Myths About Serial Killers

There are several myths about serial killers that most people don't know.

Myth: Serial killers are all dysfunctional and loners

A lot of serial killers can hide in plain sight and look like everyone else with a job, a nice home, and family. The FBI report gives excellent examples to cases that you wouldn't even think would be a serial killer.

The BTK Killer- Dennis Rader, killed ten people in Wichita, Kansas over a 30 year period. He was married with two children, a Boy Scout leader, working for the local government and was the president of his church congregation.

Robert Yates- Killed seventeen prostitutes in the 1990's in Spokane, Washington. He was married, had five children, lived in a middle-class neighborhood and was U.S. Army National Guard pilot.

Myth: Serial killers are all white males

No, not all serial killers are white. 

Charles Ng- A native of Hong Kong, China, tortured and killed 25 people with his partner, Robert Lake

Coral Watts- A black man from Michigan, known as the "Sunday Morning Slasher," killed 17 people in Michigan and Texas

Myth: Serial killers are only motivated by sex

Some serial killers are motivated by sex, but many others have different motivations for their murders, like anger, thrill-seeking, finical gain, and attention seeking

Dr. Michael Swango- Convicted for four murders in the U.S. but have poisoned as many as 50 people in the U.S. and in Africa.

Paul Reid- Killed seven people during robberies of fast-food restaurants in Tenn. His motive for the robberies for for finical gain. 

Myth: Serial killers want to get caught

Most serial killers develop a feeling that they will never be identified or caught. They gain confidence in the process where they begin to make mistakes. The mistakes lead them to being identified by law enforcement, not because they want to.

Myth: Serial killers cannot stop killing

Something will change in a serial killers life that will cause them to stop killing before they get caught. The FBI report said the circumstances can include increased participation in family activities, sexual substitution, and other diversions.

Dennis Radar- The BTK killer murdered 10 people from 1974-1991 and did not kill again until he was caught in 2005.

Jeffrey Gorton- Killed his first victim in 1986 and his second in 1991. He did not kill again until 2002 when he was caught.

Brown, Pat. (2011). Serial killer myths exposed. Retrieved from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/profiling/s_k_myths/6.html

Montaldo, Charles. (2008, July 8). Report dispells myths about serial killers. Retrieved from http://crime.about.com/b/2008/07/08/report-dispells-myths-about-serial-killers.htm

Montaldo, Charles. (2011). The myth about serial killers. Retrieved from http://crime.about.com/od/serial/a/serial_myths.htm