We can't wait to see what American Horror Story's Ryan Murphy does with his new project American Crime Story. The first season is set to cover the O.J. Simpson case in 10 episodes next year on FX, and it's rumored that the show will explore the crime from the point of view of Simpson's lawyers. Though the show's first season is already spoken for, we have a few ideas as to what true crimes Murphy should include in future seasons of the program.
See also: The 20 Scariest Horror Films of All Time
H.H. Holmes
What part of horrifying maze-like torture dungeon hidden in plain sight in a major U.S. city doesn't sound like good TV? We have a feeling Murphy would relish the opportunity to go for a turn of the century period aesthetic and this true story would certainly allow him that. Holmes is known for luring randoms into his death house from the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Most disturbingly, no one really knows how many people he tortured and then murdered because he dissolved the bodies in acid or stripped the skin off the bodies and sold the skeletons to medical schools. He confessed to 27 murders, nine of which were confirmed, but some say his death toll could've exceeded 200.
The Manson Family Murders
Over the course of two days, Charles Manson and his crew broke into two homes and killed seven people. While we have a pretty good idea of what happened here, the celebrity -- like the pregnant actress Sharon Tate -- and the crazy cult aspects of this crime would make it a compelling one to watch. Plus, the soundtrack already pretty much takes care of itself with Manson's music, and The Beatles' "Helter Skelter" coming to mind.
The Baseline Killer/Serial Shooter
Maybe it's just because we live here, but 2005 and 2006 were a scary time for Phoenicians --especially if you lived off Baseline Road. With Dale Hausner shooting eight victims and Mark Goudeau killing nine more (and raping more than that), the concurrent crime spree definitely made you want to stay inside. With so much terror caused by two people in a year, there would definitely be enough material to fill up a season.
Winnie Ruth Judd
With all of the new information coming to light in Judd's infamous trunk murders, there's plenty on which to base a season's arc. The murder and dismemberment of her two friends and roommates over an alleged love triangle just oozes made for TV. You could pretty much center the whole series around the letter recently released that was penned by Judd. It explains in clear detail the events of the night that Judd murdered her two friends -- information previously unknown for about 80 years.
Ed Gein
Sure several horror movies, including Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs, have already used aspects of Gein's story in creating their horrific antagonists. Even the Bloody Face character in season two of American Horror Story was inspired by Gein. However, we think it would be far more interesting to see someone make a more accurate portrayal of this Midwestern murderer's story. Although we only know of two people Gein actually killed, the laundry list of human body parts harvested from exhumed bodies is pretty terrifying in itself. We have three words for you: skinned torso corset.
Jodi Arias
Seeing as how the conviction of Jodi Arias in the murder of her boyfriend is still pretty recent, this one might need more time before it's ready for American Crime Story. But that hardly means it shouldn't be adapted for the show. Case in point: the media circus surrounding Arias' trial combined with the brutal way Travis Alexander was murdered. Arias' ever-changing story could make for some interesting flashbacks, along with her alleged stalking (and tire slashing).
Jeffrey Dahmer
Dahmer is definitely responsible for some of the most grisly murders in the latter half of the 21st century. With 17 victims, Dahmer's reign of terror ranged from necrophilia, pedophilia, cannibalism, and injecting acid into his victim's brain. One incident in particular, where one of Dahmer's victims escaped only for the police to return him to Dahmer's custody, would be a chilling event to explore in the series. We won't get too far into the gory details here, but if you look up what happened between Dahmer and 14-year-old victim Konerak Sinthasomphone, you'll definitely have a hard time sleeping.
John Wayne Gacy Jr.
What round-up of the most notorious serial killers in history would be complete without the addition of John Wayne Gacy Jr.? The Chicago-area politician and businessman seemed like a solid guy on the surface, but years of childhood abuse from his father, family friends, and peers likely contributed to the darkness inside Gacy. Killing over 30 people, some of whom were buried under his suburban home's floorboards, Gacy's crimes were truly horrendous. However, the real kicker in this story is the fact that he dressed up as a clown while torturing, raping, and murdering his victims, who were primarily teenage boys.
JonBenét Ramsey
Although the series is starting with O.J. Simpson's trial, there's another murder case that rocked the 1990s: that of 6-year-old beauty pageant queen JonBenét Ramsey. Though many people maintain that Ramsey's parents were at fault, DNA evidence partially exonerated them in the early 2000s. The bizarre murder of this young girl is still unsolved.
Narcocorrido Murders
With over a dozen Narcocorrido musicians murdered in a two-year span from 2006 to 2008, the combination of drugs, music, and assault rifles is a recipe for compelling television. Most notably, Grammy award winning musicians Sergio Gómez and Valentín Elizalde were killed in the series of murders of musicians involved with this genre. Although many believe cartel hitmen to be behind the crimes, few were actually arrested in connection with the murders.
