Picture a good neighbor, someone you consider a pillar of the community who would never make a scene - someone who works hard, serves on boards, and even keeps the children giggling at birthday parties. Now, imagine that same individual to be a vicious, remorseless creature, a monster which attacks its victims who are the most vulnerable. It is the very dichotomy, the very “Jekyll and Hyde” phenomenon, which is represented by none other than John Wayne Gacy, a man who concealed his atrocious acts behind an impeccable yet horrifying facade of normalcy. In the 1970s, Gacy carried out the grisly murders of at least 33 young men and boys in the Chicago suburbs, still putting on a smile as though he was just another citizen. That the most grievous …show more content…
Gacy's murderous activities led to an unmatched death toll. According to a source,"John Gacy now has the singular notoriety of having been convicted of more murders than anyone in American history." Herman,Norrison,Norman. This sentence is a chiller which indicates the horrifying extent of Gacy crimes and the flawed political system that supported the start of these crimes. Notwithstanding that overwhelming facts were available and families of missing persons were begging for the actions, authorities in the meanwhile only seemed to stay calm and passive. Family members and friends of the missing persons were unable to induce effective investigation, and other victims were unable to persuade authorities to instigate prosecutorial action.”(Herman,Norrison,Norman). In this regard, this quote emphasizes the dreadful result of the officials' inaction during which Gacy managed to murder insusceptible people until victims' families faced torture with the uncertainty of their loved ones. The laws of those days set a formidable obstacle before anyone who dared to try and bring Gacy to book for his offenses. If a mental defect or disease prevented the person from understanding the criminal nature of what he was doing at the time of the offense he was considered not responsible for the crime according to the Illinois law.This statement reveals a possibility gap that could have been used to justify Gacy's defense attorney with subsequent ramifications about his mental state and responsibility.Further compounding the issue, the state penal code at this time held that: 137 a person is not criminally responsible for conduct if at the time of such conduct, as a result of mental disease or defect, substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform to the
Erica Castillo Mrs. Olah English 10 March 2017 The Killer Clown and Lethal Injection John Wayne Gacy was an American serial killer and rapist. He tortured and killed thirty-three young boys between 1972 and 1978 in Cook County, Illinois. He was executed by lethal injection, however this act of execution was wrong. John Wayne Gacy was born on March 17, 1942.
This episode of The First 48 documents a case in Atlanta, Georgia where two innocent, young women were brutally murdered by Ardentric Johnson, a 36 year old drug addict whom was living in the abandoned house on Madrona Street where he committed these savage murders. Ardentric Johnson had previous convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, theft, false imprisonment, and battery. In Criminal Justice and English there are concepts like Rehabilitation,Evidence, Pathos, and Logos that help solve bloody murders, just like the brutal case we saw in The First 48: The House on Madrona Street.
Though his killings occurred over thirty years ago Clifford Olson is still knows as one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers. Active through the years 1980-1980 he was responsible for eleven gruesome murders in that short span of time. The shocking nature of his crimes ensured nobody would forget his notorious deeds. To build on that, Olson is loathed because he extorted authorities into paying $100,000 for the locations of his victims’ remains, an agreement that haunted the survivors of Olson’s crimes, and ruined the careers of the officials who buckled under Olson’s outrageous demands. Furthermore, his crime spree led Neighbourhoods that once claimed to be “so safe you could leave your door open” to secure their doors; hitchhikers were seldom found on highways, and telephone poles were covered with posters warning that nearly a dozen adolescents were missing and a killer was on the loose. Had he not been apprehended by the authorities on August 12th, 1981 his spree of brutal slayings may have continued for much longer, as he showed no remorse for his ruthless crimes.
Throughout John Wayne Gacy’s double life as a rapist and murderer, he exhibits the traits of a
A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it. Unfortunately, such acts of rampage have become a prevalent factor in the Canadian culture. As a result of endless media coverage, Canadians now are constantly bombarded with numerous images of violence. Many of which often portray a victim avenging their opponent by means of force. Thus, indoctrinating a nation of individuals to believe that it is only through aggression that problems can be resolved. Rather than being punished for acts of violence, those who commit such offenses are often praised for their “heroism”. In addition, the success of films like The Godfather, Gladiator, and Troy further aid in reinstating the fact that we live in a society that praises violence. Furthermore, this ideology allows for individuals to partake in violent acts with little or no backlash from ones community. However, when an individual strays away from the “norm”, they are likely to then be viewed as a deviant. Such cases of rejection within a society, are often seen in the portrayal of serial killers. Although our society tends to condone violence when it is directed towards a specific individual(s), it does not allow the killing of innocent bystanders. Instead, crimes that are targeted against a number of people over a long period of time, entail the harshest forms punishments under the law. Sadly, in executing the law for said crimes, those in charge often face much public scrutiny. Such occurrences were apparent in the faulty murder investigations of Canada's most notorious serial killer Robert Pickton. This is due to the ...
A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it, (Lapham, 1985). Unfortunately, such acts of rampage have become a prevalent factor in the Canadian culture. As a result of endless media coverage, Canadians now are constantly bombarded with countless images of violence. Many of which often portray a victim avenging their opponent by force. Thus, indoctrinating individuals to believe that it is only through aggression that problems are resolved. Rather than being punished for acts of violence, those who commit such offenses are often praised for their “heroism”. In addition, the success of films like The Godfather, Gladiator, and Troy further aid in reinstating we live in a society that praises violence. Furthermore, this ideology allows for people to partake in violent acts with little or no backlash from ones community. However, when an person strays away from the “norm”, they are likely to then be viewed as a deviant. Such cases of rejection within a society, are often seen in the portrayal of serial killers. Although our society tends to condone violence when it is directed towards a specific individual(s), it does not allow the killing of innocent bystanders. Instead, crimes that are targeted against a number of people over a long period, entail the harshest forms punishments under the law. Sadly, in executing the law for said crimes, those in charge often face much public scrutiny. Such occurrences were apparent in the faulty murder investigations of Canada's most notorious serial killer Robert Pickton. This is due to the fact that, the negligence of the Vancou...
