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Where was Albert Fish born?
Childhood. Albert Fish was born in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 1870, to Randall (1795 – October 16, 1875) and Ellen (née Howell; 1838–c. 1903) Fish. Fish's father was American, of English ancestry, and his mother was Scots-Irish American. His father was 43 years older than his mother and 75 years old at the time of his birth.
How many children did Henry Fish have?
In 1898, his mother arranged a marriage for him with Anna Mary Hoffman, who was nine years his junior. They had six children: Albert, Anna, Gertrude, Eugene, John, and Henry Fish.
How long did it take Fish to torture Kedden?
After ten days, Fish took Kedden to "an old farm house", where he began to torture him. The torture took place over two weeks . Fish eventually tied Kedden up and cut off half of his penis. "I shall never forget his scream, or the look he gave me", Fish later recalled.
What was the name of the movie where the fish was executed?
He was convicted and executed by electric chair on January 16, 1936, at the age of 65. His crimes were dramatized in the 2007 film The Gray Man, starring Patrick Bauchau as Fish.
What was the mental illness of the fish family?
Three other relatives were diagnosed with mental illnesses, and his mother had "aural and/or visual hallucinations ".
How did the father of the fish die?
The elder Fish died in 1875 at Washington's Sixth Street Station of a heart attack . The Congressional Cemetery records show that he died on October 16, 1875, and was buried on October 19, 1875, in grave R96/89. Fish's mother then put her son into Saint John's Orphanage in Washington, where he was frequently abused. Fish began to enjoy the physical pain that the beatings brought. Of his time at the orphanage, Fish remarked, "I was there 'til I was nearly nine, and that's where I got started wrong. We were unmercifully whipped. I saw boys doing many things they should not have done."
Who is Hamilton Fish?
Hamilton Howard "Albert" Fish (May 19, 1870 – January 16, 1936) was an American serial killer, child rapist, and cannibal. He was also known as the Gray Man, the Werewolf of Wysteria, the Brooklyn Vampire, ...
What did Ellen Fish do in 1880?
By 1880 Ellen Fish, now a widow, had a government job and soon removed Fish from the orphanage. He had very little formal education and grew up learning to work more with his hands than his brains. It wasn't long after Fish returned to live with his mother that he began a relationship with another boy who introduced him to drinking urine and eating feces.
What did Fish tell the Budd family?
Fish told the Budd family that he would return the following week to take Edward and a friend of Edward's to his farm to begin working. Fish failed to appear on the day promised but sent a telegram apologizing and setting a new date to meet with the boys.
How did the rapist lure children?
He lured children from their homes, tortured them in various ways—his favorite was using a paddle laced with sharp nails—and then raped them. As time went on, his sexual fantasies with children grew more fiendish and bizarre, often ending in murdering and cannibalizing them.
What was the mental illness of Fish's mother?
His mother had visual hallucinations. Three other relatives were diagnosed with mental illness. His parents abandoned him at a young age, and he was sent to an orphanage, a place of brutality, in Fish's memory, where he was exposed to regular beatings and sadistic acts of brutality. It was said that he began to look forward to ...
When did the kids lead average lives?
The kids led average lives until 1917, when Fish's wife ran off with another man. At that time they recalled Fish occasionally asking them to participate in his sadomasochistic games. In one such game he asked the children to paddle him with the nail-filled paddle until blood ran down his legs.
Who was the vilest pedophile?
Hamilton Howard "Albert" Fish was known for being one of the vilest pedophiles, serial child killers, and cannibals of all time. After his capture he admitted to molesting more than 400 children and torturing and killing several of them, though it wasn't known if his statement was true. 1 He was also known as the Gray Man, the Werewolf of Wysteria, the Brooklyn Vampire, the Moon Maniac, and The Boogey Man.
Who was Frank Howard?
