Montana Serial Killers

Many Montanans are obsessed with true crime. From podcasts to Netflix docu-series, it seems that we can't get enough of this morbid pastime.

When you talk about serial killers, there are a few names that go to the top of the list. John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, BTK, and Gary Ridgeway are all well-known, but did you know that one of the most brutal serial killers in American history lived in Montana for a while?

We're all familiar with the Unabomber, who lived in a very small cabin just outside of Lincoln, Montana. I mean, who could forget the famous drawing of the man in aviators wearing a hoodie? While Ted Kaczynski eluded law enforcement for years before being captured back in 1996, he's not the Montana Serial Killer we're referring to.

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Gallery Credit: Megan Shaul

Who's Montana's Most Brutal Serial Killer?

Born in July of 1824, John "Jeremiah" Johnston spent years of his life here in Montana. As the story goes, Johnston would marry a member of the Flathead American Indian Tribe, and she would later be murdered by a Crow Indian while Johnston was away.

The murder of his wife sent Johnston into a rage, which resulted in a personal vendetta against the Crow that would result in the deaths of 300 members of the tribe, according to one historian.

The most disturbing part of the story?

It wasn't just the fact that Johnston killed 300 people; it was what he did following their murders that is the stuff of nightmares. According to the history books, Johnston would kill them, scalp them, then cut out and eat their livers. This resulted in the nickname "Liver-Eating" Johnston.

via GIPHY

If that's not strange enough, the story has a few more twists and turns. Not only did Johnston make peace with the Crow after 25 years of killing them, but he also became the Marshal of Red Lodge.

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While the name Jeremiah Johnston might sound familiar, the popular 1972 movie starring Robert Redford is based on events from Johnston's life.

The Most Haunted Locations In Montana

For whatever reason, some folks just enjoy being scared. Whether they're watching a horror film, or paying to go through a "haunted" house or corn maze, the thrill of being frightened is a rush for many. Here in Montana, we have several places that are thought to be "haunted", however, these are the real deal and not something you would see on a movie screen.

Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf

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