Why We Love Serial Killers by Scott Bonn Page A

another example, Jeffrey Gorton killed his first victim in 1986 and his next victim five years later in 1991. He never killed again and was finally captured in 2002. To satisfy his desires when he wasn’t killing, Gorton said that he engaged in cross-dressing, masturbatory activities, and consensual sex with his wife. Also, Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer were never apprehended but their legendary killing sprees ended abruptly and mysteriously. Contrary to mythology, not all serial killers are compelled to kill forever once they start.
    Myth #7: All Serial Killers Want to Get Caught.
    Reality: It is popularly believed that serial killers secretly want to get caught. For the vast majority of them, however, this is simply not true. They love the act of killing. Serial killers gain confidence, satisfaction, and are emboldened by their success, particularly at the beginning of their killing careers. They are not experts from the start. As with all novice criminals, serial killers have no experience when they commit their first murder, although they may have fantasized about it for quite some time. The logistics involved in committing murder and disposing of the victim’s body for the very first time are complicated and require meticulous planning. Novice serial killers must learn how to target, approach, control, kill, and dispose of their victims without being detected. The learning curve for novice serial killers is very steep, indeed. Infamous and prolific serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer and Joel Rifkin have stated that their first murder was by far the most difficult one for them. Serial killers gain valuable experience and confidence with each new, successful murder. Along the way, they perfect all of their skills and techniques while minimizing problems and avoiding critical mistakes. In other words, serial killers get better and better at the business of murder with experience.

    Joel Rifkin being led into court. (photo credit: Associated Press)
    The skills and confidence gained through their experience make serial killers very difficult to apprehend. As they continue to operate and avoid capture, serial killers become increasingly emboldened and empowered. They relish their ability to kill and avoid detection and may come to believe they will never be apprehended. Such empowerment can cause serial killers to take more risks in their work. By increasing the risk factors in their murders, such as killing during the daytime rather than at night, serial killers can enhance their excitement, but such increased risk can also lead to their apprehension by law enforcement authorities if or when they make mistakes or the unexpected occurs.
    Prolific serial killers who go undetected for long periods of time may begin to take shortcuts and become reckless or even careless in their work. A classic example of a veteran serial killer who became sloppy is Joel Rifkin, the most prolific serial killer of all time in the state of New York, who murdered seventeen prostitutes in the early 1990s. Rifkin was unexpectedly and unceremoniously caught when his Mazda pickup truck was pulled over by a state trooper for having no rear license plate. Upon approaching the truck, the state trooper smelled the unmistakablestench of death and discovered the decomposing body of Rifkin’s final victim under a tarp in the back of the truck. When questioned about the corpse, Rifkin coldly replied, “She was a prostitute. I picked her up on Allen Street in Manhattan. I had sex with her. Then things went bad and I strangled her. Do you think I need a lawyer?”
    It is inaccurate to say that serial killers want to get caught. Most serial killers love their work far too much for that to be true. Sometimes, however, empowered and emboldened serial killers come to believe they cannot get caught and begin to take unnecessary risks in order to heighten their excitement but which can lead to their apprehension. In other instances, highly prolific serial