For better or worse, serial killers continue to fascinate us. You can find their stories in a variety of media, from books to television to podcasts. We’ve all seen or heard the horror stories of Bundy, Dahmer and Ridgeway. Yet a name stands out not only because of the scale of his crimes, but also because he has been all but forgotten.
Pedro Lopez, known as the “Monster of the Andes,” went on a killing spree in the late 1970s and eventually confessed to murdering more than 350 girls between the ages of 7 and 13 in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Guinness World Records lists him as the most prolific serial killer of modern times. Check out the history of one of the world’s most ruthless killers you’ve never heard of.
Even more frustratingly, on August 31, 1994, Lopez was released for good behavior, only having served 14 years of his sentence. During his incarceration, he gave one of his only interviews to reporter Ron Laytner, which included this chilling quote:
“There is a wonderful moment, a divine moment, when I have my hands around a young girl’s throat. I look into her eyes and see a certain light, a spark, suddenly go out. Her fingers flutter briefly. The moment of death is enthralling and exciting. Only those who actually kill know what I mean. Someday, when I am released, I will feel that moment again. I will be happy to kill again. It is my mission.”
Upon release, he was immediately deported to Colombia, who attempted to convict him of a murder from 20 years prior. Instead, he was declared insane and institutionalized. He stayed in the hospital for 3 years, until he was declared sane and released on a measly $50 bail. He visited his elderly mother seeking money, but once discovering she had none, promptly sold her only bed and chair, then vanished. Besides vague rumors and conflicting reports, he was never seen again. However in 2002, Interpol released an advisory to Colombian authorities, recommending his re-arrest over a new murder.