A notorious murderer or serial killer is the typical next door neighbor one would hardly associate with a serious crime: an educated psychopath with little regard for life. Most of them commit murder for some misplaced psychological benefits. Their actions border on insanity as some commit theft by stealing their victims’ belongings and commiting rapes, an indication of a need for financial gain or a craving for distorted sexual desires. It is disheartening that people always associate the city of Chicago with crime, ranging from the prohibition-period gangsters to modern-day criminals; however, it is understandable because these crimes have a history going back several decades, and most received wide media coverage and documentation. Their names and pseudonyms are imbeded in the collective minds of the people. In all cases, these serial killings claim national attention and elicit heated debate, but this infamy sometimes fascinates the public to the extend that it sparks an initial interest in potential criminals. An examination into the characteristics of serial killers who were active in the Chicago area reveals they have varied motivations for their crimes but the overriding factors tend to include financial gains, sexual perversion, racial hatreds, and infamy. Chicago’s infamous reputation as a lawless and corruption riddled city stems from the motives for crimes committed by particular individuals in the Chicago area and the media attention these cases gained.
John Wayne Gacy was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 17 1942. Gacy had an uneventful childhood up until the age of eleven. While out playing he had been struck on the head by a swing. Subsequently he suffered fainting fits for many years.
Megan, K., & Courant, S. W. (2005, Mar 10). THE KILLERS (AND LIARS) IN OUR MIDST ; HOW DOES A SERIAL MURDERER LIVE UNDETECTED AMONG `NORMAL PEOPLE'? BY BEING A SOCIOPATH -- A PERSON WITHOUT A CONSCIENCE, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO LOVE. Hartford Courant. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/256830354?accountid=10244
John Wayne Gacy was a U.S. serial killer who was found guilty of killing 33 boys and young men (McCormick, 1998). Gacy was born on March 17, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois (Sullivan, 2013). John Wayne Gacy had two sisters, Joanne and Karen and had a difficult relationship with his father. His father was an auto repair machanic and World War I veteran (Jones, 2012). Whenever his father came home from work, he would go to the basement and drink. His father was an alcoholic and used physical punishment on all of his children (Jones, 2012). He would even beat the children with a razor strap if they misbehaved (Sullivan, 2013). Gacy’s mother tried her best to protect the children, but Gacy’s father physically assaulted her as well (Jones, 2012). Additionally,
Simon, Robert I. "Serial Killers, Evil, And Us." National Forum 80.4 (2000): 23. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
Crispin Reese showed multiple perspectives of the John Wayne Gacy case documentary, understanding the impact of Gacy's actions on both the victims and their families. Crispin Reece also highlights the diverse range of emotions and experiences endured by those affected by John Wayne Gacy's crimes. While at the same time acknowledging the lasting effects on the victims and their loved ones. He also includes the aftermath of how the families were affected and their inputs and stories on how they thought their loved one went missing and how that night went before the cruelties
This paper explores three criminological theories as to why Jeffrey Dahmer committed his crimes. Although these approaches vary in terms of defining the cause of crime, one thing is certain, there is no single cause of crime; the crime is rooted in a diversity of causes and takes a variety of forms depending on the situation in which the crimes occur. However, the published articles vary in their definitions and uses of Criminological Theory. Rawlins (2005) suggest that the criminal phenomenon is too complex to be explained by a single theory. Other theories suggest differently and; therefore, have varying explanations. This paper examines the Psychological, Biochemical, and Social Process theories to slightly explain Jeffrey Dahmer’s actions.
In Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay presents Dexter Morgan, a serial killer who kills only criminals, and in doing so, generates controversy about what constitutes morally justifiable behaviour. Lindsay’s protagonist blurs the lines between right and wrong, exposes the inherent flaws of justice systems, and ultimately forces the reader to evaluate his or her principles. While many North Americans believe that murder is unquestionably evil, I disagree on the basis that this stance overlooks the need to take into account the circumstances of the situation—such as who the victim is, who has committed the murder, and why he or she has done so—which are crucial factors in passing moral judgement on an offender’s actions. I argue that Dexter is correct to channel his sociopathy into something positive—disposing of individuals who have committed atrocious crimes in a vigilante fashion—because North American justice systems are incredibly flawed, as they allow heinous criminals to walk free too often due to prevailing social biases, systematic loopholes, and lack of manpower. Dexter compensates for this defect because, unlike justice systems, he eliminates criminals without prejudice towards the offender or the victim, operates on a straightforward basis free of political rigmarole, and achieves results in an efficient fashion, all of which make North American society a safer place, save lives of would-be victims, and spare their families mental anguish. Ultimately, this reveals that the line between what is right and wrong is not as clear as one might initially think, as well as the troubling notion that North American institutional structures are in need of reconstruction if readers are more confident in justice delivered by a ...
In Everything that rises must converge: a. Julian, a college graduate who lives with his mother. He supports the progressive ideologies of racial equality that he learned in college but he finds it difficult to apply it when having conversation with African Americans. 23 b. Julian’s Mother, a middle-aged woman who is enrolled in an exercise class at YMCA.