Albert Fish

American serial killer and cannibal (1870–1936)

Hamilton Howard "Albert" Fish (May 19, 1870 – January 16, 1936) was an American serial killer, child rapist and cannibal.[1] He was also known as the Gray Man, the Werewolf of Wysteria, the Brooklyn Vampire, the Moon Maniac, and The Boogey Man. Fish once boasted that he "had children in every state", and at one time stated his number of victims was about 100. However, it is not known whether he was referring to rapes or cannibalization, nor is it known if the statement was truthful. Fish was a suspect in at least five murders during his lifetime. Fish confessed to three murders that police were able to trace to a known murder, and he confessed to stabbing at least two other people. He was put on trial for the kidnapping and murder of Grace Budd, and was convicted and executed by electric chair at Sing Sing. His last words were, "I don't even know why I'm here."

Albert Fish
Fish's mug shot after his arrest (1903)
Background information
Birth nameHamilton Howard Fish
Also known as
  • Frank Howard
  • Thomas A. Sprague
  • Robert Hayden
  • John W. Pell
Born(1870-05-19)May 19, 1870
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedJanuary 16, 1936(1936-01-16) (aged 65)
Ossining, New York, U.S.
Cause of deathExecution by electrocution
Conviction
SentenceDeath
Killings
Span of killings1924–1932
CountryUnited States
State(s)New York
MotiveSexual gratification
Date apprehendedDecember 13, 1934

Fish was known to stab himself with pins, as could be seen from X-rays. He was also known to eat his own feces. Fish supposedly ate the penis of at least one of his victims.

Due to modus operandi, his crimes were sometimes confused with those of nearby serial killer Peter Kudzinowski.

References

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  1. Frasier, David K. (1996). Murder Cases of the Twentieth Century: Biographies and Bibliographies of 280 Convicted Or Accused Killers. McFarland. ISBN 9780786401840.