#albertfish

Hamilton Howard ‘Albert’ Fish was an American serial killer, child rapist and cannibal. Some of his many media nicknames included the Gray Man, the Werewolf of Wysteria, the Brooklyn Vampire, the Boogey Man and the Moon Maniac.

Fish famously boasted to have had 100 victims, claiming he had ‘children in every state,’ however he did not clarify if this referred to rape, cannibalisation or murder or indeed whether it was true. Fish was a suspect in at least 5 muder cases and three were confirmed.Fish was born in Washington, wishing to be known as ‘Albert,’ after a dead sibling and to escape his childhood nickname of ‘Ham and Eggs.’ Fish had a relationship with a telegraph boy at 12, the boy introduced Fish to drinking urine and eating faeces. Fish showed deviant behaviour from a young age; writing obscene letters and visiting public baths to watch others undress. He had a family history of mental illness.In 1890 after arriving in New York City Fish claims he began work as a prostitute and began raping young boys. Fish became obsessed with genital mutilation. In 1910 Fish began a relationship with a man who he went on to torture and mutilate before allowing him to leave. Fish began to self harm including embedding needles into his groin and abdomen, after Fish’s arrest he had at least 29 needles lodged in his pelvic region. Fish also developed a growing interest in cannibalism, often preparing dinners consisting only of raw meat.

On 11th July 1924 Fish attempted to abduct an 8 year old girl but the child was saved by her parents. In May, 1928 Fish visited the Budd family on the pretence of hiring their 19 year old son to work for him, Fish claimed the teenager was his original intended victim but that he later decided on his younger sister, Grace Budd. He convinced Grace’s parents to let him take her to his niece’s birthday party, a trip she never returned from. In November, 1934, Grace’s parents received the following letter:

“My dear Mrs Budd, In 1894 a friend of mine shipped as a deck hand on the steamer Tacoma, Capt John Davis. They sailed from San Francisco to Hong Kong China. On arriving there he and two others went ashore and got drunk. When they returned the boat was gone. At that time there was a famine in China. Meat of any kind was from $1 to 3 Dollars a pound. So great was the suffering among the very poor that all children under 12 were sold to the Butchers to be cut up and sold for food in order to keep others from starving. A boy or girl under 14 was not safe in the street. You could go in any shop and ask for steak – chops – or stew meat. Part of the naked body of a boy or girl would be brought out and just what you wanted cut from it. A boy or girls behind which is the sweetest part of the body and sold as veal cutlet brought the highest price. John staid there so long he acquired a taste for human flesh. On his return to N.Y. he stole two boys one 7 one 11. Took them to his home stripped them naked tied them in a closet then burned everything they had on. Several times every day and night he spanked them – tortured them – to make their meat good and tender. First he killed the 11 yr old boy, because he had the fattest ass and of course the most meat on it. Every part of his body was cooked and eaten except Head – bones and guts. He was roasted in the oven, (all of his ass) boiled, broiled, fried, stewed. The little boy was next, went the same way. At that time I was living at 409 E 100 St, rear – right side. He told me so often how good human flesh was I made up my mind to taste it. On Sunday June the 3 – 1928 I called on you at 406 W 15 St. Brought you pot cheese – strawberries. We had lunch. Grace sat in my lap and kissed me. I made up my mind to eat her, on the pretense of taking her to a party. You said Yes she could go. I took her to an empty house in Westchester I had already picked out. When we got there, I told her to remain outside. She picked wild flowers. I went upstairs and stripped all my clothes off. I knew if I did not I would get her blood on them. When all was ready I went to the window and called her. Then I hid in a closet until she was in the room. When she saw me all naked she began to cry and tried to run down stairs. I grabbed her and she said she would tell her mama. First I stripped her naked. How she did kick – bite and scratch. I choked her to death then cut her in small pieces so I could take my meat to my rooms, cook and eat it. How sweet and tender her little ass was roasted in the oven. It took me 9 days to eat her entire body. I did not fuck her, though, I could of [sic] had I wished. She died a virgin.”

The letter led police to Fish who confessed to the murder.

After his arrest police were able to link Fish to two more murdered children,  Francis McDonnell, 8, and Bill Gaffney, 4, both their bodies showed signs of torture and cannibalism.