The Harpe brothers cannot be considered pioneers. However, as the first recorded serial killers in America, they initiated a dark and twisted legacy of individuals infamous for their killing sprees.
Contrary to the notion of a gradual increase in the level of atrocity associated with serial killers, the Harpe brothers were not only the first in America but also among the most horrifying.

It is believed that they took the lives of at least 39 individuals, although the exact number remains uncertain. Similar to many future serial killers, they had a distinctive modus operandi. The presence of a body with torn guts and a chest cavity filled with stones served as a distinct indication that the Harpe brothers were responsible for the murder.

The Rampage Of The Harpe Brothers

Micajah “Big” Harpe and Wiley “Little” Harpe, originally known as Joshua and William Harper, were born in the 1770s in North Carolina. As they journeyed through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and Mississippi, they would ruthlessly kill anyone who provoked them. Their quick temper led to a high body count.

In the midst of the American Revolution, Captain James Wood witnessed the Harpe brothers joining a Loyalist gang that took advantage of the lawlessness during wartime. This gang engaged in theft, property destruction, rape, and murder.

One of Captain Wood's daughters, Susan Wood, was later abducted by "Big" Harpe and eventually married him, becoming Susan Wood Harpe.