Serial Killers, UnmaskedSerial Killers, Unmasked

byby Michael Anthony AbrilMichael Anthony Abril

English 102 hybrid, Section 8885English 102 hybrid, Section 8885

BondingBonding

Childhood AbuseChildhood Abuse

Behavioral disordersBehavioral disorders

Serial Killers Not Born, MadeSerial Killers Not Born, Made

BondingBonding

In the WombIn the Womb

““Fetuses are incredibly attuned to how the mother is Fetuses are incredibly attuned to how the mother is feeling and even the slightest stress experienced by feeling and even the slightest stress experienced by the mother in pregnancy can delay the growth process the mother in pregnancy can delay the growth process and retard bonding” and retard bonding” (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus 22). (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus 22).

This fact illustrates how a mother who never truly This fact illustrates how a mother who never truly wanted her child during pregnancy could have a wanted her child during pregnancy could have a negative impact on the child in the long run.negative impact on the child in the long run.

BondingBonding Ted Bundy, who is believed to have killed 36 women Ted Bundy, who is believed to have killed 36 women

in at least five different states, was an unwanted in at least five different states, was an unwanted child during pregnancy.child during pregnancy.

Early DaysEarly Days

Immediate bonding after birth is a critical Immediate bonding after birth is a critical stage in childhood development. stage in childhood development.

Researchers have noted that an infant who has Researchers have noted that an infant who has his basic needs met, but is not held or nurtured, his basic needs met, but is not held or nurtured, can actually wither and die can actually wither and die (Klaus, Kennell, and (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus 151). Klaus 151).

Babies waiting to be adopted do not see the Babies waiting to be adopted do not see the mother for a few days; they wait in a plastic box mother for a few days; they wait in a plastic box experiencing no sense of touch from a caring experiencing no sense of touch from a caring person.person.

Early DaysEarly Days

David Berkowitz, "The Son of Sam," killed David Berkowitz, "The Son of Sam," killed six and severely injured eleven more six and severely injured eleven more people in the New York City area.people in the New York City area.

Kenneth Bianchi "Hillside Strangler," with Kenneth Bianchi "Hillside Strangler," with his cousin, tortured and murdered ten his cousin, tortured and murdered ten women in California.women in California.

Joel Rifkin killed and dismembered Joel Rifkin killed and dismembered seventeen prostitutes in Long Island.seventeen prostitutes in Long Island.

All of these men were adopted.All of these men were adopted.

Children neglected at home in the first years of their lives Children neglected at home in the first years of their lives will grow up with a piece of their lives missing.will grow up with a piece of their lives missing.

"If the proper bonding and subsequent attachment does "If the proper bonding and subsequent attachment does not occur the child will develop mistrust and a deep seeded not occur the child will develop mistrust and a deep seeded rage towards others. He becomes a child without a rage towards others. He becomes a child without a conscience" conscience" (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus 79)(Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus 79) . .

A person who kills someone and shows no sign of remorse A person who kills someone and shows no sign of remorse has somewhere in their childhood lost or never has somewhere in their childhood lost or never experienced real love.experienced real love.

Early DaysEarly Days

Family RelationsFamily Relations

Richard Chase, the “Vampire Killer,” killed Richard Chase, the “Vampire Killer,” killed a half a dozen people before he was a half a dozen people before he was caught in 1978.caught in 1978.

Chase's mother was a schizophrenic, Chase's mother was a schizophrenic, emotionally unable to concentrate on the emotionally unable to concentrate on the task of socializing with her son or task of socializing with her son or adequately caring for him (adequately caring for him (Gerdes 100Gerdes 100). ).

Childhood AbuseChildhood Abuse

Parents physically, mentally, and emotionally Parents physically, mentally, and emotionally abuse their children in ways that scar them for abuse their children in ways that scar them for life.life.

““Parents who abuse their children, physically Parents who abuse their children, physically as well as psychologically, instill in them an as well as psychologically, instill in them an almost instinctive reliance upon violence as a almost instinctive reliance upon violence as a

first resort to any challenge” (first resort to any challenge” (Gerdes 98Gerdes 98).).

