Can You Match the Notorious Criminal to Their Crime?

HISTORY

By: Kennita Leon

6 Min Quiz

Image: PeopleImages/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

We've had thousands of years to establish that certain things in society are unacceptable. But some people couldn't care less about society's laws. These people have sacrificed the well-being of others, and sometimes themselves, to satisfy their evil, dirty and corrupt needs. Today, we're going to take you down a dark memory lane to see if you can identify some of the most notorious criminals in human history.

Do you remember Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber? He was the one who mailed bombs to airlines and schools. Or what about the famed Charles Manson? Do you remember what he did? Did you know that the Zodiac Killer was never found? And did you know that John Wayne Gacy, who dressed up as a clown for birthday parties and was seen as a stand-up citizen killed and raped at least 33 different males in a short six years? 

If you think you've paid attention to the news and history books long enough to match these evil creatures to the heartwrenching crimes they committed, it's time to take this quiz. We warn you; there is a high chance that some of this may make you gasp in horror. 

What was this criminal most known for?

Charles Manson, who was the leader of the self-described cult named "Manson Family," was charged with the orchestration of the murders of several people, including actress Sharon Tate; she was eight months pregnant at the time. Manson died in 2017 after serving a life imprisonment sentence from 1971.

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What was this criminal most known for?

Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord who rose to notoriety in the 1980s and 90's as head of the Medellín cartel. "The King of Cocaine" was one of the wealthiest criminals in history, up until his death in 1993 when he was shot by Colombian police.

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What was this criminal most known for?

"Unabomber," as he is commonly known, refers to Ted Kaczynski, who mailed a series of letter bombs to airlines and universities from 1978 to 1996. The former Harvard graduate's antics resulted in the deaths of three people and wounded over 20 more.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

In 1991, registered sex offender Jeffrey Dahmer was charged with the death and dismemberment of 15 people, all male. He lured the victims to his home where he sexually assaulted and even photographed his crimes. Three years later, he was beaten to death by a fellow inmate, Christopher Scarver.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

Richard Ramirez was responsible for a series of home invasions and rapes that took place in Los Angeles and San Francisco in 1984-85. "The Night Stalker," as he was called, was convicted on 11 counts of sexual assault, 14 counts of burglary, 13 counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

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What was this criminal most known for?

At 24 years of age, David Berkowitz was arrested and held responsible for eight different random but fatal shootings that occurred from 1976-1977 in New York City. The .44 Caliber Killer murdered six people and wounded several more.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

Jesse James was the leader of the James-Younger Gang, as well as an outlaw and robber, who practiced guerrilla warfare tactics for his crimes. Though he managed to evade capture for over a decade, he was eventually killed in 1882 by a member of his own team, who hoped to collect the bounty that was placed on his head.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

In 1989, 42-year-old Ted Bundy was put to death by the electric chair after being sentenced to death for an array of crimes: murder, rape, and necrophilia. Though he confessed to some of the crimes, it is believed that the actual death toll is much higher.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

Between 1972 and 1978, John Wayne Gacy targeted, killed and raped at least 33 men and young boys. His 1978 confession came as a shock to his peers, as Gacy was a friendly, pleasant individual who had often dressed up as a clown for children parties.

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What was this criminal most known for?

American gangster, Henry Hill, became an FBI informant in 1980 after being captured by the authorities and fearing payback from fellow mobsters. However, when Henry didn't entirely leave his past behind, he was kicked out of the Witness Protection Program due to his drug addiction. The 1990 film "Goodfellas" is based on his life story.

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What was this criminal most known for?

This female serial killer was convicted of shooting and killing seven men from 1989-1990. She claimed self-defense as a reason for committing these vile acts but was executed in 2002. The 2003 movie 'Monster' is based on Aileen and her story is featured on the television series, "American Horror Story: Hotel."

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What was this criminal most known for?

