FBI data suggests the number of serial killers has fallen dramatically — by as much as 85 percent — over the past three decades, according to The Atlantic. Among the reasons thought to be responsible for the decline: longer prison terms, fewer killers being granted parole, and better forensics. Other factors thought to be responsible for the drop are the proliferation of security cameras, fewer people hitchhiking, the prevalence of cell phones, and parents who monitor their child’s every move, according to Discover Magazine.
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While there may be fewer Jeffrey Dahmers, John Wayne Gacys, and Ted Bundys roaming the streets, the ones that are out there killing are less likely to be caught than in years past. The homicide clearance rate refers to how many cases have actually been solved. In 1965, the U.S. rate was a whopping 91 percent. But in 2017, the number had dropped to just 61.6 percent. That means 40 percent of the time, killers are getting away with it, according to The Atlantic.
