Dennis Nilsen
The Muswell Hill Murderer, the Kindly Killer
Active for 6 years
(1978-1983) in United Kingdom
12
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
16
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 12 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 12 Books Written About Dennis Nilsen
- 6 External References
- Internal References
Dennis Nilsen a Scottish serial killer and necrophile known as The Muswell Hill Murderer and the Kindly Killer. Nilsen murdered and dismembered young men in London between 1978 and 1983. Nilsen observed a ritual in which he bathed and dressed the victims' bodies before dissecting and disposing of the remains. He kept various body parts around his home for an extended amount of time. Nilsen died at York Hospital in 2018 while still in custody. He had been transferred to the hospital after complaining of stomach pains, during surgery a blood clot ended his life.
Dennis Nilsen Serial Killer Profile
Serial Killer Dennis Nilsen (aka) The Muswell Hill Murderer, the Kindly Killer, was active for 6 years between 1978-1983, known to have ( 12 confirmed / 16 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United Kingdom
Dennis Nilsen was born (Dennis Andrew Nilsen) on November 23rd 1945 in Fraserburgh, town in Aberdeenshire, Britain. He was born 2nd of 3 children and raised by both parents until divorce, Dennis (Age 10/11), his mother and step-father Andrew Scott until adulthood. Nilsen was raised as a middle child and had two sisters Olav Jr. and Sylvia, his mother had four more children with Andrew Scott. His father, Olav Magnus Moksheim, a Norwegian soldier. His mother, Elizabeth Duthie Whyte.
Nilsen a homosexual male citizen of the United Kingdom, with religious ties and/or beliefs connected with the Apostasy in Catholicism religion, organization or belief system. Nilsen completed 12 years of school, received a high school diploma. Nilsen married Elizabeth Whyte in 1942, divorced in 1948. He had no children. He had a medical condition: borderline personality disorder.
He was known to abuse alcohol.
In 1978 (Age 32/33) Dennis Nilsen started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to commit acts of necrophilia, strangle, rape, mutilate, and murder his victims. He was known to kill victims at his own home. He would keep parts of the victims body after the crime. At least one victim was tied, bound, or otherwise restrained during the crime. At the time of his crimes he was living with himself, alone at a house on Melrose Avenue, London, England, where Nilsen was known to work as a serial killer, trade unionist.
He was arrested on February 9th 1983 (Age 37), convicted on November 4th 1983 (Age 37), sentenced to life imprisonment at HMP Full Sutton in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Nilsen was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.
Dennis Nilsen died on May 12th 2018 (Age 72), cause of death: natural causes, taken to the hospital after complaining of stomach pains, suffered a blood clot as a result of surgery complications at York Hospital in York, England.
Profile Completeness: 94%
serial killers by profile completenessDennis Nilsen has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.
Dennis Nilsen a known:
( 651 killers ) SERIAL KILLER
The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.
( 308 killers ) RAPIST
Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.
( 60 killers ) NECROPHILIAC
Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia, is a sexual attraction or sexual act involving corpses. Serial Killer Necrophiliacs have been known to have sex with the body of their victim(s).
( 251 killers ) STRANGLER
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
Dennis Nilsen
Serial Killer Profile:
Updated: 2019-02-17 Collected by Killer.Cloud
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Dennis Nilsen |
| Nickname: | The Muswell Hill Murderer, the Kindly Killer |
| Victims: | 12 - 16 |
| Years Active: | 1978 - 1983 |
| Ages Active: | 32/33 - 37/38 |
| Active Countries: | United Kingdom |
| Convicted Of: | murder |
| Life Span: | 1945 - 2018 |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Citizenship: | United Kingdom |
| Sexual Preference: | homosexual |
| Religious Affiliation: | Apostasy in Catholicism |
| Medical Condition: | borderline personality disorder |
| Astrological Sign: | ♐ Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 22 |
| Birth Month: | November |
| Marital Status: | married Elizabeth Whyte in 1942, divorced in 1948 |
| Children: | no children |
| Living With: | himself, alone at a house on Melrose Avenue, London, England |
| Occupation: | serial killer, trade unionist |
| Childhood Information | |
|---|---|
| D.O.B.: | Nov 23, 1945 |
| Birth Name: | Dennis Andrew Nilsen |
| Family Name: | Nilsen |
| Given Name: | Dennis |
| Birth Location: | Fraserburgh, town in Aberdeenshire, Britain |
| Birth Order: | 2nd of 3 |
| Siblings: | two sisters Olav Jr. and Sylvia, his mother had four more children with Andrew Scott |
| Raised By: | both parents until divorce, Dennis (Age 10/11), his mother and step-father Andrew Scott until adulthood |
| Birth Category: | middle child |
| Mother: | Elizabeth Duthie Whyte |
| Father: | Olav Magnus Moksheim, a Norwegian soldier |
| Cognitive Ability | |
|---|---|
| IQ: | N/A |
| Highest School: | 12 years of school |
| Highest Degree: | high school diploma |
| Incarceration | |
|---|---|
| Arrested: | Feb 9, 1983 (Age 37) |
| Convicted: | Nov 4, 1983 (Age 37) |
| Sentence: | life imprisonment |
| Prison Location: | HMP Full Sutton in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Executed: | N/A |
| Previous Crimes: | FALSE |
| Previous Jail: | FALSE |
| Previous Prison: | FALSE |
| Death Information | |
|---|---|
| Death Date: | May 12, 2018 (Age 72) |
| Cause of Death: | natural causes, taken to the hospital after complaining of stomach pains, suffered a blood clot as a result of surgery complications |
| Death Location: | York Hospital in York, England |
| Killed In Prison: | FALSE |
| Suicide: | FALSE |
12 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Dennis Nilsen
