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In the end, when it was say two or three bodies under the floorboards, they began to accumulate. But come the summer it got hot and I knew it would be a smell problem. …And I thought “what would cause the smell more than the hot?” And I came to the conclusion it was the innards, the soft parts of the body, the organs and stuff like that. So on the weekend I would sort of pull up the floorboards — and I found it totally unpleasant — I’d get blinding drunk so I could face it, and start dissection on the kitchen floor. I got sick outside in the garden.

~ Des Nilsen

Biography[]

Early life[]

This section requires expansion.
Please expand this section with relevant information. If the reason for the change is unclear, please discuss on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove this template message) (July 18, 2024)

Dennis Andrew Nilsen was born on November 23, 1945, in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Raised in a strict and religious household, Nilsen's early life was marked by a troubled relationship with his father. After leaving school, he enlisted in the army and later worked as a police officer.

Criminal Beginnings[]

Nilsen's criminal activities began in the late 1970s when he committed a series of gruesome murders in London. His victims were primarily young men whom he met in bars or on the streets. Nilsen would lure them to his home, where he would strangle or drown them. His modus operandi also involved performing disturbing acts on the bodies.

Muswell Hill Murders[]

Between 1978 and 1983, Nilsen carried out a series of murders at his residence in Muswell Hill, London. The exact number of victims is disputed, with estimates ranging from 12 to 15. Nilsen's crimes went undetected for years as he disposed of the victims' remains by dismembering the bodies and flushing body parts down the toilet or burning them in his backyard.

Arrest and Trial[]

Nilsen's crimes were discovered in 1983 when a plumber found human remains blocking the drains. Upon investigation, the police traced the grisly findings to Nilsen's residence. He was arrested and confessed to the murders, providing chilling details of his actions. In 1983, Nilsen went on trial for six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Conviction and Imprisonment[]

Dennis Nilsen was convicted on all charges and sentenced to life in prison. He was incarcerated at HMP Full Sutton, where he spent the remainder of his life. Nilsen's lack of remorse and the gruesome nature of his crimes contributed to the severity of his sentence.

Later Years and Death[]

In prison, Nilsen became known for his detailed and candid discussions about his crimes. He granted interviews and wrote extensively about his motivations and the events leading up to the murders. Dennis Nilsen died in prison on May 12, 2018, at the age of 72.

Legacy[]

Dennis Nilsen's case remains one of the most notorious in British criminal history. His heinous acts and the nature of his confessions have fascinated criminal psychologists, leading to extensive studies of his psyche.

Victims[]

Confirmed victims[]

Name Age Date of Death Cause of Death
Stephen Dean Holmes 14 December 30, 1978 Strangulation
Kenneth Ockenden 23 December 3, 1979 Strangulation
Martyn Duffey 16 May 17, 1980 Strangulation
William Sutherland 26 c. August 20, 1980 Strangulation
Unidentified[note 2] 27-30 September, 1980
Unidentified 20-30 October, 1980
Unidentified 20s November, 1980 Strangulation
Unidentified[note 3] 25-30 November–December, 1980
Unidentified ~18 c. January 4, 1981
Unidentified Early 20s February, 1981 Strangulation
Unidentified[note 4] ~20 April, 1981
Malcolm Barlow 23 September 18, 1981
John Howlett[note 5] 23 March, 1982 Drowning
Graham Allen[note 6] 27 September, 1982
Stephen Sinclair 20 January 26, 1983 Strangulation

Survivors[]

Name Age Date of Attack
Andrew Ho August 1979
Douglas Stewart August, 1980
Paul Nobbs November 1981
Carl David[7] Stotter 21 May 1982
Martyn[8]

Timeline[]

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Bibliography[]

Literature[]

  • Masters, Brian (1985). Killing for Company: The Case of Dennis Nilsen,. New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-812-83104-7
  • Coffey, Russell (2013). Dennis Nilsen: Conversations with Britain's Most Evil Serial Killer, John Blake. ISBN 978-1-782-19459-0
  • Nilsen, Dennis (2021). History of a Drowning Boy: The Autobiography, RedDoor Press. ISBN 978-1913062538

Articles[]

Documentaries[]

Television[]

YouTube Documentaries[]

Podcasts[]

In popular culture[]

Film/TV adaptations[]

Related Articles[]

See also[]

Links[]

Notes[]

  1. A WW2 soldier who adopted the surname "Nilsen" on escaping from German-occupied Norway.[1]
  2. Nilsen later claimed to have fabricated this victim.[2]
  3. Nilsen later claimed to have fabricated this victim.[3]
  4. Nilsen later claimed to have fabricated this victim.[4]
  5. Howlett was known to Nilsen as "John the Guardsman".[5]
  6. His body was identified from dental records and healed fractures to his jawbone.[6]

References[]

  1. Nilsen, Dennis (2021). History of a Drowning Boy: The Autobiography, p. 1 RedDoor Press. ISBN 978-1913062538
  2. Coffey 2013, p. 209
  3. Coffey 2013, pp. 209–210
  4. Coffey 2013, p. 210
  5. Masters, Brian (1985). Killing for Company: The Case of Dennis Nilsen, p. 126 New York City: Random House. ISBN 978-0-812-83104-7
  6. Coffey 2013, p. 232
  7. Victim of Serial Killer Outraged!. Psychowatcher (September 26, 2011).
  8. Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes
  9. Trailer. Netflix Youtube.

Cited works[]

  • Coffey, Russell (2013). Dennis Nilsen: Conversations with Britain's Most Evil Serial Killer,. New York: John Blake. ISBN 978-1-782-19459-0