Chapter 1
Humans are fascinating creatures—predictably fearful, yet endlessly curious. What they fear, they feel compelled to explain, as if understanding could grant them some false sense of safety. This instinct has driven scientists to spend countless time and money researching the age‑old debate of nature versus nurture.
Those who support the nature argument believe serial killers kill because of some form of brain damage, disorder, injury, or disease. Those who support the nurture argument lean toward causes rooted in childhood: physical or mental abuse, neglect, or trauma. There is even a branch of science that has turned to mathematics in an attempt to understand serial killers, drawing parallels between their erratic behavioral patterns and natural disasters.
Despite all this research, they still don’t have answers. There are serial killers with no brain abnormalities and perfectly healthy, loving childhoods.
Personally, I believe it’s like anything else in life: you either are something, or you are not. You are a doctor, or you are not. You are a lawyer, or you are not. You are a police officer, or you are not. You are a serial killer, or you are not.
I have other theories, but I’ll keep those to myself for now. In all honesty, they will never know.
