SERIAL KILLER AFICIONADOS AND THE FEAR OF BEING CHASTISED

Serial Killers and True Crime are of interest to many people. Some people are very open about their interest, and spend their time reading books on the above mentioned subjects, buy murderbilia *Memorabilia from Serial Killers, Mass Murderers...etc*. Some people are creative when it comes to these monsters launching websites, artwork, poems and other forms of literature. The psychological interest in the Macabre is not new, it has been around for ages, but we live in a society that is free (sometimes). People who used to own Nazi books immediately after 1945 were chastised and called Nazi Sympathizers, while some people who do to this day are merely just interested in the subject.

The interest of Serial Killers and Mass Murder varies from person to person. Writing from a personal standpoint, I became fascinated with Serial Killers after my Mother told me the horrible story of Pedro Alonzo Lopez (The Monster of the Andes), I was born in Santa Fe De Bogota, Colombia in 1982, Lopez's slaying were in 1980. Lopez was charged with the mass slaughter of over 300 children in surrounding Ecuador and Peru. My Father was a Military Police Officer who was involved in the case since the beginning abductions in Santa Fe De Bogota.

Years later, My Mother left Colombia and took me with her to the United States. When I asked her why, she told me that the crime and murder were just too much. Which always made me think: Crime does affect life, not just the sanctity and mortality of life, but the destiny, interest and passions of people.

Since I was young, and heard the stories of Lopez, I became fascinated with Serial Killers, and started reading about them from age 12. I would be fascinated with stories of Jack The Ripper. And as time grew, I realized that I had quite the niche when it came to writing, thus combining my passion of the written word, with my fascination with these Monsters. I write as a wya of justifying and exploring the senseless and brutal crimes of these Men and Women. I admit, I like to read about Serial Killers, I like to read about their crimes, I don't in any way condone what they have done to innocent people, quite frankly I think the majority would think like I do.

I make no qualms of my interest in this rather gruesome subject at all. Others that I know personally who are also interested in True Crime and Serial Killers feel that they must conceal their interest. They fear repercussions from people who: "won't understand or think I'm crazy and psycho". They fear being chastised, and that's understandable. Half of my living is based on Serial Killers, and the Macabre. I make no secrets about it, I don't care what people think. But on the flip side, I am a married woman, I have a family, I have a career, and only a handful of people know about that "other side", the side that wears a suit, the side that pays their bills and picks up china patterns. There are serialphiles out there who remain in the proverbial closet, and they have graced me with interviews, their side, their fears, and their interests.

Michael (not his real name) works at the same company that I work at (which shall remain anonymous), he is in a very high position of authority. He is handsome, well dressed and spoken. The all American guy who loves beer and football, but also has an interest in Serial Killers.

Evil Lucy: Michael, tell me about how you got into True Crime?

Michael: It started when I was a little kid, and I saw the Friday the 13th movies. And although my parents told me that it was all made up I knew that there had to be truth to the story (not that Freddy is real), but there were people out there who killed children in astounding quantities.

Evil Lucy: And how did all of that make you feel, and how old were you?

Michael: I was about 10 years old when all that Friday the 13th stuff came out. I remember hearing the word: "Serial Killer" and having no idea what that meant. So I asked an older friend to take me to the library and look up what a Serial Killer was. I found a book on the subject, I can't remember the name, but it talked about Jack The Ripper, and other Serial Killers. The Jack The Ripper story stuck with me the most because he was never caught, and how there could be a possibility that he was English Royalty also intrigued me. Like he killed in the dark, and marked whores for death. I think that was nuts. And after that I got into more Horror Movie books and Magazines like Fangoria, and some movies were based on Real Crimes, and little by little.

Evil Lucy: Do many people or do any people at all know about your interests?

Michael: Only a few people, I have to keep quiet about it because of my job, and my Family is very Catholic and think my interests are disgusting. My parents said that it was just a phase when I was a kid, and in some respect maybe it was. But if I see a good book on True Crime at Barnes and Noble I'll buy it. But I am also guilty of picking up other books on different subjects just not to get noticed.

Evil Lucy: Why?

Michael: Though I don't care what some clerk thinks about me, I guess my Catholic guilt still makes me scared about picking up something that could be considered blasphemous.
 
Burrito (apparently not a real name) is a young woman who works with Animals every day. She is very quiet and speaks almost in monotone.

Evil Lucy: So how did you get into Serial Killers?

Burrito: I always had an interest in World War 2 and the Nazis, Dr. Mengele and all his horrible acts against the Jews. One day I was watching The History Channel, and saw a show about Jeffrey Dahmer and the things that he did. I was disgusted, but I put the History Channel as a favourite channel and would watch things on the Nazi's downfall and then another Serial Killer documentary.

Evil Lucy: And aside watching these documentaries, have you read any books on Serial Killers.

Burrito: I have but they have been library books that I keep at School. My Mom is very snooping and goes through my things. She thinks that my books on Nazi stuff is just a School project, and that I am just interested in History. Which is true, I don't think Hitler was great or anything like that. I've read a couple of books on Ted Bundy, and saw "American Psycho" which was a really good movie. I also heard about "The Black Dahlia" and that's the one case I'm into.

Evil Lucy: And do people know about your interests?

Burrito: The whole war crimes thing, yes my friends do know about that, they do know about how I like the Black Dahlia case, sometimes I have to tell people who she was. But I feel that this is my personal business. I like what I like, I don't feel a need to be up in people's faces about it, I have my interests and they are just that MY INTERESTS!!!!

Evil Lucy: Do you think that what I am doing are just "pushing in people's faces?"

Burrito: No, because you write and compose your art for people to see, you're not being disrespectful, you're just providing art for people of similiar interests.

As you can see the subject of Serial Killer interest varies from person to person. Some people are: "in your face" about it, some are quiet, some are plagued with guilt for liking the gore and blood and drama of it all. As the saying goes: "Sex sells" but Violence is definitely catching up.