Henry Howard Holmes, who lived in the late 19th century - the first recorded American serial killer. Holmes was a maniac and a fraud for many years, but the "crown" of his works can be considered to be specially built for the terrible crimes committed hotel, which was later called "The Castle kills».
Holmes fraudulently bought property in Chicago and built a hotel, which local immediately dubbed "The Castle". Part of the building was used as a shopping area. On the ground floor, "Castle" was a pharmacy and various shops, while the upper two floors had his office, and a maze of dozens of rooms with no windows, corridors leading to the brick walls, the staircase to nowhere, doors that can be opened only from the outside. Holmes constantly changing contractors during the construction of "Castle", so only he was fully able to understand the layout of the building, that it also reduces the likelihood of being suspected by the police.
Once the construction of the hotel was completed, in full force Holmes began his criminal cases. Most victims were women Holmes, who worked at it (most of whom were taken to work on the condition of life insurance with substantial benefit in case of death), their lovers and guests, whom he tortured and killed. Some victims have been closed in the room with the system of gas supply, which allowed him at any time cause choking. Others were locked in a soundproof vault, where they were left to die. The bodies were dumped on the chute to the base of the building, where they were carefully dissected model skeletons and went on sale in the medical schools that are not even interested in the origin of the bought. Some victims Holmes cremated or placed in a pit with lime to complete decomposition. In the arsenal Holmes had two giant furnaces, acid tanks, bottles of various poisons and even rack. During the Chicago Fair 1893 Holmes rented rooms to tourists. There is evidence that at the time was gone about 50 tourists.
After Holmes was detained in the "Castle" was searched. The caretaker of the castle told police that he was never allowed to clean up the upper floors, and investigators took verify this information, finding new ways of killing and disposal of corpses Dr. Holmes. In August 1895 a fire broke out at the hotel and it burned to the ground; soon on the site appeared the United States Post Office.
via factroom.ru