BOZEMAN, Montana – True crime has become an incredibly popular subject across various forms of media. The public’s fascination with the lives and actions of notorious criminals, especially serial killers, seems to be ever-growing. Notable figures like Jeffery Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and the “Unabomber” have captured the spotlight in recent years, prompting a deeper interest in what drives individuals to commit such heinous crimes.
According to Hidden Share, a website that has cataloged infamous serial killers from each state in the United States, Montana has had its own share of notorious murderers. While some cases may be less well-known, the pain and suffering caused by these criminals cannot be overlooked.
One such individual is David Meirhofer, named by Hidden Share as Montana’s most infamous serial killer. Born in Bozeman in 1949, Meirhofer confessed to the murders of two young girls and later admitted to the killing of another young girl and a boy in a deal to avoid the death penalty. All of his victims were under the age of 20, with the youngest being only 7 years old.
Meirhofer’s crimes, which included dismembering the bodies, burning them, and scattering the ashes on a Montana ranch, shocked the community. The killer eventually took his own life in 1974, leaving behind a legacy that would help shape the FBI’s profiling techniques. Books have been written about Meirhofer’s crimes, delving into how the hunt for him influenced the development of FBI criminal profiling.
The mother of Meirhofer’s first victim wrote a book about her experience, and in 2022, another book was published detailing the elusive killer’s crimes and their impact on criminal profiling.
The sordid history of serial killers in the United States has left a lasting impact on the country. Montana, in particular, has its own dark chapter in the form of David Meirhofer, whose crimes have not been forgotten.