H.H Holmes Serial Killer Essay Example

However, his downfall was his greed, which ultimately put an end to his business.

However, this time they were successful in apprehending him. The Pinkerton Detective Agency managed to arrest Herman Mudgett, also known as HH Holmes. They finally located Holmes in November at a place from his childhood memories in Vermont. After putting him under surveillance, they provided the gathered information to the police. Ultimately, on November 16, 1894, H. H. Holmes was apprehended in Boston just as he was getting ready to depart the country via steamship.

Voluntarily, he surrendered, potentially thinking that his effective strategy of deceit and persuasive speech could help him evade any consequences. This notion might have been reinforced when he discovered that he was solely charged with a minor transgression: horse theft in Texas. Nonetheless, unbeknownst to him, the authorities were informed about his deeper involvement in the affair. Nevertheless, neither side had yet grasped the full magnitude of the situation.

[pic] The Holmes Pitezel Case The Holmes Pitezel Case is best documented through the various sources related to the case itself. These include Detective Frank P. Geyer’s book, which recounts his experiences and includes evidence that was not used in court. Geyer describes the case as "one of the most marvellous [sic] stories of modern times." Furthermore, autobiographical pieces written by Holmes provide additional insights. Initially, Holmes presented a story that contained ordinary details about his life along with numerous lies intended to conceal his crimes. However, he later confessed in a sensational manner, and this confession was printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer at the time. All three of these aforementioned documents are now available on a CD-ROM from Waterfront

Productions. Additionally, due to the immediate sensation surrounding the Holmes case, the major Philadelphia newspapers extensively covered the story from the moment of his arrest. In 1975, David Franke published The Torture Doctor, a book that was later discovered to have been read by healthcare serial killer Dr. Michael Swango.

Harold Schechter and Erik Larson are both acclaimed authors who have provided exceptional interpretations of the Holmes story. Schechter presents the tale in a creative manner through narrative nonfiction, while Larson explores the connection between Holmes and the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Larson also offers valuable insights into his research process for the book. [pic] However, he faced challenges when it came to portraying the character of H.

H. Holmes, during the Philadelphia trial transcripts it was discovered that he had committed numerous crimes elsewhere. Larson found that the information about this criminal was often inconsistent and mixed with Holmes' own exaggerations. Many times, only Holmes himself knew the truth of what he had done. Larson struggled to recreate events that had no witnesses, and despite extensive research, he still didn't understand Holmes' motives for killing (and only had a limited understanding of psychopathy). However, he does highlight one advantage of his work: "One interesting and delightful aspect of criminal investigation in the 1890s was that the police allowed reporters direct access to crime scenes, even during ongoing investigations."

"So, they gathered incredible information and shared it with anyone interested. According to Geyer, the tale is one of the most extraordinary. Wearing the disguise of Herman W. Mudgett, also known as H. H. Holmes, Holmes was getting arrested in Boston when an insurance company representative he knew

showed up. Consequently, Holmes readily admitted to the deception."

Holmes, acting like a skilled liar, smoothly claimed that the damaged body he had identified as Pitezel was actually a corpse he had obtained and substituted in order to collect the money. The agent was impressed by Holmes' convincingly deceptive performance. When questioned about the whereabouts of the Pitezel children, who were no longer under his care, the suspect provided another complicated story: he stated that the children were left with their father, who had supposedly traveled to either South America or Florida. Carrie Pitezel, Ben's wife, could not verify any part of Holmes' tale, except for being aware of the insurance scam and him constantly relocating her without reuniting her with her family as promised. Her disoriented demeanor convinced the interrogators that Pitezel was likely deceased.

Despite feeling sorry for her, the authorities charged her with conspiracy and placed her under arrest as they believed she was involved in something she didn't fully comprehend. [pic] In Harold Schechter's book Depraved, the events unfold in Boston after Detective Thomas Crawford arrived to escort Holmes, who had committed the scheme in Philadelphia, back to his hometown. Along the journey, Holmes boasted about his criminal career to the detective, acknowledging that he had committed enough crimes to deserve twelve hangings. He regaled the detective with fascinating anecdotes about his various scams and even claimed to possess the power to hypnotize people into doing anything he desired. In fact, he audaciously offered the detective a sum of $500 to allow him to showcase this ability and escape.

