Dennis Nilsen – The Dangers of Isolation and Vulnerability By Sensei Liam Musiak

Dennis Nilsen is one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers. Between 1978 and 1983, he murdered at least 12 young men in London. But Nilsen himself admitted to killing even more—saying the total was 15 or 16. The exact number will likely never be known.

What made his crimes especially chilling wasn’t just the murders themselves, but the way he chose his victims. Nilsen preyed on isolation and vulnerability.

Who He Targeted

Most of Nilsen’s victims were young men who were struggling. Many were homeless, unemployed, or living on the margins of society. Some had just left pubs or clubs alone. Nilsen looked for people who had nowhere else to go and no one waiting for them at home. That vulnerability gave him the opportunity he wanted.

How He Operated

Nilsen would meet men in bars, offer them food, drink, or a place to stay, and invite them back to his flat. To those young men, he didn’t look dangerous—he looked like kindness. For someone with no home, no money, or no safety net, his offer felt like a lifeline.

Once inside, however, they were trapped. Nilsen strangled his victims before disposing of their bodies in horrific ways, often keeping them in his flat for days or weeks before dismembering them.

The Role of Isolation

What made his victims so vulnerable was their isolation. They didn’t have friends walking them home, families checking in, or communities looking out for them. When they disappeared, it often took a long time for anyone to notice. That isolation gave Nilsen both opportunity and time.

The Lesson

The case of Dennis Nilsen highlights how predators exploit loneliness and vulnerability. His victims weren’t “naive”—they were simply in difficult circumstances, and Nilsen took advantage of that.

The lesson for today is clear: connection is protection.

Don’t walk home alone if you can avoid it.

Let people know where you are.

Look out for friends the same way you’d want them to look out for you.

Predators like Nilsen don’t thrive because their victims are weak. They thrive because their victims are left alone. Awareness and connection are some of the strongest shields against exploitation.