributed to him. The man behind the murder of Sharon Tate has a history of speaking his mind to say the least.

And Charles Manson has said some outrageous things, ranging from incredibly intriguing to pure gibberish. It's often said that there's a fine line between insanity and genius, and we'll let you decide which category Charles Manson falls under.

After Charles Manson was sentenced to life in prison in 1970, a lot of media outlets wanted to speak to the eccentric cult leader. In 1987, NBC were granted an interview, which is where the Charles Manson quote above came from.

It's interesting because it implies that the Manson Family potentially still lived on, perhaps through Manson's associates or contacts he'd made through the prison system. Shop Charles Manson t-shirts here.

5. Aileen Wuornos

While most serial killers take lives for the purposes of sexual gratification, Aileen Wuornos was a different kind of player. She murdered at least seven men throughout her short reign of terror in Florida.

Aileen Wuornos was driven by a hatred of men. She was a sex worker, and after being beaten, raped and abused by multiple clients, she finally snapped and began her murder spree in 1989.

The seven men she killed, Wuornos claimed, attacked her first, and that her murders were simply retaliation and self-defense. During her trial, she made this claim, making no secret of her intense hatred for not just men but the entire human race.

Wuornos's serial killer quotes vary from sympathy-inducing to downright bizarre. Interestingly, you can see the gradual decline in her mental state, from level-headedness to desperation, if you follow her quotes from capture to execution. Check out our Aileen Wuornos shirts here.

6. Albert Fish

Albert Fish, aka the Werewolf of Wysteria, was a deviant of the highest order. Not only did he kill and eat two local children in Manhattan, New York, but he also taunted the childrens' families with cruel letters after the deeds were done.

If that wasn't enough, Albert Fish boasted an extensive list of sexual perversions, featuring self-mutilation, masochism and anything involving bodily fluids. Fish was even discovered by prison doctors to have, at some point, inserted hypodermic needles into his crotch.

It was only two years from Albert Fish being caught until he was executed, so there wasn't much opportunity to get his words on the record books. However, the few serial killer quotes we do have from the Brooklyn Vampire are nightmare fuel enough.

The Albert Fish Quote above was said whilst being led to the electric chair in 1934, as he was seemingly excited at the prospect of being shocked to death.

7. Dennis Rader

Bind. Torture. Kill. That was the philosophy of Dennis Rader, also known as the BTK Killer. He would stalk his victims from the shadows, sometimes for months, learn their routines and then strike when the opportunity arose.

BTK's most famous quote is "I think I may be possessed with demons. I was dropped on my head as a kid," which was his way of attempting shift blame for the murders he'd committed. However, this lesser known quote embodies Dennis Rader much better.

Interestingly, The Rader quote above was never spoken aloud by the BTK Killer. It was actually written in one of his murder journals right after he took the life of his final (known) victim in 1991.

The Bind, Torture, Kill murderer confessed to slaying ten people, including two children, but there's a chance he may have killed more people that we're unaware of. He's currently serving a life sentence in the El Dorado Correctional Facility in Kansas.

8. Jeffrey Dahmer

The Milwaukee Cannibal, Jeffrey Dahmer was very outspoken about his life and crimes. And was one of the few captured serial killers who seemed genuinely remorseful about the horrors he committed.

Dahmer was responsible for the deaths of 17 people, but became more infamous for his post-killing behavior. Jeffrey Dahmer kept grisly trophies from his victims in the form of body parts, which authorities discovered dotted around his Milwaukee apartment.

In 1993, two years after he was captured, news outlet Inside Edition sat down with Jeffrey Dahmer for his first extensive public interview. During the interview, Dahmer made the quote seen above.

Shockingly, the Milwaukee Cannibal took responsibility for everything he'd done. This quote was also possibly a jab at Ted Bundy, who had blamed his murders on pornography and a his bad upbringing. 

9. Edmund 'Ed' Kemper

Edmund Kemper wasn't your average serial killer. He shot and killed his grandparents as a teenager which is where his killings began. He harbored a deep resentment for women, and he's one of the few modern serial killers to have committed matricide.

Known as the Co-ed Killer for his penchant for young college girls, Kemper would pick up hitchhikers, drive them to a secluded area in Northern California and strangle them. He'd then dismember their torsos, and sometimes even take them home to have sex with.

This Ed Kemper quote highlights the internal conflicts which he constantly battled. The Co-ed Killer was a man of manners and courtesy, once apologizing profusely for accidentally touching a girl's breast. But moments later, he was strangling her to death.

Of all the serial killer quotes out there, this one might actually be the most famous of all. Not only because of Edmund Kemper's notoriety, but because it was referenced in the cult classic horror film American Psycho.

