Who is or was considered to be the world's youngest serial killer?

morrigan

Jesse Pomeroy is a name that keeps coming up. http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/history/pomeroy/1.html Here's Mary Bell, also (whom Crime Library calls one of the youngest serial killers in history): http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/bell/index_1.html Jan 07 07, 5:19 PM

lanfranco

I would have picked Pomeroy, too, morrigan, because I'd read that Crime Library piece. However, it seems that he killed only two people, and the official definition of "serial killer" appears to require at least three homicides. I'm not sure it matters -- more than one suggests a serial killer to me. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer I offered up 10-year-old Mary Bell on a previous question involving young killers (Gitta Sereny wrote two fascinating books about her); but she, too, killed two people. Jan 07 07, 5:26 PM

morrigan

So I see. According to Crime Library: What They Are Before we look at who they are, we must first describe what they are. The FBI defines serial murder as: A minimum of three to four victims, with a "cooling off" period in between; The killer is usually a stranger to the victim — the murders appear unconnected or random; The murders reflect a need to sadistically dominate the victim; The murder is rarely "for profit"; the motive is psychological, not material; The victim may have "symbolic" value for the killer; method of killing may reveal this meaning; Killers often choose victims who are vulnerable (prostitutes, runaways, etc.) So, who is the youngest, then? Craig Price was convicted at around 16, and killed 4-5 people. Graham Freferick Young "was convicted of poisoning his father, sister and friend Chris Williams" but couldn't be convicted for the murder of his mother. He was 14. Jan 07 07, 5:42 PM

lanfranco

I think you might be right on Price, morrigan http://www.projo.com/extra/2004/craigprice/content/part1.htm Jan 07 07, 6:18 PM

nopichictw

Terilynn Wager. She killed 9 people before she turned 14. There is a book based on her killings called Terilynn. It is her story of the killings and her life before, during, and after them. It is a very graphic but good book. Terilynn: Based On The True Story of America's Youngest Serial Killer by Wilton Earle http://www.amazon.com/Terilynn-Americas-Youngest-Serial-Killer/dp/0963242210 [Added reference - McG] Jan 18 08, 6:10 PM

brwnichik

Mary Bell was the youngest in the world (10)...jesse Pomeroy was the youngest in the U.S. Apr 16 08, 10:38 AM