World’s Worst Airports

What is the biggest frustration when it comes to traveling? “Everything was wonderful, except the delays, extra airline fees, and the airport!”

You’ve heard those sentiments from travelers, and likely spoken the very words yourself. To truly enjoy your travel, it’s best to be informed, prepared, and well-equipped.

There are things you can do to increase you rate for success. Know which amenities are available at the airports you will be arriving and departing from. Pack a nutritious snack in your carryon.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. And bring something for entertainment; a deck of cards, iPod, laptop, or a good book. If you can, avoid troublesome airports. This list of World’s Worst Airports is based on the lack of service, safety, comfort, and/or cleanliness.

Runners Up

One Place you WON’T Mind Getting Stranded

Share your travel horror story below.

By: Terra L. Fletcher, Fletcher Freelance

When the military member is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, the family and friends of the Veteran are also affected by the disorder. While PTSD is classified as an anxiety disorder, it is much more involved than that and can create devastating outcomes for the person suffering from it and those around him.

Ryan’s Battle with PTSD

Ryan experienced four combat deployments overseas during the wars with Iraq and Afghanistan. Coming under fire during a mission, he witnessed a good friend and fellow soldier be shot and killed. Though there was nothing he could do, he blamed himself for the death of his comrade.

After returning home from the last deployment, things began to spiral downhill. Ryan began spending all of his time binge drinking. While he did this to deal with his anger and depression issues, the alcohol abuse often exacerbated the problems. Ryan spent every bit of savings the family had and left them without even basic necessities.

At night, his wife would often wake up to find him low-crawling on the floor and screaming to others to get down and take cover. She knew better than to try to get his attention as being suddenly awakened from this state would often result in violent reactions. Instead, she went through the house daily to ensure that any objects that could be used as a weapon were locked away and out of reach. His wife and children, after months of dealing with his outbursts and uncontrollable behavior, left him out of fear for their own safety.

It is important to realize that there are varying degrees of PTSD and the symptoms can range from barely noticeable to debilitating. There are a range of reactions to traumatic events that can range from panic attacks to suicide.

Brian’s Return from War

Brian returned home from a twelve month deployment to Iraq. Twice his convoy had rolled over IEDs with several being severely wounded and evacuated from the area. Though Brian’s physical injuries were minimal, his emotional injuries were great.

Driving through the city after he returned home would cause panic attacks. When someone cut him off in traffic, he often overreacted to the situation with both anger and an uncontrollable urge to protect those around him from the perceived threat. Seeing debris in the road would cause him to swerve dangerously to avoid it – even if it was only a soda can in the road. He was instantly transported back to driving the road in Iraq where debris in the road could indicate an explosive.

When the 4^th of July arrived, his family wanted to celebrate that he was back home from the war. Things were going well until the fireworks began. Brian immediately hit the ground to take cover. Those around him didn’t know what to think or do as he crawled across the ground in an attempt to escape what he believed was the sound of war.

Seeking Help

Both Ryan and Brian are both seeking help through the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, they struggled for many months before even realizing there was a possibility of PTSD, and for many months after that as they did everything possible to avoid admitting that they needed help. Multiple medications have been prescribed, most of which must be taken several times a day. Between the two of them, they have more then 15 medications that address anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, nightmares and the symptoms the medications themselves cause such as migraines. In addition, they are both involved in individual and group therapy.

But Ryan and Brian’s stories are unique in that they are seeking help. Many never reach out for assistance for fear of being ridiculed or being branded and therefore unable to maintain employment. There are many more Veterans out there who are suffering in their own hell as they attempt to manage the symptoms of PTSD on their own. Those around them are forced to suffer right along with them.

You may wish to read Outcomes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Post traumatic stress disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can cause acute stress for the sufferer as well as those around him. While anyone who suffers a traumatic event can experience PTSD, it is more common among military members than the civilian population as a whole. PTSD has become more widely recognized with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan though people have been suffering from PTSD for centuries.

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 11% to 20% of all Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans are suffering from PTSD. This is compared to 10% of Gulf War Vets and 30% of Vietnam Veterans. The differences in how many suffer from PTSD depend on what the Veteran did during the war, the political environment and how the public responded to the Veterans upon their return.

However, there is a stigma attached in the military in being identified as someone with PTSD. As much as the military tries to fight the idea of careers being damaged by seeking help, the stigma remains. Therefore, many service members remain silent about the horrors that are occurring in their own minds and affecting the lives of their families.

While the symptoms themselves can often be devastating to the Veteran, family and friends, there are other related events that can be just as upsetting. There are various outcomes that are common from PTSD, most of which are negative and devastating to both the Veteran and his family. In some cases, there are no outward symptoms while in other more severe cases, the outcomes can be very destructive.

Suicide

According to Vets Prevail, eighteen Veterans commit suicide every day in the United States. While there is not concrete data relating these suicides to PTSD, it is widely believed that many who choose to take their own lives were suffering from PTSD. Multiple studies have been conducted about the relationship between suicide and PTSD and most have shown that there is more of a connection with PTSD than any other anxiety disorder.

Emotional and Physical Abuse

Anger is a main symptom of PTSD as the sufferer is often hostile about events that have been witnessed or experienced. Uncontrolled anger can lead to both emotional and physical abuse. While in-depth studies have not been conducted, experts have suggested that suicide rates among spouses of PTSD sufferers are increasing as well. In fact, spouses of PTSD sufferers can develop PTSD themselves from the constant hostile environment that is created in the home.

Criminal Behavior

Many who suffer from PTSD feel a constant need to be on guard for their safety and those around them. They may often relive the traumatic event and be unable to distinguish the memory from what is happening in reality at that moment. These symptoms of PTSD can often lead the person to overreact to a situation in order to provide protection and can result in criminal behavior.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, up to 75% of those who have experienced a traumatic event have problems with alcohol abuse. While many use alcohol as a way to self-treat the symptoms of PTSD, many times alcohol exacerbates these symptoms and makes them worse. For example, studies show that sufferers may drink in order to be able to fall asleep. However, alcohol impedes truly restful sleep and may make nightmares more common.

Unemployment

If PTSD sufferers are not effectively managing their symptoms through therapy and medication, unemployment can be an additional result of the disorder. Because of the hyperawareness that many PTSD Vets experience, overreactions to situations and inability to concentrate are common. In addition, problems with substance abuse may make it very difficult to maintain employment.

Post traumatic stress disorder is a condition that has always plagued our Veterans due to their combat experiences. While new treatments are becoming available on an almost daily basis, many still do not seek help due to the stigma attached to the condition. Those who do seek help often have to work for months to achieve the right combination of medication and therapy. It is important to realize that PTSD can never be cured, only managed.

You may wish to read Profiles of Veterans and Families Suffering From PTSD.

The United States Army special operations community is comprised of four main combat elements: Delta Force, Green Berets (Special Forces), Rangers and Nightstalkers (Special Operations Aviation Regiment or SOAR). In the past thirty years, these units have participated in conflicts around the globe.

Operation Eagle Claw (Desert One): Iran

On April 24, 1980, elements of Delta Force and 1^st Ranger Battalion set out to rescue 53 Americans who had been taken hostage at the American embassy in Iran.

With mechanical issues with three helicopters, the mission was aborted.

Shortly after the order was issued to abort, another helicopter crashed into a C-130 causing eight casualties.

The mission was a failure and the hostages remained in Iran until the following January.

Operation Urgent Fury: Grenada

On October 25, 1983, Delta Force, 1^st Ranger Battalion and 2^nd Ranger Battalion invaded Grenada to protect American citizens and assist in restoring order to the island nation.

A great portion of the forces had to unexpectedly jump into the combat zone while the rest were inserted by fast roping out of Blackhawk helicopters.

The mission was a success though highly criticized by other nations including Canada, Russia and Britain.

Operation Just Cause: Panama

On December 20, 1989, Delta Force, Special Forces and all three Ranger Battalions were tasked with taking down the PDF and capturing General Noriega in Panama so he could be charged with drug smuggling.

They seized the airfield and the surrounding areas under heavy gun fire from the PDF. Even with 23 American casualties, the mission was a success and ended on December 27^th.

Noriega surrendered on his own to face the charges against him.

Task Force Ranger: Somalia

In 1993, the UN Ambassador to Somalia requested assistance in removing Mohamed Farrah Aidid from power in the country.

The United States deployed elements of Delta Force, 3^rd Ranger Battalion and Nightstalkers to accomplish the task.

The elements entered the country in August but the real mission took place on October 3^rd when intelligence indicated Aidid would be meeting with two of his top lieutenants.

The mission was going as planned until the opposition took down a Blackhawk helicopter that was circling the area. Some of the teams were redirected to the downed helicopter. Shortly after, a second helicopter was hit. Known for never leaving a fallen comrade, the special operations teams worked their way to secure the bodies in the two helicopters.

The pilot of the second helicopter had his body dragged through the streets and was held hostage for eleven days before eventually being released. When October 4^th arrived, the Americans had suffered nineteen casualties and endured the worst fighting in recent history ultimately resulting in a failed mission.

Battle of Takur Ghar: Afghanistan

On March 4, 2002, a Navy SEAL fell from a helicopter that was fired on by Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Rangers from 1^st Battalion were flown by Nightstalkers to rescue the fallen SEAL.

With communication issues, the Rangers were unaware they were landing in a hot zone and immediately came under heavy fire. The troops were able to secure the mountain top. Whether the mission was a success depends on who is asked.

Arguing between high-ranking officers led to the communication issues and played a part in the American deaths that occurred. It is also widely believed that high ranking Al Qaeda officers, including possibly Bin Laden, were able to escape during the battle.

All photos courtesy of USASOC.

If you’ve ever wondered what prison life would be like, you’ll enjoy this photo tour of the world’s famous prison museums. Get a glimpse into the far, and not-so-distant, past lives of prisoners.

Disclaimer — All photos are from third parties and DirJournal.com makes no assertion that these photos are unedited. Some photos have been obviously Photoshopped / edited for effect, some may have been visually enhanced, and others showcase models (not real prisoners).

Robben Island Prison — Robben Island, South Africa

Robben Island Prison, located near Cape Town, was a place of imprisonment for over 400 years. It was a perfect place to lock up political troublemakers and social outcasts, and you can still feel the atmosphere of despair inside these prison walls.

Photo by mr_mayer

Photo by geoftheref

Photo by ewebber

Photo by tall bru

Abashiri Prison Museum — Abashiri City Hokkaido, Japan

The Abashiri Prison was in use until 1984. Presently you can see models of prisoners throughout the prison museum showing the prisoners’ daily lives in Abashiri. The models kind of tone down real prison life though, giving us a definite feeling that this is not real.

Photo by peta_peta

Photo by hwkbk

Photo by peta_peta

Photo by JanneM

Adelaide Gaol — Thebarton, South Australia

Adelaide Gaol was built in the mid-1800s and closed in 1988. During that time, over 300,000 prisoners were kept here. Nowadays the visitor center includes a museum with lots of interesting artifacts dating back to the Gaol’s early years.

Photo by grumpypop51

Photo by georgiegirlis

Photo by Mowling

Photo by Squirmelia

Maitland Gaol — East Maitland, NSW, Australia

Maitland Gaol is the longest continuously operating correctional institution in Australia with a 150-year history. The first prisoners arrived here in 1848, and the Gaol was closed in 1998. On my personal opinion it never should have been opened as a museum. You’ll understand what I mean when you’ll take a look at the photos. They are much too outspoken to be exhibited.

