1. Master of Murder Castle: H. H. Holmes
By: Amanda Mellott

2. A Murderous Fiend Known as the first serial killer in America
Built a Labyrinth inside a three story building
Referred to as “Murder Castle”
27 to 200 victims
Mostly women
Most were from The World’s Fair in Chicago
Treated his victims as if they were rats in a maze

3. The Man Behind the Monster
Given name: Herman Mudgett
Name H. H. Holmes inspired by Sherlock Holmes
Born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Married Clara A. Loverning
Had one child
Graduated in 1884 as a Physician
Traveled next two years
First murder in Mooers, Maine
Practices Medicine in Mooers Forks, three miles away

4. The Bad Beginning
Scheme to defraud an insurance company with old classmate
Moves to Chicago in November of 1885
Quickly moved to Minneapolis
Became a drug store clerk
Gave up on insurance scam… for the time being
Co-conspirator suddenly died

5. The first victim Robert. C. Leacock Motive: $40,000 insurance claim
Method: Overdose on Laudanum
Site: Chicago
Year: 1886

6. Philadelphia After Leacock was murdered, Holmes moved to Philadelphia
Job 1: State Lunatic Hospital at Norristown
Job 2: Pharmacy on Columbia Street
“Accidental” poisoning of patient led to death
Quit two days in
Moved back to Chicago

7. Sweet home, Chicago

8. “The Castle”

9. THE SECOND VICTIM Dr. Russell Tenant in “The Castle”
Motive: Non-payment of rent
Method: Struck with chair
Site: The Murder Castle
Time: 1890?
Confirmation of murder: unconfirmed, unlikely
Belief of false confession from Holmes

10. The THIRD AND FOURTH Victims
Julia Conner and daughter Pearl Conner
Residents in “The Castle.” Alleged lover.
Motive: To collect insurance.
Method: Butchering, poisoning.
Site: The Murder Castle.
Confirmation of murder: well-established.

11. Victims six through ten
Milford "Charles" Cole, Lizzie, Mrs. Sarah Cook, her unborn child, and Mrs. Haracamp
Southern speculator, a domestic, tenant, tenant’s unborn child, and niece
Motive: Money, paranoia, and eliminate witnesses
Site: Chicago, “The Castle”
Year: Unspecified
Confirmation of murder: All unconfirmed

12. The Eleventh Victim Emeline Cigrand Motive: Eliminate witness
Stenographer.
Motive: Eliminate witness
Method: Suffocated in the vault
Site: The Castle
Time: December, 1892
Confirmation of murder: Confirmed
Police found her hair and bones
Eyewitness of hauling trunk out of “The Castle”