A&E: The Killer Speaks

Have you seen this show on A&E?

If not, its truly worth watching. However, I will warn you it is very chilling.

But you get to have a front row seat into the mind of a killer.

Some lie. And some tell the truth.

It’s endlessly fascinating!

If my time allows in the coming weeks, I will share my thoughts on the latest episode.

Charles Cullen 16 Year Killing Spree

If you caught CBS 60 Minutes this weekend, they ran the story of Charles Cullen, a critical care nurse who managed to kill his patients for over 16 years before being held accountable.

What is so disturbing is that hospitals were suspicious of him for years and fired him–only to let him go forward to another institution–over and over again.  That’s right–because they didn’t want to attract attention to their hospital and face lawsuits.  And as a result dozens and dozens of people were killed. Some estimate as many as several hundred.

Pretty sad when that trumps human life.

It’s a difficult story to watch knowing that.

Charles Cullen is a fascinating study of human behavior.  He gives amazing clues to the questions asked of him in the 60 Minutes interview.

From that interview, I truly believe that Charles Cullen enjoyed killing his victims.  He got pleasure out of it–he just couldn’t admit it. He did, however, admit to killing at least 40 people over the 16 years.

This is one man that can never be released into society again.  Chilling.

Ted Bundy

Here is an interesting video. What do you see when you watch Ted Bundy?

I see a master manipulator. Wow!!

The Lure of Vulnerability

In this video, Gary Ridgeway, a serial killer, talks about the lures he used to get his victims. What Ridgeway tells us is that whatever a person’s vulnerability was, he exploited it to gain people’s trust. He lied as a ruse to fulfill his needs.

Hence, it is a logical assumption that people who are needy are more likely to believe other people’s lies than those who aren’t. Emotions, in times of need, do make us all vulnerable and it is wise to be conscious of this, specifically when we are needy.

Read moreI am always very wary of a stranger who show care or concern about something in my life that wouldn’t provoke an emotional response in most people. I know people don’t build bonds in quickly and when people try, it’s a big red flag for me to back away–that something is likely off. It’s much like a love interests who confess to loving you within days–it’s a big sign to run for the hills!

Of course, kindness and generosity do exist, so it is a delicate balance, but it is always safer to err on the side of caution when it comes to strangers. Good people will usually understand your hesitation, and if they don’t, I certainly don’t make it my worry. To worry is precisely what titillates people like Ridgeway.