COLLECTING TROPHIES: IS IT ONLY SOMETHING SERIAL KILLERS DO

Many people often wonder why serial killers take trophies from their victims, feeling it is just another way to degrade them. Other believe it could be as a memento for them to relish over later; however, could there be something deeper when it comes to the fulfilling the human psyche or even religious needs? Most people would say that is ridiculous, since they could never see themselves doing the same thing as these individuals; it is true most would never kill another person, but this does not mean that they do not have the same need of collecting trophies. To get a better understanding of this concept, let’s look at different examples of things collected in the many different aspects of our lives and also what history might tell us.

To get a better understanding of why serial killers collect trophies, first it is important to understand why people in general collect items. A human normally begins their habit of collecting items at a young age, it could be baseball cards, marbles, action figures, dolls, books, bones, etc. As we grow most people will continue to collect items; however, a lot of the times the items that are collected take on a different form such as photographs, videos, tools, clothing, etc. For some the collecting is only done to provide enjoyment during their relaxation periods, others will do it with the hopes of making future fortunes. However, there are the subgroups that collect items and clothing to show how powerful they are to themselves and others. These items or trophies are normally placed in a location of both honor and also areas that will draw the most attention to them.

COMBAT AND VICTORY

The Roman Empire’s Centurions were known for courage and brutality during combat, at the end of each battle won they would take parts of the enemies’ armor and other items to display at home, in camp and at the onset of a future battle. The displays were there to remind them of their previous victories to raise their moral, as a warning to their enemies of what is to come and finally for the citizens back home to be able to see firsthand how great the empire was. This concept was still in play hundreds of years later during the American Indian wars, in which both sides were known for taking body parts of their enemy such as scalps, bones, ears, noses, and weapons. Neither side was above taking trophies from the dead of their enemy, as it provided a way to prove how great of warriors they were in the aspects of courage and power over their enemy. In today’s age soldiers are still known for taking trophies, even with the adding of restrictions on such practices of claiming weapons, body parts, relics, etc.; however, there are still exceptions when it comes to photographs. Granted it is extremely frowned upon to photograph the dead for anything more than proof of death or an account of the activity; soldiers are still known to take photos of themselves with the dead of their enemy or with destroyed enemy equipment. As a military member, even I wasn’t above taking photographs of destroyed aircraft, vehicles and enemy weapons; granted at the time I didn’t think it was something like taking a trophy, but it is a prime example of it. However, the normality of this action doesn’t just stop with military operations it continues in other parts of our lives too.

HUNTERS

Hunters are notorious for taking trophies of the dead animals they have killed, from antlers and heads to teeth and skins. Though the meat is normally the main reason for the hunt, the utilization of the body parts for clothing, tools, or even furniture is not unheard of. These items though useful in everyday life are also a reminder of the moment of the kill to mark their first or tenth kill. Ed Gein wasn’t much different from these type of hunters, granted he started off his crime spree as a grave robber taking the bodies of older women who reminded him of his mother to make a body suite and of other individuals to make into clothing, masks, furniture, etc. Gein claimed he was attempting to make a body suite of his mother, so he could crawl inside of it whenever he need confront. The only kill Gein was ever charged and convicted of was a local woman working at store in which he took her from. Though the kill happened away from his farm, he took the woman’s body back to his farm prior to mutilating it and hanging it up in one of the sheds on the property. The police believe the mutilated body had been placed back together in the shape of a deer by Gein as a possible trophy. See Uey Sae Ung, also known as Si Quey, a Chinese immigrate living in Thailand took the lives of over half a dozen men. Si Quey would attract his victims with the sole purpose of killing them and then taking their organs. The organs he took from his victim were only kept for a short period, as he would prepare the organs a meal for himself. Si Quey believed that the utilization of his victim’s organs through the consumption of young men’s healthy hearts and livers would lead him to being healthier, stronger and eventually lead him to be immortal.