This Italian mobster created history in his own right and is considered to be the founder of organized crime in the United States. Salvatore Maranzano was the leader of the Genovese crime family that sovereign organized crime in Cuba and other parts of the world. He was incarcerated for his crimes and died in 1962 from a heart attack.

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What was this criminal most known for?

Griselda Blanco, also known as the "Queen of Cocaine" was the leading lady of organized crime when she rose to prominence in the 1970s. In 1985, she was convicted and served six years' jail time but was known to use false aliases to evade capture. In 2012, she was gunned down in the city of Medellín, Columbia.

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What was this criminal most known for?

This Jewish gangster was a gambler and a hitman for Meyer Lansky, another prominent figure in the underworld. Siegal, who played a pivotal role in the development of the Las Vegas Strip, was shot and killed in 1947 in Beverly Hills. His killer is unknown.

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What was this criminal most known for?

James Earl Ray was convicted for the shooting death of civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr, that took place on April 4th, 1968. In 1969, to avoid a jury trial, he pleaded guilty and served 29 years in prison until he died in 1998 due to illness.

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What was this criminal most known for?

The young criminal, Billy McCarty Jr., was due to receive the death penalty as a result of the death County Sheriff William J. Brady. Before his execution, he escaped from Lincoln County jail, but was tracked down and shot to death by Sheriff Pat Garrett in New Mexico. He was 21 years old and had committed more than a dozen murders.

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What was this criminal most known for?

John Gotti served as the leader of the Gambino crime family in the city of New York. This dangerous criminal was nicknamed "Teflon Don" due to his ability to evade prison time. However, in 1992, he was convicted of several crimes including tax evasion and conspiracy to commit murder.

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What was this criminal most known for?

Al Capone is a name that is synonymous with crime during the 1920s to early 1930s. Also known as Scarface, this criminal led the Chicago mafia and was said to be worth $100 million during his prime. He invested in race tracks, nightclubs and restaurants and set up a soup kitchen during the Great Depression.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

Soviet native Andrei Chikatilo was known as the "Red Ripper" or the "Butcher of Rostov" for the gruesome crimes he committed. Chikatilo brutally raped and killed young men and women after luring them into forested areas. He often ate their body parts and, upon capture, it was discovered that he reeked of human flesh he had just consumed.

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What was this criminal most known for?

Cowboy Tom Horn was hung in 1903 for the murder of teenaged Willie Nickel, the son of a rancher. Many have doubted whether or not Horn actually killed the 14-year-old, as the circumstances surrounding his confession are debatable. He was, however, suspected to be a hired hitman for prominent cattle owners.

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What was this criminal most known for?

On December 14th, 2012, Adam Lanza entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and shot six staff members and 20 first graders, before committing suicide. Before this, the 20-year-old had also shot his mother dead. The shooting has been deemed to be one of the worst mass shootings in the history of the United States.

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What was this criminal most known for?

In 1963, the 35th US President, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former marine. The shooting took place as the President rode in a motorcade in Texas, along with John Connally, Governor of Texas. Oswald was apprehended and charged hours later. He never served any jail time either, as he was shot to death in the police station by a local businessman, Jack Ruby.

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What was this criminal most known for?

As the cult leader of the People's Temple in Guyana, Jim Jones brainwashed 900 members into committing suicide by drinking cyanide poisoning. Later on at that same location, the self-proclaimed socialist was found dead with a possible self-inflicted wound to the head.

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What was this criminal most known for?

On May 18th, 1927, the Bath School in Bath Township, Michigan, was the scene of chaos, when bombs planted by Andrew Kehoe exploded on its premises. This resulted in hundreds of injuries, 44 deaths, 38 of which were students. Nearby, Kehoe had committed suicide by bombing his truck and had killed his wife days prior.

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What was this criminal most known for?

In 1981, the 40th US President, Ronald Raegan, survived an assassination attempt by a citizen, John Hinckley Jr. Hinckley, who was institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital after the shooting, was released in 2016. His obsession with award-winning actress, Jodie Foster, was said to be the cause of his outrageous attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

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What was this criminal most known for?