The 12 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Dennis Nilsen. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Nov 23 1945 | Dennis Nilsen was born in Fraserburgh, town in Aberdeenshire, Britain. #19451123 |
| Nov 23 1965 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
| Nov 23 1975 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
| 1978 (Age 32/33) | Dennis Nilsen started his serial killing spree. #1978 |
| 1983 (Age 37/38) | Dennis Nilsen ended his serial killing spree. #1983 |
| Feb 09 1983 (Age 37) | Dennis Nilsen arrested. #19830209 |
| Nov 04 1983 (Age 37) | Dennis Nilsen was convictedand sentenced to life imprisonment at HMP Full Sutton in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. #19831104 |
| Nov 23 1985 (Age 40) | 40th Birthday |
| Nov 23 1995 (Age 50) | 50th Birthday |
| Nov 23 2005 (Age 60) | 60th Birthday |
| Nov 23 2015 (Age 70) | 70th Birthday |
| May 12 2018 (Age 72) | Dennis Nilsendied.cause of death:natural causes, taken to the hospital after complaining of stomach pains, suffered a blood clot as a result of surgery complicationsat York Hospital in York, England. #20180512 |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Dennis Nilsen (1978-1983).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 36 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
| alcohol abuse | TRUE | 226 | ||
| kill at killers home | TRUE | 320 | ||
| rape | TRUE | 453 | ||
| bound | TRUE | 406 | ||
| strangle | TRUE | 443 | ||
| sex with body | TRUE | 430 | ||
| mutilated | TRUE | 447 | ||
| totem body part | TRUE | 365 | ||
| living with children | FALSE | 268 | ||
| suicide | FALSE | 225 | ||
| killed in prison | FALSE | 218 | ||
| problems in school | FALSE | 221 | ||
| teased in school | FALSE | 218 | ||
| physically defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| speach defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| head injury | FALSE | 299 | ||
| physically abused | FALSE | 231 | ||
| psychologically abused | FALSE | 224 | ||
| sexually abused | FALSE | 226 | ||
| drug abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| psychologist | FALSE | 258 | ||
| forensic hospital | FALSE | 257 | ||
| previous crimes | FALSE | 367 | ||
| previous jail | FALSE | 352 | ||
| previous prision | FALSE | 336 | ||
| kill at victims home | FALSE | 323 | ||
| used weapon | FALSE | 453 | ||
| used gun | FALSE | 451 | ||
| torture | FALSE | 426 | ||
| stalk | FALSE | 418 | ||
| blindfold | FALSE | 363 | ||
| ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
| drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
| posed body | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem personal item | FALSE | 354 | ||
| robbed | FALSE | 418 | ||
Books that Mention Dennis Nilsen
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Poppy Z. Brite
Exquisite Corpse
Jason Moss
The Last Victim
Brian Masters
Killing For Company
Russ Coffey
Dennis Nilsen
Lisa Downing
The Subject of Murder
Carl Woodley
Kindly Killer
12 Books that mention Serial Killer
Dennis Nilsen
| ISBN10 | Book Title | Author | Killers Mentioned | Killers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1733630600 | Serial Killer Stranglers | Kevin Smith | 164 Total Including Juana Barraza | 164 |
| 1733630619 | Serial Killer Rapists | Kevin Smith | 266 Total Including Ramadan Abdel Rehim Mansour | 266 |
| 1439136408 | Exquisite Corpse | Poppy Z. Brite | Dennis Nilsen | 2 |
| 0759528306 | The Last Victim | Jason Moss | 25 Total Including John Wayne Gacy | 25 |
| 1446428737 | Killing For Company | Brian Masters | Dennis Nilsen | 1 |
| 1782194592 | Dennis Nilsen | Russ Coffey | Dennis Nilsen | 1 |
| 022600368x | The Subject of Murder | Lisa Downing | Dennis Nilsen | 2 |
| 1982908254 | Boy Under Water | Rhiannon D'Averc | Dennis Nilsen | 1 |
| 153024790x | Kindly Killer | Carl Woodley | Dennis Nilsen | 1 |
| 1906534411 | Serial Killers | David Wilson | 3 Total Including Kenneth Erskine | 3 |
| 0698177827 | The Killer Next Door | Alex Marwood | Dennis Nilsen | 2 |
| 1613097891 | The Most Toys | Matthew Malekos | Dennis Nilsen | 1 |
Dennis Andrew Nilsen (23 November 1945 – 12 May 2018) was a Scottish serial killer and necrophile, who murdered at least 12 young men in a series of killings committed between 1978 and 1983 in London, England. Convicted of six counts of murder and two of attempted murder at the Old Bailey, Nilsen was sentenced to life imprisonment on 4 November 1983, with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of 25 years.
External References
- Dennis Nilsen on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Dennis Andrew NILSEN on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
- Kristin Elink-Schuurman-Laura, Nilsen, Dennis Andrew on skdb.fgcu.edu, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
- Q285374 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 17, 2018.
- Dennis Nilsen on www.biography.com, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
- Dennis Nilsen on www.serienkillers.de, Retrieved on Feb 17, 2019.
Internal References
Dennis Nilsen is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database
- #7 of 62[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in the United Kingdom
- #8 of 43[ Page 1 ] of Sagittarius Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #10 of 51[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in November
- #18 of 60[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #54 of 250[ Page 4 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #71 of 307[ Page 5 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #79 of 651[ Page 6 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #138 of 651[ Page 10 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #263 of 651[ Page 18 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- #429 of 651[ Page 29 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- Statistics:
- Serial Killers Statistics, charts Dennis Nilsen is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Birth Category, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
- Years Active: