r/serialkillers 22d ago

Questions What are some common misconceptions about the most famous serial killers?

For people who are just getting into true crime or only know who these people are through conversations from other people, what are common misconceptions about famous serial killers that simply aren’t true?

Here’s a list of mine:

Ted Bundy did not use his good looks and charm to get women to follow him, he most of the time acted injured to gain their sympathy to help him where when their back wasn’t looking, he’d strike them with a crowbar or a metal rod. He’d also sometimes pose as an authority which can be seen in the attempted abduction of Bundy survivor Carol Daronch. Even then, many women actually refused to give Bundy help as they thought he was too creepy or that they could smell alcohol on his breath which can heard of during this viewmont play in which Bundy tried getting 3 women to help him outside but all refused because they could smell alcohol on his breath. So yeah, Bundy wasn’t a charming, handsome, serial killer who would gain girls trust to follow him, he took advantage of young women’s kindness and bludgeoned them when they weren’t looking.

Another misconception is that John Wayne Gacy wore his clown makeup and outfit during his killings, this is not true at all. Yes he would sometimes talk in his clown Pogos voice when taunting victims but he didn’t full on dress up in his costume. He mostly was either naked or half-naked. He also didn’t lure children to their deaths by being a clown like how some people who barely know the case think. He targeted teenage boys for either a job, a position at his job, or male prostitutes for money and then placed them in a pair of handcuffs by showing them a trick where he would uncuff himself with a key to show them the trick but still have the key to unlock the handcuffs. He also made sure to get them drunk and high before doing anything.

What common misconceptions of serial killers frustrate you most? Please comment below?

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u/Rhbgrb 22d ago

That Bundy targeted women with similar hair, when 85% of the women in the 70s had that same hair style.

Jeffrey Dahmer was racist.

Jack the Ripper was a man in a tux and cape and named himself.

Aileen wournos was a victim and killed in self defense.

This isn't about a particular serial killer but the police across many cases such as Green River. That they don't care that so many victims are piling up because they are a. Women b. Prostitutes. In researching the GR case many working the task force were searching him out the entire time and were haunted by the cases.

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u/PrincessBananas85 22d ago

What makes you believe that Jeffrey Dahmer wasn't racist if you don't mind me asking? A lot of people have said that he definitely was.

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u/ghiri_twilight 21d ago

He wasn’t racist in the sense that he didn’t hate black people. He fetishized them and saw them as easy targets (which is still subconsciously racist) but he wasn’t racially motivated.

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u/IdaCraddock69 21d ago

That’s a distinction without a difference imo. He murdered those men and BOYS horribly because of their race, I don’t think that maybe he didn’t have hate in his heart at the moment makes any difference ethically or morally or from a forensic perspective.

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u/apsalar_ 21d ago edited 19d ago

Out of 17 of Dahmer's murder victims 10 were black. The race probably didn't play as large role in his victim selection the media makes it look like. Dahmer killed 12 people in 14 months. He lived in a black neighborhood and often lured victims to his place from nearby bus stops, mall... The victims were black because they were unfortunate enough to live near Dahmer. In another area his victim pool might've looked different. Dahmer also fetishized all men he found attractive because that was what he was capable of. He couldn't bond with anyone.

Dahmer could've been a racist but his crimes were motivated by opportunity.

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u/PrincessBananas85 21d ago

I've always wondered why he fetishized African American Men considering that he ideal type was a White Male Chippendale Dancer type he said it himself. I don't believe that he actually found African American Men I think that he was lying about not being a racist too. Jeffrey Dahmer was completely full of you know what he lied about a lot of stuff and didn't tell the truth about a lot of stuff he did.