Photo by yewenyi

Photo by OZinOH

Photo by OZinOH

Photo by OZinOH

Photo by AugustusGloop

Photo by AugustusGloop

Old Melbourne Gaol — Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The Old Melbourne Gaol has a long history. It was opened in 1839 and was closed in 1929. Throughout these years people lived their lives inside its walls. Though the prison still looks the way it used to be, the building itself has a certain romance. The prison was designed by British prison engineer Joshua Jebb, and the Old Melbourne Gaol closely reminds me of the Pentonville Model Prison in London.

Photo by Leong Soong

Photo by Leong Soong

Photo by Nick Hawke

Photo by jedidiplomat

Model Prison Museum — Reparto Chacon, Nueva Gerona, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba

The Model Prison Museum is not that famous in US, but it’s a Cuban national monument. It was built in 1931, and imprisoned the likes of Fidel Castro along with other revolutionaries.

Photo by alpine diver

Photo by alpine diver

Clink Prison — South Bank, London, UK

The Clink Prison was owned by the Winchester Bishops, and thus mostly religious offenders and debtors were imprisoned here. The prison burned down in the Gordon Riots of 1780, but the Clink Museum

still paints a realistic picture of prison life in the middle ages for tourists. Interesting exhibitions and old weapons make you feel almost like you’re in a castle rather than an old prison.

Photo by jbparker

Photo by mehrnoosh kalashi

Photo by Wayne Huzzey

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial — Dachau, Germany

Much has been said and written about the Nazi concentration camps. Such places will never be alive again. Thousands of people were killed, and thousands of people died from depletion. It was the first Nazi concentration camp, and served as a model for later camps. Though Dachau was not an extermination camp the suffering of the prisoners will always live in its walls. In one of the photos you will see the crematory. Those who couldn’t work were no longer fed. They died from hunger and were then burnt in this room.

Photo by gio.moi

Photo by Jared reyes

Photo by Jared reyes

Photo by MikasPics

Photo by AngelaC2009***

Photo by MikasPics

Alcatraz — San Francisco, CA, USA

Chances are good that you’ve heard about Alcatraz. Probably America’s most famous prison, Alcatraz operated as a federal prison from 1934 until 1963. That might not be long compared to most of the prisons on our list today, but its rich history definitely makes this prison-turned-museum worth the mention.

Photo by Dizzy Atmosphere

Photo by Albert & Debbie

Photo by CatDancing

Photo by haglundc

Photo by Donncha @ InPhotos.org

Photo by Amin Tabrizi

Eastern State Penitentiary — Philadelphia, PA, USA

Eastern State Penitentiary was opened in 1892. It’s considered to be the world’s first true penitentiary — a prison designed to inspire penitence in the hearts of convicts. It was used as a model for about 300 other prisons around the world and was closed in 1971, opening its doors now as a museum (and a popular yearly Halloween attraction).

Photo by Synaesthesia

Photo by Synaesthesia

Photo by Synaesthesia

Photo by J Blough

Photo by J Blough

Fremantle Prison — Fremantle, Western Australia

The Fremantle Prison was built by convicts in the 1850s and was closed as a place of incarceration in 1991 after 136 years of continuous use. It was opened to the public in 1992 as a tourist site. I don’t feel like visiting it on my own though — the photos are enough give me the full picture of that sorrowful place.

Photo by Madfish WA

Photo by telex

Photo by mstephens7

Photo by garry.pettet

Photo by garry.pettet

Photo by le_sloth

Huron Historic Gaol. Goderich, Ontario, Canada

The Huron County Jail was opened in 1872 and serverd as the jail till 1972. The building originally housed the County Courts and Council Chambers, as well as serving as Gaol and House of Refuge.

Photo by Jack1962

Photo by Jack1962

Photo by Jack1962

Photo by Jack1962

The mention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conjures images of total professionalism and inspires awe in people. FBI has played an important role in American history for a long time. It has helped resolve some of the country’s worst criminal cases and national security issues. Over a period of time, many misconceptions about the functioning of FBI have been making the rounds. This is because of the complex nature of the work carried out by this agency.

Here are ten of the well-known misconceptions that have been around for many years, along with the facts as clarified by the FBI, time and again.

FBI Is An Investigative Agency And Does Not Have Intelligence

One of the famous misconceptions about FBI is that they do not do intelligence. But the fact is that FBI has from the beginning been a law enforcement, national security organization as well as an intelligence agency. They have used intelligence to deal and disable major threats from gangsters to spies to terrorists. FBI gathers and acts on intelligence on a very regular basis just like the intelligence agencies and the police.

The FBI Stores Records Of All Americans

Some people think that the FBI keeps records of all the bad things done by all Americans. However, FBI only keeps files on serious federal violations and major threats to national security. Unless a person is a terrorist or a spy or is suspected to be one, no file is opened on a person. A person’s name may enter into FBI records if the person has provided information against someone or was a victim. All this information is held with the agency for a specified period of time and protected under laws to ensure no information is leaked out.

They Spy on Americans Routinely

This is said to be a wrong notion as the FBI is expected to carefully follow a well-defined set of guidelines, rules and regulations, and conducts all investigations guided by these principles. They maintain a delicate balance between using these tools to solve crimes, uphold civil liberties of Americans and prevent attacks. The rights and freedom of Americans is never compromised by spying in anyway.

