The Most Famous Cannibal, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the cannibal you think is the most famous!

Updated on May 3, 2024 07:03

In the shadows of history lurk tales that both repel and fascinate, concerning individuals who broke the utmost human taboos. Such narratives invariably provoke questions about morality, survival, and the extremities of human behavior. By ranking these infamous figures, we can glean insights into the darker aspects of human history and perhaps understand a bit more about societal boundaries and the factors that drive some to transcend them. This ranking system allows you to contribute to the ongoing dialogue, casting your vote to influence the order of notoriety these individuals hold. Each vote is a reflection of collective engagement and curiosity, helping to shape a list that becomes more enriched with diverse perspectives. Participate in assembling a comprehensive overview of these enigmatic characters, and see where your opinions fit into the global perspective.

Who Is the Most Famous Cannibal?

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23
votes
Revere Senior High School · Public domain

Jeffrey Dahmer

Jeffrey Dahmer

Known as the Milwaukee Cannibal, Dahmer murdered and dismembered 17 young men and boys between 1978 and 1991, and also engaged in cannibalism and necrophilia.
Jeffrey Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal or the Milwaukee Monster, was an American serial killer and sex offender. He primarily targeted young men and boys, whom he would lure to his apartment with the promise of money or alcohol before sexually assaulting, killing, and dismembering them. Dahmer operated between 1978 and 1991, during which he committed 17 known murders. His infamous crimes included acts of necrophilia, cannibalism, and preservation of body parts as trophies.

Nationality: American

Alias: Milwaukee Cannibal, Milwaukee Monster

Operating Period: 1978-1991

Number of Known Victims: 17

Preferred Targets: Young men and boys
Jeffrey Dahmer in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous killer in Michigan
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous killer in Ohio
- Position 2 of 10 in Most intriguing serial killer
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous serial killer in Wisconsin
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular serial killer in America
- Position 8 of 10 in Most famous criminal of all time
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43
votes
Albert Fish

Hamilton Howard Fish

Known as the Gray Man or the Boogeyman, Fish was an American serial killer who confessed to three murders and claimed to have killed over 100 children. He was also known to have cannibalized at least one of his victims.
Albert Fish, also known as the Gray Man or the Werewolf of Wysteria, was one of the most disturbing and intriguing serial killers in history. He was an American child rapist, cannibal, and serial killer who operated between 1910 and 1934. Fish targeted children, luring them away from their families and subjecting them to unimaginable horrors. His crimes shocked the nation and left a haunting legacy in the annals of criminal history.

Nickname: The Gray Man, The Werewolf of Wysteria

Birth Name: Hamilton Howard Fish

Date of Birth: May 19, 1870

Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., United States

Confirmed Victims: At least 3, with claims of up to 100
Albert Fish in other rankings
- Position 6 of 10 in Most intriguing serial killer
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20
votes

Armin Meiwes

Known as the Rotenburg Cannibal, Meiwes gained international notoriety for killing and eating his voluntary victim, Bernd Jürgen Brandes, in 2001. Meiwes documented the entire process and later posted the footage online.
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17
votes

Issei Sagawa

Known as the Japanese Cannibal, Sagawa murdered and cannibalized a fellow student in Paris in 1981. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and deported to Japan, where he was released from a mental institution in 1986. He has since become a minor celebrity in Japan.
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16
votes

Andrei Chikatilo

Known as the Butcher of Rostov, Chikatilo was a Soviet serial killer who murdered and mutilated at least 52 women and children between 1978 and 1990. While he did not engage in cannibalism, he did bite off and eat the nipples and genitalia of some of his victims.
6

15
votes

Isaac Basire · Public domain

Sawney Bean

Legend has it that Sawney Bean and his family of 48 people lived in a cave in Scotland in the 16th century and survived by ambushing and killing travelers, then eating their flesh. While the story is likely embellished or entirely fictional, it has become a part of Scottish folklore.
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10
votes

Pedro Alonso Lopez

Known as the Monster of the Andes, Lopez is a Colombian serial killer who confessed to killing over 300 girls and women in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru between 1969 and 1980. He was known to eat parts of his victims' bodies.
8

4
votes

Waqneu · CC0

Tsutomu Miyazaki

Known as the Otaku Murderer, Miyazaki was a Japanese serial killer who murdered and mutilated four young girls in the late 1980s. He was also known to have eaten some of his victims' hands.
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7
votes

Luka Magnotta

Known as the Canadian Cannibal, Magnotta gained international notoriety for killing and dismembering a Chinese international student in Montreal in 2012, and mailing body parts to political offices and schools. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
10

6
votes

Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Alfred Packer

Known as the Colorado Cannibal, Packer was an American prospector who confessed to murdering and cannibalizing five of his traveling companions in the Colorado mountains in 1874. He was later convicted of manslaughter and served 18 years in prison.

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About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous cannibal. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or cannibal is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1971 views
159 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each cannibal once every 24 hours. The rank of each cannibal is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous cannibal

Cannibalism is one of the most taboo subjects in human history, and for good reason. It is the act of consuming the flesh of another human being, and while it has been practiced by various cultures throughout time, it is universally condemned in modern society. Despite this, there have been several infamous cases of cannibalism throughout history, with some of the most notorious being committed by serial killers. In this article, we will explore some of the most infamous cannibals in history and examine what drove them to commit such heinous acts.