Clyde Barrow was a criminal who, along with his partner Bonnie Parker, was wanted for kidnapping, murder and a series of robberies in banks and stores. The duo was shot dead by police forces in Louisiana in 1934. The popular phrase "Bonnie & Clyde" was inspired by this inseparable couple.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

Serial killer, Michael Ross, murdered eight young women in New York and Connecticut, seven of whom he also raped. In 1987 he was convicted and sentenced to death after that. In 2005, he was executed, and this became the first execution in New England in 45 years.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

The leader of the Dillinger Gang, John Dillinger, was responsible for dozens of robberies at police stations, banks, and other establishments. The well-dressed and stylish Dillinger reveled in the notoriety he gained for the crimes he committed during the Great Depression. He was killed while attempting to elude police in 1934.

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What was this criminal most known for?

This Italian criminal was a prominent figure in the American mafia during the Prohibition era, where he worked for crime bosses such as Lucky Luciano and Joe Masseria. Genovese was a hitman who was eventually convicted in 1958 and died in 1969.

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What was this criminal most known for?

Anastasia was a member of Murder Inc., a name that was used to refer to the hitmen that executed hits for Lucky Luciano during the Prohibition era. This comprised of members of organized crime groups such as the Italians and Jewish mob, among others. In 1957, Anastasia was assassinated at a local barbershop.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

The "Red Light Bandit" was a name given to Caryl Chessman - the man indicted for several counts of rape, robbery, and kidnapping, committed from 1948. His case created major controversy over the implementation of the death penalty, and he was executed in 1960 for his crimes.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

"The Boston Strangler" refers to none other than Albert Desalvo, the man who confessed to 13 murders of women in Boston, Massachusetts from 1962. However, he was never actually convicted of those crimes but was imprisoned for numerous rapes. Albert Desalvo was murdered in prison in 1973.

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What was this criminal most known for?

As the head of the Bonanno crime family, Joseph Bonanno had earned his title as one of the most dangerous criminals of the 1930-1960's. Despite his notoriety, he was imprisoned for contempt of court and obstruction of justice rather than crimes directly related to his family. Bonnano died in 2002 at 97 years of age.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

Osama bin Laden was the leader of Al-Qaeda and the terrorist behind the deadly attacks on America on September 11, 2001 (9/11 attacks.) The bombing, which targeted the World Trade Center in New York City, claimed the lives of almost 3,000 people. Osama was killed by a former US sailor in 2011 after years of hiding.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

Robert Berdella was known as The Kansas City Butcher, for the crimes he committed from 1984-88. His crimes were discovered in 1988 when a victim broke free from captivity and jumped from a second story house. Human skulls and remains were found on the premises, and Berdella was subsequently arrested and incarcerated.

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Which of these crimes was this criminal not guilty of?

Prostitute killer, John Eric Armstrong, confessed to the strangulation and murder of several sex workers in Detroit, USA. Though he confessed to over a dozen murders, he was only charged with the killing of five Detroit prostitutes, as the other crimes could not be verified.

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What was this criminal most known for?

Keating was a banker involved in the savings-and-loan scandal of the late 1980's. His company, Lincoln Savings and Loan, crumbled in the 1980s after he misused and stole thousands of dollars from depositors. In 1990, he was convicted on charges of fraud, racketeering, and conspiracy. Five US Senators, including Republican John McCain, were part of the "Keating Five" that were implicated in the scandal.

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What was this criminal most known for?

Richard Speck was suspected of various brutal rapes and murders but always managed to evade police. However, on the night of July 13th, 1966, he raped and killed eight nurses from South Chicago Community Hospital and was arrested days later. Speck suffered a heart attack and died in 1991.

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What was this criminal most known for?

Born Carl Eugene Watts, he was dubbed "The Sunday Morning Slasher" for strangling, stabbing, drowning and bludgeoning dozens of women. He died of prostate cancer while serving a term of two life sentences.

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