bundyspooks:

It may be surprising, but many serial killers were once soldiers serving their country in the armed forces. There are a number of theories as to why there is such a strong correlation between military personnel and those warped enough to commit such heinous crimes, and the reasons vary.

1) David Berkowitz- After a rocky childhood in an adoptive family, the Son of Sam killer decided to join the US army in 1971. He served in Korea and was praised for his excellent shooting skills, something that would have a chilling connection to his later crimes. He was honorably discharged three years later and spent his his free time locating his birth mother, which, according to his prison psychiatrist, caused the “primary crisis” in his life that triggered the spate of shootings.

2) Jeffrey Dahmer- Unable to uphold a steady job, Dahmer’s parents became fed up with him lazing around and doing nothing so they encouraged him to enlist in the US army. He initially responded well to training and a sense of order in his life, gaining a great deal of athleticism and confidence. However, Dahmer began to become alcoholic and would drink until he passed out, forcing his superiors to discharge him.

3) Dean Corll- Although he looked the part, The Candyman reportedly hated his time in the military and applied for a hardship discharge on the grounds that he was needed within his family’s business (A candy store). After he left, Corll told some of his closest friends that he had experienced homosexual feelings for the first time while in the army, and it was where he had his first homosexual experience. According to those closest to him, the army changed him and he would act differently around young teenage boys. He would later go on to torture and kill such teens.

4) Dennis Nilsen- The Kindly Killer got good grades all throughout school but unemployment was at an all time low and he was stuck for work. After working a dead-end job in a canning factory, Nilsen quit and announced that he was going to join the army, where he got a job as a chef. He excelled at this, and described his time in the military as the “happiest of his life”. Aware that he was gay, he described never showering with fellow soldiers because he feared he would develop an erection. Like Dahmer, he began drinking excessively to mask his fantasies and described moments where he pretended to be passed out drunk in the hope that one of his colleagues would take advantage of him. Nilsen’s career was vastly successful, spanning over 11 years; He even cooked for the Queen on one occasion.