During the Hoover Years, There Were No Agents From The Minorities

There is no truth that FBI was not hiring minorities during the tenure of Hoover. The misconception was that FBI was not willing to hire minority agents unless President Kennedy ordered them to do so. The fact is that there were many agents from the minorities working in the FBI right from 1920s. An example is James Amos, who was an African-American agent who investigated major cases in the state of New York. There was another African-American father/son team working in Los Angeles. They and dozens of others served with distinction all during Hoover administration.

Cases are Prosecuted by the FBI

FBI is only supposed to investigate but cannot and does not prosecute cases. They have a clearly defined job of submitting the evidence and facts gathered by them to the local U.S. Attorney in the Department of Justice, who then decides whether to bring the case to trial or not. Sometimes, because the FBI is the one to collect these facts, they may have to be present in court and discuss their findings.

The Nickname “G-Men” was Given to FBI Agents by Machine Gun Kelly

That FBI agents were given a nickname “G-Men” by Machine Gun Kelly is a legend that is believed to be true by many people. The story goes that when a tired gangster, George Kelly (Machine Gun Kelly) came out of hiding with his arms held high, he shouted, “Don’t shoot, G-Men.” However, according to the FBI, this phrase was the invention of the attention seeking press to capture public eye.

The Well-Known Prohibition Agent Elliot Ness Was an FBI Agent

Although, he worked for a short while under Director Hoover, he was never an FBI agent; although, he did apply to be one. It all began when prohibition became the law in January 1920, 86 years ago. Many Americans willingly broke the law to enjoy a drink and many bootleggers like Al Capone worked towards meeting this unquenchable thirst of Americans. It was then that Elliot Ness was appointed as a prohibition agent with the Treasury Department and created a small group of agents. They later gained the name “untouchables” because they did not take bribes, and even threw away money offered by Capone’s men. In 1929, because of the continuing corruption, the Bureau of Prohibition was shifted to the Department of Justice. Hoover, who was the head of the Bureau of Investigation, was also made the head of the Bureau of Prohibition. Ness applied to become an agent but was turned down, due to differences of opinion regarding salary and because of his close links with the press.

The FBI Keeps X-Files

This is a complete myth because the FBI does not investigate the supernatural as it is done on the X-Files TV show. They do keep some files on some of the unusual happenings in this area, such as UFOs, cattle or other animal mutilation, Project Blue Book and the Roswell records. But these files are kept only because they have been reported by people to them. They also have some records of cases where there is violation of federal law under their jurisdiction that was investigated by them. This means FBI agents do not chase supernatural creatures as it is not a part of their job description and they also do not have any secret X-Files collection hidden.

The FBI is in Possession of the “Particle Beam” Plans Made by Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla was a gifted physicist, engineer and inventor. He was well-known for inventing the basis for AC power. He died in 1943 and after that all his papers were taken by the Department of Justice Alien Property Custodian Office. This is because they thought these papers included the important plans for “particle beam,” which the press gave the name of “death ray.” Rumor has it that the FBI was also involved in searching for these papers and kept the papers with them. These wrong reports have in fact made their way into several biographies without anyone checking on the facts with the FBI.

FBI Is Not Cooperative When It Comes To Dealing With Other Agencies

According to media, the FBI hogs all the limelight in big cases but does not cooperate with other agencies. According to FBI, this misconception has been created by the media. They say they have close relationships with their partners everywhere. There may be an occasional conflict of opinions over an issue, which is natural, but there is no question of not cooperating with agencies. They maintain very good relations with everyone.

There are several other misconceptions which surround the FBI. The rules and regulations that govern FBI have also been changing over the years and an agency of its stature is bound to be misinterpreted by people who do not know how exactly FBI functions. These issues have been called by the FBI as misconceptions and clarified in order to help people understand their functioning better.

Update: We found a very interesting article on Serial Killers http://daddu.net/25-seriously-disturbing-serial-killers-from-around-the-world/

Serial killers — you’d be hard-pressed to spot them in a crowd. They look just like everyone else. In fact, most of them are soft-spoken and polite. Their monstrous nature comes through only when you delve deeper into their personalities, actions and habits.

Reading the gruesome tales of serial killers sends a chill up the spine.  Most of them seem to have had a dysfunctional family setting and were abused as children — emotionally, sexually or verbally. It’s as if this activates some psychological trigger in their minds, increasing the feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness, and causing them to seek out their own heinous form of release.

There have been hundreds of serial killers in the history of America, and there are a few that tend to stay in the minds of citizens, becoming “famous.”

Here are just a few of the (in)famous serial killers that have walked the streets of our nation, in no particular order. There may be many others that are notorious or have killed more people, but we picked a few of the more famous killers that truly shocked us.

Ed Gein (Killings between 1947 and 1957)

Known as history’s most inspirational killer, his character became a central element in many films, including Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller Psycho and the character of Buffalo Bill  in The Silence of the Lambs, among others.

Modus Operandi

Gein was a serial killer who skinned his victims, exhumed corpses, and decorated his home with parts of his victims’ bodies. Human skin was used to make dust bins, furniture, and even clothes.

Background

Gein was born in 1906 as the younger of two boys. He had a weak alcoholic father and a domineering mother who was deeply religious. He was said to be very attached to her. She taught them about immorality and the evils of women and sex and discouraged their sexual desires. He turned into an effeminate and shy boy.

His father died as a result of his alcoholism and later his brother Henry, who used to criticize his mother about Gein’s unhealthy attachment to her, died in a mysterious fire. The younger boy was later suspected.

Fantasies

With nobody to control him after his mother passed away, Gein became obsessed with sexual fantasies and female anatomy. Fascinated by the human experiments performed in Nazi camps, he started robbing graves to perform experiments of his own, including exhuming his own mother’s body. The experiments became gruesome and cannibalistic. He had the desire to turn himself into a woman and would create breasts out of human skin and drape them over himself. He believed that for a sex change, he would need fresh bodies and thus started his killing spree, which was said to be because of his love-hate relationship with his mother.

