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Please Note
The material below discusses the lives of serial killers, some of the most horrible people in history. Therefore, some of the information below contains mature content, including abuse, drug use, harassment, torture, cannibalism, sex, murder, etc. Viewer discretion is advised.
It is also important to respect the families and friends of the deceased. While the criminals get catchy names, crazy fans, and podcasts, their victims are often lost and forgotten. Regardless of their past, they were robbed of their future. Treat each case with kindness and respect.
Basics
What is it about serial killers that generates such interest? These are terrible criminals who have committed horrific acts against innocent people. Yet there are dozens of podcasts, TikToks, movies, documentaries, and books diving into the lives of serial killers. Why?
One possibility is that, as normal law-abiding citizens, we can't fathom what would bring someone to hunt other people. Robbing a bank? We all want money. Killing in self-defense? Of course. Crimes of passion? Understandable. But an addiction to killing complete strangers? Not as easy to relate to.
Another theory suggests an evolutionary element. Serial killers are predators. As potential prey, we want to study them and be better prepared. We want to know how to raise our young to not become victims (or perpetrators).
There's also just morbid curiosity. Humans engage in all kinds of extreme activities - skydiving, swimming with sharks, taking selfies with bison, etc. but most of us would rather hear about it than give it a try ourselves. Exploring the lives and crimes of serial killers gives us the chance to approach danger from the safety of our couch.
In the end, the source of our fascination doesn't matter. The important thing to remember is that these individuals are not heroes, not people to be revered. We can watch all the documentaries, listen to every podcast, and read every book, but we'll never truly know what makes a person become a serial killer.
Born or Made Evil?
Born or Made Evil?
The recurring debate of psychology - nature versus nurture - returns. As Glinda asks in Wicked, "Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?"
There's a case for nature. Serial killers are often born to abusive and/or psychologically disturbed parents. Many times they suffer from schizophrenia, anxiety, and/or depression - all of which have elements of neurotransmitter imbalance. In recent years, researchers have discovered that several criminals suffer from frontal lobe damage at a young age, challenging the area of the brain that is responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and personality. These factors combine would help convince many that they can be born evil, but the fact is there are thousands of people who are dealt the same cards but are rational, functional, productive members of society.
Thus, there's also a case for nurture. You hear a story of a child who was abused in the worst ways imaginable by the people who were supposed to take care of him, lived in poverty, never had a real friend, never knew love, and you think, "They never had a chance." Again, it is true that there are people that have dealt with those same circumstances that aren't criminals, and nothing justifies serial murder, but you can't help but feel bad for them.
As always, the answer to the question "Is it nature or nurture?" is "It's both."
Signs of Sociopathy
Signs of Sociopathy
There's no one thing that creates serial killers, but there are a few factors that most of them have in common. One theory proposed is called the "homicidal triad", where many criminals have three common childhood experiences - starting (or being obsessed with) fires, abusing animals, and excessive bedwetting.
Beyond this, the following traits/trends are found among many serial killers, cult leaders, sociopaths, and other criminal offenders:
Abuse - Physical/Sexual/Emotional
Childhood Trauma
Desire for Attention/Recognition
Drug Use & Abuse
Frontal Lobe Damage
Juvenile Detention
Ostracism & Isolation (often victims of bullying)
Parental Abandonment/Abuse/Neglect
Escalation from Petty Crimes (theft, vandalism, etc.)
Religious Fervor (often from a strict religious upbringing and/or near death experience)
School Truancy
Significant Loss/Grief
It is important to remember that correlation does not equal causation! Just because someone exhibits one, many, or all of these traits, doesn't mean they are guaranteed to be a serial killer. We all have the power of choice.
MVPs (Most Vile Predators)
After confessing to the sexual assault, murder, and dismemberment of over 100 children, Iqbal was sentenced to die as his victims had - by strangulation - while their families watched.
"The Werewolf of Russia" used his position as a police officer to obscure his heinous crimes as he killed at least 78 people.
Shocking confessions revealed the murders of 93 individuals, at least 50 of which have been confirmed by the FBI.
The Soviet Union wanted to believe serial killers were only found in the capitalist countries of the west, but with a kill count of 52, the "Red Ripper" proved them wrong.
