These terrifying murder cases have left a lasting impact, proving that real life can be more horrifying than fiction.
The 1960s and 70s were a time of cultural shifts, political upheaval, and, unfortunately, some of the most chilling crimes in modern history. As serial killers gained nationwide notoriety and shocking murders dominated the headlines, fear took hold in cities and small towns alike.
Many of these cases remain infamous, still discussed and analyzed decades later. Some led to swift justice, while others remain unsolved mysteries. If you lived during the time of these horrific murder cases, you’ll remember how scary they were.
1. The Manson Family murders terrified Hollywood and the entire country.
On the night of August 8, 1969, Charles Manson’s cult followers carried out one of the most infamous murder sprees in American history. Actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and four others were brutally slain in her Los Angeles home. The following night, the killers struck again, murdering Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. The senseless violence, coupled with Manson’s disturbing influence over his followers, left the world horrified. The case cemented itself in true crime history, with its eerie mix of celebrity, cult psychology, and sheer brutality, according to Houston Chronicle.
2. The Zodiac Killer taunted police with cryptic messages and remains unidentified.
According to Biography.com, throughout the late 1960s and early 70s, a mysterious serial killer terrorized Northern California, claiming at least five confirmed victims—though he hinted at many more. He sent coded letters to newspapers, taunting the public and authorities. Despite extensive investigations, he was never caught. The Zodiac Killer’s chilling messages and cryptic ciphers have fueled speculation for decades, making him one of the most infamous unidentified murderers in history.
3. The brutal murder of Kitty Genovese sparked the “bystander effect” theory.
In 1964, 28-year-old Kitty Genovese was brutally attacked outside her New York apartment while multiple neighbors reportedly ignored her cries for help. The case gained national attention, not just for the horrifying crime itself, but for the idea that people were too indifferent or afraid to intervene, as noted in History.com. Though later investigations suggested the original story was exaggerated, the murder led to psychological studies on the “bystander effect” and changed emergency response protocols.
4. The Texas Tower Sniper shocked the world with a deadly mass shooting.
On August 1, 1966, former Marine Charles Whitman climbed the University of Texas Tower in Austin and opened fire, killing 16 people and injuring 31 others before police shot him dead. Hours earlier, he had murdered his wife and mother. His actions were among the first modern mass shootings in U.S. history, leaving a lasting impact on how authorities respond to active shooters.
5. The Candy Man murders revealed a horrifying serial killer in Texas.
Between 1970 and 1973, Dean Corll, also known as “The Candy Man,” carried out a brutal killing spree in Houston, Texas, with the help of two teenage accomplices. Corll lured at least 28 young boys and teens to his home, where they were tortured and murdered. The crimes were only discovered when one of his accomplices, Elmer Wayne Henley, shot and killed Corll in self-defense. The sheer scale and brutality of the murders shocked the nation, making this one of the most disturbing cases of the decade.
6. Ted Bundy’s killing spree horrified the nation as he charmed his way to murder.
Throughout the 1970s, Ted Bundy preyed on young women across multiple states, using his good looks and charm to lure victims. He was responsible for the deaths of at least 30 women, though the true number may be much higher. His brazen escapes from custody and shocking courtroom antics captivated the public. Bundy was finally caught, convicted, and executed in 1989, but his horrifying legacy still lingers.
7. The Alphabet Murders left New York communities in fear.
Between 1971 and 1973, three young girls in Rochester, New York, were found murdered under eerie circumstances—their first and last names started with the same letter, and their bodies were dumped in locations matching the pattern. The case, dubbed the Alphabet Murders, sparked panic, but despite numerous suspects over the years, no one was ever convicted.
8. The Hillside Stranglers terrorized Los Angeles with their sadistic crimes.
From 1977 to 1978, cousins Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono Jr. abducted, tortured, and murdered at least 10 women in Los Angeles. The pair posed as undercover police officers to lure victims before subjecting them to brutal killings. Their reign of terror ended when Bianchi was arrested for unrelated crimes, leading to the unraveling of their twisted partnership.
9. The Son of Sam killings held New York City in a grip of fear.
Between 1976 and 1977, a gunman known as the Son of Sam terrorized New York City, killing six people and wounding seven others. David Berkowitz, the man behind the murders, taunted police with letters claiming he was taking orders from a demonic dog. The random nature of the killings left New Yorkers paralyzed with fear until his arrest in 1977.
10. The murder of the Clutter family inspired In Cold Blood.
On November 15, 1959, a seemingly random home invasion in Holcomb, Kansas, ended in the brutal execution-style murder of the Clutter family. The case became infamous after Truman Capote detailed it in his groundbreaking true crime novel In Cold Blood. The killers, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, were eventually captured and executed, but the murder remains one of the most chilling in American history.
11. The Jeffrey MacDonald murders shocked the nation and remain controversial.
On February 17, 1970, Army surgeon Jeffrey MacDonald’s wife and two daughters were brutally murdered in their Fort Bragg, North Carolina home. MacDonald claimed a group of drug-crazed hippies broke in and attacked them, echoing details eerily similar to the Manson Family murders. However, investigators found inconsistencies in his story, and he was eventually convicted of the killings in 1979. Despite his conviction, MacDonald has maintained his innocence for decades.