10. David Berkowitz

David Berkowitz, aka the Son of Sam, terrorized New York City in the late seventies, having killed at least six people throughout his reign.

Berkowitz famously told courts that all of his murders were carried out because 'Sam' told him too. This mysterious 'Sam' character was not a real person, but in fact Berkowitz's neighbor's dog, who Berkowitz claimed was actually the devil in disguise.

The David Berkowitz quote above came from a 1977 letter sent to Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin. The letter was sent prior to Berkowitz's arrest, so the identity of this ominous 'Sam' character was still a mystery at the time.

The Son of Sam later admitted that the whole possessed dog story was a hoax that he made it up in the hopes to absolve him from some of the blame and result in a lighter sentence if he was caught. Berkowitz is currently serving life in prison, and now spends his time writing for Christian websites. (WTF?)

11. Peter Kurten

Known as the Vampire of Düsseldorf, Peter Kurten was a German serial killer responsible for the brutal deaths of 9 people. However, his attempted murder count was actually in the thirties.

Kurten had a long list of mental ailments along with an even bigger list of extremely perverted sexual fetishes. He was aroused by acts of violence, arson, sadism and even self-mutilation. Therefore, it was only fitting that the last thoughts going through his head would also be something along the lines of the quote above.

The Vampire of Düsseldorf asked the bizarre question above to the psychiatrist who was present on the day of his execution, mere moments before his head was dropped on the guillotine.

12. Gary Ridgway

More commonly known as the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway was one of the most prolific serial killers from Washington State and Oregon U.S. history, having murdered at least 49 women. However, he may have racked up a victim count which stretched into the seventies.

Ridgway focused mostly on sex workers and runaways, luring them into his truck and then strangling them when the opportunity arose. At some point into his killing spree, he'd murdered so many women that he lost count.

The Gary Ridgway quote featured above was during his final confession in court, right before he was given a life sentence. His compliance with the police, including this confession, is the only thing which skirted him the death penalty.

13. Carl Panzram

To say Carl Panzram was filled with hate is an understatement. The infamous burglar, rapist and serial killer pillaged his way across America in the early 1900s like a one-man blitzkrieg, raining down chaos everywhere he lay his hat.

While Panzram killed at least five people, he claimed to have committed much more throughout his extensive criminal career. And throughout all of them, Panzram showed no remorse whatsoever. He claimed to detest the human race and would wipe it out if the opportunity arose.

This Carl Panzram quote seen above, even without context, is a good indication of who he truly was. But when you consider that Panzram said these words to the hangman moments before dropping Panzram to his death, it becomes even more sinister.

For the final exclamation point, Panzram then spat in his executioner's face. Say what you want about Carl Panzram, but he was nothing if not consistent.

Read next: 13 serial killer movies based on true stories

14. David Alan Gore

David Alan Gore might not have reached the same heights of infamy as Ted Bundy or the Green River Killer, but his crimes were equally as heinous.

Gore, along with his accomplice Fred Waterfield, were a pair of cousins who stalked, raped and killed women throughout Florida in the early eighties. Gore and Waterfield had an arrangement - Waterfield would pay Gore to find him women to slaughter.

Thanks to the above David Allen Gore quote, he talked his own way into the execution chamber. He said this in a letter to a friend after his capture, essentially speeding up the execution process thanks to his admission of guilt.

After being on death row for 28 years David Alan Gore was executed by lethal injection in 2012, despite there being forty criminals on death row longer than him. It's nice to know there is one less serial killer in Florida.

15. H. H. Holmes

Often referred to as America's first serial killer (although there were plenty of others before him), H. H. Holmes in indeed one of the most well-known historical killers of our time.

Known as the Beast of Chicago - Holmes, a wealthy con man, built his own hotel which he called 'the Castle'. Inside, Holmes concocted his own personal murder den, filled with secret tunnels, trap doors, soundproof walls and torture implements.

When out-of-towners came to Chicago, they often stayed in Holmes's hotel. However, they were unaware that the owner had an unquenchable lust for slaughter, often resulting in their horrific deaths.

The H.H. Holmes quote seen above came after he was finally apprehended by the police after he attempted to use another corpse for an insurance scam, but he wasn't so lucky this time.

16. The Zodiac Killer

One of the more unique serial killer quotes out there, if only the fact that of all the monsters on this list, this is the only one who was never caught.

The Zodiac Killer terrorized California over the sixties and seventies, shooting and stabbing lovestruck couples in dark lovers lane around San Francisco.

The Zodiac sent a plethora of letters and ciphers to the press and police; this particular quote (above) being sent to the L.A. Times in March 1971. This was Zodiac's way of taunting the police, who had chasing him right from his first kill.

