Vampires Among Us — David Pietras

The dictionary defines the word vampire as the reanimated body of a dead person believed to come from the grave at night and suck the blood of persons asleep. Since the word was first coined in 1734 the myth of the vampire has grown, entering into popular culture with the publication of Bram Stoker's {Dracula} in 1897 and more recently through multiple books and movies. But these are works of fiction. Still, myths do not just spring out of mid-air. Throughout the ages, human killers have been fascinated by the blood of their victims. Here are some of history's most notorious vampires and vampire killers.