The deadliest Scorpio serial killers of all time
Scorpios, born between 23rd October and 21st November, are known for being magnetic, mysterious and intense. They’re natural leaders with a reputation for passion, resilience and, when wronged, vengeance. It’s a sign often associated with transformation, secrecy and power – qualities that can inspire greatness but, in darker forms, can turn dangerously destructive.
So, perhaps it’s little surprise that Scorpio is one of the zodiac signs with the highest number of serial killers. Their allure can draw people in, their patience allows them to plan, and their sting – when it comes – is often deadly.
From Victorian poisoners to cult leaders and modern-day predators, Scorpio killers have left a long and chilling legacy. Join us at Crime+Investigation as we explore some of the most infamous Scorpios. Do you share a birthday with any?
Read our comprehensive breakdown to find out which star sign has the most the serial killers.
Robert Pickton – born 24th October 1949
Canadian pig farmer Robert Pickton became known as the 'Pig Farmer Killer' after the remains of dozens of women were found on his farm in British Columbia. Active during the 1990s and early 2000s, he was convicted of six murders but believed to have killed at least 26, with Pickton himself boasting of 49.
His victims were primarily vulnerable women from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Pickton’s case exposed deep societal failures in protecting marginalised communities, while his cold detachment revealed the Scorpio sting at its most ruthless. He died in prison in 2024 after being attacked by another inmate.
Fritz Haarmann – born 25th October 1879
Known as the 'Butcher of Hanover' or the 'Vampire of Hanover', German killer Fritz Haarmann preyed on young men and boys in the aftermath of World War I. Between 1918 and 1924, he murdered at least 24 victims, often luring them with promises of work or shelter before assaulting and killing them.
Haarmann dismembered the bodies, and rumours spread that he sold their flesh on the black market during a time of food shortages. His vampiric nickname came from his tendency to bite into his victims’ throats. Executed in 1925, he became one of Germany’s most notorious killers - a grim reminder of Scorpio’s capacity for intensity and obsession.
Leonard Lake – born 29th October 1945
Alongside his accomplice Charles Ng, Leonard Lake built a dungeon on a remote California property where they imprisoned, tortured and murdered victims. Between 1983 and 1985, the pair killed between 11 and 25 people. Lake, the dominant partner, recorded parts of their crimes on video, chillingly documenting their descent into sadism.
When arrested in 1985, Lake swallowed a cyanide pill and died, leaving Ng to face trial years later. His ability to manipulate, dominate and plan reflected Scorpio’s intense and controlling side, traits that became lethal when combined with his violent fantasies.
Pedro Rodrigues Filho – born 29th October 1954
Unlike most killers, Brazilian murderer Pedro Rodrigues Filho gained notoriety for killing criminals themselves. Born in 1954, he claimed to have murdered more than 100 people, many of them rapists, drug dealers and fellow inmates.
Known as 'Pedrinho Matador' or 'Killer Petey', he was sentenced for 71 murders. Though he targeted other offenders, his lack of remorse and his relentless violence made him one of Brazil’s most infamous figures. Scorpio’s themes of vengeance and retribution were twisted into a deadly vigilante mission.
Mary Ann Cotton – born 31st October 1832
England’s first recognised female serial killer, Mary Ann Cotton, wove death into domestic life. Born in 1832, she poisoned at least three of her four husbands, as well as 11 of her 13 children and several stepchildren, often cashing in on life insurance payouts.
Cotton’s method was quiet and calculated (arsenic slipped into food or drink) leaving behind a trail of unexplained illnesses. Her calm exterior and ability to charm those around her allowed her to avoid suspicion for years. But in 1873, she was convicted and executed, her case shocking a Victorian public that saw her as the embodiment of maternal respectability.
Amy Archer-Gilligan – born 31st October 1873
In Connecticut, Amy Archer-Gilligan ran a nursing home where death seemed to strike with alarming regularity. Between 1907 and 1917, she poisoned at least five residents – including her second husband – with arsenic. Investigators later suspected she may have been linked to as many as 48 deaths.
Outwardly, she was the doting caretaker, the nurse who promised families their loved ones would be safe. In reality, she profited from early deaths and manipulated her position of trust. Her crimes inspired the dark comedy Arsenic and Old Lace, but for her victims, there was nothing theatrical about the horror.
Adolfo Constanzo – born 1st November 1962
Cuban-American Adolfo Constanzo led a cult in Mexico that combined drug trafficking with human sacrifice. Between 1987 and 1989, his group, dubbed the Narcosatanists, murdered at least 16 people, with suspicions of many more.
Constanzo cultivated an aura of power and mystery, using ritual and charisma to control his followers. He demonstrated Scorpio’s ability to dominate others through intensity and secrecy, leading them into violence cloaked in mysticism.
Nannie Doss – born 4th November 1905
With her cheerful smile and nickname 'The Giggling Granny', Nannie Doss hardly looked like a killer. Yet between 1927 and 1954, she murdered 11 people, including four of her husbands, two children, her sister, mother, two grandsons and her mother-in-law.