In the case of the Big Game Hunters, the thrill of the stalking and then the final kill of a powerful predator often brings high levels of adrenalin and feelings of great power. The adrenalin and power is derived through the though process of taking on an equally powerful predator, who could have easily taken their life instead during the stalking proportion of the ritual. These hunters are known for their picture and body part taking of their kills. It is this habit of wide spread release of photographs of a beloved lion, ‘Cecil’ in Africa, that has led to an international uproar. These similar feeling have been found in certain types of serial killers; such as Huang Yong a serial killer from China, who took the lives of at least 17 young men. Though survivors of this serial killer claim the number is probably closer to 25 victims. Once Yong determined who his next victim would be, he would then make contact to lure them into a situation that would place them at a great disadvantage; at which point he would drug, rape and then suffocate them. Yong wanted to be a paid assassin and this was the closes he could get. This wanting of becoming an assassin led him to finding enjoyment of the kill and to prove he was a hero; which is why he claimed to only kill men and not women. Yong would take the belts of his victims as a trophy of his killings, a reminder of his great victory over another human predator. Like the Big Game Hunter, Huang Yong enjoyed the hunt and the taking of life of a prey that could in turn cause him just as much harm. Robert Hansen took his hunting of victims to another level when he would kidnap and rape them; which would lead to him releasing his victims into the wilderness to only hunt them down and kill them with a knife. Hansen would keep a piece of each victims’ jewelry as a memento of his kill, as a reminder of his great hunting skills. Trophies for the Big Game Hunter ensures the thrill and satisfaction of the hunt are never forgotten.

SEX AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Another aspect of life for some people is the collecting and use of pornography. In some cases, people become a fan of a certain actress or actor, while others have wish to be like the imagines they are observing. Regardless of the reason for the collecting of different types of pornography, many who have it are utilizing it as a sexual stimulator. Jeffrey Dahmer in many ways took this to the extreme, since not only did he take polaroid photographs of his victims in multiple positions after death he also kept some of the body parts of his victims. Dahmer admitted to utilizing the photographs latter as a sexual prop while masturbating and relishing his continued attempts at making the prefect companion. He claimed he was keeping the body parts that ranged from full severed heads, torsos, to skulls, genitals, and feet; for a very different reason than most people believe. Though many believed these were only trophies, during a few interviews with police and medical professionals Dahmer related his need to attempt to make a zombie. It was believed if Dahmer had been able to make his zombie that his killing spree would have ended as he would have found his perfect companion. So basically, Dahmer may have only thought of the photographs as his trophies and the human body parts as failures to finding the perfect companion.

THE OFFERING

Some trophy taking is considered cannibalism by some; however, in some case religion was the basis of taking blood, body parts and other things from their victims. One ancient religion that utilized blood and other body parts were the Incans who sacrificed enemies and even their own people for their gods. The sacrifice could be for better health of a royal, to ask for guidance with crops or combat, to anger the Gods toward one of their enemies; among other tributes to continue to maintain a powerful hold over their people, to frighten their enemies and to ensure the Gods were not angry with them. These aspects are utilized in other religions such as Voodoo, Vodou, Santa Maria, etc. to this day. For some of these rituals the use of personal items, blood, hair, etc. are utilized to focus the religion on a certain individual or group. The rituals like the Inca are mostly for positive things such as good health or courage; however, like the Incas these religions can also be utilized for negative reasons. Drissa Coulibaly of South Africa, who many believed killed at least 20 boys by cutting off their heads, said he it because God told him to. Coulibaly basically believed by beheading the boys and then placing their heads on an alter to God, in the hopes that he would be made a king. Though it is believed Coulibaly kept the genitals of some of the victims, it was difficult to tell since the bodies had been brutally mutilated. Sampson Kanderayi, a serial killer in Zimbabwe, who confessed to over 50 murders started out as a bulgur and then ventured in murder after killing a woman during one of his crimes. It was Kanderayi belief that with every kill the evil spirits surrounding him would be appeased for a short period of time. Keeping items from his victims initially was for financial gain, but as time went on he believed keeping items from his victims would lengthen the period the evil spirits were appeased. Kanderayi killing spree lasted six years and consisted mostly of females, even though his primary purpose for the killing was a form of religious fulfillment; he claimed him leaving political propaganda in graved on his victims to through off police.

In most cases, no one is willing to believe they could have anything in common with a serial killer; especially, when it comes to items they collect from their victims. It is lack of understanding a basic need we all have and possibly the fear of exposing their own dark side that will keep most from admitting the collecting of trophies or other mementos is a common behavior. The need to take trophies or other mementos after defeating an enemy or attending an important event during an individual’s life is as old as mankind. Trophies can range from the taking of your enemies’ heart, scalp, weapon, uniform pieces, etc. In these cases, it was normally a way for one warrior to show to other warrior’s proof of their victory. In some cases, the individual may even feel as if they are able to harness the power of the fallen or prevent their enemy from being a spiritual guide to their own people. Though most want to know or understand why a serial killer takes trophies from their victims, as they feel it is just one more horrific thing they are doing to their victim; it is just a normal part of life.