Edward Rulloff wanted the world to remember him as a genius. Instead, he became one of Upstate New York’s strangest and most notorious criminals.
Known as “The Genius Killer,” Rulloff was a teacher, self-proclaimed scholar, thief, escape artist and murderer whose story stretched from Ithaca and Cayuga Lake to Auburn, Binghamton and Sing Sing. His wife Harriet and infant daughter Priscilla vanished in 1845, beginning a decades-long legal saga filled with murder accusations, overturned convictions, escapes and a case that helped establish what became known as the “Rulloff Rule.”
But Rulloff’s story didn’t end when he was executed in 1871.
After his death, scientists examined his unusually large brain, adding another bizarre chapter to the legend. More than 150 years later, Edward Rulloff’s preserved brain can still be seen at Cornell University, just miles from the waters of Cayuga Lake where Harriet and Priscilla may have disappeared forever.
Was Rulloff really the brilliant criminal mastermind he believed himself to be—or simply a violent man who became very good at escaping consequences?
Join Heather and Ciara as Hot Justice dives into the disturbing, fascinating story of Edward Rulloff: The Genius Killer.
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What is Hot Justice Podcast?
Two friends, countless crimes, one big question: why do people do what they do?
In Hot Justice, best friends and true crime obsessives Heather and Ciara dig into cases both famous and forgotten, blending deep research with unfiltered conversation. Expect late-night-theory energy, occasional gasps, and a lot of “wait, WHAT?” moments.
If you love true crime with heart, humor, and humanity — you’re in the right place.