Albert Desalvo Albert Desalvo Alcoholic father sold him off as a Alcoholic father sold him off as a

slave.slave.

As a punishment to his mother, As a punishment to his mother, Desalvo’s father broke his mother’s Desalvo’s father broke his mother’s fingers forcing his young son to fingers forcing his young son to watch.watch.

Desalvo went on to strangled thirteen Desalvo went on to strangled thirteen women in Boston between 1962-women in Boston between 1962-1964. 1964.

Childhood AbuseChildhood Abuse

Henry Lee LucasHenry Lee Lucas Suffered gender confusion due to Suffered gender confusion due to

being dressed up as a girl until he was being dressed up as a girl until he was seven.seven.

His mother beat him senselessly when His mother beat him senselessly when he finally cut his hair at age seven he finally cut his hair at age seven because his teacher complained because his teacher complained ((ScottScott). ).

Henry Lee Lucas killed eleven plus Henry Lee Lucas killed eleven plus women until his capture in 1983.women until his capture in 1983.

Childhood AbuseChildhood Abuse

Conduct DisorderConduct Disorder

People and AnimalsPeople and Animals Killing animals at a young age is potential sign of a future Killing animals at a young age is potential sign of a future

serial killer.serial killer.

Usually the killing starts out with small animals such as Usually the killing starts out with small animals such as squirrels and rabbits and then escalates to cats and dogs squirrels and rabbits and then escalates to cats and dogs and, in the end, people are the victims. and, in the end, people are the victims.

Jeffery Dahmer provides one example of a serial killer who, as Jeffery Dahmer provides one example of a serial killer who, as a child would walk in the woods behind his Milwaukee home, a child would walk in the woods behind his Milwaukee home, collect dead animals, and store them in an old shed where he collect dead animals, and store them in an old shed where he would dismember them.would dismember them.

Dahmer’s fascination with dead animals combined with his Dahmer’s fascination with dead animals combined with his homosexual obsession with men resulted in a passion of killing homosexual obsession with men resulted in a passion of killing and performing sexual acts on dead men. and performing sexual acts on dead men.

Conduct DisorderConduct Disorder

Molding the Serial KillerMolding the Serial Killer Cleary, these childhood issues play a huge factor in the Cleary, these childhood issues play a huge factor in the

molding of a serial killer. Despite the fact that serial molding of a serial killer. Despite the fact that serial killers have complex minds, their childhood struggles killers have complex minds, their childhood struggles help answer some questions as to why they kill. help answer some questions as to why they kill.

While parents will continue to abuse and neglect their While parents will continue to abuse and neglect their children, these signs should be highly regarded by children, these signs should be highly regarded by teachers and other adults who see children that display teachers and other adults who see children that display these signs, so as to avoid a potentially disastrous these signs, so as to avoid a potentially disastrous future. future.

Works Cited in ReportWorks Cited in Report Gerdes, Louise., Gerdes, Louise., Serial KillersSerial Killers. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, . San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press,

2000.2000.

Klaus, Marshall H., John H. Kennell & Phyllis H. Klaus. Klaus, Marshall H., John H. Kennell & Phyllis H. Klaus. Parent-Infant Parent-Infant Bonding. Bonding. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company,1983.New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company,1983.

Keeping Children on the Right Path. Keeping Children on the Right Path. Washington, D.C.: National Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children,Association for the Education of Young Children, 1981.1981.

Scott, Shirley Lynn.Scott, Shirley Lynn. “What Makes Serial Killers Tick?” “What Makes Serial Killers Tick?” Crime Library.Crime Library. April 2004: April 2004: 2.2. < <http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/tick/victims_1.htmhttp://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/tick/victims_1.htm>.>.

Time-Life Agency. Time-Life Agency. Compulsion To KillCompulsion To Kill.. Alexandra, Virginia: Time Alexandra, Virginia: Time Warner, 1993.Warner, 1993.

Weissbourd, Bernice & Judith Musick. Weissbourd, Bernice & Judith Musick. Infants: Their Social Infants: Their Social Environments.Environments. New York: Putman, Inc., 2001. New York: Putman, Inc., 2001.