Why do people kill? Well that’s the million dollar question isn’t it? Experts say that the motivations behind murder can vary greatly. There are those that are driven to kill by powerful emotions such as jealously and rage. Others do it for sexual thrills, in order to steal, or simply just for thrills. But the most twisted of all must be those who kill because they believed the devil wanted them to. This brand of killers is unique because all of them blamed their crimes on either the devil or demons. While many of them were Satanists, who claimed to have murdered for ritualistic purposes others were just regular people who believed they were possessed by demons. All of them have one thing in common though; they wouldn’t accept responsibility for their actions. Were they just mentally ill or truly …show more content…
He was given six life sentences for a series of murders that he committed during the summer of 1976. He lead police on a massive manhunt and left them mocking letters in which he promised to kill again. When he was finally apprehended he immediately confessed to the shootings which left 6 people dead and 7 badly injured. He told detectives that he had been told to kill by a dog that belonged to his neighbor Sam. Despite this bizarre explanation he was found competent to stand trial. In the 1990’s Berkowitz amended his confession claiming that he had been a member of a satanic cult who had carried out the murders as part of ritual. This was investigated but nothing came of it. 9 The Say You Love Satan Killer Everythingisscary.com To say that Ricky Kasso was a troubled youth would be a massive understatement. By the age of 17 he was an antisocial high school dropout who spent all his time getting high. He was often kicked out of the house and would roam the streets of New York with his misfit friends. Kasso was interested in the occult and
The crime he committed was terrible and obviously something that could only be done with someone who lacks any good intentions. His behavior during the his trial also showed the extent of his maliciousness. He half-heartedly attempted to defend himself by claiming the prosecutors were using false evidence and that, according the records of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, “Nobles concludes that he was denied the fundamentally fair and impartial trial guaranteed him by the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment”. He put very little effort into defending himself during the trial and was quickly sentenced to death. In the early years of his time in prison he was far from the ideal prisoner. Earle presents how “He once broke away from guards while returning to his cell from the exercise yard and climbed the exposed pipes and bars in the cell block, kicking down television sets suspended outside on the bottom tier.” and on another occasion he cut himself just so he could hit an officer while they were attending to him before he passed out. This kind of behavior was completely eradicated long before he was executed, procuring him the respect of the prison
There was other evidence than the forensics that matched Sacco’s gun to the bullets found in the two victims. Upon their arrest protests broke out worldwide based on their innocence. The two men were executed due to an unfair trial.
The two murderers had beaten him nearly to death, “gouged out his eye, shot him in the head,” and then disposed of his body into the river (History.com Staff). Three days later, his body was found, but his “face had been mutilated beyond recognition” and his body was only distinguishable because of a ring he wore on his finger (Biography.com Editors). Two weeks after Emmett’s body was buried, the two men were tried for murder and “an all-white jury acquitted the defendants” (Latson, Jennifer). Thereafter, the two confessed in an interview with Look magazine claiming that they had not intended to kill him. However, the two men had already been tried for Emmett’s murder once, so “public confession did not yield more charges” (Latson, Jennifer). So, in spite of the murderers confessing their outrageous deed, they managed to be declared as innocent and will die with Emmett’s blood on their
The satanic cult panic in part contributed to the conviction of Misskelley, Echols and Baldwin. Baldwin himself describes this assumption; “I can see where they might think I was in a cult,” he said, in that 1993 interview, “because I wear Metallica T-shirts.” (Rich, 2013). The article goes on to explain that the crime happened at the end of the five-year satanic panic period that had plagued American popular culture. These boys did not dress like other teens; they did not listen to the same music. Metal music especially music from bands like Metallica were frowned upon because of their expletive lyrics. When the public established that the boys were different from them, they developed stories that would align with their beliefs. The article establishes that after several weeks of investigation and no clear leads, “rumors of satanic involvement assumed greater urgency” (Rich, 2013) By doi...
In this very short time he killed 7 to 9 people. ¨When he was caught Manson's pathological ego, insanity and belief in Armageddon were influences that led him to leave behind a trail of destruction showed more. Manson believed that he was the new Messiah and that after a "nuclear attack" he and his followers would be saved by hiding in a secret world under the desert.¨ They decided that Manson was able to attend the court hearings and able to withstand
The first shooting occurred on July 29, 1976 and the second months later; and the third one month after the second. At this point, Berkowitz had shot six people but the New York Police Department did not see any relation between the shootings. In January 1977, Berkowitz struck again by shooting a couple while sitting in a car. This event caused police to start a search for a .44 caliber killer. A .44 caliber gun is the type of gun that Berkowitz used in all of his murders. He continued to elude police, he even began taunting them. Berkowitz started leaving note addressed to the NYPD captain near all of his crime scenes. In the letters he spoke to police telling them of how he was recruited to commit the murders and addressed himself as the “Son of Sam”. This is how Berkowitz attained the name The Son of Sam Killer.