In 1928, Fish answered an ad from 18-year-old Edward Budd, who was looking for part-time work to help with the family finances. Fish, who introduced himself as Mr. Frank Howard, met with Edward and his family to discuss Edward's future. Fish told the family that he was a Long Island farmer looking to pay a strong young worker $15 a week. The job seemed ideal, and the Budd family, excited by Edward's luck in finding the job, instantly trusted the gentle, polite Mr. Howard.
Where did Albert Fish live?
By 1890, the Fish family had moved to New York City, where Albert claimed to have become a male prostitute. He also claimed to have started raping young boys at this age and to have kept doing so even after he, after an arrangement made by his mother, married a woman five years younger than him in 1898.
How did Randall Fish die?
Secretary of State, to whom he was allegedly distantly related. When Randall Fish died of a heart attack , aged 80, when Fish was five, his mother was left without her husband's financial support and couldn't afford to care for her youngest son.
Why did Albert want to be named Albert?
He wanted to be named "Albert" after a dead relative, in part to escape his nickname "Ham and Eggs", and later adopted the name as his own. He became a bed wetter and frequently escaped, only to end up back at the orphanage again every time. In 1880, Mrs. Fish got a government job and took back Albert, aged nine.
Where did Edward go to his sister's birthday party?
When he returned on June 3, bringing a gift of pot cheese and strawberries which he claimed came from his farm, he said he would hire Edward, but had to pick him up later that day as he had to attend his sister's birthday party in an apartment house at 137th Street and Columbus, a fake address.
Who was Frank Howard?
He visited the family's home under the pretense of considering hiring Edward, calling himself "Frank Howard", a prosperous farmer from Farmingdale, New York.
Was Fish mentioned in season 2 of The Last Word?
Season Two. " The Last Word " - While Fish was not directly mentioned or referenced in this episode, the fact that he was active at the same time as another independent serial killer, Peter Kudzinowski, may have been an inspiration for the episode's two unsubs, The Hollow Man and The Mill Creek Killer. Season Five.
Where did Albert Fish spend his childhood?
It was there that he conceived a passion for pain. Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection St. John’s Home for Boys, an orphanage located at Albany Avenue and St. Mark’s Avenue, where Albert Fish spent much of his childhood. The caretakers at the orphanage regularly beat the children and even occasionally encouraged ...
Where was Albert Fish born?
Born on May 19, 1870, in Washington, D.C., to Randall and Ellen Fish, Hamilton Howard “Albert” Fish had many names: the Brooklyn Vampire, the Werewolf of Wysteria, the Gray Man. Small, quiet, and unassuming, he had a face that blended in with the crowd and a private life that would have frightened even the most hardened criminals.
What happened to Kedden after he met Fish?
When Kedden arrived, however, he found himself locked inside .
Why did Edward Budd put out the ad Fish encountered?
Edward Budd was looking for work on a farm or in the country — that’s why he put out the ad Fish encountered. Fish originally planned on “hiring” Edward and bringing him out to his country house to torture him. Thus, under the false name Frank Howard, Fish called on the Budd family in their Manhattan home.
Why did Fish hide in the upstairs bedroom?
According to the letter sent to Delia Budd, along with his confession, Fish hid in an upstairs bedroom — naked, so as not to get blood on his clothing — while Grace picked wildflowers in the yard.
What were Albert Fish's crimes?
Albert Fish’s Other Heinous Crimes. Sing Sing Prison Museum Albert Fish was held at New York’s Sing Sing Prison before he was executed by electrocution. The Grace Budd murder was by far the most infamous of Fish’s crimes. But two other murders were linked to him after his arrest.
Why did Albert Fish write a detailed account of his crimes?
Public Domain Before he died, Albert Fish wrote a detailed account of all his crimes for his lawyer, who never shared the writings because they were simply too horrific.
How old was Albert Fish when he was born?