Crawford, unimpressed and with a dark sense of humor, declined the deal. However, when reporters

discovered the incident later, they attributed supernatural powers to the scam artist. This was during the time of Svengali, a character who gained popularity in George Du Maurier's contemporary novel, Trilby. Holmes was believed to possess similar abilities. (Interestingly, Holmes even developed a liking for this novel while he was in prison.) [pic] Holmes was eventually imprisoned at Moyamensing Prison in Pennsylvania, where he stayed for several months. According to Larson, his cell was humid and white-washed, measuring 9 feet by 14 feet. It had a barred window and an electric lamp for lighting.

Despite the extensive media coverage of his heinous crimes, the seemingly well-behaved man had a positive relationship with his guards. In fact, some of them went out of their way to assist him by regularly delivering the newspaper, allowing him to stay informed about the investigation's developments. However, while reading through the newspaper, he realized that he needed to devise a better confession as he was always scheming. In December 1894, Holmes made a surprising revelation during his interaction with the police when he contradicted his original claim of substituting a cadaver for Pitezel in a clever plan. Instead, Holmes confessed that the corpse was actually Pitezel himself but not murdered. According to Holmes' revised account, Pitezel and two other men were all involved in the scheme along with Pitezel's wife.

Holmes noticed that Pitezel, who had rented the house at 1316 Callowhill, was drinking excessively and eventually found him dead on the floor. Pitezel had used chloroform on himself, seemingly due to depression. In order to make it hard to identify him, Holmes arranged the body and destroyed a letter Pitezel had

written, which was claimed to be a suicide note. He then set up the scene to appear as if there had been an accidental explosion. Holmes left town and waited for a newspaper article confirming that the body had been discovered.

He left the account unchanged and several months went by without any news of the children. Holmes informed Carrie Pitezel that they were under the care of Minnie Williams, a guardian in England. On June 3, 1895, Holmes stood trial for conspiracy to deceive an insurance company. His lawyers suggested he plead guilty to receive a lenient sentence, and he agreed. The sentencing was postponed, but the media started demanding information about the whereabouts of the Pitezel children. They had seemingly vanished and reporters were eager to find out their location.

Carrie Pitezel and Detective Frank Geyer both shared a desire for action, which led to Geyer's appointment. Shortly after, Geyer embarked on a highly publicized mission to locate the missing Pitezel children or any evidence related to their fate. The book later chronicled his extensive travels during this time.

Despite his completion of the mission, the protagonist remained unsure about the monster he encountered. However, he acknowledged his responsibility and carried it out, despite its potential unpleasantness. In Larson's The Devil in the White City, Geyer is depicted as a "big man with a pleasant, earnest face," sporting a walrus mustache. Recently, Geyer tragically lost his wife and daughter in a fire—an event that profoundly impacted him—leading him to search for possibly murdered children. Holmes provided no helpful clues except mentioning that the children were under someone's guardianship, with one girl disguising herself as a boy.

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"He even shed tears at the idea that someone should accuse him of killing innocent children," stated Geyer. He further described Holmes as an individual who excelled in deception, commenting, "Holmes is greatly given to lying with a sort of florid ornamentation." Due to Holmes' reputation as an actor and skilled con artist, Geyer distrusted everything he said, particularly considering the circumstances. Notably, Minnie Williams, the supposed guardian of the children, was also missing, alongside her sister Nettie. Both women had previous connections to the suspect. Holmes kept himself informed with daily newspaper deliveries and altered his account according to the changing circumstances. Geyer observed this behavior and recognized how it aligned with Holmes' tendency to manipulate others, treating them like pawns in his personal game for amusement.

Such a man's behavior made the detective feel uneasy. It was impossible to determine the truth from what he said or predict his next actions. However, Holmes did acknowledge that he had taken custody of Alice Pitezel, who was 15 years old at the time. She had assisted him in identifying her father's body for an insurance payout. He also confessed to picking up Howard, who was 8 years old, and Nellie, who was 11 years old, and taking them with him.

