H. H. Holmes: The True Crime Story and Key Facts
H. H. Holmes: American con artist and serial killer (1861–1896). The documented story, timeline and key facts of the case.
Herman Webster Mudgett, better known as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes or H. H. Holmes, was an American con artist and serial killer active between 1891 and 1894. By the time of his execution in 1896, Holmes had engaged in a lengthy criminal career that included insurance fraud, forgery, swindling, three or four bigamous marriages, horse theft, and murder. Known as the Beast of Chicago, the Devil in the White City, or the Torture Doctor, his most notorious crimes took place in Chicago around the time of the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.
Why the case is remembered
The H. H. Holmes story remains one of the most discussed entries in true-crime history, covered in documentaries, podcasts and books. The summary above follows the publicly documented record.
Text adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Facts reflect the documented public record.
Frequently asked questions
Who is H. H. Holmes?
Herman Webster Mudgett, better known as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes or H.
Why is the H. H. Holmes case famous?
It is one of the most documented fraudster cases, widely covered by true-crime media.
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