Moscow's "Chessboard Killer" claims to have killed over 60 people in his pursuit of filling each square of his beloved chessboard.
Using his pigs to dispose of his victims, Robert Pickton preyed on marginalized groups as he tried to claim 50 lives.
Simultaneously fascinating and horrifying, the various crimes of the "Milwaukee Cannibal" have been turned into countless books, movies, and television series.
The "Yorkshire Ripper" caused mass hysteria in England for over five years. He is connected with 13 deaths and 7 assaults.
The infamous "Night Stalker" kept the residents of southern California in a state of panic in the mid 1980s as he broke into homes and assaulted the occupants.
Better known for his signature "BTK", Rader evaded authorities for 30 years, playing the role of family man by day while being a source of terror for the people of Wichita by night.
Infamous Inspirations
Considered America's first serial killer, Holmes lured victims into his elaborate "murder castle" in Chicago.
The man nightmares are made of, "Killer Clown" John Wayne Gacy shocked his whole community when the bodies of several teen boys were discovered decomposing beneath his suburban home.
The man who served as inspiration for Psycho, Silence of the Lambs, and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Gein's house revealed an array of clothing and furniture made from his many victims.
Bad Beyond Belief
The infamous "Son of Sam" claimed his killing spree started as a result of orders given by a neighbor's dog who had been possessed by a demon.
Believing his crimes would increase his abilities as a sorcerer, the "Black Magic Killer" killed 42 women and girls in Indonesia with the help of his wives.
The "Green River Killer" was a religious fanatic who murdered at least 48 women, tampering with evidence to evade capture.
Killer Couples
Good looks and horrific crimes earned this married pair the moniker "the Ken & Barbie killers".
This devilish duo became infamous for kidnapping and murdering children, leaving their bodies in the moors of England.
More Than a Pretty Face
Gaining notoriety for his appearance on The Dating Game in 1978, Alcala used his looks and brains to lure aspiring models and actresses to secluded locations.
Despite the overwhelming evidence presented against him, no one wanted to believe this charming, handsome law student could be tied to crimes like rape, murder, and necrophilia.
Juvenile delinquent turned soldier and boxing champion, DeSalvo is best known as the "Boston Strangler", confessing to the murders of 13 people.
Evil Geniuses
At 6'9", weighing 300lbs, the "Co-Ed Killer" had an intimidating frame and an IQ to match (145).
Ivy-leaguer turned recluse, the "Unabomber" used his 167 IQ to craft deadly devices in hopes of convincing the world of the evil influence of modern technology.
Wicked Women
The "Blood Countess" of Hungary was rumored to kill young women and bathe in their blood to preserve her own youth and beauty. Some believe her to be the inspiration for Dracula.
An aristocrat with a mean streak, "Saltychikha" was found guilty of the torture and murder of 139 serfs on her estate.
Even in the heart of the pre-Civil War South, LaLaurie was considered extreme for her cruelty toward her slaves, but the depth of her depravity was only revealed after a fire consumed her New Orleans mansion in 1834.
A "black widow" believed to have murdered her husbands (and a few others) to cash in on the insurance, Gunness disappeared before facing justice.
No one would've suspected this small, elderly woman would be responsible for the deaths of her tenants.
Using her position as a sex worker, Wuornos robbed and murdered victims along central Florida before being turned in by her girlfriend in 1990.
Devilish Doctors
Now known as "Dr. Death", this British physician is credited with murdering over 200 patients.
This nurse had his coworkers calling him the "Angel of Death" before they learned the truth - he had indeed killed dozens of patients under their care.
Capitalizing on the chaos of Nazi-occupied France, "Doctor Satan" preyed on desperate Jews promising to help them escape.
The Ones That Got Away
The man (or woman) who terrorized the streets of London in 1888 was never caught. Even as decades pass, people continue to speculate the identity of one of history's most notorious murderers.
Never identified but forever speculated upon, the Zodiac Killer terrorized California in the 1960s, claiming at least 37 lives all while taunting police.
Although convicted of murdering 57 young girls, Ecuador's maximum prison sentence of 16 years allowed the "Monster of the Andes" to walk free. He disappeared following his release and his kill count is rumored to be over 300.
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