Monday, February 11, 2008
PORTLAND, OR. – The Portland Chapter of the Parents Television Council is demanding that KOIN 6, a local CBS affiliate, cancel the television show Dexter, which depicts the life and crimes of a fictitious serial killer. In a recent post to Columbian.com, Stephanie Snow, Chapter Director of the Portland Chapter, expressed her anger about violence depicted on television. "Day after day and night after night, families of viewers are assaulted by graphic violence and explicit sexual situations," she wrote. "…Hollywood says it wants to ‘empower’ parents. If the entertainment industry really means what it says about parental control, it would give parents the ability to pick and choose channels." (Apparently Snow does not realize that no one is forcing her or anyone else to view "graphic violence.") According to Chris Sehring, general manager of KOIN 6, his station has received few complaints about Dexter. "This doesn’t really feel like it’s catching fire,” he said in an interview with Wweek.com, adding, "Have you seen the show? I think it’s very funny."
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS, IN. — Kenna Quinet, an associate professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, recently had an article, “The Missing Missing: Toward a Quantification of Serial Murder Victimization in the United States,” published in the Journal of Homicide Studies. In this article, Quinet claims that serial killers in the United States could be responsible for up to 10 times as many U.S. deaths as previously estimated. Citing the case of convicted serial killer Gary Ridgway, Quinet points out that many of the victims were transients and therefore their disappearances went unnoticed. "Their families don’t even report them as missing," Quinet said in a recent interview with Miller-mccune.com. "They’re estranged from their families, and no one follows up. These people fall between the cracks. It’s no one’s fault; it’s the transient nature of their lives, the lack of information sharing and the fact that missing-persons cases are not the most glorified police work. This is not priority police work." Quinet believes that current methods of calculating the victims of serial killers are unreliable, because they exclude people who have never been reported missing. As a result of her research, Quinet believes serial killers claim as many as 1,832 victims in the United States each year.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Mpumalanga, South Africa – Accused serial killer Lucky Mathebula, 27, made a brief appearance in Mkhuhlu magistrate’s court yesterday, where he was remanded into custody while police continue their investigation. Mathebula is accused of the rape, murder and dismemberment of a relative on December 17, 2007. Police also suspect that Mathebula is responsible for several other unsolved murders and rapes. "In the eyes of the community this man is seen as a serial rapist and killer, but we still have to conduct thorough investigations to confirm this," Mpumalanga police spokesman, Superintendent Abie Khoabane, told Sowetan.co.za. "We are calling on members of the community with information to come forward and help us build a watertight cases against him," he added.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
MOSCOW, Russia – Convicted serial killer Alexander Pichushkin received an unwelcome Valentine’s Day gift today, in the form of a rejection letter by Russia's Supreme Court, in regard to an appeal he recently filed, claiming his sentence was "harsh and unfair." In November of last year Pichushkin, dubbed by the media the "Bitsevsky maniac," was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of killing 48 people between 2001 and 2006. Prosecutors were unable to seek the death penalty because Russia imposed a moratorium on executions in 1996. Perhaps he'll have better luck if he files another appeal before Defender of the Fatherland Day.
ATLANTA, GA. – It was recently revealed that suspected serial killer Gary Michael Hilton, 61, made sure his dog would be cared for while he was in prison, by modifying his plea agreement to stipulate that his dog would be placed in a good home. According to the Associated Press, the dog's new owner is "someone close to the case," whom Hilton did not know prior to his arrest. Last month, Hilton entered a guilty plea in the murder of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson. As a result, Dawson County Superior Court Judge Bonnie Chessher Oliver sentenced Hilton to life in prison with parole eligibility in 30 years. Hilton still faces potential murder charges in both Florida and North Carolina.Friday, February 15, 2008
BATON ROUGE, LA – The Backyard Gallery will be hosting the Aileen Wuornos Show tonight at the Violet House on 870 Violet Street. According to the hosts, Adam Tourek and Tiffany True, the purpose of the event is to showcase works of art related to the notorious female serial killer. "The show is not necessarily promoting any issues," Tourek told Lsureveille.com. "But perhaps a look at Wuornos' life will bring to mind issues that still find their way into the headlines - capital punishment, mental stability, family life, prostitution, movie deals, violence, gun control, surveillance, law enforcement." The show starts at 8 p.m.
BOCA RATON, FL. – The Broward Sheriff's Office has released a sketch of the man who robbed a woman at the Town Center Mall in August. Police believe the same man could be responsible for the December 13, 2007, murders of Nancy Bochicchio, 47, and her 7-year-old daughter – a case that John Walsh, host of the popular television show America's Most Wanted, believes is connected to the March 23, 2007 murder of 52-year-old Randi Gorenberg. "This is a serial killer. He is good at what he does. It's all about the power trip, and I know that when the cases get closer and closer together, like this pattern has, the killer is on the attack. So I say to everybody, don't let your guard down. It's a game for him," Walsh told WPBF. Criminal profiler Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin recently profiled the killer for Investigation Discovery. Click here to read her analysis of the case.
Trivia:
Last Week’s Question and Answer:
Q: The "Brides in the Bath Murderer" was a moniker associated with which serial killer?
A: George Joseph Smith
Case description:
"George Joseph Smith has gone down in British criminal history as being one of the most evil men. Yet despite being described as cunning, conniving, ruthless and unattractive he managed to convince several women to 'marry' him. All of them suffered in some way for falling under his spell. Most lost their money or possessions; some paid with their lives." Read more at Shyscyberchamber.com.
Michael Moore was the first person to send in the correct answer. Congratulations Michael! This week Michael asks readers:
Which serial killer told the jury at their sentencing hearing: "May your wife and children get raped, right in the ass"?
The first person to send in the correct answer will have his or her name listed in next week’s edition of Serial Killer News Briefs and will have the opportunity to pose the next trivia question.
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