This episode explored the life of Shiro Ishii, from his privileged childhood in Japan to his rise as the leader of Unit 731, the Japanese biological warfare program responsible for some of the worst atrocities of World War II. We examined the early influences that shaped his worldview, the crimes and murders he oversaw, and the shocking post-war deal that allowed him to escape justice. Ishii’s legacy remains one of the most disturbing examples of scientific ambition gone wrong, a chilling reminder of how easily human lives can be sacrificed in the name of power, secrecy, and war.

In this episode of History’s Horrible Humans, we dive into the chilling life of Darya Saltykova, the Russian noblewoman who terrorized her servants and murdered dozens of young women in the 18th century. From her privileged beginnings to her descent into sadistic cruelty, we explore how her crimes shocked Russia and led Catherine the Great to personally intervene. Through her arrest, public humiliation, and final years in darkness, Saltykova’s story stands as a grim lesson about power, corruption, and the horrifying things that can hide behind respectability.

In this episode of History’s Horrible Humans, we explore the life and crimes of Samuel Little, the man the FBI calls America’s most prolific serial killer. From his troubled childhood and decades of petty crime to his horrifying spree of strangulations across 19 states, Little’s story reveals the failures of a justice system that overlooked society’s most vulnerable. We trace his capture through DNA evidence, his shocking confessions, and the haunting sketches that gave voice to dozens of forgotten victims. It’s a chilling look into how one man evaded justice for decades - and how the truth finally caught up to him.

In this episode of HHH, we explored the chilling tale of the Bloody Benders, America’s first family of serial killers. From their mysterious origins to their murderous reign in Kansas, we uncovered how their roadside inn became a death trap for weary travelers. We followed the investigation that exposed their crimes, the shocking discovery of bodies buried in their orchard, and the unanswered mystery of their escape. Though the Benders vanished into legend, their legacy remains one of the darkest chapters in frontier history.

Gesche Gottfried was a seemingly devoted mother, daughter, and friend living in early 19th-century Germany, admired for her caregiving and piety. But under the surface lurked a serial killer who poisoned at least 15 people over more than a decade—making her one of Germany’s most notorious female murderers. This episode explores her troubled childhood, her series of arsenic-laced crimes, and the public spectacle of her execution—the last public execution in the city of Bremen. Was she a manipulative monster, or a desperate woman molded by trauma and repression?

In this episode of Horrible Humans in History, we explore the chilling crimes of Henri Désiré Landru—the real-life French Bluebeard. A calculating con artist turned serial killer, Landru lured women through lonely hearts ads, promised them love, and then made them disappear without a trace. As France reeled from the horrors of World War I, Landru quietly built a deadly pattern of seduction, fraud, and murder. We'll explore his early life, his transition from petty swindler to cold-blooded killer, and the sensational trial that captivated a nation. Was he a madman, a master manipulator, or simply a product of his time? Let’s find out.

In this episode of Horrible Humans in History, we dive into the life of Gavrilo Princip—the 19-year-old nationalist whose assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 set off a chain reaction that led to World War I. We explore his humble beginnings in rural Bosnia, his radicalization through nationalist student movements, and the chaotic series of events that culminated in one of history’s most consequential political assassinations. Was Princip a patriot fighting for freedom, or a fanatic whose actions plunged the world into chaos? Join us as we unravel the story of the young man behind the bullets that shattered empires.

In this episode of HHH, we delve into the life of Nannie Doss, the so-called Giggling Granny who left a trail of bodies across the American South from the 1920s to the 1950s. From a troubled childhood and toxic marriages to a series of poisonings that shocked the nation, Nannie’s story challenges assumptions about what a serial killer looks like. Charming, cheerful, and cold-blooded, she confessed to 11 murders but may have committed more. Join us as we explore the darkly deceptive life of one of America’s most notorious female killers.

In this episode of Horrible Humans in History, we dive into the life of Pablo Escobar – the infamous drug lord who ruled the Colombian cocaine trade with an iron fist. From his humble beginnings to his rise as the head of the Medellín Cartel, we explore his violent empire, ruthless tactics, and ultimate downfall. Discover how Escobar’s legacy continues to shape Colombia and the global drug trade, and why he remains one of the most controversial and deadly figures in modern history.

In this episode of HHH, we explore the wild lives of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow — two young lovers from Texas who became the most notorious outlaw couple in American history. From their humble beginnings and troubled youth to their bloody crime spree across the Midwest, and finally to their violent ambush and death, this is a story of desperation, daring, and deadly choices. We peel back the myths to reveal the truth about Bonnie and Clyde, examining their impact, legacy, and why their legend continues to fascinate us nearly a century later.