Perhaps most amazingly, the Zodiac was right. Police incompetence was a large factor in why the Zodiac was never caught. If they had got off their asses, they might have caught him. Check out our Zodiac Killer shirt collection.

17. Ian Brady

Perhaps the most notorious serial killer to come out of Britain, Ian Brady was responsible for the deaths of five young children in the 1960s. Along with his accomplice and girlfriend Mya Hindley, Brady killed his victims and disposed of them on the Manchester moors.

Brady hasn't been silent during his lengthy imprisonment, but by the same token, he hasn't said a lot either. While he's published a book on the concept of serial murder, Brady has kept quiet about his own crimes.

This Ian Brady quote was a response to a journalist asking him whether he would be interesting in discussing his crimes for a future documentary. Brady denied, as he had done for 40 years prior.

The body of one of Brady's victims has been a focal point of his story for years. While four of his five victims were found, one remains missing, despite the efforts of authorities and the victim's families. True to his word, Brady took his secrets to the grave in 2017.

18. Joe Metheny

Maryland monster Joe Metheny was a 6'2, 450-pound hulking serial killer who ground his victims into mince and made them into burgers. Yes, you read that correctly. Metheny's M.O. was a recipe for nightmares.

While only being convicted of two murders in the nineties, Metheny confessed to a total of six slayings. Whether they're true or not is a matter of opinion, however, Metheny became more notable for his post-mortem activities.

After killing his two victims, Metheny opened up a BBQ food stand on a roadside near his home. He ground up the human meat, mixed it with pork and sold them to unwitting customers. 

Metheny showed no remorse after being captured, stating that he wished he'd had the chance to also kill his ex-wife and her extramarital lover. When interrogated, he revealed the socking insight into his cooking habits.

Read next: 13 Currently Active Serial Killers Who Haven't Been Caught

19. Richard Kuklinski

Richard Kuklinski, otherwise known as the Iceman, was a hitman and possible serial killer who operated throughout the New Jersey area.

Kuklinski, known as the Iceman because he used to freeze his victims corpses to disguise the time of death, was a career criminal involved with the Gambino Family. He had a history of burglary, money laundering and pornography distribution prior to committing murder.

Although he was eventually convicted of 5 murders, Kuklinski claimed to have committed over 200, involving increasingly elaborate murder methods such as poisoning, immolation and feeding his victims to rats. This came as shock to Richard Kuklinksi's wife and children, who were in utter shock after his arrest.

This Richard Kuklinski quote was said during a prison interview with a psychiatrist who was inquiring about is past. 

20. Jane Toppan

Jane Toppan was a historical serial killer who poisoned old people, and hid her activities under the guise of being a professional nurse. She was the Harold Shipman of the early 1900s.

In addition to poisoning her patients, Toppan also used morphine to kill people in her personal life, including her foster sister and her housekeeper. Her reasons, she said, were "to see the inner workings of the soul through their eyes."

During her trial, Jane Toppan confessed to 31 murders in total, and came out with the above quote regarding her desire to kill as many people as possible. She later claimed she derived sexual pleasure from seeing her patients die.

She was eventually found to be legally insane and declared not guilty by reason of insanity.

21. Peter Sutcliffe

Between 1975 and 1980, Peter Sutcliffe, also known as the Yorkshire Ripper, took the lives of 13 women on the streets of northern England.

All of the women Sutcliffe killed were sex workers, of whom he harbored a deep hatred for. As a youngster, Sutcliffe was rejected by a prostitute he tried to hire, triggering his journey of murder and brutality.

When Sutcliffe was finally arrested in 1981, these were the words (above) he said to police. It was an insight into the way that Sutcliffe viewed the sex workers he killed; dirty, unnecessary, and a stain on the streets.

The Yorkshire Ripper spent half of his life in a mental hospital, eventually passing away in November 2020.

Conclusion

Whether it's the ramblings of Charles Manson or the hate-fueled outburts of Carl Panzram, we hope some of these quotes from serial killers have given you food for thought.

If you're intrigued by the psychology behind their words and actions, you might find it fascinating to delve deeper into the topic. If so, consider exploring the intricacies of criminal psychology and the minds of notorious individuals by delving into a research paper. If you're interested, you can have someone write me a research paper to gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex subject matter.

Make sure to check out our true crime t-shirt collection, and then read about the 13 most famous female serial killers in history.

Did we miss any of the best serial killer quotes? Do you have any particular killer quotes you love? Let us know in the comments below!

And if you can't get enough true crime check out these Richard Ramirez shirts, Charles Manson merch, and