truecrimekiller404

let's talk about true crime

[truecrimekiller404]

letters from a serial killer -- article two

I've always been curious on what it would be like to talk with an actual serial killer, would they blurt out cryptic messages or yell threats? Turns out, no. In fact, after writing one letter to two different serial killers I was left in a surprised state of mind. Mostly about the fact that they had actually taken the time to write back to me.

Now, the first letter I wrote was to David Berkowitz, the notorious Son of Sam killer. Going into this experiment I didn't really have hopes. I mostly thought they would realize they didn't know the name adorning the pink envelope and promptly throw it out but life is full of surprises.

To say I was confused on what to even write to them would be an understatement. What does one talk about with a well known murderer? Well, after doing some research on David, I found that he had turned his life to God and was huge into Christianity. Usually people would be skeptic to hear a serial killer turned their life to God but he seemed very genuine. Now, I'm not at all forgiving him for what he did by any means! But, I will say it was definitely a welcomed surprise.

In my letter I wrote normal small talk and casual conversation. How was he doing? Anything interesting happen lately? I also decided to personalize my letter some by explaining my personal experience with religion.

About two to three weeks later I had a white envelope addressed to me, from David Berkowitz himself.

It was odd going into it, it felt slightly heavy, something was obviously inside besides just a letter. Could I get bad vibes or energy just by touching something a serial killer had touched? With the same hands that had committed evil acts against innocent people.

I was shocked too see a small pamphlet about David and his new found way of life; he also has a website!

No shame to some self promo, I guess.

The letter entails some interesting information.

He had thanked me for writing to him, and for caring. He had let me know to not give up on life, and reading the Bible is good for my soul. In my previous letter to him I had let him know that I very much enjoy writing, and to that he replied with, "I want to encourage you to keep writing."

And lastly for David, he had actually typed the letter and apologized for not being able to keep a correspondence at the moment. Personal issues, perhaps?

The letter ends with a nice crisp signature.

The next letter I wrote was to Gary Ridgway; also known as the Green River killer.

I was iffy on writing to him, solely because his crime stance against women and, as a woman, it unnerves me. Ironically, it occured to me only when holding his letter that Ted Bundy had actually helped police catch him.

Anyways, it was definitely a different feeling than when I had received David's letter. Maybe it was because I had known that the same hands he used to sign this letter were also the same hands that wrapped around the throats of innocent women.

It took about two months to receive his letter, to be honest after getting David's letter I had pushed the entire "I also wrote a letter to Gary!" to the back of my head.

Gary's letter seemed slightly generic, a little over a paragraph long with a stock outline of a Bible at the bottom of the page. Compared to David's letter, it lacked emotion and an overall personal touch. It seemed as if he typed one letter out and signed them, sending them to every sender he got a letter from. I can only imagine how many letters a serial killer can get.

He had apologized for not writing back personally as he is currently experiencing health issues.

Gary had also sent seven different small pamphlets all titled Signs of The Times, each explaining different instances of needing God in your life. The letter itself was almost slightly grey, and it was dated the twenty second of March in two thousand twenty two.

His letter was shorter than David's and he recommended a few websites to me, as well as a prophet named Ellen G. White.

So who is Ellen G. White and why did a serial killer heavily recommend her to me? Well Ellen was an American author who had sadly passed in nineteen fifteen. Ellen was also a Seventh-day Adventist!

After some research I came across a small explanation about the religion.

"Adventists believe that the Second Coming of Christ will happen soon. Christ's return will be "will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide". On that day the righteous dead will be resurrected and taken with him to heaven, together with the righteous living. The unrighteous will die."

Gary ended his letter with "P.S I hope you can find a Seventh-day Adventist Church to attend."

A nice signature from Gary and I had shoved the letter right into an unused drawer. Because, what else would one do with a letter from a serial killer? I haven't even touched said letters in almost a year until this very moment of writing this.

While the letters did give me the feeling of a tiny bit of insight into their lives, it also felt gross, dirty in a way.

You can check out the resources sent to me by David and Gary below!

