Samuel Little Is America's Most Prolific Serial Killer: FBI

WASHINGTON, DC — The FBI confirmed that Samuel Little, 79, is the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history. To date, Little has confessed to 93 murders. The FBI’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program can also confirm that Little has been matched to 50 cases, with many more pending final confirmation.

In 2012, Little was arrested and extradited to California on a drug charge. The Los Angeles Police Department obtained DNA evidence connecting Little to three unsolved homicides that occurred in 1987 and 1989. In 2013, the LAPD notified the FBI, which did a full background investigation and found a pattern linking Little to many more murders. Little was charged with three counts of murder and ultimately convicted and sentenced in 2014 to three consecutive life terms without parole.

In May 2018, the Texas Rangers and the FBI obtained detailed information on additional murders across the country that Little voluntarily provided.

Six of Little's victims were from Georgia: two from Atlanta, one from Macon, one from Dade County, and two others from Savannah.

“The FBI is grateful for the Texas Rangers and state and local law enforcement partners who have worked diligently to confirm these cases,” said John Selleck, assistant director of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group. “Strong cooperation and information sharing between the FBI and its partners resulted in successful connections to Little’s crimes, ultimately bringing him to justice and helping victims’ families through the closure process.”

To report potential case links to Samuel Little, contact the FBI’s main tip line at 800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. You can find additional case details at fbi.gov/SamuelLittle.