The Early Years: A Blueprint for Chaos Peter Thomas Anthony Manuel was born in 1927 in New York City to Scottish parents. His family moved back to Scotland when he was five. Noted psychiatrist Dr. Ronald Blackburn, in his book “Paths to Destruction,” mentions, “Manuel’s early years were indicative of an individual with a lack … Read more
Early Life and Military Service Born in 1937 in Stettin, Heinrich Pommerencke grew up against the backdrop of World War II and its aftermath. Dr. Udo Undeutsch, a renowned criminologist, in his paper “Criminal Minds of Post-War Germany” states, “Pommerencke’s formative years were marred by societal disarray and a crumbling family structure, fertile ground for … Read more
Early Life and Background Born into a stringent religious household in 1899 in Northowram, West Yorkshire, John Reginald Halliday Christie’s upbringing was anything but simple. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Paul Mullen, in an interview with the BBC, states, “Christie’s early life exhibited a cocktail of repression, control, and contradiction, forming a breeding ground for his later … Read more
Early Life Gordon Frederick Cummins, born in 1914 in Yorkshire, England, was a notorious British serial killer known as the “Blackout Ripper.” His early life was relatively unremarkable, but a sense of ambition led him to enlist in the Royal Air Force. Dr. Peter Vronsky, author of “Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters,” … Read more
The Creation of a Cult-like Community: Heide Fittkau-Garthe, a German national, made headlines in the 1990s due to her controversial actions on the Spanish Canary Islands. Drawing followers with promises of a utopian community, Fittkau-Garthe established a group on the island of Tenerife. “Her allure was powerful, drawing in individuals with her charisma and vision … Read more
Early Life and Formative Years Earle Leonard Nelson, born in 1897 in San Francisco, was an American serial killer. His troubled upbringing, marked by a series of foster homes and mental institutions, set the stage for his criminal future. Noted criminologist Dr. David Wilson in his book “Predators: The Mind of a Serial Killer” writes, … Read more
A High Society Scandal: In the early 20th century, the United States was captivated by a sensational murder case involving prominent figures of New York’s elite. The central characters in this drama were Harry Thaw, a wealthy playboy, Stanford White, a renowned architect, and Evelyn Nesbit, a popular model and actress. Their intertwined lives would … Read more
Formation and Roots in Organized Crime Murder Inc. was essentially the enforcement arm of the American Mafia and Jewish mob during the 1930s. The group was composed primarily of Jewish and Italian gangsters and functioned like a contract killing organization. In his seminal work “The Rise and Fall of the American Mafia,” Selwyn Raab states, … Read more
Early Life and Military Career Julian Harvey was born into an ordinary family, but his life would be anything but average. His military career was filled with contrasts; his actions in World War II and the Korean War earned him commendations. But his disciplinary record was marred. Richard Whittingham in his book “Pilots of Valor,” … Read more
The Killers and Their Motive Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, who met in a Kansas prison, meticulously planned a heist targeting the Clutter family. They believed the Clutters had amassed significant wealth. Truman Capote once said in an interview with Time Magazine, “It was greed that united them, but it was a misconceived and disastrous … Read more