A most notorious website

Given that nightmare I recently had, I think it is time to finally to present a serious critique of that notorious website I mentioned in my last entry. To continue to ignore it would be like writing extensively about roller coasters while making no mention of enthusiast clubs and fan sites for amusement parks and thrill rides. Or doing the same with a famous musician or band and not noting the biggest fan clubs and sites.

But this site I’m speaking of is rather different and much darker than those examples. Imagine a “fan club” site for a serial killer. Such repugnant “tributes” are out there, and not the sort of site I would ever visit, yet somehow I found myself clicking the link to once such site earlier this year. I had misgivings about doing so, but I just had to see.

I soon discovered that the site in question (for which I will provide a link later on in this or in my next entry) is in many ways a monument to a very prolific (over 340 known victims) but totally passive killer. I suppose one might see it a tribute to said killer, or perhaps just a ghoulish archive of so many attributed grisly deaths. The site’s creator has curated all sorts of trivia and data about the killer in question, with photos, artwork, and links to related videos and books. Despite the macabre topic, there isn’t anything gory or otherwise objectionable on most of the site. Well, OK; buried deeply within the site’s index is a page with some pretty gruesome photographs of victims. These unfortunate souls did not fall prey to the killer in question but still met their end in a similar hideous way. Visitors are given ample warning before being shown the link to open the page on which these victims are shown. As said, there is nothing (other than those pictures) that is even remotely gory to see on this site, but the descriptions of how many of the victims died are very gut wrenching. Like that old saying goes, this site is not for the faint of heart. Not all of it is grisly, as there are some videos and links to books and other media chronicling the history of the killer, as well as some nice photos and viewer submitted artwork. In that regard, the site is a clearing house of sorts of all things so related.

Then there is the site’s creator, who makes frequent updates, though they come less often since when the killer was finally imprisoned a few years ago. Naturally such a site will draw hate mail, and the owner makes some very acerbic retorts to such barbs. On the surface the site has the feel of its creator not only being enamored of the killer but also seeming to revel in the killings. Especially notable is the emphasis on various sordid and salacious details, such as an account of one victim being found naked and injured, having survived the attempt on his life. This perhaps is what generates all of the hate. However, upon taking a deeper look, it is clear (at least to me) that while the owner obviously has a fascination with this monster, he has no ill will towards those who have been victimized, including the few who have survived. Some survivors have reached out to this site and have told their stories. And there are also accounts from family and friends of those who have perished, to whom the owner is sympathetic in his replies. The site owner appears to actively discourage potential victims, warning them to stay away from the killer. And he offers links and phone numbers that can provide help to those who find themselves drawn to a potential killer. In some ways, when considering a site like this, the motives of the creator are every bit as interesting as the subject they cover. Apparently neither he nor anyone he knows was ever victimized by this killer (or any similar killer), but yet for some reason he seems to be quite obsessed. One thing is to be said – the owner is pretty good about answering most any and all questions related to the killer. I suppose that in some way I have also developed a minor obsession with the killer as well. I have not only spent a lot of time on that site but I also made a written contribution to it, in one of the sections dedicated to similar killers. The owner published my account of the gruesome death of someone known to me and said he would comment on it. I’ve not visited that site ever since. But in order to really complete my critique of this site, I will have to revisit it.