The deadliest Virgo serial killers in history
Virgos are often associated with organisation, diligence and a methodical approach to life. Of course, astrology has no proven link to criminal behaviour, and a person's star sign doesn't determine who they become. Yet when true crime and astrology collide, the results can make for a fascinating read.
Below, Crime+Investigation explores the most notorious Virgo killers in history: individuals whose crimes left a lasting mark on criminal history.
Henry Lee Lucas – born 23rd August 1936
For years, Henry Lee Lucas was considered one of America's most prolific serial killers.
Lucas became notorious after claiming responsibility for hundreds of murders across the United States. At one stage, he confessed to more than 250 killings, earning the nickname 'The Confession Killer'.
However, investigators later determined that many of those admissions were false, and he was physically incapable of committing numerous crimes to which he had confessed.
Rodney Alcala – born 23rd August 1943
Known as 'The Dating Game Killer', Alcala appeared on the American television show The Dating Game in 1978 while actively carrying out murders. Charming on the surface, he concealed a terrifying double life that investigators would spend decades piecing together.
He was conclusively linked to nine murders, but authorities believe the true number of victims could exceed 100. Some estimates suggest as many as 130 people may have fallen prey to Alcala during a killing spree that spanned years and crossed multiple states.
Richard Biegenwald – born 24th August 1940
While not as well known internationally as some names on this list, Richard Biegenwald was one of New Jersey's most dangerous killers.
His criminal history stretched back to his teenage years and included violent offences long before the murders that would eventually make him notorious. Between 1958 and 1983, Biegenwald murdered at least six people, including four women and two men. Authorities also suspected him of involvement in additional killings.
Ed Gein – born 27th August 1906
Few killers have cast a longer shadow over popular culture than Ed Gein.
Although Gein was only convicted of two murders, investigators suspected he may have been responsible for as many as seven deaths. What truly horrified authorities was what they discovered inside his isolated Wisconsin farmhouse in 1957.
Furniture, clothing and household items had been fashioned from human remains taken from local graveyards. His crimes inspired some of fiction's most infamous villains, including Norman Bates in Psycho, Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs
Peter Tobin – born 27th August 1946
For many people in Britain, Peter Tobin remains one of the country's most chilling murderers.
The Scottish serial killer was convicted of murdering three young women: Vicky Hamilton, Dinah McNicol and Angelika Kluk. However, investigators have long suspected that his true victim count was significantly higher.
Paul Bernardo – born 27th August 1964
Paul Bernardo is one half of one of Canada's most notorious criminal partnerships.
Together with his wife, Karla Homolka, Bernardo committed a series of sexual assaults and murders that shocked the nation in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was convicted of murdering teenagers Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French, while investigators also linked him to numerous rapes committed across Ontario.
Bernardo remains imprisoned and is widely regarded as one of Canada's most infamous serial offenders.
Albert DeSalvo – born 3rd September 1931
DeSalvo became infamous after confessing to being the 'Boston Strangler', the killer believed to be responsible for the murders of 13 women in the Boston area between 1962 and 1964. The killings caused widespread fear, with victims targeted in their own homes.
Despite his confession, DeSalvo was never formally tried or convicted for those murders. Instead, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for a series of rapes. Decades later, DNA evidence linked him to at least one victim, reinforcing his connection to the case, though questions remain about whether he was responsible for all of the killings.
Richard Angelo – born 29th August 1962
Angelo worked as a nurse across Long Island, including in West Islip, where he carried out a series of attacks on vulnerable patients. Between 1987 and 1989, Angelo deliberately injected patients with drugs that caused respiratory distress or cardiac arrest, creating life-threatening situations so he could step in and appear as the rescuer.
He was convicted of murdering four patients, though investigators suspected he may have been responsible for many more deaths. His crimes were eventually uncovered when colleagues noticed a pattern of unexplained medical emergencies during his shifts. In 1989, Angelo confessed and was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.
For more on the cases and criminals that have defined true crime history, sign up to the Crime+Investigation newsletter. Every week, you'll receive the latest articles, episodes and more from C+I delivered straight to your inbox.