Alice and Nellie had written letters to their mother during their daily journey, which Holmes had collected but never sent. These letters were discovered in his possession when he was arrested. Holmes informed their mother that the children were under the care of Minnie Williams, a wealthy woman residing in England. Holmes speculated that Williams had possibly withheld the letters for her own

safety. However, Geyer, during his investigation, did not find any evidence of Minnie Williams or the children in the location Holmes had mentioned. It turned out that the street name provided by Holmes did not exist in London. Consequently, Geyer shifted his focus to North America instead of following Holmes' attempt to steer him towards England.

On June 26, Detective Geyer embarked on a long journey by train to the Midwest. He brought along Alice's and Nellie's letters, photos of the children and Holmes, and a list of items and clothing related to them. The D.A.'s office did not anticipate finding any evidence since it was believed that Holmes had already killed them and taken precautions to dispose of their bodies. Despite this, the insurance company willingly funded the trip as they would not have to pay for Pitezel's suicide. Therefore, Geyer agreed to undertake the mission.

In Cincinnati, Detective Geyer showed photographs and inquired at different hotels about any sightings of Holmes or the children. Eventually, he encountered a person who recalled the group of travelers using the alias "Alex E. Cook," a name previously used by Holmes in business matters. The clerk redirected Geyer towards another lead, leading to an encounter with a woman who had witnessed Holmes and a young boy at a house where a large stove had been delivered. Surprisingly, Holmes ended up giving her the stove after realizing she had been observing him.

Geyer felt that he had a firm hold on a string that would lead him to the consummation of his mission. He then went to Indianapolis, which was Holmes' next destination according to the letters. In this city, Geyer

found a trail that provided him with a good sense of the children's whereabouts. Larson notes that it was an extremely hot day, which made the investigation more difficult.

Ultimately, Holmes' bizarre scheme became clear: he was secretly relocating his wife and three children, without any of them knowing about each other. Geyer couldn't fathom why Holmes would go through the trouble and expense of moving them so frequently if his intention was to harm the children. This enigma deepened, and the fate of the children appeared even more ominous. Geyer then traveled to Chicago and Detroit, where Alice had last sent letters expressing her sadness about their separation. To his astonishment, Geyer discovered that Holmes had introduced a third person into his devious game - Mrs.

Carrie Pitezel and her other two children were separated by Holmes. He kept them three blocks away from where he was staying with the three children he was responsible for. However, Alice managed to write a letter to her mother from that location, which terrified Geyer. In the letter, she mentioned that Howard was no longer with them. Meanwhile, the girls were headed to Toronto. This prompted Geyer to search for real estate agents who might have rented a house for a short period of time.

It was a time-consuming effort to convince every agent about the significance of conducting a thorough search for us. Eventually, one of the agents discovered a house that Holmes had leased. This house was enclosed by a six-foot fence. The occupants of the house were aware of some loose soil beneath it. They undertook the task of excavating the area, firmly convinced that they would

uncover one or more of the children. As dusk approached, they persisted in their work to heighten the tension, but unfortunately, they had to abandon their efforts without finding anything.

Despite striking out on his first lead, Geyer, the detective, remained convinced that the children had met their demise in the town. With unwavering determination, he persisted and stumbled upon another rental property that raised suspicion. Intrigued, he decided to investigate further. It was revealed that a man with children residing in this rental had requested a spade for planting potatoes in the cellar. Curiously, the man had furnished the house with only a bed, mattress, and a large trunk. A woman later identified Holmes from a photograph as the tenant of the house. Driven by this revelation, Geyer made his way to the rental property and made a startling discovery - a hidden cellar accessible through a trap door. To Geyer's astonishment, he noticed an area of soft soil on the floor.

After inserting a shovel into the ground, a foul odor emerged, confirming his suspicion. The arduous and gloomy journey had yielded both desired and dreaded results: there were human remains present. Upon digging a depth of three feet, he unearthed a small arm bone, prompting him to seek the assistance of an undertaker. Soon enough, they excavated the corpses of two undressed girls, believed to be Nellie and Alice Pitezel. [pic] Alice Pitezel was discovered lying on her side, with her hand pointing westward," Geyer documented. "Meanwhile, Nellie was found face-down, her head facing south, and her neatly braided hair cascading down her back.