David's personal website about his life story and his relationship with God:

ariseandshine.org

Two recommended links from Gary:

3abn.org

amazingfacts.org

Sources sited:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/seventhdayadventist_1.shtml

[truecrimekiller404]

obsession vs. true crime obsession -- article one

It's no secret that an obsession can lead to dangerous thoughts or even actions. Case in point, a man's obsession with a young actress took a dark and deadly turn in the year nineteen ninety eight. Another who shall not be named, a mass murderer had made personal videos boasting about being the next mass shooter and how many victims he had hoped to take out.

True Crime used to be a niche, older women watching 20/20, Dateline, and 48 Hours to relax before going to bed. But with true crime being glorified in today's media it's no surprise that it has garnered a larger audience. Study's have shown that over consumption of true crime media can actually affect us mentally. Some get anxious, depressed, and even afraid to leave their own house.

When does true crime stop being about simple curiosity and drastically changes into a fear based consumption? It's human nature to be curious about something, most of us will look up the details of cases to have a better understanding or just for simple entertainment values.

Quite a few people have acquired a fan base centered around true crime. Popular YouTubers and Twitch streamers alike have their own little true crime community. But when does an obsession with true crime become too much?

Quite a few young girls have public fan accounts on social media dedicated to prolific serial killers such as Richard Ramierz, Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer. But are these innocent interests or are they darker than that?

Could an overly obsessed true crime fan possibly take it a step further? Yes, true crime gives into our curiosity but what if one were to become too obsessed? Clearly from past events an obsession with someone (or something) can lead to dark acts against another human but what about an obsession with true crime in general?

As mentioned earlier, the mass killer had actually done research in school shootings before carrying out his plan. He watched their home videos, the multitudes of documentaries, and was able to read their journals. Yeah, it's all out in the open on the internet. He even knew what guns and ammo they had used to carry out the unspeakable act.

So how does true crime truly affect ones mental health?

And what are the demographics of those who indulge in the true crime community?

Many- many women admit to watching true crime to relax before bed leading to them getting a confused and sometimes concerned looks from their male partners. I too am guilty for watching true crime streamers to fall asleep.

According to an article on Buzzfeed- true crime fans are often able to fall asleep due to the life long tradition of telling kids bedtime stories, which usually consist of a 'monster' or some other form. It could even be as simple as the narrator's voice being very soothing. I mean, Keith Morrison has a great even tone.

Besides an over consumption of true crime media causing anxiety and depression, it can turn fear based as earlier stated. Some even admit to being overly paranoid when out in public or around others. Some choose to live a life of solitude because the large amount of grisly media they have watched, read, and listened to people talk about.

It's always a great idea to take a true crime break! You can always read that new article later on in the week!

Another great point is by Dr. Rutledge:

"Crime attracts our attention because we are hardwired to notice things that indicate danger; we instinctively watch to see if we are at risk."

But what about the barely one percent who watch true crime to commit crime? Is true crime media a bad thing? Are the intimate details too easily obtainable?

I mean, finding the right website can show pictures and videos of the aftermath of an evil act. Even the entire act itself, like Luka Magnotta who had posted pictures and videos on the internet of himself killing his victims.

And what about the select few who watch and even enjoy actual snuff films? I couldn't believe how many websites that show videos and pictures of people getting murdered or even killing themselves so readily available for anyone to watch.

Yes, human curiosity plays a huge role on why we enjoy indulging in true crime media but what happens when one takes things too far? What about the one who wants to be well known in the true crime community for bad reasons?

In history there have been a multitude of copycat killers who took the lives of innocent people solely for the fact that they too wanted the same notoriety. So when does everything just become too much?

Does something snap inside of the person after seeing the multitudes of true crime? Is it the media presence itself?

Do red flags start to wave with certain people who enjoy true crime on a deeper level? Are warning signs even displaying themselves within these individuals? What about the young girls who have actual fan pages for these well known serial killers?

Should we be concerned about those who over indulge and enjoy true crime a little too much?

Sources sited:

1-- ://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/drumoorhouse/fall-asleep-true-crime-podcasts-dateline

2-- https://www.psychreg.org/explain-lockdown-obsession-true-crime-tv/#:~:text=True%20crime%20allows%20us%20to%20experience%20fear%20in%20a%20safe%20way,-There%20is%20no&text=Crime%20attracts%20our%20attention%20because,if%20we%20are%20at%20risk.