Six Myths About Serial Killers

The media’s coverage of serial killers and embellishment of information presented about the murders that have been discovered often distort public perspective and create many “myths.” There are six major myths surrounding serial killers(Egger, 2002):

1. All had abusive childhoods including one or all of the following types of abuse: physical, emotional or sexual.

Not all serial killers had abusive childhoods. Ted Bundy had a fairly average childhood, did well in school and incurred no documented abuse. 

2. Serial killers appear abnormal or “stand out” in both appearance and mannerisms.

The idea that serial killers should be easily spotted by a gross deformity or stand out while in view of the public is not true (no mark of Satin on their forehead). Most serial killers lead lives that appear “normal” to anyone in the general public. Some serial murders involve such heinous acts that one could not imagine a “normal” person in appearance or mannerism being responsible. Thus the “monster” image is formed. 

3. Serial killers kill anyone who they come in contact with and spend no time selecting their victims.

Serial killers spend, in some cases, vast amounts of time selecting their victims. Most kill certain people because they are easy targets, they have specific sexual orientation, or because they stand for or resemble something in the killers past. If they were to kill random people who cross their path, they would be more likely apprehended. In random killing, the potential to kill a prominent member of society is increased. This event would involve law enforcement more quickly than the disappearance or killing of a prostitute, runaway or vagrant person. Sooner involvement of law enforcement and media would make the killer’s “work” more difficult and he or she would be sooner discovered. 

4. Serial killers are able to elude the police for long periods of time. They travel across large geographic areas and have vast knowledge of police tactics and procedures letting them avoid capture.