-2/2/22 Serial Killers

Oddly enough, humans have a fascination with serial killers, whether they will admit it or not.

Try this ...

There are two news articles, side by side ...

#1 Joe Commontaxpayer gifted a kidney to save the life of his neighbor and then went on to build tiny shelters for the homeless.

...AND...

#2 Small town school teacher who kept reporting that her students were not attending classes anymore and had reached out to their parents and the school board with concerns was learned to have murdered everyone in her class with a below C average because she couldn't stand for ignorant children. But no one suspected her.

Which one do you think gets the click? We abhor the story but are strangely interested in its absurdity. We feel safe as we read the words and would hate to ever be put in the situation in reality. Unfortunately, many have had to.

When I wrote Caesar's Move, I gave the villain horrific traits that would frighten the reader if they were to actually live it. I also gave him stealth and quirkiness. He could blend into a crowd just the same as the Killer 'F' Teacher. Do you really think all serial killers are noticeable or possess the 1000 mile stare? Do you think you could tell if you saw one? Well, you may have, and didn't know it. We've all seen pictures of people, either online, on the news, in magazines, papers, or in books, whose faces might have screamed "there's definitely something off about this one" ... but think about it from this angle ... those pictures were taken after the fact. After they were caught. You might see some prior to pictures, especially if you were to watch a documentary on them, and say "yep, there it is!" But would you have thought that if your mind was void of future events? Suppose you didn't know their crimes yet. Being made aware of it ... after the fact ... does indeed push one's mind to make this self praising assertion. Perhaps that 1000 mile stare wasn't quite as prevalent while they were committing their crimes. How many times have you seen a happy looking mugshot? Well, unless the accused was extremely intoxicated and the idea of getting their picture taken seemed to amuse them, which I have seen. Normally, you would see a pout or frown or one pissed off look. Just prior to getting arrested they could have been the life of the party. Amusing the masses with their good looks and suave attitudes. Confident and funny. The perfect pictures of elegance. They could have killed someone ten minutes ago and now they're sharing a cold one with you. The reality of life is that we do live among the crazy. They just don't wear a Scarlet "C' on their chest to be identified as such. They could be someone you know. Someone you trust and love.

Here are a few faces you've probably seen before. Look at each one and ask yourself what the outside world must have looked like to them ... if you dare.

Do you recognize any of these model citizens?

(Left to right)

Jeffrey Dahmer, Aileen Wuomos, Bobby Joe Long, Charles Manson, Dan Berkowitz (Son of Sam), Gary Ridgway, Rodney Alcala (The Dating Game Killer), and Ted Bundy.

How about the 1000 mile stare in any of them? Is it there? Could any of them be my Caesar? The answer is ... YES. Any one of them could be.

Now, let's try a little test. Look at all of the faces that follow and see if you can decide which ones are the serial killers and which are not. There are 12 pictures ... half of them are killers and the other half are normal people. Lets see what you think.

Well, how do you think you did? Were you able to guess the 6 that were killers and the 6 that were not? Are you confident in your selections? Ok, I guess I gotta come clean now. This was a trick question. Actually, all 12 were killers. But any of them could be just the neighbor next door, right?

I gave Caesar the look and characteristics to be just that, the neighbor next door. When he was in a particular frame of mind he was like anybody else, San Francisco resident, Joe Commontaxpayer. When he was in a different state of mind then he was so much more. He was the monster that makes history and an appearance on the big screen.

Fascination is a strange thing, people. There's really no rhyme or reason to why it exists in us all but the flavors couldn't be more different in some. Nature? Nurture? Both? There are many influences that can make a man ... mad. Or perhaps, they see everyone else as the mad ones. Something to ponder on.

I hope today's post gave you a little bit of substance to chew on. If you haven't read my newly published book, Caesar's Move, and wonder just what kind of individual I was able to pull out of my head and smear all over 500 pages like a psychotic spread, then grab yourself a copy and find out. Who knows ... you might enjoy it. What does that say about you? What does it say about me? Oh hell, I should have left those last 2 questions out. (Haha) Fantasy and fiction, people. Know the difference. Otherwise we'll all be trying to build ourselves a Death Star.

In my mental defense, I'll leave you with this ... cherish the freedom to write what you wish, read what you wish, and love who you wish. We're all in this together so love one another and continue to feed your brain. You owe it to yourself.

Angelo

Check out my website at angelobain.com where you can follow my weekly ramblings and check out/pick up a copy of my recently published book, Caesar's Move. Leave some feedback. I truly enjoy it.