Many people , for whatever reason , have a certainfascination with serial killers . There have been tons of picture show , books , podcasts and documentaries that can attest to that . But what chance when the allure turns disconsolate ? Where do we draw the line between fascination and morbid ?
That ’s what Stuff They Do n’t require You To eff hosts Ben Bowlin , Noel Brown and Matt Frederick debate in this episode of the podcast . Specifically , the guys talk about the morals and the merit of owning the grisly bits of history name " murderabilia " in " The Murky World of Serial Killer Memorabilia . "
psychologist saypeople jazz consecutive killersbecause they ’re fundamentally " famous person monsters " without the pic ; they tap into thatpart of our brainsthat enjoys being scared . This fascination can take many forms : Some " fan " are just addicted to hearing podcasts and view documentaries , while others avidly devour straight - offence novels or obsessively conform to news headlines . Still others ' obsessions withserial killerscan turn dark , inspiring them to commitcopycat crimesor even going as far as hook up with a killer . A distaff protagonist espouse notorious serialkiller Ted Bundy , and freelance mag editor in chief Doreen Lioymarried serial grampus Richard Ramirez , aka " The Night Stalker , " while he was on death row for 13 murders , five attempted execution and 11 sexual assaults .
And then there ’s the collectable industry . " Murderabilia , " as it ’s been dub , is a fairly hop trade online , with items either created , or used by , the manslayer , or item from the crime scenes themselves . Many piece of John Wayne Gacy ’s original nontextual matter arefor sale ; Ted Kaczynski ’s ( the Unabomber ) personal items were auctioned off in 2011 and nettedmore than $ 190,000 ; and Charles Manson ’s own prison dentures can be yours if you want to shell out a coolheaded $ 50,000 .
There are sure reasons to collect these artefact ; museums do subsist that cater to our dark enthrallment . But when it come to individual traders , there is muchdebate against profitingoff the crimes of murderer . WhenDavid Berkowitzwent to prison house for murdering eight multitude in 1976 , New York enactedSon of Sam lawsbecause movie studios were offer him century of thousands of dollars to sell the rights to his story . The police force would have prevented convicted outlaw from profiting off their story . But those laws werelater rescind , and still vary from state to state , keeping the murderabilia trade lead .
website like eBay have banned sales of serial slayer memorabilia until 100 years has passed , ( from eBay : Violent crook items more than 100 long time honest-to-goodness , such as detail relate toJack the Ripper ) but of course that did n’t cease the industry . Modern sites but popped up and protrude selling particular on their own . Traders also contact jail sequent killers directly and either pay them , take them gift or do them favors in telephone exchange for their things to sell online . One memorabilia traderhas even been banned from visiting prisons in Texas for that very intellect .
After Gacy ’s death , an auction was hold to sell his paintings , many of which hold out for $ 10,000 or more . The buyers bought them for the sole intention of burning them , which they did in acommunal bonfirein front of some of Gacy ’s victim ' family . But why should they have had to beat out out money for the privilege ?
Traders and collectors all experience that it ’s not that much different from take in any item of historical significance or stake , and , that in fact , it ’s a First Amendment right wing to buy whatever you require from whomever you want . Still , some legislators are fighting to make the recitation ofbuying and trading murderabilia illegal , promise it insensitive and function to ensure any money generated by sensationalizing murderers is funnel to charities or the phratry of victims .
What do Ben , Matt and Noel think is the right solvent to this debate ? And what other disturbing things from serial killers did they come across for sale online ? You ’ll have tolisten to the podcastto bump out .
