Do Early Childhood Experiences Affect the Actions of a Serial Killer

Do Poor Childhood Experiences Directly Affect the Actions of a Serial Killer

By Brittany Zurkan

Childhood

- fighting between parents

- double hernia operated on left him feeling exposed, open

- molested by neighbour boy at age 8

- experimenting with dead animals by age 10

- claims his necrophilic compulsions began at around age 14

- drank heavily as a teen and adult

- parents divorce left him feeling unwanted, may have been a catalyst

- illegitimate child

- claimed to have discovered the secret as a young boy

- vowed to have had a perfectly normal, happy childhood

- showed interest in knives by age 3

- showed interest in macabre at a young age

- had a normal number of friends

- did very well in school

- appeared to have had a normal childhood from an outside perspective

- had an alcoholic father

- was brutally abused by him physically and emotionally

- still idolized and loved his father

- wanted to earn his father's approval

- was homosexual, father disapproved

Ted Bundy (1946-1989)

John Wayne Gacy (1942-1994)

Jeffrey Dahmer (1960-1994)

Defence

Originally:

- meticulous and had knowledge of the justice system from Law School

- lack of evidence from scenes

- almost made a deal for a 75 year

sentence

- made no argument for insanity

Before death:

- pornography

Diagnosed with:

- borderline personality disorder

- schizotypal personality disorder

- a psychotic disorder

His defence presented these facts along with all the gruesome details of his murders in an attempt to be found guilty by virtue of insanity.

- active between 1972 and 1978

- active in Illinois

- confirmed 33 victims

- all victims were male

- active between 1978 and 1991

- active in Wisconsin and Ohio

- confirmed seventeen murders

- most victims African American

- active between 1961 and 1978

- active in Washington, Utah, Colorado, Florida, Oregon, Idaho, California

- confirmed 36 victims

- all women, ages 12-25

Defence and Conviction

Convictions

Conviction

- death penalty by electrical chair

Throughout the years:

- child molestation

- disorderly conduct

- indecent exposure

- public intoxication.

He was found guilty, but perfectly sane.

Final Sentence:

- 15 consecutive life terms in prison, equal to 957 years.

3 psychiatric experts testified:

- paranoid schizophrenic

- suffered from multiple personality disorder

Other psychiatric experts testified to say he was perfectly sane.

- was found guilty

- sentenced to 12 death sentences and 21 natural life sentences

- died about 10 years later from lethal injection

Hypothesis

Conclusion

People who experience trauma in their childhood will not necessarily become serial killers.

References

Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy experienced extremely traumatic childhoods.

Ted Bundy experienced a generally normal childhood.

* There are thousands of people who suffer from traumatic childhood experiences and harsh environments without turning into serial killers

References

Biography.com Editors. (n.d.). Jeffrey Dahmer. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from

http://www.biography.com/people/jeffrey-dahmer-9264755

M. (2007). Jeffrey Dahmer's Childhood | Twisted Minds - a website about serial killers. Retrieved

April 29, 2016, from http://twistedminds.creativescapism.com/most-notorious/jeffrey-dahmer/

M. (2007). Ted Bundy's Childhood | Twisted Minds - a website about serial killers. Retrieved April

29, 2016, from http://twistedminds.creativescapism.com/most-notorious/ted-bundy/

Newton, M. (2000). The encyclopedia of serial killers. New York: Facts on File.

Osofsky, J. D. (1997). Children in a violent society. New York: Guilford Press.

Tithecott, R. (1997). Of men and monsters: Jeffrey Dahmer and the construction of the serial

killer. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

Unknown. (n.d.). John Wayne Gacy. Retrieved April 28, 2016, from

http://criminalminds.wikia.com/wiki/John_Wayne_Gacy

Unknown. (n.d.). Ted Bundy. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Bundy