The 10 Most Infamous Crimes of All Time According to AI

This article is published by AllBusiness.com, a partner of TIME.

Throughout history, certain crimes have stood out for their sheer brutality, audacity, or lasting impact, serving as chilling reminders of the darkest sides of human behavior. These infamous acts, often shocking in both scope and detail, have devastated communities, instilled widespread fear, and permanently scarred societies. From horrifying serial killings to audacious heists and high-profile assassinations, these crimes continue to fascinate and horrify, highlighting the depths of cruelty and chaos that can emerge from human nature.

Many of these crimes remain unresolved, leaving behind unanswered questions and a haunting legacy of mystery and fear. Even those where the perpetrators were identified and punished still evoke a sense of dread, as their details reveal a horrifying capacity for premeditation, violence, and disregard for human life. These stories are not just tales of individuals’ actions but profound societal failures, showing how systems of safety, justice, and order can be shaken to their core.

This article, written using research assistance from ChatGPT, explores the top 10 most infamous crimes of all time, spanning different eras and locations. Each case is a grim testament to humanity’s ability to inflict pain and suffering, with consequences that echo far beyond their immediate victims. These crimes have left deep scars, with consequences that continue to shape society and history in profound ways.

1. Jack the Ripper Murders

In 1888, an unidentified serial killer known as "Jack the Ripper" terrorized London’s Whitechapel district, murdering at least five women. The gruesome nature of the crimes and the killer’s elusiveness have made this one of the most enduring mysteries in criminal history.

Location: Whitechapel, London, England
Victims: Five confirmed victims, known as the “canonical five”
Modus Operandi: Brutal mutilation of victims
Suspects: Numerous, but none conclusively identified
Impact: Spawned countless theories, books, and films
Legacy: One of the most studied and debated unsolved crimes in history

2. The Assassination of John F. Kennedy

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. This tragedy shocked the world and remains one of the most scrutinized events in modern history.

Date: November 22, 1963
Location: Dallas, Texas
Perpetrator: Officially Lee Harvey Oswald, though conspiracy theories abound
Impact: Altered the political and cultural landscape of the United States
Investigations: Led to the Warren Commission and numerous conspiracy theories
Legacy: A pivotal moment in U.S. history with ongoing debates about the true circumstances

3. The Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac Killer operated in Northern California during the late 1960s and early 1970s, taunting law enforcement with cryptic messages and ciphers. The identity of the killer remains unknown, and the case is one of the most famous unsolved crimes.

Active Years: 1968–1969 (confirmed attacks)
Location: Northern California
Victims: Five confirmed dead, two survivors, though the killer claimed 37 victims
Signature: Cryptic letters sent to newspapers, some containing ciphers
Impact: Inspired numerous books, movies, and theories
Legacy: Remains an open case with occasional breakthroughs in cipher-solving

4. The Great Train Robbery

In 1963, a gang of 15 men executed a daring heist, stealing £2.6 million from a Royal Mail train in England. Known as the Great Train Robbery, this crime captivated the public for its meticulous planning and dramatic aftermath.

Date: August 8, 1963
Location: Buckinghamshire, England
Stolen Amount: £2.6 million (equivalent to over £50 million today)
Key Figure: Bruce Reynolds, the mastermind
Impact: Highlighted vulnerabilities in railway security
Legacy: Inspired numerous books and films, including Buster

5. The O.J. Simpson Trial

In 1994, NFL star O.J. Simpson was charged with the tragic murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The televised trial became a media spectacle, often referred to as "The Trial of the Century."

Date of Crime: June 12, 1994
Location: Los Angeles, California
Outcome: Simpson was acquitted in criminal court but found liable in a civil trial
Impact: Sparked national debates about race, celebrity, and the justice system
Legacy: Continues to be a case study in media influence and legal strategy
Cultural Significance: Inspired documentaries, books, and TV adaptations

6. The Heist of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

In 1990, two men disguised as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole 13 pieces of art worth over $500 million. The crime remains unsolved, and none of the artworks have been recovered.

