History in the Making: My Journey into the Mind of Murderers

Oliver Stone once stated, “The line between thinking murder and committing murder is very thin” (Murder Quotes). While the line is thin, many have crossed it and have done so to such an extent they have been labeled as a serial killer. A serial killer is defined as one who carries out a series of murders over an extended period of time. One of the names that rise to the top of the list is none other than Henry Lee Lucas. Lucas was notorious for his series of rape and murders both alone and with his partner in crime: Ottis Toole. While Lucas spent most of his life in and out of jail for being linked to murders, he would continually be released for lack of evidence or good behavior. After finally being convicted and sentenced for life, Lucas

Serial murder is one of the most baffling crimes that occur in the U.S. and all over the world. Knight (2006) defines serial murder as the killing of three or more people over a period of more than 30 days, with a significant cooling-off period. The cooling off period may be weeks, months or even years long. Researchers have proposed various psychological, biological and sociological theories that offer a partial understanding of the nature of serial murder. Some propose that the basis for criminal behavior is a predisposition to violence as well as a mix between environment, personality traits and biological factors. Serial killers are predominantly male. Only 3 percent of serial murders are committed by women (U.S. News and World Report,

"It was too late. We would have died," our driver replied in a serious voice while pointing in the other direction.

In the Edgar Allan Poe stories "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Tell-Tale Heart" the most prominent and important themes that are used are death, logic, and irony. The characters of the narrator and Montresor in these stories are both coldblooded murders that kill for selfish, and inane reasons who firmly believe that their actions are justified even though their rationalizations only make sense in their own minds. They both try to convince their audience that they are completely sane by giving their explanations about why they did what they did as well as their motives for killing their victims. In admitting how they murdered victims, who appear to be innocent to everyone besides them, they only succeed in proving their insanity. The

Penetrating into the skull of a young boy he began to transmit a flow of sulfuric acid into the head of his benumbed victim to construct a zombie to fulfill all of his fantasies. Dead within a day, he macerated the head of his victim, placing it into a cooler next to the skulls of those who came before. Dismembering the remains of the corpse he arranged skin, bone, and blood into a thirty-gallon cask of acid dissolving what remained of the young boy. This is the dark mind of Jeffrey Dahmer, he murdered not in hatred, vengeance, or financial enrichment but on pure impulse and lust. Forensic psychoanalysts have picked apart the minds of serial killers to find answers as to what causes them to carry out such perverse acts.

Many things today confuse, yet enthrall the masses. War, murder, medical science, incredible rescues, all things you would see on The History Channel. There is another topic that is also made into documentaries however, serial killers. Dark twisted people that commit multiple murders are of interest to the population, but what caused them to be this way. What horrible tragic set of events could twist a man to murder one or many people. Could Schizophrenia, psychopathy, or sociopathy? Many people have researched this topic and believe that childhood trauma, heavy drugs during the growing phase of life, as well as many other things have twisted the minds of men such as Jeffery Dahmer, Charles Manson,

“You do know that our side of the road is a couple feet over there.”

“Yeah, my mother heard you pull into the driveway with a bang. She’s a light sleeper.”

Joyce laughed. “You don’t have to worry about anything like that. And no, you don’t have a right to know. The research is top secret so no one can steal their ideas.”

Hello. It’s nice to meet you. I will be your driver today. My car? It’s over there. See it? The earthy green jeep liberty renegade complete with some fog lights on the top for show. Grabbing attention is not really it’s forte, yet it is different enough to be special to me. I like it that way. It looks pretty tough and stable from the outside, doesn’t it? Well, don’t let that full you. On the inside it’s a mess. I’ve got everything thrown everywhere. My procrastination has led to a build-up of issues that are in need of being dealt with a lot sooner than later. The engine’s quite rusty, it’s nearly impossible to start up in the early mornings, and the technology inside is lacking. I’m honestly surprised it’s still running at this

Kara laughs, " I told you to be careful." hmm, not what Kara would usually say, but considering she hardly talks, and she is quite so who knows what she will say or do.

“Davis is that you?” Asked Hailey with her eyebrows low and her teeth biting her lip, she moved more into the car to get a better view.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, remembering when she was a young girl, warm milk helped her fall asleep, Marlene went to the kitchen and prepared some, but tonight it didn’t help. Picking up her purse, she whispered, “I need some fresh air.”

“Tell me about it, remember we have an eyewitness. Is it necessary for her to identify you?” The detective asked.

He replies “Only time will tell, but I do know how you can get more information”