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Early Serial Killers Trivia Quiz

Serial killers are not a modern phenomenon. See how much you know about these famous murderers that operated before the term 'serial killer' was coined.

A multiple-choice quiz by bullymom. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
bullymom

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
67,796

Updated
Apr 01 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
5004

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Guest 73 (4/10), tinydancer90 (10/10), Guest 72 (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This early 17th-century Scottish family is estimated to have killed close to one thousand people. Who were they? Hint

The MacGregors

The Gregorys

The Jonsons

The Beanes

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. William Burke and William Hare formed a killing partnership in Scotland in the 1820s; they are credited with 16 victims. What did they do with the bodies? Hint

Ate them

Sold them to anatomy schools

Buried them in the cellar

Chopped them up

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. John George Haigh, who was hanged in England in 1949, was known as what? Hint

Yorkshire Ripper

Sutcliffe Strangler

Butcher of Sutcliffe

Acid Bath Murderer

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. This female serial killer, who lured victims through 'lonely hearts' ads, was known as the 'Female Bluebeard'. Who was she? Hint

Minnie Dean

Belle Gunness

Winnie Ruth Judd

Sharon Kinne

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. This German serial killer was charged with the murder of 27 boys in the 1920s. Who was he? Hint

Ed Gein

William Heirens

George Grossman

Fritz Haarmann

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Who was the American killer of children who killed his first victim at age 14? Hint

Joseph West

Jesse Pomeroy

Charles Guglin

John Deemer

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. This German-born serial killer was known as The Cannibal of M�nsterberg. He killed vagrants and homeless people. Hint

William Heirens

Elmer Bunke

Fritz Haarmann

Karl Denke

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. This religious fanatic serial killer killed landladies all over the US and Canada in the 1920s; the press gave him the name 'The Gorilla Man'. Who was he? Hint

Elmer Bunke

Harry Hayward

Earle Nelson

Charles Cunningham

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. This sexton of a Boston church killed women and children of his parish from 1873-74. He was quoted as saying 'I am a very bad man'. Who was he? Hint

Herbert Mullin

Thomas Piper

George Chapman

Martin Thorn

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which California serial killer was sentenced to life in prison in 1973 for killing 25 migrant workers? Hint

Juan Valdez

Juan Gonzalez

Juan Peron

Juan Corona

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 19 2024 : Guest 73: 4/10
Dec 18 2024 : tinydancer90: 10/10
Dec 05 2024 : Guest 72: 6/10
Nov 21 2024 : Guest 198: 7/10
Nov 19 2024 : Johnmcmanners: 10/10
Nov 16 2024 : Guest 98: 6/10
Oct 28 2024 : Guest 103: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This early 17th-century Scottish family is estimated to have killed close to one thousand people. Who were they?

Answer: The Beanes

Sawney Beane and his extended clan were legendary Scottish cannibals; some question if they actually existed or were just a folk legend.

2. William Burke and William Hare formed a killing partnership in Scotland in the 1820s; they are credited with 16 victims. What did they do with the bodies?

Answer: Sold them to anatomy schools

The pattern was to lure a vagrant back to their rooming house, where the duo would ply him with booze and then kill him. Surprisingly, none of the anatomy schools ever wondered how they happened upon so many dead bodies.

3. John George Haigh, who was hanged in England in 1949, was known as what?

Answer: Acid Bath Murderer

He earned this charming nickname by the way he disposed of his victims' bodies.

4. This female serial killer, who lured victims through 'lonely hearts' ads, was known as the 'Female Bluebeard'. Who was she?

Answer: Belle Gunness

She was never caught.

5. This German serial killer was charged with the murder of 27 boys in the 1920s. Who was he?

Answer: Fritz Haarmann

He was executed in 1925.

6. Who was the American killer of children who killed his first victim at age 14?

Answer: Jesse Pomeroy

He died in Bridgewater State Farm for the Criminally Insane in 1932.

7. This German-born serial killer was known as The Cannibal of M�nsterberg. He killed vagrants and homeless people.

Answer: Karl Denke

Karl Denke lived in Munsterberg, Silesia, Germany, now Zi�bice, Poland. He is estimated to have killed between 30 and 40 people. He hanged himself in jail after his arrest.

8. This religious fanatic serial killer killed landladies all over the US and Canada in the 1920s; the press gave him the name 'The Gorilla Man'. Who was he?

Answer: Earle Nelson

Finally caught by a Canadian posse, he was hanged in 1928.

9. This sexton of a Boston church killed women and children of his parish from 1873-74. He was quoted as saying 'I am a very bad man'. Who was he?

Answer: Thomas Piper

Apparently he wasn't kidding.

10. Which California serial killer was sentenced to life in prison in 1973 for killing 25 migrant workers?

Answer: Juan Corona

Source: Author bullymom

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor DakotaNorth before going online.
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