Some kill with their hands.
Some with knives.
Some with poison, guns, or methods so twisted they belong in horror films.
But one thing is certain—how a murderer kills can reveal more about who they are than the act of killing itself.
John Wayne Gacy preferred strangulation. He’d tie a rope around his victims’ necks, attach it to a hammer, and twist until they suffocated.
Ted Bundy used a metal rod or crowbar to bludgeon his victims into unconsciousness before finishing them off.
Ed Gein shot his victims first, then skinned their corpses to craft suits, lampshades, and furniture from human flesh.
And then there was H.H. Holmes, one of America’s first documented serial killers, who turned his 1893 Chicago hotel into a gas chamber, suffocating victims in rooms filled with poison vapor.
Each killer had their preferred method—some for the thrill, some for control, and others simply for convenience.
But why do they choose one way to kill over another?
Let’s step into the mind of a murderer.
Strangulation: The Ultimate Power Play
According to criminologist Dr. Eric Beauregard, strangulation is an intimate, hands-on method of killing.
🔴 The killer doesn’t step back.
🔴 They don’t shoot from a distance.
🔴 They want to feel the life leave their victim’s body.
“The majority of these killers enjoy the personal contact,” says Beauregard. “It brings them a feeling of power and control.”
Some killers toy with their victims, bringing them to the edge of unconsciousness before letting them regain breath—only to do it again.
Strangulation isn’t about efficiency. It’s about domination.
Knives: The Weapon of Convenience (and Rage)
Herb Mullin believed stabbing his victims to death would prevent earthquakes in California.
For others, stabbing isn’t about delusion—it’s about accessibility.
Knives are easy to get. Every home has them. They’re quiet, easily concealed, and require no special skill to use.
That’s why stabbing is the leading method of murder in countries with strict gun laws, like Japan, China, Germany, and the U.K.
But knives aren’t just about availability. They’re about rage.
Unlike shooting or poisoning, stabbing is messy, brutal, and up-close—a method chosen by those who want to feel their victim’s suffering.
Poison: The Silent Killer for Those Who Don’t Want to Get Caught
Poisoning is rare, but when it happens, one trend is clear:
🔴 It’s often done by people in medical professions.
Forensic psychologist Joni Johnston says doctors, nurses, and caregivers know exactly how much poison to use, how it works, and how to cover their tracks.
90% of poisonings occur between people who already know each other—a method used for revenge, money, or simply convenience.
H.H. Holmes killed hundreds by slipping poison into his victims’ drinks or filling rooms in his hotel with deadly gas.
Poisoners aren’t interested in the act of killing itself.
They just want their victim gone—and they don’t want to get their hands dirty.
Guns: The Murder Weapon of Choice in America
In the U.S., more than 15,000 people are murdered with a gun every year.
Why? Because guns make killing easy.
🔴 You don’t have to touch your victim.
🔴 You don’t have to get close.
🔴 You just pull a trigger, and it’s over.
According to criminologist Dr. Jesenia Pizarro, most gun murders in the U.S. aren’t carefully planned serial killings—they’re escalated disputes.
“Most murders with guns are spontaneous. They happen because of arguments, robberies, or fights that get out of hand.”
For criminals, guns are weapons of compliance—used by robbers, rapists, and gang members who want to force a victim’s obedience.
For murderers, guns are a means to an end—a tool to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
But for killers who truly enjoy the act of watching someone die, guns are often too fast, too impersonal, and too clean.
The Sadists: When Killing Isn’t the Goal—Suffering Is
Some murderers don’t just want their victim dead.
They want them to suffer first.
🔴 The Tool Box Killers used pliers, ice picks, and sledgehammers to torture their victims for hours before finally killing them.
🔴 John Wayne Gacy enjoyed watching his victims struggle before finally tightening the rope around their necks.
🔴 Ted Bundy liked bludgeoning women into unconsciousness before strangling them to death.
“For sadistic killers, the murder itself isn’t the point,” says Beauregard. “It’s about drawing it out. It’s about control. It’s about making their victims feel terror.”
These are the true monsters—killers who don’t just want to kill but want to savor every second of suffering.
What a Murder Method Says About a Killer
Every method of killing tells a different story about the murderer:
🔴 Strangulation → Craves power and control. Wants to feel the victim die.
🔴 Stabbing → Crime of rage or convenience. Often impulsive.
🔴 Poison → Wants to kill without getting caught. Prefers distance.
🔴 Guns → Fast, efficient, and detached. Often used in spontaneous murders.
🔴 Torture and prolonged killings → Enjoys inflicting suffering. Thrives on control.
Most murderers just want their victim dead.
But the ones who choose their method carefully?
They want something more.
And that’s what makes them truly terrifying.
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