House of Horrors

When police finally caught up with him, they found a variety of gruesome sights — hanging corpses with their throats and heads missing, bowls made of skulls, pieces of jewelry made of human skin, hanging lips, skin upholstery for chairs, and masks made of facial skin and vulva (including his mother’s) that were painted silver. The most shocking discovery was perhaps his mother’s heart, which was found in a pan on the stove.

Killings and Sentence

Police counted 15 women as his victims. Gein told the police that he never had sex with any of the dead women as “they smelled too bad.” His fascination with women was because of the power they held over men. Gein was admitted to Waupan State Hospital and died of cancer at the age of 78.

Ted Bundy (Killings between 1974 and 1978)

Ted Bundy proved that even the devil can be attractive. Bundy was one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. He was handsome, charming and cultured, all traits playing a role in his ability to rape and murder numerous young women. He even engaged in necrophilia (sexual attraction or involvement with corpses).

Modus Operandi

Bundy had unique techniques of luring his victims. He would drink alcohol before approaching potential victims, even in a crowd or in broad daylight, and gain their trust by faking an injury with his arm in a fake cast or a sling. He would at times act as a policeman or fire department personnel. After luring victims to his car, he would hit them on their head with a crowbar. He then raped and assaulted them sexually before strangling and mutilating them.

This good looking maniac used to visit the corpses several times at the Taylor Mountain body dump site, apply makeup to them, and sleep with them till they putrefied.

Background

One of the theories says that he started killing people as early as 14 years old. Many of his victims are said to have a physical resemblance to his first girlfriend.

Bundy was born Theodore Robert Cowell in 1946 in Burlington, Vermont to an unmarried mother of 22. He gets his name from his stepfather. He was made to believe by his grandparents that he was their son and that his mother was actually his sister.

He was a good student, and like most young people devastated when his first love left him. Bundy didn’t deal with the grief as most people do though. He spent years trying to get her back, and when he did he started killing innocent people and then dumped his girlfriend just as she dumped him.

Killings and Sentence

He was executed in 1989 after confessing to 40 murders.

Before his execution, he revealed that his addiction to pornography led him to do what he did. He said that there are many people out there who were addicted and nothing is being done about them.

One of Bundy’s famous quotes – “We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands, we are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow.”

David Berkowitz – Son of Sam (Killings between 1976 and 1977)

Better known as the Son of Sam or the .44 killer, David Berkowitz is a New York City serial killer who killed six people and wounded many others. His crimes became famous because of his letters to the media and the police, in addition to the reason he committed these crimes.

Reason for Killing

Berkowitz gave an odd reason for killing – he claimed that to keep the demons quiet, he started doing what they wanted. When dogs howled, he started believing that these dogs were demons asking him to kill women. He was convinced that his house owners, Jack and his wife, were part of the demon conspiracy and Jack was the commander in chief of all the dogs.

Later he shifted into another apartment but was still controlled by the demons in his mind. His new neighbor, Sam Carr, had a black Labrador which Berkowitz believed was possessed. He shot the dog. That did not provide any relief as he began believing that Sam Carr was possessed by the biggest demon, and perhaps Satan himself. Each night these demons told Berkowitz to kill and quench their thirst for blood.

He also used to write letters to the police and media, essentially taunting them with details of his killings.

Background

David Berkowitz, born 1953, was an adopted son of a middle class family in the Bronx. Although his parents loved him, Berkowitz carried a lot of anger and guilt inside him as he felt responsible for the death of his natural mother, who he was told died giving birth to him. Experts believe that could be the reason for his aggressive behavior.

He was devastated when his mother died of cancer and his father remarried and relocated to Florida, leaving him behind when he was 18.

Later he found out that his natural mother was alive and that he had a sister. There was a reunion, butit was too late for him by then as he preferred his isolation and delusions.

Killings and Sentence

Berkowitz received a 365 year prison sentence and told the FBI that he invented the “Son of Sam” stories to convince the court that he was out of his mind. He then said the real reason he killed was partly because he hated his mother for leaving him and partly his failure with women. He felt sexually aroused when he killed women, and he killed six of them.

John Wayne Gacy (Killings between 1972 and 1978)

A respected member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a precinct captain in the local Democratic party, the owner of a contracting business and a performing joker at children’s parties, John Wayne Gacy seemed as normal as they come.

He came to be known as one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history.

Modus Operandi

Gacy lured his victims into handcuffs in the pretext of showing them a pair of trick handcuffs he used in his clown act. He’d then dare the youth to free themselves. Once the boys were handcuffed, he would use either a rope or a board across their throats to kill them while he raped them.

Background

Gacy was born into a blue-collar family in 1942 and had two sisters. His father was an abusive alcoholic who verbally and physically abused his children. Gacy deeply loved his father and strived to please him, but failed.

He had the ability to persuade an manipulate people, likely because of how normal and harmless he seemed on the outside. He later got married and had two kids of his own, but his wife left him when he was arrested for trying to coerce a fellow employee into homosexual acts.

Another thing to note is that he injured his head by falling off a swing when he was 11 years old. He suffered from blackouts until he was 16, and then was diagnosed with a blood clot and the condition was corrected.

Killings and Sentence

When Gacy realized that police were about to arrest him, he surrendered himself. He told them, “There are four Johns” (similar to multiple personalities) — one was a contractor, another a clown, one a politician, and the fourth went by the name Jack Hanley, and he did evil things.

Gacy confessed to more than 24 murders and drew a map to 28 graves under his house and garage. He also said he threw five others into the Des Plaines River.

He was executed with a lethal injection on May 10, 1994. His last meal consisted of fried chicken, Coke, French fries and strawberry shortcake. His last words were, “Kiss my ass.”

