There is an abundance of serial killers in America but the name H.H. Holmes never fails to send chills down anybody’s spine. Herman Webster Mudgett aka H.H. Holmes (Dr. Henry Howard Holmes) was a notorious criminal who operated mainly in the city of Chicago during the late 19th century. Apart from taking the lives of people, H.H. Holmes even participated in illicit activities like insurance fraud, forgery, swindling, multiple marriages, etc.
Officials convicted him for only one murder. However, he confessed that he had terminated 27 individuals. His exact kill count remains unconfirmed. At the time, several tabloids reported different information. Some said that he might have killed close to 133 people. There are also people who think that his kill count might have even crossed 200.
H.H. Holmes’ victims: Who were they and how did he kill them?
The one murder H.H. Holmes was convicted of was that of Benjamin Pitezel. Pitezel was his business partner and accomplice. However, there are several confusing stories about this particular case. In fact, on the day of the convict’s execution, he claimed that he did not have a hand in the death of his business partner and the real killer was still on the loose.
According to Rebecca Frost Writes, Holmes was indeed Pitezel’s killer. Pitezel agreed to fake his death in order to collect $10,000 in life insurance money. However, the serial killer had other plans. On September 4, 1894, he took Pitezel’s life by first making him unconscious with the use of chloroform and then setting his body on fire with benzene.
H.H. Holmes furthermore manipulated his victim’s wife into handing over their children under Holmes’ care. Out of five, three of their children, Alice Pitezel, Nellie Pitezel, and Howard Robert Pitezel were taken in by the serial killer. All three fell victim to Holmes.
