Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer

The American public is fascinated by horror and cruelty. Fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter and Michael Myers amuse moviegoers; but while these interesting beings and their crimes sometimes seem far-fetched, they can be all too close to reality. What happens when the characters of a movie come to life, or cinema imitates reality? Just mentioning “Helter Skelter” or “Zodiac” can send chills down the spine of the biggest horror film fan. Anyone who has a common knowledge of Jeffery Dahmer or Ted Bundy knows they are far from fictional. Bonnie and Clyde, David Berkowitz, and Jack the Ripper are all real as well. They are all infamous serial killers. According to Eric W. Hickey, author of Serial Murderers and Their Victims, serial murderers include “any offenders, male or female, who kill over time” (12). It is doubtful that anyone would disagree with Hickey’s definition, but some experts may choose to be a bit more descriptive. Due to the qualifications of a serial homicide, there tends to be a general consensus among reactions to serial killings by the public but not necessarily among the proposed reasons for which one may commit such an atrocious act. The crime should not be confused with a spree killing, which involves the murder of many victims without a relationship or extended period of time existing between the killings.