Samuel Little
Prolific American Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Los Angeles County, California
TIME PERIOD
1970-2005
VICTIMS
93 confirmed
Samuel Little, an American serial killer, was convicted of eight murders and confessed to a staggering 93 murders committed between 1970 and 2005, with the FBI confirming his involvement in at least 60 of these cases, making him the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history. His criminal activities spanned multiple states, including California, Texas, and Ohio, and he was apprehended on September 5, 2012, in Kentucky. Little was sentenced to four life terms without the possibility of parole and died in custody on December 30, 2020. Significant evidence includes his detailed confessions and sketches of 26 victims, although not all have been conclusively linked to known murders, highlighting the extensive nature of his criminal history.
Many believe that Samuel Little's extensive criminal history and the sheer number of his confessed murders suggest he may be responsible for even more deaths than confirmed, possibly making him the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history. Some speculate that his victims were often marginalized individuals, which allowed him to evade capture for decades. Investigators continue to analyze his sketches and confessions, with some theorizing that there could be links to unsolved cases across various states where he operated.
The Haunting Legacy of Samuel Little: America's Most Prolific Serial Killer
The Man Behind the Murders
Samuel Little, a name that became synonymous with terror in the United States, was born as Samuel McDowell on June 7, 1940, in Reynolds, Georgia. His early life was marked by abandonment; his mother, Bessie Mae Little, a teenage prostitute, left him soon after birth. Authorities speculated that she might have given birth while incarcerated. Raised primarily by his grandmother in Lorain, Ohio, Little's childhood was disturbed by dark fantasies. He claimed that his obsessive thoughts about strangling women began when he saw his kindergarten teacher touch her neck, and as a teenager, he collected crime magazines illustrating the strangulation of women.
By 1956, Little's criminal tendencies began to surface. Convicted of breaking and entering in Omaha, Nebraska, he was committed to a juvenile institution. His mother’s whereabouts remained a mystery, and Little soon moved to Florida to live with her in the late 1960s. He worked sporadically as a cemetery worker and ambulance attendant, using these roles as covers for his increasingly violent tendencies. His criminal activities spanned eight states, involving offenses like DUI, fraud, shoplifting, solicitation, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and rape. Little even dabbled in boxing during his incarcerations, proudly referring to himself as a former prizefighter.
A Timeline of Terror
Little's rampage spanned decades, with his first documented incarceration in 1961 for a store break-in in Lorain, leading to a three-year prison sentence. Upon his release in 1964, he embarked on a crime spree that saw him arrested 26 times by 1975 for theft, assault, attempted rape, fraud, and attacks on officials. In 1982, Mississippi authorities arrested him for the murder of 22-year-old Melinda Rose LaPree, who disappeared that September. However, a grand jury chose not to indict him. While under investigation, he was extradited to Florida, where he faced trial for the murder of 26-year-old Patricia Ann Mount. Although witnesses linked Little to Mount on the night of her disappearance, he was acquitted in January 1984 due to skepticism over the testimonies.
After his acquittal, Little relocated to San Diego, California, where his violent streak continued. In October 1984, he was apprehended for the kidnapping, beating, and strangling of 22-year-old Laurie Barros, who survived the ordeal. Just a month later, police discovered him with another unconscious woman in his car, in the same area where he had attacked Barros. This led to a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Upon his release in 1987, Little moved to Los Angeles, where he resumed his murderous activities, claiming at least 10 more lives.
His eventual arrest on September 5, 2012, at a Louisville, Kentucky homeless shelter, marked the beginning of the end. Extradited to California on a narcotics charge, DNA testing linked him to the murders of Linda Alford, Guadalupe Duarte Apodaca, and Audrey Nelson Everett in Los Angeles during the late 1980s. Little faced charges on January 7, 2013, as police investigated his connection to three dozen previously unsolved murders. His involvement in 93 murders across numerous states was eventually examined.
The Trial and Incarceration
In September 2014, Little stood trial for the murders of Alford, Nelson, and Apodaca. The prosecution presented compelling DNA evidence alongside testimonies from survivors of his attacks. On September 25, 2014, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, a sentence he served until his death at California State Prison in Los Angeles County. Despite his conviction, Little maintained his innocence.
Chilling Confessions
In a chilling turn of events, Little began confessing to additional murders in 2018. On November 9, he admitted to the 1996 strangulation of Melissa Thomas, and on November 13, he was charged with the 1994 murder of Denise Christie Brothers in Odessa, Texas, after confessing to a Texas Ranger. By December 13, he pled guilty to Brothers' murder, receiving an additional life sentence. His confessions detailed a spree of over 90 murders across 14 states from 1970 to 2005.
