Ep. 74 The Heinous Harpe Brothers

The birth of America saw not one but two serial killers..! The Harpe Brothers (maybe cousins?). A lot of legend around the first recorded serial killers of America, but what is certain is they were gruesome and heinous

Micajah "Big" Harpe and Wiley "Little" Harpe were American murderers, highwaymen and river pirates who reigned terror in Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Mississippi in the late 18th century

Appearing to have been more motivated by blood lust than financial gain and loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution, the Harpes became outlaws after the war and began senselessly robbing and killing settlers in the remote frontier west of the Appalachian Mountains

While the exact number of victims is unknown, it is believed they killed anywhere from 39-50 people. As the Harpes' crimes gained notoriety, vigilante groups formed to avenge their victims, and they were eventually tracked down and executed around the turn of the century

Links:

http://tnency.utk.tennessee.edu/entries/micajah-and-wiley-harpe/

https://wckyhistory-genealogy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Accounts-of-the-Harpe-Brothers.pdf

Charity of the Month:

https://www.synerahomes.com/dignitydrive