Jeffrey Dahmer – Monster (Killings between 1978 and 1991

This Milwaukee serial killer murdered boys of Asian and African descent. His murders were gruesome and involved torture, forced sodomy, dismemberment (removing their limbs), necrophilia, and cannibalism.

He was arrested first when caught fondling a 13-year-old boy in Milwaukee and was sentenced to one year in a work release camp. After serving ten months, he was released on probation for his good behavior. That’s when his killing spree began.

He committed his first murder at the age of 18, shortly after being released, and his first victim was a 19-year-old hitchhiker.

There was a much-talked about story about a 14-year-old boy who almost escaped Dahmer in 1991. He wandered into the streets without clothes, with Dahmer in pursuit. Police believed Dahmer’s story that the boy was 19 years old and was his partner, and took the boy to Dahmer’s house. In spite of noticing a weird smell there, they left without investigating. Soon after, the boy was killed and Dahmer kept his skull as a souvenir.

Background

Dahmer was the son of an analytical chemist, and as a child he had a fascination with dissecting dead animals. By the time he was a teenager, he was an alcoholic and a loner. He dropped out of college and his father forced him to enlist in the Army. After just two years, he was discharged because of his heavy drinking. Since he did not want to face his father, he moved in with his grandmother and lived with her for six years. His grandmother asked him to move out when he was arrested for exposing himself in public.

Killings and Sentence

Dahmer was caught by the police when a would-be victim escaped and alerted them. He was held responsible for 15 murders, sentenced to 15 life terms. Dahmer then expressed remorse and wished death upon himself. He was beaten to death by a fellow inmate and died of severe head trauma.

Gary Ridgway – The Green River Killer (Killings between 1982 and 1984)

“I hate most prostitutes. I did not want to pay them for sex. I also picked prostitutes as victims because they were easy to pick up without being noticed. I knew they would not be reported missing right away, and might never be reported missing.” These were the words of one of the worst slayers in American history, who was said to have killed more women than any other serial killer — Gary Ridgway.

The Green River Killer drama unfolds at Aurora Avenue on the banks of the Green River where hundreds of prostitutes hang around, and where on July 15, 1982 the body of a 16-year-old prostitute was found. She was the first victim of the infamous Green River Killer and was raped and strangled to death. He had the habit of finding a landmark and leaving a group of dead bodies in ‘clusters,” to remember easily. Driving by these clusters and remembering them gave him a high.

The killings continued and police couldn’t find a clue, so the “Green River Taskforce” was formed in 1984. The death toll had reached 26 by then.

Ted Bundy’s Help

Another serial killer, Ted Bundy (who was sitting on a death row), offered to assist the police and gave them several clues into the working of a serial killer’s mind until the time he was executed.

Background

Ridgway was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and he had two brothers. He had a domineering mother who constantly yelled at their father and controlled Ted completely, and she was never pleased with what he did. Ridgway’s IQ was 80, which signified a slight mental deficiency. He had a troubled adolescence and stabbed a six-year-old kid when he was 16. He always had an obsession with prostitutes.

He was married for fourteen years and he managed two totally different identities: one the life of a wonderful husband going on romantic vacations, and the other of the infamous serial killer.

Killings and Sentence

The Green River Killer caused mayhem for two and half years during the 1980s. He pleaded guilty to 48 charges in 2003, but claimed to have killed 71 women. A controversial plea bargain he entered into spared him execution in exchange for helping to locate the remains of all of those women by providing details. This created a lot of controversy as many people believed that a person who murdered so many people should not be spared the death sentence.

He was sentenced to 48 life sentences and is currently incarcerated in Washington at the Washington State Penitentiary.

Belle Sorenson Gunness (Killings between 1900 and 1908)

Unlike many other female killers, Gunness didn’t poison her victims — she slaughtered them. She was a 42-year-old Norwegian immigrant who purchased a property in La Porte, Indiana using her first husband’s insurance after his death. Her husband and two of her children were said to have died mysteriously, although she wasn’t suspected. After moving to La Porte with the rest of her children, she married Peter Gunness who died after just nine months. She collected another insurance payment. Over the next few years, other men that came into her life vanished without trace.

She became famous for being a black widow — killing several of her husbands, ranch workers and adopted children.

Modus Operandi

She would place matrimonial ads in newspapers and promised men marital bliss and a life filled with love. Several hopefuls traveled to La Porte carrying their life savings with them. She would then drug them and cut them up as she cut her hogs. She would then wrap them up with oilskin and bury them at her farm.

A letter she wrote reads – “My heart beats in wild rapture for you, My Andrew, I love you. Come prepared to stay forever.”

Background

There are various accounts of her background. She was said to be one of eight children and was born in Stoersetgjerdet in Norway. One story goes that she got pregnant with a man and he kicked her in her stomach in public causing her to lose her child. He disappeared soon after. According to her sister, Belle was said to be crazy for money.

Missing Mysteriously

In 1908, Gunness’ farmhouse caught fire and burned to the ground. When it was put out, the remains of several people were discovered — men, children, and even a woman. The children were identified as hers. The woman was assumed to be Gunness herself, although there was no head. It was thought she died in that fire.

Many butchered bodies were found around her property, carved like turkeys. The heads were cut off, arms removed, and legs sawed off at the thigh.

Despite the assumption that she died, her ranch hand and lover, Lamphere, claimed that he helped Belle fake her own death and run away when he was arrested. Officially, she was presumed dead.

She was said to have killed 49 people.

Charles Manson (Killings in 1969)

Called the “most dangerous man” and the “devil,” Charles Manson was the terror of the 60s.

