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Serial Killers Who Recorded Their Crimes
One of the hallmarks of a serial killer is the collection of trophies. These can be anything that belongs to the victim or reminds the killer of the crime. The Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo, took cufflinks and jewellery from his victims; Dennis “B.T.K.” Rader kept items he stole from victims, along with notes detailing the crime squirreled away in locations he called ‘hidey holes’.
Quite often a killer’s trophy collection winds up becoming evidence during trial. When viewed during an investigation or as evidence in a trial, these items evoke plenty of emotion. Each one provides a small glimpse into the lives and personalities of the victims. It makes imagining what they endured that much more difficult.
As heart-wrenching as these trophies can be, they pale in comparison to other trophies. A handful of serial killers have done more than steal their victims’ jewelry, clothing or a lock of hair. These killers recorded their crimes and kept their victims’ final moments as their trophies.. They don’t need a trinket to try and relive the moment — they can do it and, in some cases, in surround sound.
The Moors Murderers (Myra Hindley and Ian Brady)
When 18-year-old Myra Hindley met 22-year-old Ian Brady, she became infatuated almost immediately. The older man strung her along for a few months, but the two soon began dating. Within a few months, Brady was introducing Hindley to X-rated films, German wine, and increasingly disturbing worldviews.
The couple murdered their first victim in the summer of 1963. Myra lured 16-year-old Pauline Reade into her van with the promise of a ride. Once inside, she asked Pauline to come search the nearby moors for an expensive glove Myra claimed she had lost on a date. Pauline agreed to help and, when the two arrived, Ian met them there on his motorcycle. Myra told Pauline Ian was there to help in the search and sent Ian off with her to begin the search, promising to catch up with them soon.
Ian came back about thirty minutes later and took Hindley to the spot where Pauline lay dying. The girl’s…