Little's confessions continued throughout November 2018, revealing a gruesome list of victims. In Alabama, he confessed to the 1979 murder of Brenda Alexander; in Georgia, he admitted to the 1977 and 1982 strangulations of unknown women; in Louisiana, the murders of Dorothy Richards and Daisy McGuire in 1982 and 1996; and in Mississippi, the 1978 murder of Julia Critchfield. The FBI confirmed 34 of his confessions and worked to link the rest to unsolved cases.
The Victims and Their Stories
Samuel Little's victims were predominantly vulnerable women—sex workers, drug users, and homeless individuals—those he believed would not be missed. Despite confessing to 93 murders, only 60 have been confirmed by law enforcement. Little's conviction on eight counts of murder included the deaths of Annie Lee Stewart, Mary Jo Peyton, Carol Linda Alford, Audrey Nelson Everett, Guadalupe Apodaca, and others. Each murder bore his signature method—strangulation—leaving a trail of devastation across the nation.
Portraits of Pain
In a final bid for notoriety, Little sketched portraits of many of his victims, releasing them through the FBI in hopes of identification. These haunting drawings have helped solve cold cases, providing closure to families long haunted by uncertainty.
Samuel Little's reign of terror ended with his death on December 30, 2020, in Los Angeles County, California, but the scars of his crimes linger. His story remains a chilling testament to the depths of human depravity and the enduring quest for justice.
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First Murder
Samuel Little begins his killing spree, claiming to have murdered women across the U.S.
Arrested
Samuel Little is arrested at a homeless shelter in Kentucky on a narcotics charge.
Charged in California
Little is extradited to California and charged with three murders after DNA evidence links him to the crimes.
Convicted
Samuel Little is found guilty of three murders and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Confession in Texas
Little confesses to the murder of Denise Christie Brothers in Texas, leading to additional charges.
FBI Confirms Confessions
FBI confirms 34 of Little's confessions and begins linking them to known murders.
Indicted in Ohio
Little is indicted for the murders of two women in Cleveland, Ohio, as investigations continue.
Samuel Little Dies
Samuel Little dies in a California hospital while serving multiple life sentences.
Samuel Little, an American serial killer, was convicted of eight murders and confessed to a staggering 93 murders committed between 1970 and 2005, with the FBI confirming his involvement in at least 60 of these cases, making him the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history. His criminal activities spanned multiple states, including California, Texas, and Ohio, and he was apprehended on September 5, 2012, in Kentucky. Little was sentenced to four life terms without the possibility of parole and died in custody on December 30, 2020. Significant evidence includes his detailed confessions and sketches of 26 victims, although not all have been conclusively linked to known murders, highlighting the extensive nature of his criminal history.
Many believe that Samuel Little's extensive criminal history and the sheer number of his confessed murders suggest he may be responsible for even more deaths than confirmed, possibly making him the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history. Some speculate that his victims were often marginalized individuals, which allowed him to evade capture for decades. Investigators continue to analyze his sketches and confessions, with some theorizing that there could be links to unsolved cases across various states where he operated.
The Haunting Legacy of Samuel Little: America's Most Prolific Serial Killer
The Man Behind the Murders
Samuel Little, a name that became synonymous with terror in the United States, was born as Samuel McDowell on June 7, 1940, in Reynolds, Georgia. His early life was marked by abandonment; his mother, Bessie Mae Little, a teenage prostitute, left him soon after birth. Authorities speculated that she might have given birth while incarcerated. Raised primarily by his grandmother in Lorain, Ohio, Little's childhood was disturbed by dark fantasies. He claimed that his obsessive thoughts about strangling women began when he saw his kindergarten teacher touch her neck, and as a teenager, he collected crime magazines illustrating the strangulation of women.
By 1956, Little's criminal tendencies began to surface. Convicted of breaking and entering in Omaha, Nebraska, he was committed to a juvenile institution. His mother’s whereabouts remained a mystery, and Little soon moved to Florida to live with her in the late 1960s. He worked sporadically as a cemetery worker and ambulance attendant, using these roles as covers for his increasingly violent tendencies. His criminal activities spanned eight states, involving offenses like DUI, fraud, shoplifting, solicitation, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and rape. Little even dabbled in boxing during his incarcerations, proudly referring to himself as a former prizefighter.