Doss often used poison, slipping it into food and drink, and laughed during her confessions, which horrified investigators. Her murders were motivated by financial gain, romance gone sour and, at times, sheer convenience.
Her case is a striking example of Scorpio duality: outwardly warm and sociable, but inwardly capable of ruthless vengeance and hidden darkness.
Chester Turner – born 5th November 1966
Operating in Los Angeles between 1987 and 1998, Chester Turner murdered 14 women and one unborn child. Many of his victims were vulnerable women living on the margins of society.
Turner’s crimes were only connected years later through DNA evidence, and in 2007 he was sentenced to death. His cold detachment and lack of remorse stand in sharp contrast to Scorpio’s reputation for passion – his sting was impersonal but deadly.
Derrick Todd Lee – born 5th November 1968
'The Baton Rouge Serial Killer', Derrick Todd Lee, murdered at least seven women between 1998 and 2003. His crimes, marked by stalking and violent assault, left Louisiana gripped with fear until his capture.
DNA evidence ultimately linked him to the murders, but only after years of failed investigations. Lee’s case reflects Scorpio’s shadow: secretive, persistent and deeply dangerous.
Alton Coleman – born 6th November 1955
In 1986, Alton Coleman and his partner Debra Brown embarked on a crime spree across six Midwestern states. Over just two months, they kidnapped, raped and murdered at least eight victims, leaving a trail of destruction that spread panic across communities.
Coleman’s manipulative charm enabled him to convince Brown to join his crimes, while his violent unpredictability made him particularly dangerous. His case is a stark example of Scorpio’s magnetism turned toxic.
Carl Eugene Watts – born 7th November 1953
Nicknamed the 'Sunday Morning Slasher', Carl Eugene Watts is suspected of being one of America’s most prolific killers. Between 1974 and 1982, he murdered at least 13 women, but later claimed to have killed more than 40, and is considered a suspect in up to 90 unsolved cases.
Watts often targeted women at random, killing quickly and moving on before investigators could connect the crimes. His sheer scale of violence, combined with his ability to evade capture for years, underscores Scorpio’s deadly patience and predatory instinct.
Joseph James DeAngelo – born 8th November 1945
Known as the 'Golden State Killer', Joseph James DeAngelo terrorised California in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of burglaries, rapes and murders. Between 1974 and 1986, he murdered at least 13 people, raped dozens more and committed more than 100 burglaries.
For decades, DeAngelo lived a double life – a police officer, a husband, a father. His outward normalcy concealed the terror he unleashed at night. Only in 2018, with the aid of genetic genealogy, was he finally unmasked. In his cunning, patience and secretive double existence, he epitomised the Scorpio shadow.
Belle Gunness – born 11th November 1859
Norwegian-born Belle Gunness immigrated to the United States in the late 19th century and built a deadly reputation in Indiana. Between 1884 and 1908, she lured suitors to her farmhouse under the promise of marriage, only for them to disappear. She was later believed to have killed at least 14 people, possibly as many as 40, including her own children.
Dubbed 'Hell’s Belle', her crimes revealed Scorpio’s darker side: manipulative, patient and ruthlessly pragmatic. Gunness disappeared after a suspicious fire destroyed her farm, and though a headless body was found in the ruins, many believe she faked her death and escaped justice.
Charles Manson – born 12th November 1934
Few names are as infamous as Charles Manson. Born in 1934, Manson wasn’t a serial killer in the traditional sense but a cult leader who manipulated others into carrying out brutal murders. His 'Family' followers, entranced by his charisma, killed nine people in 1969, including actress Sharon Tate, in crimes that shocked America.
Manson embodied Scorpio’s magnetic and manipulative side. With piercing eyes and an aura of mystery, he drew vulnerable young people into his orbit and twisted their devotion into violence. He spent the rest of his life in prison, his name forever synonymous with cult control and calculated chaos.
Kristen Gilbert – born 13th November 1967
A nurse in Massachusetts, Kristen Gilbert earned the nickname 'Angel of Death' after killing four patients and attempting to kill two others between 1995 and 1996. Her method was subtle but effective: injecting patients with lethal doses of adrenaline.
Gilbert thrived on the chaos that followed her actions, often positioning herself as the hero in medical emergencies she had caused. Her manipulative streak and willingness to exploit trust for control highlight Scorpio’s darker psychological edge.
Moses Sithole – born 17th November 1964
In South Africa, Moses Sithole became known as the 'ABC Killer' for his crimes across Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland. Between 1994 and 1995, he murdered at least 37 women, with suspicions of up to 76.
Presenting himself as a charitable worker offering jobs, Sithole lured women before assaulting and strangling them. His ability to manipulate appearances while concealing his deadly intent reflects Scorpio’s deceptive power. He was sentenced to more than 2,400 years in prison.
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