"A crew of men lifted them from the grave and transferred

them to coffins,"- a macabre sight as Nellie was lifted, resulting in her scalp being detached from her skull due to the weight of her heavy braid. Geyer received widespread commendation for his unwavering determination and triumphant outcome. He promptly sent a telegram to Philadelphia, summarizing the day's events and concluding in his book, "Henceforth, it is irrefutably demonstrated that the heinous act of murdering innocent children is not an undetectable crime in this modern era."

Searchers discovered a toy and partially burnt clothing in the house that matched items listed in Carrie Pitezel's inventory of her children's belongings. These findings, along with Mrs. Pitezel's confirmation, helped Geyer firmly identify the remains. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, she was unable to view the hair and teeth of her children directly. However, upon seeing the remains, she immediately recognized them and was overcome with grief. It was now clear to her that Holmes had deceived her and murdered her children.

However, Geyer was aware that there was still one more child left to locate, namely little Howard. Even though his journey seemed to be completely pessimistic at this point, he remained determined to find Howard. By using logic and clues from the letters, Geyer concluded that Howard had been separated from the girls before they reached Detroit. Therefore, he decided to go back to Indianapolis. Eventually, on July 24, he arrived there and made a discovery.

As previously mentioned, he sought help from real estate agents throughout the city to gather information about short-term rentals from the previous October. At this point, Geyer's journey had ignited immense curiosity across the nation, and newspapers celebrated his arrival. He

was regarded as a real-life Sherlock Holmes, and individuals were eager to track his every move, much like reading a gripping work of fiction. This attention brought advantages and disadvantages. While he received numerous leads to pursue, the majority only proved to be time-consuming and unhelpful.

“Days passed, but I remained unaware,” he stated, “unable to solve the mystery.” Geyer worried that the cunning culprit had outsmarted him. The possibility grew that little Howard would never be discovered. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Holmes eagerly monitored Geyer’s progress.

Initially, he felt a sense of power, believing that Geyer would be unable to locate the children. However, the discovery of the girls' remains painted a bleak picture. He had to devise a story to absolve himself of guilt and shift blame onto others. Simultaneously, investigators examined the children's letters and shared their findings with Geyer. Certain details had been overlooked or misunderstood, prompting Geyer to diligently reassess the situation. Ultimately, he determined that the children had been in Indianapolis for four additional days than previously thought. The window of time that remained unaccounted for was narrowed down to just two days. With this knowledge in hand, Geyer returned to Chicago to investigate a recently discovered child's skeleton.

Howard was not responsible, according to Holmes who refused to provide any assistance. Holmes, known as the "king of fabricators," shifted blame onto another individual as the potential culprit. Geyer journeyed to multiple locations but felt compelled to settle in Indianapolis and persist with the search. Despite the absence of achievements, Geyer maintained his belief that he would eventually achieve a breakthrough in this specific town. "A total of nine hundred alleged clues were

exhausted," he later recounted.

However, he required a fresh approach. Utilizing his good instinct, he proceeded to explore the smaller surrounding towns in a methodical manner, similar to his approach in Indianapolis. Eventually, in Irvington, he found success. One man who had rented a house in October had a clear memory of Holmes due to his extremely rude and abrupt behavior. He also remembered a boy being present with this unpleasant temporary tenant.

Relieved and certain that he had reached the end of the trail, Geyer proceeded to the rental property. Despite not finding any disturbance in the floor of the cellar, which initially discouraged him, he discovered a trunk in a small alcove with some disturbed dirt nearby. Geyer carefully dug into the area but came up empty-handed. However, in a nearby barn, he stumbled upon a coal stove. Recalling Holmes’ previous purchase of a large stove that he had subsequently left behind, Geyer began to suspect that this could be a crucial clue.

At the top, there were stains resembling dried blood. Mrs. Pitezel, via telegram, confirmed that the trunk was hers. Geyer initially left the location but returned upon hearing there was an update. A doctor, who had examined the area, presented fragments of a burnt bone - a portion of a skull and a femur - stating they belonged to a male child.

