The United States' most prolific serial killer according to the FBI, Samuel Little, died in California aged 80 on Wednesday.

Little confessed to 93 murders &nbsp;-- mostly of women &nbsp;-- carried out between 1970 and 2005. The former boxer's victims were mostly drug addicts and prostitutes.

It's, however, said his coast-to-coast killing spree went undetected for decades.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has so far confirmed Little's involvement in at least 50 of the deaths, and described all his other claims as "credible." He died in hospital early Wednesday, with Los Angeles coroners yet to determine the cause of death, the California Department of Corrections said in a statement.

US media reports recently said he suffered heart disease and diabetes.

Little was serving three consecutive life-without-parole sentences, after being jailed in 2014.

Also known as Samuel McDowell, Little stood 6ft 3in (1.9m) tall and typically knocked out his victims with powerful punches before strangling them, leaving no obvious signs of homicide such as stab marks or bullet wounds.&nbsp;

That factor combined with the victims' backgrounds meant many of the deaths were attributed to drug overdoses or accidents, as well as natural causes.

Little's criminal record began in 1956 with arrests for shoplifting, fraud, drugs and breaking and entering. He was accused of murdering women in Mississippi and Florida in the early 1980s but was not convicted.

The United States' most prolific serial killer according to the FBI, Samuel Little, died in California aged 80 on Wednesday. Little confessed to 93 murders -- mostly of women -- carried out between 1970 and 2005.

The United States' most prolific serial killer according to the FBI, Samuel Little, died in California aged 80 on Wednesday. Little confessed to 93 murders -- mostly of women -- carried out between 1970 and 2005. The former boxer's victims were mostly drug addicts and prostitutes. It's, however, said his coast-to-coast killing spree went undetected for decades. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has so far confirmed Little's involvement in at least 50 of the deaths, and described all his other claims as "credible." He died in hospital early Wednesday, with Los Angeles coroners yet to determine the cause of death, the California Department of Corrections said in a statement. US media reports recently said he suffered heart disease and diabetes. Little was serving three consecutive life-without-parole sentences, after being jailed in 2014. Also known as Samuel McDowell, Little stood 6ft 3in (1.9m) tall and typically knocked out his victims with powerful punches before strangling them, leaving no obvious signs of homicide such as stab marks or bullet wounds. That factor combined with the victims' backgrounds meant many of the deaths were attributed to drug overdoses or accidents, as well as natural causes. Little's criminal record began in 1956 with arrests for shoplifting, fraud, drugs and breaking and entering. He was accused of murdering women in Mississippi and Florida in the early 1980s but was not convicted.

US 'most prolific serial killer' Samuel Little dies

A 78-year-old inmate sentenced to life behind bars for the murders of three women in the United States, recently confessed to 90 homicides between 1970 and 2005, the FBI said.

If confirmed, this number of murders would make Samuel Little one of the most prolific serial killers in US history.

Little was arrested in September 2012 at a homeless shelter in Kentucky and extradited to California, where he was wanted for drug crimes.

Once in Los Angeles, authorities linked his DNA to that found in the murders of three women between 1987 and 1989. In all three cases, the victims were beaten, strangled and then their bodies dumped in an alley, a dumpster and a garage.

Little was sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment for those three crimes, but police wanted to share his DNA and details of his modus operandi with the FBI so that a deeper investigation could be undertaken.

What the FBI found was an "alarming pattern and compelling links to many more murders," mostly "marginalised and vulnerable women who were often involved in prostitution and addicted to drugs."

"Their bodies sometimes went unidentified and their deaths uninvestigated," the FBI statement added.

A lead on a case then took the FBI to Texas: "We found a case out of Odessa, Texas, that sounded very much like him, and we could place him passing through the area around the same time," said ViCAP Crime Analyst Christina Palazzolo in the statement.

Accompanied by the Texas Rangers, the FBI decided to question Little last spring in a California prison, where he agreed to cooperate in exchange for a prison transfer.

"He went through city and state and gave Ranger Holland the number of people he killed in each place. Jackson, Mississippi - one; Cincinnati, Ohio - one; Phoenix, Arizona - three; Las Vegas, Nevada - one," Palazzolo explained.

Little remembered his victims and the murders with great detail and he was even able to draw the faces of some of his victims.

In total, Little confessed to 90 murders over a 35-year period, with the killings being committed all over the country. Of those 90, 34 have already been confirmed.

A 78-year-old inmate sentenced to life behind bars for the murders of three women in the United States, recently confessed to 90 homicides between 1970 and 2005, the FBI said.

A 78-year-old inmate sentenced to life behind bars for the murders of three women in the United States, recently confessed to 90 homicides between 1970 and 2005, the FBI said. If confirmed, this number of murders would make Samuel Little one of the most prolific serial killers in US history. Little was arrested in September 2012 at a homeless shelter in Kentucky and extradited to California, where he was wanted for drug crimes. Once in Los Angeles, authorities linked his DNA to that found in the murders of three women between 1987 and 1989. In all three cases, the victims were beaten, strangled and then their bodies dumped in an alley, a dumpster and a garage. Little was sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment for those three crimes, but police wanted to share his DNA and details of his modus operandi with the FBI so that a deeper investigation could be undertaken. What the FBI found was an "alarming pattern and compelling links to many more murders," mostly "marginalised and vulnerable women who were often involved in prostitution and addicted to drugs." "Their bodies sometimes went unidentified and their deaths uninvestigated," the FBI statement added. A lead on a case then took the FBI to Texas: "We found a case out of Odessa, Texas, that sounded very much like him, and we could place him passing through the area around the same time," said ViCAP Crime Analyst Christina Palazzolo in the statement. Accompanied by the Texas Rangers, the FBI decided to question Little last spring in a California prison, where he agreed to cooperate in exchange for a prison transfer. "He went through city and state and gave Ranger Holland the number of people he killed in each place. Jackson, Mississippi - one; Cincinnati, Ohio - one; Phoenix, Arizona - three; Las Vegas, Nevada - one," Palazzolo explained. Little remembered his victims and the murders with great detail and he was even able to draw the faces of some of his victims. In total, Little confessed to 90 murders over a 35-year period, with the killings being committed all over the country. Of those 90, 34 have already been confirmed.

Convict confesses to killing 90 women, could be 'most prolific serial killer' in US history

samuel-little

Samuel Little, News on Samuel Little, stories on Samuel Little, articles on Samuel Little, Samuel Little stories at Wion, Samuel Little news, Samuel Little latest news

samuel little

US 'most prolific serial killer' Samuel Little dies

Convict confesses to killing 90 women, could be 'most prolific serial killer' in US history