Profiling the Serial Killer Groupie

During Bundy’s trial, women would show up with their hair long and parted, some even dyed their hair the “right kind of brown” to attract Bundy’s attention. In prison he received hundreds of fan letters, mostly from women with marriage proposals, some contained nude photos. From 1979, a woman named Janet penned her undying love to Bundy. He responded only once and she wrote back:

I got the letter you sent and read it again. I kissed it all over and held it to me. I don’t mind telling you I am crying. I just don’t see how I can stand it anymore. I love you so very much Ted

-(The Only Living Witness: The True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy: Stephen G. Michaud, Hugh Aynesworth)

Richard Ramirez, The Night Stalker convicted of 13 murders and 11 sexual assaults was also very popular with the ladies. Cynthia Hayden, one of the jurors at his trial, baked him cupcakes with a note that said “I love you” and even after being convicted took her parents to meet her “soul mate”

Manson, Dahmer, Bianchi the list goes on, and it’s not just serial killers. Numerous groupies have sent messages of love to Josef Fritzl, James Holmes, Nikolas Cruz - so, what is it about these death row Romeos that makes them so attractive to some women?

Hybristophilia is defined as a form of paraphilia where a person gets pleasure and/or sexual arousal over someone else committing an offense or violent act. It is more common in women than men, but not much is really known or been researched in this area of paraphilia. According to Louis B. Schlesinger, Ph.D., a professor of forensic psychology at John Jay College.“There are case reports of these individuals, there’s the discussion of them, but really no empirical research from a scientific perspective.”

There are two forms of hybristophilia. Aggressive hybristophilia, where the hybristophiliac is willing to help out their lover by luring victims and/or participating in the crime. Examples of aggressive hybristophiliacs would include Myra Hindley, Karla Homolka, and Catherine Birnie.

Then there’s the category that the amorous groupies fall into... passive hybristophilia. They are attracted to the criminal, yet have no desire to commit any criminal acts. Why this occurs is predominantly based on a number of theories and speculations. Here are three theories of why women fall in love with serial killers:

“I know it sounds weird and counterintuitive, but a man behind bars can’t hurt you. So he’s safe.”

- Women who Love Men who Kill By Sheila Isenberg.

Sheila Isenberg journalist and author of Women Who Love Men Who Kill interviewed a dozen of these sorts of women. Some of those interviewed knew that their relationship was morally wrong but others were described as delusional with idealized fantasies. While these seemingly ordinary women, some teachers, nurses - women with ordinary jobs, many had a history of abuse. It could be argued that with their love interest in jail, these women felt safe in a way they hadn’t done before.

Then there is the evolutionary perspective, primate research finds that females prefer the larger, louder, more aggressive males who show clear markers of their maleness. If we consider serial killers in terms of a wildlife documentary, they would most definitely be classified as apex predators, alpha males, and perfect hunters. Certain women might sense in an aggressive male a larger-than-life companion who can deliver more than an ordinary man could. Through him, she subconsciously perceives, she gains status and protection.

The third and final theory is “perfect boyfriend”. Mental health experts view these women as insecure and “love-avoidant” who seek romantic relationships but cannot find them in normal ways. With an imprisoned lover they are able to have their romantic fantasy without the day-to-day realities of relationships. Having an imprisoned lover means no laundry; no cooking for him; no annoying little habits; she knows where he is at all times and there is no fear of him cheating with another woman.

These are only 3 of the theories and speculations of why women fall in love with the worse kinds of criminals. In reality, the real reasons for this morbid infatuation are as multifaceted and unique to the individual as are the motives behind serial killers’ actions. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that there will always be some women drawn to these types of men.