He is known to have killed at least five prostitutes between August 7th and September 10th, although he is suspected of many other murders. He chose prostitutes as his targets on purpose. They were easily accessible and the prostitutes first initiated contact with him, which appealed to his asocial personality. The murder of prostitutes, or other lower class citizens, was not uncommon in London’s East End at the time. The district was known for the violence and crime brought over by immigrants looking to make a new start for themselves. However, these murders were different than any other violent crime of the time, because of the sadistic and sociopathic manner of the murders. However, the killer did not just murder these women, he mutilated their bodies by removing their organs. This action really stood out at that time because it showed the killer had a mind for violence that no normal citizen could even comprehend.
According to the Psychopathy Checklist Revised by Robert Hare, a psychopath is a mentally unstable individual that typically displays insensitive behavior and demonstrates a strong lack of empathy towards others. Psychopaths are described as emotionally shallow and exhibits abnormally violent social behavior. Furthermore, David Berkowitz accurately fits this criterion and is described to be a true psychopath. Berkowitz, recognized as the Son of Sam killer, relentlessly tormented the citizens of New York City for over a year. Throughout his killing spree, Berkowitz murdered six people and injured seven more, amounting to thirteen shootings overall. Consequently, many theories have surfaced in regard to why David Berkowitz murdered his victims, including theories of a possessed canine and a brutal satanic cult. Although theories exist about the Son of Sam killer, evidence shows that David Berkowitz murdered because of psychopathic issues and mental instability.
Upon his arrest he had confessed to 5 burglaries and several violent sexual assaults, including the two unsolved murders and sexual assaults of Barbara Krlik, 15 and Annie Mae Johnson, 24. He had also admitted to have attempted sexual assaults on more than 4 women, all of which failed because he preferred to be a necrophilia stating that “He got no thrill with the living women he raped” (Gado, 2004).
While one person lays with their wrists circumscribed to the worn leather of the gurney, another person holds two skin-piercing needles. The individual holding the needles is an inexperienced technician who obtains permission from the United States federal government to murder people. One needle is held as a precaution in case the pain is too visible to the viewers. Another dagger filled with a lethal dosage of chemicals is inserted into the vein that causes the person to stop breathing. When the cry of the heart rate monitor becomes monotone, the corrupt procedure is complete. Lying in the chair is a corpse when moments ago it was an individual who made one fatal mistake that will never get the chance to redeem (Ecenbarger). Although some people believe that the death
...ays of getting out of his punishment including insanity, which was professionally proven not the case, and that someone with black gloves signed for him to do what he did. Which was also proven wrong. Mesa was charged with charged with two counts of felony murder, one while armed, along with some robbery and burglary charges. He went to jail for the rest of his life without parole.
One of the most repetitive and controversial topics discussed in the criminal justice system, is the death penalty. Capital punishment has been a part of our nation’s history since the creation of our constitution. In fact, as of January 1st, 2016, 2,943 inmates were awaiting their fate on death row (Death Penalty Information Center). Throughout my life, I have always been a strong advocate for the death penalty. During the majority of my undergraduate degree, I was a fierce supporter of capital punishment when discussing the topic in classes. However, throughout many criminal justice courses, I found myself in the minority, regarding the abolishment of the death penalty. While debating this topic, I would always find myself sympathetic to the victims and their families, as one should be, wanting those who were responsible for heinous crimes to
The breakthrough came when a young woman confessed to the crime. Susan Atkins was arrested for car theft and admitted to being a part of the group also known as “The Family”. She explained their theory that the murders were to be the first step in a global race war, which the group called HelterSkelter. It would cause the end of the world, with the Manson family emerging as leaders to the survivors. Atkins implicated several others, including, Linda Kasabian, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Tex Watson. They were all white, middle class youths living like hippies in a desert near LA. They came from average American homes, and had no prior history of violence, which made the police conclude that someone else had to be in charge. Atkins told them about their leader, who they followed with unwavering devotion, and that he was the only one who knew the truth, Charles Manson who has now come to represent true evil in most people eyes.
process where the state sends a death row inmate to execution as a punishment for a