Albert Fish was born Hamilton Howard “Albert” Fish on May 19, 1870. His father, Randall, was 75 years old at the time. His mother, Ellen, was 43 years younger than her husband. Albert was the youngest of 4 living children. He took on the name Albert after a deceased sibling, after he grew tired of other children calling him “Ham and Eggs” when he was a child.#N#By the time Albert was 5, his elderly father had passed away. His mother was faced with the difficult decision to put her children in an orphanage until she could find a way to support them on her own. Fish’s time spent in Saint John’s orphanage helped to shape him into the monster he became later in life. Fish was frequently subjected to physical abuse. Instead of turning from the pain, young Albert realized he enjoyed the pain inflicted upon him. When Albert was 10, his mother had secured a government job and was able to return to for her children, removing them from the orphanage. It was too little too late for Fish. The abuse had left it’s mark on the boy, both physically and mentally.#N#At the age of 12, Albert Fish formed a relationship with a local telegraph boy. This young man introduced Fish to some disgusting practices such as urolagnia, drinking urine, and coprophagia, the act of eating feces. Fish would spend his weekends visiting public bath houses where he would spy on other young boys as they undressed. He frequently answered mail order classified ads placed by women seeking marriage proposals with vulgar, obscene letters. Fish’s youthful pastimes were clear evidence of his mental illness, however, during that time in history, there wasn’t a lot of information available for classifying and identifying serial killers in the making.
What did Albert Fish do to his boy?
The abuse had left it’s mark on the boy, both physically and mentally. At the age of 12, Albert Fish formed a relationship with a local telegraph boy. This young man introduced Fish to some disgusting practices such as urolagnia, drinking urine, and coprophagia, the act of eating feces.
What did Fish do to kill Kedden?
So instead, he poured peroxide over the gruesome wound, slathered it in vaseline, planed a rag over it, handed Kedden a $10 bill, kissed him goodbye and fled the scene.
Why did Albert Fish murder people?
Around 1919, Albert Fish began stabbing young men who were either mentally handicapped or African American as he felt these people wouldn’t be missed. Fish was fond of paying children to help him catch other children so he could torture and murder them. None of these murders were verified with actual proof. Albert Fish made a lot of claims after his eventual arrest. Although there was no proof, Albert Fish victims numbered in the hundreds according to him.
How many children did Albert Fish kill?
Fish claimed to have killed more than 100 children but in reality, he was only ever convicted ...
What was Albert Fish's first mutilation?
It was in Wilmington, Delaware in 1910 that Fish committed his first mutilation. Albert met and formed a sadomasochistic relationship with a young man named Thomas Kedden.
What was the effect of Fish's time in Saint John's orphanage?
Fish’s time spent in Saint John’s orphanage helped to shape him into the monster he became later in life. Fish was frequently subjected to physical abuse. Instead of turning from the pain, young Albert realized he enjoyed the pain inflicted upon him.
Who was Albert Fish?
Albert Fish was born Hamilton Howard Fish on May 19, 1870. He changed his name to Albert after he had been given the nickname “Ham & Eggs.” Fish spent most of his time at an orphanage, where he was allegedly beaten. The beatings aroused him, which only resulted in more beatings.
When did Albert Fish start sexual assaulting?
Although the date of his first crimes may never be known, Albert Fish allegedly had started sexually assaulting young boys when he was as young as 20 years old. This continued on for at least a decade, and the exact number of victims may never be known. In 1903, Fish was arrested for white collar crimes, including embezzlement and grand larceny, and sentenced to prison at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. He was eventually released.
How many needles did the fish have?
When Fish’s body was examined, coroners found over two dozen needles lodged into his groin and abdomen. This was part of Fish’s fetish for self-mutilation. Although news reporters alleged that these needles assisted in the electrocution’s ability to shock and kill Fish, this has since been debunked. It’s not unusual for someone to die within a manner of minutes by electrocution.
How many people did Albert Fish kill?
Although he is only linked to three confirmed victims, some historians believed he killed up to 100 people. That would put him on the list as one of the most prolific serial killers of all time, but again, this is far from confirmed.
How old was Fish when he was in the orphanage?
