Serial Killers

[Richard]

Who do you think is the most notorious & vicious serial killer ever? Pardon me while I pick your brain.

[Spire]

Me, after Keira denies my hand in marriage.

[Jacoby]

The Hillside Strangler went to my highschool.....and then there was another serial killer from Rochester. So come visit the beautiful city of Rochester, just look out for your life. My favorite is Ed Gain....he was crazy.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Jacoby

The Hillside Strangler went to my highschool.....and then there was another serial killer from Rochester. So come visit the beautiful city of Rochester, just look out for your life. My favorite is Ed Gain....he was crazy.

The man that inspired the movie "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". I'd have to go for that man too.

[DragonRat]

It's close between Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer (the Zodiac Killer actually killed people in San Francisco, where I live, so that story's a bit close to where I live). However, Jack was technically known as the first case of a serial killer in modern times, so he deserves some certain amount of notoriety.

Also, it's how you describe 'fucked-up'. Dahmer ate his victims, so that's a bit messed up. Ed Gein inspired the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, so you know what that's about. The Zodiac Killer murdered those under a specific agenda, so his type of killing was notorious in its level of intelligence. Jack the Ripper mutilated his victims; his last victim (supposedly) was so mutilated that the only way to identify her was through dental records. What Jack did and thought was this: he could get away with anything he did, and he did. To believe he was above the law, that was his motive; unfortunately, he doesn't have as such a guilty conscience as the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart or Raskolnikov.

You forgot to mention the Unabomber. He was pretty fucked up in the head as well.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by DragonRat

It's close between Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer (the Zodiac Killer actually killed people in San Francisco, where I live, so that story's a bit close to where I live). However, Jack was technically known as the first case of a serial killer in modern times, so he deserves some certain amount of notoriety.

You forgot to mention the Unabomber. He was pretty fucked up in the head.

Jack the Ripper, I have much respect for. If I'm not correct, they never found out who did it nor did they find his/her body. Got away with them all. I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, but I've had more of my fair share. So feel free to educate me if I'm mistaken somewhere. The Zodiac Killer makes for a good late-night documentary, trust me.

[spitinthacoola]

I would have gone for the Zodiac Killer because he made a call to the police station right around the cornerfrom my grandmas house. BUT I have to go with Ed Gains because I did some research on him a few months ago and mas that guy was nuts.

I just picked Ted because he would be a hard one to find. White Collar type, and he was registered to about 30 different types. But he said something like 200 I think...I know it was an outrageous number. But yeah, someone that crazy who knows all about law, that would be one tough cookie. Thats how I judged my answer. Not if he was a Cannibal or anything.

[Kelsey]

Either the Zodiac Killer because he was around where I live, or the Unabomber.

[johnnyboy]

Great, now I wont be able to sleep id say Jack or Ed, and I dont want to hear about this again, yech!

[deviljet88]

Voted Ed Gain because Texas Chainsaw Massacre trailer and ads looks freaky Jack the Ripper come close for mutilation.

[Pygmalion]

Dahmer. I don't see how anybody could have the mentality to EAT another human...blargh

[DragonRat]

Well, cannibalism was considered by primitives as a method of extracting the knowledge and ability of one's enemies. It wasn't an uncommon practice at all. It's just that, in today's society, cannibalism for any reason is unconscionable and immoral. I think Haz would agree, it's about treating human beings with respect, and understanding that all people have innate value to them. To cannibalize another, is to devalue the other to the point of an animal, which is not who we are. At least, that's what we say.

[Sarah]

Hmmm, how many murders until they become 'serial' killer?

[CFC]

I'll have to go with Jack.

[hasselbrad]

The man who started it all.
I read Patricia Cornwell's book where she fingers an artist named Sickert. He was a protege' of Whistler's, and by all accounts, was a fucking nutball. Most people who have studied the Ripper give credit for 5 killings, but she thinks he did a whole bunch more. Also, she thinks he was responsible for a lot of the "hoaxes" which did so much to confuse the police.
She believes it all stemmed from a botched operation which mutilated his penis.

[DragonRat]

Yeah, penile mutilation would certainly push one off the deep end.

I think 'serial' necessarily defines someone who kills either 1) a lot of people over a specific period of time, with a certain time frame or 2) a certain number of people in a specific manner. As one can tell, Jack the Ripper killed a bunch of people - at least 5 - all female, and all in similar fashions, and all within a certain time frame. The Unabomber killed a bunch of people over a long period of time, but in a similar fashion. What separates serial killers, I suppose, from other killers is their method of murder: something that they do consistently, like cannibalize or mutilate or mail pipe bombs. And they don't just do it to one or two people; they plan it out, and they do it to a lot of people.

[alby]

I was flipping channels and VH1 said Johnny Depp named his son Jack after his fascination with Jack the Ripper. I thought that was amusing to hear, although I don't really trust VH1.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by alby

I was flipping channels and VH1 said Johnny Depp named his son Jack after his fascination with Jack the Ripper. I thought that was amusing to hear, although I don't really trust VH1.

I wouldn't be surprised. He starred in a movie about Jack the Ripper. Now that makes it all the more interesting if it's true. "From Hell" I believe...

[alby]

Yup, with Heather Graham. A decent film. It was running on FX I think.