Americans Fear Murderers Who Kill For Pleasure (Press, 19 October 1984)

In an article from 19 October 1984, William Scobie reports on a troubling phenomenon in the United States: the rise of serial murderers, described by some law enforcement officials as "recreational killers" and by California Attorney-General John van de Kamp as "serial murderers." These individuals have emerged prominently over the past two decades, distinct from "kamikaze" mass murderers who act under sudden emotional distress and kill indiscriminately. In contrast, serial murderers derive pleasure from their actions and can operate undetected for years, accumulating significant numbers of victims. The focus is on Henry Lee Lucas, a notorious serial murderer currently under a death sentence in Texas, who claims to have committed 360 murders across the country, although law enforcement has verified 144 of these cases. Lucas, a one-eyed vagrant, is being considered for a nationwide tour to assist police in solving numerous cold cases. In exchange for his cooperation, which includes videotaping the details of his killings, Lucas is being given his preferred drink, a strawberry milkshake. He recently conducted a 4000-mile journey through California, recounting about 67 murders he allegedly committed in the state, with police confirming that he provided details known only to the killer. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) estimates that serial killers, including Lucas, were responsible for approximately 5,000 murders in the United States in the previous year, projecting similar figures for 1984. The grave concern is voiced by F.B.I. investigators who describe this trend as an epidemic uniquely American, with fewer than 50 serial killers identified globally over the past two decades, compared to around 120 in the U.S. The article discusses potential reasons for the increasing frequency of these murders, based on psychological studies of the killers' backgrounds. Key factors identified include severe childhood trauma from abusive caregivers, a desire for revenge that manifests in killing, psychological gratification derived from breaking a victim's trust, and a history of exposure to violent and sadistic media. The profiles of serial killers often indicate early experiences of violence, which shape their later criminal behaviour. Examples provided include Theodore Bundy, who killed about 40 young women and girls, and described his victims in dehumanizing terms, and Ottis Toole, who admitted to murdering at least 50 young men while likening the act to a habit like smoking. These insights suggest a complex interplay between early life experiences of brutality, internalised violence, and psychological motivations that drive these individuals to commit heinous acts of murder.

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