American Horror Story: Coven is the third season of the anthology horror television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, which aired 13 episodes. The season follows a New Orleans coven of witches as they fight for power and survival. They also flashback to the actual Salem witch trials and other atrocities of the past. The coven features a leader known as the Supreme, a title held by Fiona Goode, a power-hungry witch obsessed with immortality. The series also has an eccentric collection of support characters, including one based on a real-life killer -- the Axeman of New Orleans.
Under Fiona, the other coven members include Zoe, the newcomer, Madison, the celebrity, Queenie, the human voodoo doll and Nan, the clairvoyant. Later in the series, Zoe uses a spirit board to try and connect with a dead member of the coven but accidentally resurrects the infamous serial killer.
Who Was the Axeman of New Orleans?
The Axeman of New Orleans was a real-life serial killer who was never caught. As such, his cases were never officially solved. He was active in the area from May 1918 until October 1919 and primarily targeted Italian-Americans and Italian immigrants. He killed six people and injured six others in their homes using axes that belonged to his victims. He used a chisel to enter the homes and didn't leave any evidence of robbery or motive. Unfortunately, the victims' families were never able to get closure for the deaths of their loved ones or uncover the identity of the infamous serial killer.
There are some theories about who this killer was, including a couple of suspects. Still, nothing substantial ever came from these leads. There are several theories surrounding the Axeman's behavior, though, including that he was a sexual sadist explicitly hunting for female victims and only killed men who interfered with his attempts to kill the women.
Another theory is that he killed to promote Jazz music in the community. This theory is a result of a letter reportedly sent by the Axeman on March 13, 1919, where he promised not to kill anyone playing Jazz music, a genre of which he was apparently a big fan. True to his word, when the town played copious amounts of Jazz music on March 13, no one was killed.
The Axeman and the Coven
American Horror Story has repeatedly referenced real-life killers and tragedies across its anthology seasons. Season 3 is no different, introducing a fictionalized version of the Axeman of New Orleans. The role is played by Danny Huston. Although the real killer was never identified, the series calls him "Joe." He debuts when Zoe uses a spirit board to contact Madison and discover the nature of her death. Instead of solving that mystery, Zoe accidentally brings the spirit of the Axeman to the house, and he manipulates his way back to life.
AHS imagines that his killing spree was brought to an end when he was lured to the school for witches back in 1919 and was repeatedly stabbed to death by the coven at the time. After a twisted sexual relationship with Fiona, Joe the Axeman is murdered at the school in the same fashion he was originally killed. Zoe, Queenie, Madison and Misty stab him to death in their school. He later appears in Fiona's personal hell.
The Axeman appears in American Horror Story: Coven as a fictionalized version of the infamous New Orleans serial killer of the same name. The character is nearly entirely fictional, as the true killer was never caught. However, his murder weapon of an Axe and his connection to Jazz are the key aspects of reality the show spotlighted.