A Timeline of Terror
Little's rampage spanned decades, with his first documented incarceration in 1961 for a store break-in in Lorain, leading to a three-year prison sentence. Upon his release in 1964, he embarked on a crime spree that saw him arrested 26 times by 1975 for theft, assault, attempted rape, fraud, and attacks on officials. In 1982, Mississippi authorities arrested him for the murder of 22-year-old Melinda Rose LaPree, who disappeared that September. However, a grand jury chose not to indict him. While under investigation, he was extradited to Florida, where he faced trial for the murder of 26-year-old Patricia Ann Mount. Although witnesses linked Little to Mount on the night of her disappearance, he was acquitted in January 1984 due to skepticism over the testimonies.
After his acquittal, Little relocated to San Diego, California, where his violent streak continued. In October 1984, he was apprehended for the kidnapping, beating, and strangling of 22-year-old Laurie Barros, who survived the ordeal. Just a month later, police discovered him with another unconscious woman in his car, in the same area where he had attacked Barros. This led to a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Upon his release in 1987, Little moved to Los Angeles, where he resumed his murderous activities, claiming at least 10 more lives.
His eventual arrest on September 5, 2012, at a Louisville, Kentucky homeless shelter, marked the beginning of the end. Extradited to California on a narcotics charge, DNA testing linked him to the murders of Linda Alford, Guadalupe Duarte Apodaca, and Audrey Nelson Everett in Los Angeles during the late 1980s. Little faced charges on January 7, 2013, as police investigated his connection to three dozen previously unsolved murders. His involvement in 93 murders across numerous states was eventually examined.
The Trial and Incarceration
In September 2014, Little stood trial for the murders of Alford, Nelson, and Apodaca. The prosecution presented compelling DNA evidence alongside testimonies from survivors of his attacks. On September 25, 2014, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, a sentence he served until his death at California State Prison in Los Angeles County. Despite his conviction, Little maintained his innocence.
Chilling Confessions
In a chilling turn of events, Little began confessing to additional murders in 2018. On November 9, he admitted to the 1996 strangulation of Melissa Thomas, and on November 13, he was charged with the 1994 murder of Denise Christie Brothers in Odessa, Texas, after confessing to a Texas Ranger. By December 13, he pled guilty to Brothers' murder, receiving an additional life sentence. His confessions detailed a spree of over 90 murders across 14 states from 1970 to 2005.
Little's confessions continued throughout November 2018, revealing a gruesome list of victims. In Alabama, he confessed to the 1979 murder of Brenda Alexander; in Georgia, he admitted to the 1977 and 1982 strangulations of unknown women; in Louisiana, the murders of Dorothy Richards and Daisy McGuire in 1982 and 1996; and in Mississippi, the 1978 murder of Julia Critchfield. The FBI confirmed 34 of his confessions and worked to link the rest to unsolved cases.
The Victims and Their Stories
Samuel Little's victims were predominantly vulnerable women—sex workers, drug users, and homeless individuals—those he believed would not be missed. Despite confessing to 93 murders, only 60 have been confirmed by law enforcement. Little's conviction on eight counts of murder included the deaths of Annie Lee Stewart, Mary Jo Peyton, Carol Linda Alford, Audrey Nelson Everett, Guadalupe Apodaca, and others. Each murder bore his signature method—strangulation—leaving a trail of devastation across the nation.
Portraits of Pain
In a final bid for notoriety, Little sketched portraits of many of his victims, releasing them through the FBI in hopes of identification. These haunting drawings have helped solve cold cases, providing closure to families long haunted by uncertainty.
Samuel Little's reign of terror ended with his death on December 30, 2020, in Los Angeles County, California, but the scars of his crimes linger. His story remains a chilling testament to the depths of human depravity and the enduring quest for justice.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder
Samuel Little begins his killing spree, claiming to have murdered women across the U.S.
Arrested
Samuel Little is arrested at a homeless shelter in Kentucky on a narcotics charge.
Charged in California
Little is extradited to California and charged with three murders after DNA evidence links him to the crimes.
Convicted
Samuel Little is found guilty of three murders and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Confession in Texas
Little confesses to the murder of Denise Christie Brothers in Texas, leading to additional charges.
FBI Confirms Confessions
FBI confirms 34 of Little's confessions and begins linking them to known murders.
Indicted in Ohio
Little is indicted for the murders of two women in Cleveland, Ohio, as investigations continue.
Samuel Little Dies
Samuel Little dies in a California hospital while serving multiple life sentences.