We all know the famous serial killers throughout history. We may not know their stories, their cases, their lives, or how they got where they left off, but we certainly recognize their names. Anyway, at least most of their names. Serial killers are a different kind of person. They are not “just” a murderer or a kidnapper or a rapist … they have committed these crimes numerous times.

Here’s a list of some of the more well-known serial killers: David Berkowitz, Ted Bundy, Andrei Chikatilo, Andrew Cunanan, Jeffrey Dahmer, Albert DeSalvo, Albert Fish, John Wayne Gacy, Ed Gein, The Hillside Stranglers, Jack the Ripper, Edmund Kemper, Peter Kurten, Henry Lee Lucas, Charles Manson, Carl Panzram, Richard Ramirez, Richard Speck, Ottis Toole, Wayne Williams, Aileen Wournos and the Zodiac Killer.

Did I mention that I once saw an actual letter written by Charles Manson? My first semester of college when I started studying law and criminal justice. The local elementary school had an assignment in which children had to write a letter to a celebrity. One kid chose Charles Manson (what kind of kid … I don’t know. I’m not sure I want to!) And Manson actually responded about 2 months later. I guess there is nothing better to do at the pokey.

Anyway, in the children’s letter, the girl explained that she was in elementary school and that this was her homework and all that good stuff. Well, old Charley didn’t believe him. He was convinced that she was an authority figure or an official who was trying to trick him into saying or doing something. Then he began to tell the child certain steps to take in writing the following letter to show that it was actually a small child who was writing to him. Did I mention that your writing looks like that of an elementary school student? Oh, and his spelling is even worse. It’s like cracking a code.

So the elementary school immediately called the officials and my teacher finished with the letter and showed it to us. It was amazing! I felt dizzy like a schoolgirl and I felt confused inside. The coolest thing of all. But would he write to Manson? Hell no.

There is my story. The closest I’ve ever been to a serial killer (that I know of) and the closest I pretended to be.

So let’s look at some facts about serial killers …

More than 90% are white men

They have a medium-high IQ, but they still do poorly in school and work

They have unstable families with a psychotic or alcoholic background.

They hate their fathers and mothers

Abused children

Spending time in institutions when they were children.

High rate of suicide attempts.

Interested since young in voyeurism, fetishism and porn.

As children they also have some things in common. They wet the bed, enjoy lighting fires, and engage in sadistic activities. Before they are big / strong enough to attack humans, they target small animals.

That is part of the psychological profile of a serial killer. Here’s something else:

Disorganized thinking bipolar disorder

Feeling or resentment towards society.

Sexual frustrations Inability to be socially or socially accepted

Dominant parents Wild imaginations Daydreaming

Compulsive masturbation isolation

There are usually pre-crime stressors in which “the offender does not realize the magnitude of his motivations or does not see the reasons behind the stress he feels. A clear example of this can be seen in the interrogation of Berkowitz, who denied having something against women, nor did he have any reason why he killed so many. In fact, his mother’s rejection was the stressor that ultimately made him violent. He did not attack his mother directly (few serial killers attack the source of his resentment), but most of his murders were based on women who looked like his mother “(Sycmnias, nd).

Freud once said that a child would take over the world if he had the power. In a way, a serial killer mentality could be compared to that, as they haven’t had a chance to develop “normally” like the rest of us. They live in a fantasy world where their fantasy takes the place of reality.

88% of serial killers are male

85% are Caucasian

Average age of onset is 28

62% target complete strangers

22% kill at least one stranger

71% operate in specific locations

These individuals have no conscience and have not learned intimacy. They consider themselves dominant and powerful. They lack insight and have a superficial charm, as well as a lack of remorse. Added to that, they have no signs of irrational thinking.

In closing, there are a ton of serial killers out there; some of which have yet to be found. These are just a few names, facts, and figures to give you a taste of the world of serial killers. And no, I’m not posting photos from the crime scene. I’m sure we could all live without them.