Though Albert Fish was often referred to as the most "deranged" killer in American history, his story remained largely untold primarily because of its horrifying content and the fact that it took place in the 1920s. Allegedly the member of one of America's most eminent families, Albert Fish, christened "Hamilton," in honor of his ancestor who had been the Governor of New York in the 1850s and later the U.S. Secretary of State under the Grant Administration, Fish lived a private life of sexual deviancy. In addition to being a sadistic child killer, Fish also displayed the following sexual deviations, among others: voyeurism, exhibitionism, masochism, fetishism, pedophilia, and cannibalism.

Although it is not known for sure when Fish began killing or how many victims he murdered, it is believed that his killing began sometime in 1924 and that he may have killed as many as sixteen children. However...