Fish stayed in the orphanage for a few years until he was nine years old. When he was returned to his mother, it was reported that he often wet the bed. Oddly enough, this is a very common trait among boys who grow up to be serial killers. (Violence to animals and setting fires are also common traits - the three traits together are known as the Macdonald triad.)
What is the nickname of Albert Fish?
The Grey Man is one of many nicknames given to Albert Fish during his life of crime, including:
Is Albert Fish a serial killer?
Albert Fish will forever be known as one of the most horrifying, nauseating serial killers in American history. For many, stumbling upon Albert Fish while learning about true crime as a hobby is a stark reminder that some of the serial killers that fascinate us so much are just plain evil.
What age did Fish's mother have a steady job?
At the age of 7 , when Fish's mother had a steady job and was able to support him, he was reunited with her.
Why was Fish's father in an orphanage?
It was after his father's death that his mother placed him in an orphanage, because she was not able to support him.
Why did Albert call himself Albert?
It was at this point in his life that he began to call himself "Albert" in order to lose childhood nicknames. By the age of twenty-eight, he was making a living as a painter and a handyman. He soon married a woman nine years younger than him, with whom he has six children.
Was Fish a disturbed man?
Before Fish became a danger to others, he was examined on many occasions. However, each and every time he was deemed to be a disturbed man, but sane.
Overview
Hamilton Howard "Albert" Fish (May 19, 1870 – January 16, 1936) was an American serial killer, rapist, child molester, and cannibal who committed a minimum of three child murders from July 1924 to June 1928. He was also known as the Gray Man, the Werewolf of Wysteria, the Brooklyn Vampire, the Moon Maniac, and The Boogey Man. Fish once boasted that he "had children i…
Early life
Albert Fish was born in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 1870, to Randall (1795 – October 16, 1875) and Ellen (née Howell; 1838–c. 1903) Fish. Fish's father was American, of English ancestry, and his mother was Scots-Irish American. His father was 43 years older than his mother and 75 years old at the time of his birth. Fish was the youngest child and had three living siblings: Walter, Annie, and Edwin. He wished to be known as "Albert" after a dead sibling and to escape the nickname "H…
1890–1918: Early adulthood and criminal history
By 1890, at age 20, Fish arrived in New York City, and he said at that point he became a prostitute and began raping young boys. In 1898, his mother arranged a marriage for him with Anna Mary Hoffman, who was nine years his junior. They had six children: Albert, Anna, Gertrude, Eugene, John, and Henry Fish.
Throughout 1898, Fish worked as a house painter. He said he continued molesting children, most…
Murder of Grace Budd
On May 25, 1928, Fish saw a classified advertisement in the Sunday edition of the New York World that read, "Young man, 18, wishes position in country. Edward Budd, 406 West 15th Street." On May 28, Fish, then 58 years old, visited the Budd family in Manhattan under the pretense of hiring Edward; he later confessed that he planned to tie Edward up, mutilate him, and leave him to bleed to death. Fish introduced himself as Frank Howard, a farmer from Farmingdale, New York. He pr…
Capture
The letter was delivered in an envelope that had a small hexagonal emblem with the letters "N.Y.P.C.B.A." representing "New York Private Chauffeur's Benevolent Association". A janitor at the company told the police he had taken some of the stationery home but left it at his rooming house at 200 East 52nd Street when he moved out. The landlady of the rooming house said that Fish checked out of t…
Other crimes discovered after Fish's arrest
During the night of July 14, 1924, nine-year-old Francis McDonnell was reported missing by his parents. He failed to return home after playing catch with friends in the Port Richmond neighbourhood of Staten Island. A search was organised and his body was found—hanging by a tree—in a wooded area near his home. He had been sexually assaulted, and then strangled with his suspenders. According to an autopsy, McDonnell had also suffered extensive lacerations to his l…
Trial and execution
Albert Fish's trial for the murder of Grace Budd began on March 11, 1935, in White Plains, New York. Frederick P. Close presided as judge and Westchester County Chief Assistant District Attorney Elbert F. Gallagher was prosecuting attorney. Fish's defense counsel was James Dempsey, a former prosecutor and the one-time mayor of Peekskill, New York. The trial lasted for 10 days. Fish pleaded insanity, and claimed to have heard voices from God telling him to kill child…
Victims
• Francis X. McDonnell, age 8, July 15, 1924
• Billy Gaffney, age 4, February 11, 1927
• Grace Budd, age 10, June 3, 1928
• Emma Richardson, age 5, October 3, 1926
Roots of Insanity
Leaves The Orphanage
- By 1880 Ellen Fish, now a widow, had a government job and soon removed Fish from the orphanage. He had very little formal education and grew up learning to work more with his hands than his brains. It wasn't long after Fish returned to live with his mother that he began a relationship with another boy who introduced him to drinking urine and eating feces. According t…
Father of Six
- In 1898 he married and fathered six children. The kids led average lives until 1917, when Fish's wife ran off with another man. At that time they recalled Fish occasionally asking them to participate in his sadomasochistic games. In one such game he asked the children to paddle him with the nail-filled paddle until blood ran down his legs. He also ...