Background

He was born in 1934 to a 16-year-old mother who was a troublemaker. She left him with his aunt or grandmother most of the time. She was arrested on armed robbery charges and sent to a penitentiary, leaving Manson to live with his aunt and uncle. Even after she was released, his mother didn’t want the responsibility of looking after him. She was even willing to trade him for a drink. His father was never in the scene from his birth.

Manson turned out to be a troublemaker himself, and he was sent to a reform school at the age of nine. By the time he was 26, he was charged with rape, drug charges, stealing, pimping, and more.

He was religious and used this to manipulate people into following him. When he was 34, he formed the “Charles Manson Family” by attracting a group of followers — mostly young women with troubled pasts. He used amphetamines to alter their personalities and they started calling him “Jesus Christ” and did everything he wanted, including physical favors.

He was a music lover who believed that the “Beatles’” were prophets sent to earth to warn of an upcoming revolution. Manson focused on an Armageddon, where the blacks would rise to power and kill all whites and the Manson family would be the only white family living. He felt the blacks wouldn’t be able to stay in power because of an inferiority complex and that the Manson family would then rule the world.

When this did not happen, he started having people killed by his “family” members.

Killings and Sentence

His first murder was that of Sharon Tate, wife of director Roman Polanski. The next was the LaBianca family. He was sentenced to death but later reduced to life imprisonment, when California Supreme Court eliminated death penalties temporarily. He is currently an inmate at Corcoran State Prison.

Albert Fish (Killings between 1919 and 1930)

Albert Fish may have been America’s most vile pedophile, serial killer, and cannibal. He is known by many names — Gray Man, Brooklyn Vampire, The Boogeyman, and the Werewolf of Wysteria. He was a gentle-looking and benevolent grandfather, a total contrast to the monster within him. His wife considered him a wonderful husband and his children believed he was a model father. Some of his crimes seem unbelievable.

Background

Hamy Fish (his birth name) was born in Washington D.C. as the youngest of four children. Several of his family members had mental health problems. After his father’s death, he was put in an orphanage by his mother and he was whipped at the orphanage frequently. That’s said to be when he began to realize that he enjoyed physical pain and felt aroused by it. Then he entered into homosexual relationships at the age of 12 and was introduced to other perverse practices of drinking urine and coprophagia. His weekends were spent visiting public baths to watch boys undress. This led to male prostitution, which continued even after his marriage and the births of his six children.

Turning into a Psycho-Masochist

He also developed an unusual interest in castration and visited brothels where he got himself whipped and beaten. He pushed needles into his body, including his genitalia. X-rays later revealed a total of 27 needles inside him.

It was at the age of 55 that he started experiencing hallucinations. He believed God ordered him to castrate young boys. This was diagnosed as religious psychosis and is what led to the several mutilations and murders he committed.

Killings and Sentence

Although he was a suspect in five killings, he stated that he “had” around 100 children in all states. Nobody knew whether he was talking about cannibalization or molestation. He was executed on an electric chair.

Herman Webster Mudgett – Dr. Holmes (Killings between 1893 and 1895)

Mudgett’s criminal career started as a medical student who stole corpses from the University of Michigan. He used those corpses to collect insurance money on policies taken under fictitious names. He then started a drug store empire and constructed a huge hundred-room mansion with trap doors, lime pits, fake walls, acid vats, and secret entrances.

Modus Operandi

He would rent rooms to visitors and then try and collect the insurance when they were killed there. He also used to lure women to his “torture castle,” promising marriage. He would then throw them down the elevator shaft and gas them to death. But before he did that he would force them to sign all their life savings over to him.

Background

Herman was born in New Hampshire and his father was very strict, often bullying his son. He had a well-known fear of the local doctor’s office and because of this other students in his school would often force him to touch human skeletons. What was meant to be a scare turned out to be a fascination, which led to him stealing corpses while in medical school.

He started using the name “H.H. Holmes” after moving to Chicago and got engaged in a lot of shady activities. He is also a bigamist, married a second time and a third time while still married to the first wife. He was known to be a charmer and a ladies’ man.

Killings

His huge castle with secret passages had a drugstore and other shops on the ground floor and the upper areas were used as his office. There were more than a hundred rooms without windows, and there were doorways that opened into brick walls. There were also stairways to nowhere, doors that could not be opened from the inside and several other such oddities. This was to become his killing den.

It was here that the killing spree sprouted over a period of three horrible years. Female victims were mostly his employees who were required to take a life insurance policy where Holmes would pay the premiums. Soundproof rooms with gas lines fitted in were used to kill people. These victims were asphyxiated and their screams went unnoticed as they suffocated. There was a chute that took the bodies to the basement, where some bodies were dissected, flesh removed and turned into skeletal models. He sold these skeletons and other organs to medical schools.He also performed illegal abortions in the castle and many of his patients died.

Sentence

Eventually police grew suspicious about the activities in the castle and when he knew he was getting caught, he burnt the castle and vanished. Remains of more than two hundred people were found in the charred debris. He was later caught and hanged.

Coral Eugene Watts – (Killings between 1974 and 1982)

Watts was the first known serial killer in the nation’s history to have legally acquired immunity, and at one point it even looked as if he would be released in 2006 in spite of having committed between 80-100 murders. When a detective said that he did not have enough fingers and toes to count all the murders he committed, Watts replied that there were not enough fingers and toes in the room. (There were four men in the room.)

Usually serial killers are said to kill people of their own race. However Watts, who was an African American, killed whites mostly.

He admitted to killing females because he saw evil in their eyes. He drowned women in a bathtub in order to prevent their spirits from escaping.

He was not caught for many years because he killed in different jurisdictions and different states. DNA tests also didn’t prove anything because he did not dally with his victims, unlike other serial killers.