They discovered it in a pipe opening within the chimney. Geyer deconstructed the chimney and discovered additional human remains - a full set of teeth and a fragment of jawbone. A dentist confirmed these belonged to a boy aged 7 to 10. Geyer documented that at the base of the chimney,

a significant charred mass was found. When it was cut open, a portion of the stomach, liver, and spleen, baked to a hardened state, were revealed. Additionally, the pelvis of the body was recovered.

"Numerous witnesses, including one who remembered assisting Holmes in installing the stove, had seen him in October and identified him from Geyer's photograph. This confirmed Geyer's belief that he had tragically discovered Howard Pitezel, and he finally found satisfaction in the search for truth after two months of restless nights," Holmes.

On August 27, two months after starting his journey and five weeks since discovering Howard's unfortunate sisters, Holmes was indicted by a grand jury for Benjamin Pitezel's murder. He pleaded not guilty and his trial was set for October 28. Despite his court pretense, people in Chicago were uncovering information about Holmes' extensive history of killing.

Holmes, originally named Hermann Webster Mudgett, came to Chicago in the 1880s. Despite being already married to two women, he saw great potential in the city as it was gearing up for the World's Fair or Great Exposition. This event presented numerous opportunities for a cunning individual like Holmes to engage in fraudulent activities and theft. In his book, Erik Larson beautifully describers the challenges faced by the developers and investors of the "White City" during its construction, barely completing the vast grounds in time for the fair. Over the course of six months, approximately 27 million people attended the fair, overwhelming the city's resources and leading to a surge in criminal activities that the police were unable to fully investigate.

Holmes was one of those who took advantage. [pic] Ferris Wheel, introduced at World's Fair. He

preplanned for the numerous visitors who would want to stay as close as possible to the fair. He knew that among them would be the most vulnerable targets: single, inexperienced women who were on their own and would easily fall for a successful and charming "doctor." He portrayed himself as a graduate from a prestigious medical school and a wealthy man. His initial job in Chicago was at 63rd and South Wallace Streets as a prescription clerk, but he quickly replaced Mrs. E.

S. Holton disappeared after going to California with her daughter, leaving Holmes in control of the shop. Holmes bought a property on 63rd Street and used murder and fraudulent schemes to gather funds for his three-story, 100-room "Castle." Eventually, he tried to burn down the Castle to collect insurance when he decided to leave.

Within this building, investigators have discovered evidence indicating more serious crimes than just swindling and bigamy. H. H. Holmes' Castle,pictured, had provided rooms to young women traveling to the fair, but many of these women who were in contact with him have gone missing. Furthermore, he had hired multiple young women who have also disappeared.

It appeared that Holmes had both tortured and killed the women. He either disposed of their bodies in the cellar furnace or removed their flesh and sold their skeletons to medical schools. Schechter provides a description of Holmes' Castle, which contained soundproof sleeping chambers with peepholes, asbestos-padded walls, gas pipes, sliding walls, and vents that Holmes operated from another room. Numerous rooms had low ceilings and trapdoors in the floors, with ladders leading to smaller rooms underneath. The building also featured hidden passages, fake floors, rooms

with torture devices, and a specially equipped surgery.

Holmes had set up greased chutes that led to a two-level cellar. In this cellar, he had a large furnace and an asbestos-lined chamber with gas pipes. Signs of burnt objects indicated that something had been incinerated inside the chamber. It was believed that Holmes would select his victims and place them in the special chambers. He would then release lethal gas into the chambers, controlling it from his own bedroom, just to observe their reactions. This sadistic act seemed to provide him with some perverse pleasure. Sometimes, he would even ignite the gas to completely burn the victims or subject them to the "elasticity determinator" bed, using straps to stretch their bodies to the limit.