Polite Mr. Howard
- In 1928, Fish answered an ad from 18-year-old Edward Budd, who was looking for part-time work to help with the family finances. Fish, who introduced himself as Mr. Frank Howard, met with Edward and his family to discuss Edward's future. Fish told the family that he was a Long Island farmer looking to pay a strong young worker $15 a week. The job seemed ideal, and the Budd fa…
Six-Year Investigation
- The investigation into Grace's disappearance went on for six years before detectives received a substantial break in the case. On November 11, 1934, Mrs. Budd received an anonymous letter giving grotesque details of the murder and cannibalismof her daughter. The writer tortured Mrs. Budd with details about the empty house her daughter was taken to in Worcester, New York, ho…
Insanity Plea
- On March 11, 1935, Fish's trial began, and he pleaded innocent by reason of insanity. He said voices in his head told him to kill children and commit other horrendous crimes. Despite the numerous psychiatrists who described Fish as insane, the jury found him sane and guilty after a 10-day trial. He was sentenced to die by electrocution. On January 16, 1936, Fish was electrocut…
Additional Source
- Schechter, Harold. "Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Fiendish Killer!" Pocket Books.
Background
Killings, Capture, and Execution
- After Fish's eldest son, unable to put up with his father's bizarre behavior any longer, threw him out, he became a drifter and was arrested several times for minor offenses such as vagrancy and petty theft and also for sending his usual obscene letters. On February 26, 1924, he married an Estella Wilcox, though the marriage only lasted a week and wasn't legal since he and his first wif…
Modus Operandi
- "I took tools, a good heavy cat-of-nine tails. Homemade. Short handle. Cut one of my belts in half, slit these halves in six strips about 8 inches long. I whipped his bare behind till the blood ran from between his legs." Fish targeted children of both sexes aged between 4 and 10. He would abduct them using a ruse and take them someplace secluded, where he would mercilessly torture and …
Profile
- Fish was a genuine cornucopia of sexual abnormalities and mental disorders. Not only was he a masochist who derived pleasure from torturing himself, but he was also a pedophile and a cannibal and suffered from religious delusions and hallucinations. His sexual type was young boys (he claimed that it never even crossed his mind to rape Grace Budd). He also had several o…
Known Victims
- Confirmed
1. Unspecified dates: Numerous unnamed women (sent obscene letters only) 2. Unspecified date in c.1903: Unnamed man (attempted to castrate) 3. Unspecified dates: Numerous arrests, including for vagrancy, petty theft, and sending obscene letters 4. 1924: 4.1. July 11, New York C… - Suspected
1. Unspecified date in 1910, Wilmington, Delaware: Thomas Bedden, 19 (allegedly tortured for two weeks and cut half of his penis off) 2. Unspecified date in 1919, Washington, D.C.: Unnamed boy (allegedly stabbed like the previous victim) 3. October 3, 1926, unspecified location: Emma Rich…
on Criminal Minds
Sources