The truth behind H.H. Holmes: legend or murderer of 200?

The truth behind H.H. Holmes: legend or murderer of 200?

Herman Webster Mudgett, better known as H.H. Holmes, is often referred to as America's first serial killer. The infamous “Murder Castle” in Chicago is considered a place of unimaginable atrocities that made Holmes the central figure of many horror stories. However, how VOL.AT reported, many myths about his crimes are based on exaggerations. In his book “H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil,” author Adam Selzer makes it clear that current depictions are often exaggerated. Although Holmes was convicted of nine murders, some whisper stories of up to 200 victims. However, most of these alleged deaths were people he knew as part of his scams.

A charismatic con man, Holmes built the famous “Murder Castle,” a convoluted structure reputedly equipped with secret rooms and traps in which he imprisoned his victims. During this horror of History.com presented as sensational reporting, historians believe that many of the details described are exaggerated or even fabricated. The “Murder Castle” was built during the 1893 World’s Fair, which attracted an incredible number of visitors to Chicago. The glossy reports about attached trap doors and creepy cellars used to destroy victims are often the result of exaggerated yellow journalism.

The end of the murderer myth

In 1896, Holmes was executed for the murder of Benjamin Pitezel. The rumors of his reign over the “Murder Castle” didn’t end with his execution, however. There was even speculation that he may have staged his execution. In 2017, his descendants requested DNA tests on his remains, which ultimately confirmed that the bones did indeed belong to him. The scene of his crime was demolished in the 1930s after a devastating fire ravaged the building. Today the Englewood Post Office stands there - the scene of a dark chapter in American criminal history remains dedicated to a simple postal service.