
Washington DC has the highest rate of serial killings, with 25 victims per 100,000 residents. However, due to varied population sizes, these totals do not reflect the states where serial killing is most common. California has the highest number of serial killings with 1,777 total, followed by Texas with 984. A total of 12,746 victims of serial killings were registered nationwide between 19. The United States had more serial killers than any other country. Serial killer victims are evenly split between males and females, and the median age of victims is 30. Shooting is the most common killing method among serial killers, followed by strangulation and stabbing.

Ted Bundy, for example, targeted attractive, college-aged females and used strangulation as his primary method of killing. Serial killers often have a preferred killing method and victim type. Anger is cited as the primary motivator for another 18% of serial murders, and gang activity accounts for 6%. Most serial killers kill for financial gain or enjoyment, with 32% on record stating they killed for financial gain and a quarter claiming to have killed for pleasure. Serial murderers tend to be lone, white males. phenomenon, the majority of serial killers on record have operated at least in part in the United States. While serial killers are not solely a U.S.