Date: March 18, 1990
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Stolen Items: 13 pieces of art, including works by Vermeer and Rembrandt
Value: Over $500 million
Impact: Highlighted significant gaps in museum security
Legacy: One of the largest unsolved art heists in history

7. The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie in 1914 is widely regarded as the event that triggered World War I. The assassination was carried out by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist.

Date: June 28, 1914
Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia
Perpetrator: Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand organization
Impact: Directly led to the outbreak of World War I
Legacy: A pivotal moment in global history, reshaping the 20th century
Significance: Symbol of political unrest and the consequences of assassination

8. The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping

In 1932, the son of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from the family’s home in New Jersey. The crime, dubbed "The Crime of the Century," ended tragically when the baby’s body was discovered weeks later.

Date: March 1, 1932
Location: Hopewell, New Jersey
Victim: Charles Lindbergh Jr., 20 months old (and his family forever)
Outcome: Bruno Richard Hauptmann was convicted and executed
Impact: Led to the Federal Kidnapping Act, empowering the FBI
Legacy: A tragic case that captivated the nation

9. The Boston Marathon Bombing

On April 15, 2013, two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring hundreds. The attack was carried out by brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Date: April 15, 2013
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Casualties: 3 dead, over 260 injured
Perpetrators: Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
Impact: Strengthened security measures at public events worldwide
Legacy: Inspired resilience and solidarity through the "Boston Strong" movement

10. The Jeffrey Dahmer Murders

Jeffrey Dahmer, one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. His crimes included dismemberment and cannibalism, shocking the world with their brutality.

Active Years: 1978–1991
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Victims: 17 confirmed
Capture: Arrested in 1991 after a potential victim escaped
Legacy: Sparked debates about mental health and law enforcement oversight
Cultural Impact: Subject of numerous books, documentaries, and films

Conclusion on Top 10 Infamous Crimes

The top 10 infamous crimes of all time reveal both the depths of human depravity and the perennial fascination with understanding the motives and circumstances behind these events. From the enduring mystery of Jack the Ripper to the cultural ripple effects of high-profile cases like the O.J. Simpson trial, these crimes continue to resonate, not just for their notoriety but for the societal conversations they have sparked.

These infamous incidents highlight humanity's need to confront its darkest moments, offering lessons on vigilance, empathy, and the pursuit of truth. They stand as stark reminders of the consequences of unchecked ambition, greed, or ideology, encouraging ongoing reflection on the broader implications of justice, mental health issues and accountability.

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About the Authors:

Richard D. Harroch is a Senior Advisor to CEOs, management teams, and Boards of Directors. He is an expert on M&A, venture capital, startups, and business contracts. He was the Managing Director and Global Head of M&A at VantagePoint Capital Partners, a venture capital fund in the San Francisco area. His focus is on internet, digital media, AI and technology companies. He was the founder of several Internet companies. His articles have appeared online in Forbes, Fortune, MSN, Yahoo, Fox Business and AllBusiness.com. Richard is the author of several books on startups and entrepreneurship as well as the co-author of Poker for Dummies and a Wall Street Journal-bestselling book on small business. He is the co-author of a 1,500-page book published by Bloomberg on mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies. He was also a corporate and M&A partner at the international law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. He has been involved in over 200 M&A transactions and 250 startup financings. He can be reached through LinkedIn.

Dominique Harroch is the Chief of Staff at AllBusiness.com. She has acted as a Chief of Staff or Operations Leader for multiple companies where she leveraged her extensive experience in operations management, strategic planning, and team leadership to drive organizational success. With a background that spans over two decades in operations leadership, event planning at her own start-up and marketing at various financial and retail companies. Dominique is known for her ability to optimize processes, manage complex projects and lead high-performing teams. She holds a BA in English and Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. She can be reached via LinkedIn.