American serial killer (1870-1935). Born in
Washington, D.C. into an
emotionally disturbed family, Fish was
whipped and
abused as a
boy and eventually became
aroused by
cruelty. He became an
enthusiastic and
sadistic killer -- he is said to have
killed,
eaten, and drunk the
blood of eight to fifteen
children. He also
castrated a number of
young boys, claiming that he was paying
homage to
Abraham's near-
sacrifice of his son,
Isaac. It is also estimated that he
molested more than 100 children.
For six years after he killed,
dismembered, and ate a ten-year-old girl named
Grace Budd, Fish sent regular
letters to the girl's
parents, describing in
gruesome detail what he had done to their
daughter. These letters eventually led to his
capture.
Fish justified his
murders by proclaiming himself to be the reborn
Jesus Christ,
punishing
sinful humanity and delivering
innocent children from an
evil world.
Unsurprisingly, Fish was
executed for his
crimes. He never showed any
remorse or
fear of
death, and even helped the
prison attendants adjust his
straps as he sat in the
electric chair.