After completing his gruesome acts, he could have easily placed the lifeless bodies down the chutes into his cellar. In there, he had prepared vats containing acid and other chemicals specifically for this purpose. Additional information about Holmes' activities can be found in Schecter's and Larson's books. During the investigation, authorities uncovered multiple intact skeletons as well as numerous bone fragments that had been incinerated within the Chicago castle. Among the horrifying discoveries was the pelvis of a young individual aged 14, as confirmed by Blundell. Furthermore, they found a blood-stained noose and a vault filled with quicklime. However, despite all evidence, Holmes vehemently denied any involvement in these murders.

According to him, those individuals had either committed suicide or were victims of homicide. However, the media sensationalized the situation with headlines such as “chamber of horrors” and “The Castle is a Tomb!” Newspapers like The Chicago Tribune and The Philadelphia Inquirer reported

on the remains found in the “charnel house.” Soon after, true crime books were written to capitalize on the public's fascination with the case. Authors extensively researched additional murders that Holmes might have been responsible for, even dating back to 1879. The Chicago police estimated that Holmes may have killed as many as 150 people.

In Philadelphia, the “Holmes Museum” unveiled its doors to the curious. However, Holmes was prepared. Utilizing his gift of persuasion, which had always granted him success, he believed he could achieve his desired outcome once more, regardless of the seemingly unfavorable circumstances. To entice visitors, he presented his memoir titled "The Art of Persuasion" [pic] H.

H. Holmes' Own Story is a literary work penned by Holmes himself at the age of 34. In this book, he aims to exonerate himself by addressing the alleged multimurders and conspiracies he is implicated in. As a part of this narrative, Holmes includes what he claims to be his prison diary, although it is believed by Larson to be a fabrication rather than a genuine log. This diary depicts his mundane daily routine, seemingly designed to present him as an ordinary individual with a passion for reading, and is presented as a means for his personal improvement. Despite objections from his attorney and acquaintances, Holmes asserts that he deliberately wrote this book with careful consideration and asserts that the murders he stands accused of were merely a ploy to deny him a fair and unbiased trial.

He wanted to publicly and formally deny all of the accusations. Therefore, he decided to provide a complete account of his "entire life," which included revealing his interactions with the

Pitezel family. "The only purpose of this publication is to clear my name from the terrible accusations made against me," he stated, "and to ask the fair-minded American public to withhold judgment." [pic] The memoir, in which he sought assistance from a journalist for its publication, details Holmes' experiences at Gilmanton Academy in New Hampshire.

Herman Webster Mudgett, also known as H.H. Holmes, was born in 1861 in the town where he grew up. He claims to have had a normal life with ordinary parents and a regular school routine. However, Larson challenges this belief by pointing out that psychopathic children usually engage in conduct disorders and juvenile delinquency. Nevertheless, such generalizations do not accurately reflect individual cases. Thus, we cannot determine the true nature of Holmes' childhood without concrete evidence. According to Holmes, his life took a turn when some older boys brought him to a village doctor's office where he faced a skeleton. He admits that this experience, though cruel and dangerous for a young child like him, helped him overcome his fears.

He credits his interest in pursuing a career in medicine to this significant event. Additionally, he talks about his childhood lies and pranks and the discipline imposed on him by his father. During his time in college, he reveals that he engaged in his initial act of deceit by promoting a fraudulent book to generate funds for his expenses. After obtaining a medical degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, he established his own medical practice. Subsequently, he made an unsuccessful endeavor to commit insurance fraud by assisting an individual in faking their own death using a stolen corpse.

Afterwards, he

worked as a doctor in a mental hospital that deeply affected him. Subsequently, he adopted the new identity of H. H. Holmes and pretended to be a pharmacist in Chicago.

In his memoir, Close Encounters Holmes recounts the daunting beginning of his career. He adopts a "woe is me" tone as he narrates the misfortunes that plagued him and the difficulties he faced prior to his encounter with Ben Pitezel in 1888. Together, they formed a partnership that brought them both financial gains. Holmes also addresses the disappearance of several women connected to him, assuring readers that they willingly declared their intention to depart and vanished independently. Furthermore, he asserts that many young women thrived and benefited from their association with him.

[pic] According to Holmes, Minnie Williams, who vanished mysteriously, had a troubled life. She faced difficulties, had an illegitimate child, and felt suicidal. After having an abortion and ex