Richard von Krafft-Ebing
Despite the term serial killer was discovered in mid 20th century, the study has been conduct on that matter much earlier.
Dr Richard von Krafft-Ebing, a German neurologist, an alienist at the Feldhof Asylum and professor of psychiatry in Strasbourg, believed to be the earliest person responsible in documented research on sexual homicide, serial murder, and other areas of sexual proclivity in his book, Psychopathia Sexualis.
However, in this book which was published in 1886 did not recognize the criminals as serial killers or sex crimes. The killers were all characterized as “monsters” with animal-like appetites.
