Are there Serial killers on the loose in America?

Serial Killing- An American Tradition

America: the land of the free… and the home of more serial killers than anywhere else in modern history.

From the 1970s through the 1990s, the U.S. saw an explosion of serial murder — a dark legacy that earned its own chapter in criminal history. In 1974, there were 104 active serial killers operating across the country. By 1984? That number had risen to 147. A decade later, in 1994, the peak: 151.

And while those numbers have dropped since then, the FBI estimates there are still 25 to 50 active serial killers in the United States right now.

So what changed? Where did they go?

Criminologist Dr. Greg Broberg thinks the internet might be to blame- or thank. In his words: “The wide use of the internet has made it much more difficult for serial killers to stay hidden.”

Technology, and especially social media, has given everyday people eyes and ears in every neighborhood. News that used to stay local now spreads at the speed of a share button.

In fact, that’s how I first heard about both of the cases we’re diving into today. Two unfolding stories that some say signal the return of the American serial killer. Whether that’s true or just public paranoia… well, that’s what we’re here to discuss.

Let’s start in the heart of Texas.

The Rainey Street Ripper

Since 2022, 38 bodies have been pulled from Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas.

That’s right, 38. Most of them men, aged 30 to 49, many last seen enjoying a night out near Rainey Street a bustling strip packed with bars, music, and nightlife.

The authorities insist these deaths are not connected. They say the causes range from accidental drownings to drug overdoses, even natural causes. In fact, only one case has been ruled a homicide. Six remain undetermined.

But to locals? Something feels off.

The nickname “Rainey Street Ripper” has taken hold online, especially among Austin residents who believe the pattern is too consistent to be coincidence.

Officials argue the real culprits are environmental: steep drop-offs along the water, poor lighting, and heavy drinking. In response, the city has spent nearly $1 million on safety upgrades including fencing, lighting, cameras, and increased patrols.

But stories like Jeff Jones’s only fuel the fire.

Jones, 39, was in Austin for a bachelor party when he woke up under a bridge with benzodiazepines in his system. He believes he narrowly escaped an attack by whoever — or whatever is stalking the streets near Lady Bird Lake.

“I just got lucky… Not many people can say they potentially survived a serial killer,” he told the press. “Whoever they may be just missed the target and I hit the ground, and luckily because of that I didn’t drown.” Jones was discovered unconscious beneath the West Sixth Street Bridge, which spans Shoal Creek before it flows into the Colorado River.

So what’s really happening in Austin? A tragic mix of poor safety and bad luck? Or is there something darker slipping through the cracks?

New England Serial Killer

Now let’s head northeast, to a region that’s recently seen a chilling series of deaths.

Since March 2025, at least 13 bodies have been discovered across Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine. Many were found in wooded or remote areas. The causes of death? All over the map; from dismemberments to mysterious unattended deaths.

Is it a single killer? A group? Or just a brutal uptick in violence fueled by growing social unrest?

Theories abound.

Some point to the Smiley Face Killer theory, others believe there may be a truck driver moving along the interstate highways, dumping victims along their route. Many of the bodies were found just off major roads in wooded areas.

Despite the mounting public suspicion, police departments continue to investigate the cases individually, and district attorneys have pushed back against the serial killer narrative.

Without hard forensic links between the cases, law enforcement warns that speculation could derail active investigations and stir up unnecessary fear.

But the volume… the timing… the pattern… it’s hard to ignore.

Conclusion

So… is America seeing the rise of a new generation of serial killers? Or is this just a case of pattern-seeking minds desperate for answers in a chaotic world?

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Strange Sisters. Stay strange, and if you find yourself near the water late at night… maybe think twice.

Sources:

https://vt.co/news/us/everything-we-know-about-38-bodies-pulled-from-single-lake-amid-fears-of-potential-serial-killer

https://www.foxnews.com/us/serial-killer-fears-grip-texas-community-after-dozens-bodies-pulled-from-lake-cannot-ignored