America's Serial Killers: Portraits in Evil

- Season 1

(2009)

Episode One discusses 'The Monster Within And Among Us', and discusses Jack The Ripper (even though he's not American), since he is pretty much the first recognized serial killer. Since a lack of real footage is obvious, this episode uses footage from an old black and white move, loosely based on Jack The Ripper.

This is the 1800s and talks of H. H. Holmes (Doctor Death), and Jane Toppan (The Angel of Death).

A look into the demented sadistic masochistic Albert Fish, child killer and cannibal.

The 1960s and 70s represented the dawn of a new era in serial killing, with Ted Bundy and the Zodiac Killer representing the increase in serial murder in the United States.

The 1960s and 70s represented the dawn of a new era in serial killing, with Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz, Charles Manson and the Zodiac Killer representing the increase in serial murder in the United States.

Some serial killers kill out of desire. But it's thought that some kill out of a rejection of their own desire - which is explored through a look at John Wayne Gacy and the Highway Killers.

The sensationalist nature of the Hillside Strangers and Beltway Snipers cases helps to further solidify the serial killer's unofficial home in popular culture and on the nightly news.

One of the defining traits of serial killers - sociopathic behavior. This episode looks at the Gainesville Ripper, the Unibomber, and other serial killers operating in the 1980s.

The only sure way to bring about the end of a serial killing spree is to identify and capture a serial killer. Unfortunately it can take decades, like in the cases of the Green River Killer and BTK.

The biggest mystery of all in respect to the serial killer is "why?"