Could Your Coworker Be a Killer?
You might think serial killers lurk in the shadows, but many of them punch a clock just like the rest of us. Over the years, certain professions have emerged as oddly overrepresented among these criminals. Let's break down the top 12 jobs where serial killers have been known to blend in, from skilled crafts to more mundane roles. Ready to see if your job made the list?
Skilled Serial-Killer Occupations
1. Shoemaker/Repair Person
The solitary life of a shoemaker offers plenty of alone time, and history's shown that some have used that time to nurture a darker side.
Charles Edmund Cullen, known as the Angel of Death, worked as a shoemaker before transitioning to his notorious career as a nurse, where he killed at least 29 people. The detail-oriented craft gave him a taste for control, which he later twisted in horrific ways.
2. Aircraft Machinist/Assembler
Precision. Patience. Attention to detail. These skills don't just describe aircraft machinists - they also paint a picture of the meticulous type of serial killer.
Take Jeffrey Dahmer, for example. Though not an aircraft machinist himself, his meticulous dismemberment of his victims showed an unsettling level of care and precision, similar to what you'd find in someone who spends hours assembling intricate airplane parts. It's easy to see how someone who thrives on details might channel that into darker hobbies when the sun goes down.
3. Automobile Upholsterer
You'd think working on car seats might be pretty harmless, right? But upholsterers spend countless hours stitching, cutting, and shaping fabric — skills that could translate disturbingly well to a serial killer's toolkit.
Consider Ed Gein, the notorious Butcher of Plainfield, who famously crafted garments and household items from human skin. While he wasn't exactly an upholsterer, his attention to texture and fabric certainly crossed a very grisly line.
Professional/Government Serial Killer Occupations
4. Police/Security Official
Believe it or not, law enforcement has had its share of serial killers.
Joseph DeAngelo, the infamous Golden State Killer, worked as a police officer while committing his horrific crimes. His badge gave him authority, access, and a cover that allowed him to evade suspicion for decades.
5. Military Personnel
Military training demands discipline, but it also exposes individuals to violence, which can have a dark impact on those already predisposed to criminal behavior.
David Parker Ray, also known as the Toy-Box Killer, served in the U.S. Army before embarking on a horrifying spree that involved torturing and killing multiple women in a soundproof trailer.
6. Religious Official
Some serial killers find ways to exploit positions of spiritual authority.
Take Gary Heidnik, for example. He wasn't a priest, but he proclaimed himself the head of his own church, the United Church of the Ministers of God. Using this self-appointed role, he lured women into his Philadelphia home, where he imprisoned and tortured them in his basement. Heidnik's so-called "religious" position gave him a false sense of legitimacy, which he used to manipulate and control his victims.
Unskilled Serial Killer Occupations
7. Hotel Porter
The odd hours and transient population of a hotel make it an ideal hunting ground for serial killers.
Carl Panzram, one of history's most ruthless killers, spent time as a hotel porter, using his job to steal, rob, and assault guests before moving on to his next target.
8. General Laborer (Mover, Landscaper, etc.)
General laborers change jobs frequently, giving them mobility and the ability to operate under the radar.
Serial killer Bruce McArthur worked as a landscaper in Toronto, where he used his job to bury his victims' remains in his clients' flowerbeds. It wasn't just his job — it was the perfect cover.
9. Gas Station Attendant
With all-night shifts and little oversight, gas stations provide the perfect environment for someone who wants to go unnoticed.
Serial killer Dennis Rader, known as the BTK Killer, worked in a variety of roles, including security and as a gas station attendant, where he likely picked up some of his victims.
Semi-Skilled Serial Killer Occupations
10. Truck Driver
The open road offers freedom and anonymity, making it a perfect cover for serial killers who need to cover a lot of ground.
One notorious example is Bruce Mendenhall, a truck driver who picked up victims at truck stops across several states. With his cab serving as a mobile crime scene, he used the nature of his job to hunt without drawing attention.
11. Forestry Worker/Arborist
Forestry workers often find themselves isolated in remote, wooded areas, where nobody questions what they're doing. That's an ideal environment for someone with nefarious intentions.
Take for example Robert Hansen, the Butcher Baker, who hunted his victims in the Alaskan wilderness. He worked as a baker but also loved spending time in the woods, using his knowledge of the landscape to evade capture.
12. Warehouse Manager
Managing a warehouse might seem mundane, but it offers something serial killers crave: control over a large space, often during late or isolated hours.
Andrei Chikatilo, the Butcher of Rostov, worked in various factory roles in the Soviet Union, taking advantage of the access and freedom these jobs offered. He later became one of the most prolific serial killers in history.
Working 9 to 5 ... and Then Some
It's chilling to think that the person repairing your shoes, carrying your bags or even preaching from the pulpit could hide such dark secrets. These jobs don't create serial killers, but they might offer the opportunities they crave: control, anonymity, and access to potential victims.
So next time you meet someone in one of these professions, don't assume the worst — but maybe keep an eye out. You never know who might have a dark side lurking behind that friendly smile.
References: The preferred jobs of serial killers: aircraft machinist, arborist, general labourer and cop | The Preferred Jobs of Serial Killers and Psychopaths | Jeffrey Dahmer | Charles Cullen | Edward Theodore Gein | Robert Christian HANSEN | Bruce D. Mendenhall | Andrei Romanovich CHIKATILO | Bruce McArthur Case | Meet Carl Panzram, The Most Twisted Serial Killer You've Never Heard Of | Dennis Lynn RADER | Joseph DeAngelo Pleads Guilty in Golden State Killer Cases | David Parker RAY | Gary Heidnik, The 'House Of Horrors' Killer Who Inspired Buffalo Bill From The Silence Of The Lambs
