The 1970s were loud, restless, and unforgettable, and so were the cases that filled the front pages. Some criminals worked in the shadows for years, while others made a single, shocking move that the world still talks about. Either way, these names shaped how we think about safety, headlines, and the gear that police and reporters carried.
This list looks back at the decade’s most notorious figures: who they were, what they did, and why the 1970s still echoes with their stories.
1. Ted Bundy
In the 1970s, he moved often and hid in plain sight, leaving investigators to connect cases across several states. Tips, survivor accounts, and very careful police work finally brought his name into focus. He escaped custody more than once, which only amplified the public fear. In the end, courts convicted him, and he received the death penalty.
2. John Wayne Gacy
In suburban Illinois, missing-person reports started to pile up while Gacy kept up a friendly public image. A focused police tail and a search warrant shifted the case from a simple rumor to concrete evidence. What the investigators found at his home changed the investigation overnight. He was tried, convicted, and later executed.
3. David Berkowitz – Son Of Sam
In 1976, New York City felt on edge as a string of nighttime shootings continued without a clear suspect in sight. A parking ticket near a crime scene finally opened the right door for the detectives working the case. Berkowitz was arrested and later said he acted alone. He pleaded guilty and received multiple life sentences.
4. Ed Kemper
In early-1970s California, a series of killings challenged investigators working across jurisdictions. Kemper ultimately drove to a phone and turned himself in. He sat for long interviews that gave the police a direct account of his actions. A court sentenced him to life in prison, where he remains.
5. Dennis Rader – BTK
Rader began his crimes in Kansas in 1974 and mailed letters that taunted the police. The case went quiet for years, but later he started writing again. A trace from a computer media linked the letters back to him. He was arrested in 2005 and is serving consecutive life sentences.
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6. Ted Kaczynski – Unabomber
Beginning in 1978, a series of mail bombs targeted people connected to universities and airlines. A long, careful investigation brought together forensic details and a public plea. When a manifesto was printed, his brother recognized the writing style and contacted the FBI. Kaczynski pleaded guilty and received life without parole.
7. Jim Jones
The People’s Temple moved from California to Guyana in the 1970s, promising a new start. Concerns from relatives and journalists led a U.S. congressman to visit in 1978. Violence followed, and a mass death event at Jonestown shocked the world. The tragedy became one of the decade’s defining headlines.
8. D.B. Cooper
In1971, a man using the name D.B. Cooper hijacked a flight, demanded cash, and parachuted into the night. Teams searched forests and riverbanks for any clear sign of him. Years later, a child found some decayed bills near a river, but the rest remained a mystery. The case is still one of America’s most famous unsolved investigations.
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9. Patty Hearst
Kidnapped in 1974, the newspaper heiress later appeared on bank-robbery footage with her captors. Her defense argued coercion, while prosecutors pressed the images and timeline. A jury convicted her, and a judge handed down a prison term. Her sentence was commuted, and she later received a presidential pardon.
10. Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme
In 1975, Fromme approached President Gerald Ford in Sacramento with a handgun. Agents moved fast, and no shots were fired. The attempt still made national news and led to swift charges. She was convicted and sent to prison.
11. Sara Jane Moore
Weeks after Fromme’s attempt, Moore tried to shoot President Ford in San Francisco. A passerby grabbed her arm, and the shot missed. The quick reaction prevented another national crisis. She was convicted and imprisoned.
12. Frank Lucas
In the 1970s New York, Lucas built a large narcotics enterprise that drew intense law-enforcement scrutiny. Financial trails and insider testimonies chipped away at his network. He faced both federal and state charges. After his convictions, he cooperated with the authorities.
13. Leroy “Nicky” Barnes
Nicknamed “Mr. Untouchable,” Barnes cultivated a high-profile image in 1970s Harlem. Magazine covers and courtroom battles kept his name in the public view. Federal cases eventually broke through that image. He was convicted and later cooperated with the police.
14. Carlos the Jackal
In the mid-to-late 70s, he was tied to high-profile attacks and hostage operations in Europe and beyond. International teams tracked his movements, aliases, and support networks. Years later, he was captured and brought to France. Courts there sentenced him to life in prison.
15. Albert Spaggiari
In 1976, he planned the Nice Société Générale vault job, often called “the heist of the century.” The crew tunneled in and left a taunting note, which fueled headlines all across Europe. The police later arrested him, but he staged a dramatic escape from a judge’s office. He lived as a fugitive for years and never returned to stand trial.
Explore more historical content:
For more archival deep dives, keep scrolling through these 20 Yearbook Photos of Criminals from the 1990s, or these 15 Historic Criminals Who Inspired Hollywood Villains. You can also check these 20 FBI Manhunts of America’s Notorious Criminals.