Modus Operandi

Watts would drive a couple of hours to commit his murders.  He stalked women in his car, would park ahead of them, get out of the car, and then approach them. He killed females between the ages of 14 and 34 by strangulation, drowning, and stabbing. Occasionally he also used tools and other metal objects.

He started killing at the age of 20 but did not rape them, and some of his murders occurred without him even touching the women. For him, the thrill came from the hunt and attack.

Background

Watts’ parents divorced when he was two and he lived with his mother and step-father. He was said to act weird when he was a kid. He was never good at academics but excelled in boxing.

He started having morbid dreams when he was 12, always revolving around killing women. In his dreams, he would punch their evil spirits and he usually fell off his bed. When asked by psychiatrists later whether these dreams disturbed him, he said, “No, I feel better after having them.”

These dreams slowly turned into reality when he started watching, stalking, and looking into the eyes of women to find evil. By the age of 15, he began hitting and choking them. Ultimately it wasn’t enough for him to hurt those women — he had to kill them.

Killings and Sentence

Due to lack of evidence of murder, a plea bargain granted immunity from murder if he confessed to his murders and gave details. Due to this and his good behavior, Watts could have been released in 2006. However, after Watts confessed to about 80 murders, the Michigan authorities refused to go in with the deal and got witnesses to come out and speak about a couple of murders. Watts was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he died of prostate cancer in 2007.

Richard Angelo (Killings between April 1987 and October 1987)

Angelo was a killer with a different mindset from all others. He made the entire nation scared of hospitals. The desire to be a hero in others’ eyes made him a monster. He was 26 when he went to work at the Good Samaritan Hospital on Long Island in New York. He was a former Eagle Scout and always tried to do good things and help others.

His inability to achieve the level of praise he always desired made him a dangerous serial killer of a totally different kind.

Modus Operandi

He took advantage of the graveyard shift at the hospital to satisfy his desires. He would inject Pavulon and Anectine into patients and bring them to a near-death states. He would tell them that he was giving them drugs that would make them feel better. After injecting these drugs, the patients begin feeling numb and their breathing became constricted. They also lost their ability to communicate with the doctors and nurses. Then he would show his heroism by helping to save his victims, impressing everyone in the hospital.

Death came upon many of these patients as he was unable to intervene and save them from his deadly injections.

Background

Angelo was a former boy scout and always wanted to be a hero. He was said to crave for attention from his parents and everyone else around him.

Killings and Sentence

He is said to have killed 25 people and was caught when one of his victims managed to use the call button for assistance after being injected. One of the nurses then took his urine sample and the test proved positive for the drugs, Anectine and Pavulon, which had not been prescribed by the doctors. All the bodies of suspected victims were tested and found positive for drugs.

Angelo confessed and said, “I had no confidence in myself. I felt very inadequate.”

He was charged for second-degree murder on multiple counts and sentenced to 61 years to life imprisonment. He is currently in the Clinton Correctional Facility in New York.

Andrew Cunanan (Killings between April 1997 and July 1997)

Andrew Phillip Cunanan, a soft-spoken intellect who had a flair for languages and discussing world affairs, was a handsome, lavish and boastful young man who associated himself only with the social elite. He earned many dubious distinctions. One was for killing the famous fashion designer, Gianni Versace, and the other is being listed by the FBI on their Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. He was the first person from San Diego to get onto the “prestigious” list.

Modus Operandi

There was no modus operandi discovered for Cunanan. In the beginning he killed his former lovers who he felt were having an affair behind his back. The others that were killed may also have had connections with him, but nobody knows for sure. They were killed differently and with different weapons.

Background

Cunanan was born in National City, California and was a homosexual since high school. He was known for his erratic ways. He graduated in 1987. He was also rumored to be a lover to older and wealthy gay men. His mother called him a “high-class homosexual prostitute.” However his father denied his homosexuality, calling him “an altar boy” who has a good Catholic upbringing.

It is said that in homosexual circles, once a person crosses mid-20s he is considered old. When Andrew turned 28, he was deserted by his wealthy lovers. He was left to pay off credit cards which exceeded limits, and this left him broke. He stopped taking care of his usually very trendy appearance and gained a lot of weight.

At this point another emotion reared its ugly head — jealousy. He spotted two of his young lovers seeing each other behind his back. Another thing that bothered him was the fact that both of them had reached great heights professionally while he remained stagnant.

The jealousy grew to such an extent that he eventually went to visit them, killing both of them just days apart from each other, beginning his life as a serial killer.

Killings and Sentence

One of his victims was Gianni Versace, the Italian designer. The FBI found Andrew, as he left his name signed on the pavement in front of Gianni’s house. The FBI felt that it was his way of trying to get attention, saying “Look at me. I’m the one that did this.”

He led authorities on a massive manhunt for his killings. He killed himself eight days after killing Gianni Versace. He shot himself to avoid capture.

Conclusion

What you have witnessed here is just a fragment of the world of savage and sadistic minds who have transformed this act of murder from a monstrous anomaly into an everyday horror. These mythic monsters capture the attention of the entire nation and end up as terrifying household names.

Looking into the psyche of a serial killer, doctors say that every individual develops positive attitude towards life and people in their early years, and this attitude is rendered negative with abuse — physical and emotional. That abuse can also come in the form of refusal to acknowledge the boundaries of an individual through excessive expectations, possessiveness, and doting, all of which are as abusive as incest or beatings.

Researchers attempting to understand how fantasies warp the serial killer’s mind say that bizarre fantasies thrive in isolation and eventually the killers feel the need to live them out. They dwell on the murder act for days before committing it, completely caught up in their fantasy. But they find that even murder never fulfills the fantasy completely, and this leads to the serial nature of their crime — always looking for satisfaction they never actually find. Many of these serial killers also keep souvenirs of their crime which helps refuel the fantasy.