Samuel Little

Samuel Little (born Samuel McDowell; 1940–2020) was an American serial killer convicted of three murders in California and later identified by the FBI as the most prolific serial killer in U.S.

Samuel Little was an American serial killer convicted of three murders in California and later identified by the FBI as the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history. He confessed to 93 murders committed between 1970 and 2005, and investigators have confirmed more than 50 of those confessions. Little died in custody on December 30, 2020, at age 80.

Early life and criminal history

Little was born in Georgia and had an extensive criminal record before his murder convictions. Reports describe a long history of arrests and offenses including theft, assault, robbery, and drug-related crimes.

Murder convictions

In 2014, a Los Angeles jury convicted Little of killing three women in the late 1980s. He was sentenced to three consecutive life-without-parole terms and remained imprisoned in Texas until his death.

Confessions and FBI investigation

After investigators linked him to multiple cases, Little gave detailed confessions to 93 murders spanning 1970 to 2005. The FBI said his statements were credible, and many have since been matched to victims.

Victimology and patterns

Investigators and reporting indicate that Little often targeted women on society’s margins, including people who were homeless, transient, or engaged in sex work. Many deaths were initially recorded as overdoses, accidental, or undetermined.