This article explores ten cryptic messages from some of the most infamous serial killers in history. From the Zodiac Killer’s still-unsolved 340 Cipher to the Axeman of New Orleans’ letter promising to spare jazz musicians, each message holds a piece of the killer’s psyche that has yet to be fully understood. Even with attempts from top codebreakers and law enforcement, these messages remain a mystery, leaving eerie questions and theories to linger. Despite the unsettling nature of these cases, they have a hold on public fascination, highlighting the appeal of the macabre and mysterious even in the darkest of circumstances.
10 Cryptic Messages From Serial Killers That Remain Untranslated
1. The Zodiac Killer’s 340 Cipher
The Zodiac Killer remains one of the most infamous serial killers in history, and his 340 Cipher is one of the most enduring mysteries in criminal history. The cipher is a series of letters and symbols that have never been fully deciphered, despite attempts by some of the world’s top codebreakers.
2. The Grim Sleeper’s “Brookhaven 2” Message
The Grim Sleeper is a Los Angeles serial killer who killed at least ten women between 1985 and 2007. In 2015, he was convicted and sentenced to death. One of his cryptic messages, “Brookhaven 2,” has never been explained.
3. The BTK Killer’s “Factor X” Letter
The BTK Killer is one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. His letters to the press and the police were full of cryptic messages, including his “Factor X” letter, which has never been fully decoded.
4. The Axeman of New Orleans’ Letter to the City
The Axeman of New Orleans was a serial killer who terrorized the city in the early 20th century. In 1919, he sent a letter to the city’s newspapers claiming that he would spare anyone playing jazz music in their homes. The letter was full of cryptic messages and has never been fully deciphered.
5. The Long Island Serial Killer’s “Craigslist Ripper” Messages
The Long Island Serial Killer was responsible for the murders of at least ten people, mostly women, between 2007 and 2010. He used Craigslist to meet his victims and sent a series of cryptic messages to the site, including one that read, “I will bring you pain, pleasure only to me.”
6. The Boston Strangler’s Message to Attorney General Edward Brooke
The Boston Strangler was responsible for the murders of at least thirteen women in the Boston area in the early 1960s. In 1966, he sent a message to Attorney General Edward Brooke, claiming to have killed more women than he had been credited with. The message has never been fully explained.
7. The Green River Killer’s “Riverside Contacts” List
The Green River Killer was responsible for the murders of at least 49 women in Washington state between 1982 and 1998. He sent a list of “Riverside Contacts” to the police, but the meaning of the list remains a mystery.
8. The Son of Sam’s Letter to Jimmy Breslin
The Son of Sam, also known as David Berkowitz, was responsible for the murders of six people in New York City in the summer of 1977. He sent a letter to Jimmy Breslin, a journalist at the New York Daily News, in which he claimed to be the “son of Sam.” The letter was full of cryptic messages and remains an enigma.
9. The Yorkshire Ripper’s “Wearside Jack” Tape
The Yorkshire Ripper, also known as Peter Sutcliffe, was responsible for the murders of thirteen women in and around the city of Leeds between 1975 and 1980. A man known as “Wearside Jack” sent a tape to the police claiming to be the killer. The tape was full of cryptic messages and remains a mystery.
10. The Black Dahlia Killer’s “Mark Hansen” Letter
The Black Dahlia Killer is responsible for the murder of Elizabeth Short in 1947. Short’s body was found mutilated and cut in half, and the killer sent a letter to the Los Angeles Examiner claiming responsibility for the murder. The letter was addressed to “Mark Hansen” and was full of cryptic messages that have never been fully decoded.
Conclusion
Despite the efforts of law enforcement and amateur sleuths alike, these ten cryptic messages from serial killers remain unsolved. They serve as a reminder of the darkness that can exist in the human soul, as well as the enduring fascination with the macabre and mysterious.