Murderers and Serial Killers in the Chicago Area

Murderers and Serial Killers in the Chicago Area

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.

An analysis of the most famous murderers and serial killers in the Chicago area shows varying degrees of psychopathy or mental illnesses, which ultimately contribute to homicidal comportment. Analysis also shows that...

... middle of paper ...

..., Russell D. “Criminal Madness: Cultural Iconography and Insanity.” Stanford Law Review 61.6 (2009): 1375-1427.

Flynn, Clifton P. “Examining the Links between Animal Abuse and Human Violence”. Crime, Law and Social Change 55.5 (2011): 453-68

Hill, Rachael A. “Character, Choice, and Aberrant Behavior: Aligning Criminal Sentencing with Concepts of Moral Blame." The University of Chicago Law Review, 65.3 (1998): 975-99.

Rentschler, Carrie A. “Victims' Rights and the Struggle Over Crime in the Media.” Canadian Journal of Communication 32.2 (2007): 219-39.

Stevens, Aaron P. “Arresting Crime: Expanding the Scope of DNA Databases in America.” Texas Law Review 79.4 (2001): 921-60.

Williams, Reginald. Risse and Zeckhauser “On Racial Profiling: A Reply.” Utilitas 22.2 (2010): 228-31