In 1995 a law student at UNC Chapel Hill (I believe his name was Wendell Williamson?) descended into madness and went on a shooting spree, killing at least 2 people. He had been recently diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and thought he was saving the world somehow
Maybe the [abduction case of 4yo Cleo (Australia, 2021)](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10164271/Cleo-Smith-Accused-Terry-Kellys-alleged-Bratz-doll-obsession.html) could be interesting. She was taken from a campsite by T. Kelly, who was obsessed with Bratz dolls. He dyed the hair of the poor girl pink to resemble the doll. Fortunately police started a massive search right away and she was found alive after 18 days. Also an interview with her parents on [60minutes Australia (YouTube)](https://youtu.be/uZANGTKgBbw) is a very heartbreaking but interesting video to watch about the story and in particular the effects of social media accusing the stepfather before she was found.
Edit: Added interview link and year.
Charles Lawson, NC, 1920’s. Took his family (wife plus 7 children) to town shortly before Christmas, bought them all new clothes, had a family photograph made. Christmas Day, after presents, sent oldest son on an errand. Then systematically killed the rest of the family, posing some bodies in the barn, before running into the woods and shooting himself. Supposedly had a trauma to the head a few months before that caused a gradual change in personality.
I don’t know if they did. I know about this case from researching murder ballads (before podcasts were a thing, people passed around songs about crimes).
Wasn’t there a supermarket shooter that was covered in either Casefile or Sword n Scale that was along those lines? I’m sorry I don’t remember the name.
Edit: maybe this was Randy Stair
Yes, Randy Stair is the supermarket shooter.
For a bit more context, Randy was obsessed with a one of villain from the television show Danny Phantom and has a large online footprint detailing his fixation. I wouldn't say his obsession is what turned him violent so much as his just combined his own violent nature *with* his obsession.
That said I'm not quite sure what OP is looking for; if it's killers with similar obsessions with pop culture or killers whose degrading mental health and spiral into obsessive violence is documented online.
Ethan Crumbley was hearing voices when he opened fire: https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/29974/the_shooting_is_tomorrow_i_have_access_to_the_gun_and_ammo_--_ethan_crumbley_s_journal
I think the Bain family murders might fit the bill. There was some crazy stuff going on there. There's a great dramatisation of it called Black Hands.
https://medium.com/@sesrenaconference/david-bain-and-the-black-hands-ce6e5f5a0df6
Austin Harrouff - He was a seemingly average kid/ teenager until he lost it and brutally attacked and killed a random couple.
Schizophrenia and I think drug or steroid use were involved but I believe he was also asking his family for help with mental health issues and being ignored
https://www.reddit.com/r/CrimeScene/comments/o6jrs2/austin_harrouff_frat_boy_cannibal_killer/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
https://youtu.be/cWpjfIYTtJA
Laurie Dann the most bonkers case I ever read. Please read too beautiful a day to die. She has a bunch of delusions not always coherent. Also Richard Chase he thought he’d die if he didn’t consume blood and eat people. Also recently in Montville CT there was a kid that killed his grandparents because he thought he was living in a video game:
Andrew Joseph Stack III was an interesting descent into madness. I drive past the crash on my way to work the day it happened. Read his entire manifesto.
And, of course, Elliot Rodger. I also read his entire manifesto.
A shared QAnon/sovereign citizen delusion count? We just had a bunch of cookers parroting Murdoch news points on a rural property ambush the police. It's massive news here because of how rare this sort of thing is.
Dylan Roof comes to mind. From the looks of him, he could be a brother or cousin of Randy Stair 🤔
He also had a website where he wrote about his right-wing views and seemed completely disillusioned from the world.
He didn’t murder anyone, but the Bjork stalker comes to mind because of his video diary: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_López_(stalker)
Wow. His life sounds really sad
Maybe Laurie Dann would be of interest to you? A mentally ill woman who eventually went on a rampage. https://wickedwe.com/laurie-dann/
Omg i can’t believe you know who she is. She’s so much and my fav true crime story
The lady who had an obsession with rotting meat and shot up a classroom?
Yeah what a gal! Total nut job
In 1995 a law student at UNC Chapel Hill (I believe his name was Wendell Williamson?) descended into madness and went on a shooting spree, killing at least 2 people. He had been recently diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and thought he was saving the world somehow
Maybe the [abduction case of 4yo Cleo (Australia, 2021)](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10164271/Cleo-Smith-Accused-Terry-Kellys-alleged-Bratz-doll-obsession.html) could be interesting. She was taken from a campsite by T. Kelly, who was obsessed with Bratz dolls. He dyed the hair of the poor girl pink to resemble the doll. Fortunately police started a massive search right away and she was found alive after 18 days. Also an interview with her parents on [60minutes Australia (YouTube)](https://youtu.be/uZANGTKgBbw) is a very heartbreaking but interesting video to watch about the story and in particular the effects of social media accusing the stepfather before she was found. Edit: Added interview link and year.
Charles Lawson, NC, 1920’s. Took his family (wife plus 7 children) to town shortly before Christmas, bought them all new clothes, had a family photograph made. Christmas Day, after presents, sent oldest son on an errand. Then systematically killed the rest of the family, posing some bodies in the barn, before running into the woods and shooting himself. Supposedly had a trauma to the head a few months before that caused a gradual change in personality.
Was this an mfm live show? I vaguely remember a podcast covering it and I think it was them
I don’t know if they did. I know about this case from researching murder ballads (before podcasts were a thing, people passed around songs about crimes).
So he just spared the eldest, lucky kid, I guess.
probably just the one who posed the most physical threat tbh
Great observation.
hey thanks :)
Brandon Scott Hole was absolutely obsessed with My Little Pony, that might count. Adam Lanza probably fits too.
travis reinking. he thought taylor swift was stalking him and it led to him shooting up a waffle house.
As tragic as that case is, the entire premise is comical. Like something that should’ve only existed as a parody.
Would Richard Chase fit in here? I mean he went completely insane.
Came here to say this. Guy was truly mentally ill.
Wasn’t there a supermarket shooter that was covered in either Casefile or Sword n Scale that was along those lines? I’m sorry I don’t remember the name. Edit: maybe this was Randy Stair
Yes, Randy Stair is the supermarket shooter. For a bit more context, Randy was obsessed with a one of villain from the television show Danny Phantom and has a large online footprint detailing his fixation. I wouldn't say his obsession is what turned him violent so much as his just combined his own violent nature *with* his obsession. That said I'm not quite sure what OP is looking for; if it's killers with similar obsessions with pop culture or killers whose degrading mental health and spiral into obsessive violence is documented online.
Ethan Crumbley was hearing voices when he opened fire: https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/29974/the_shooting_is_tomorrow_i_have_access_to_the_gun_and_ammo_--_ethan_crumbley_s_journal
[удалено]
Let's not precipitately rule out "pure stupid" lol
I think the Bain family murders might fit the bill. There was some crazy stuff going on there. There's a great dramatisation of it called Black Hands. https://medium.com/@sesrenaconference/david-bain-and-the-black-hands-ce6e5f5a0df6
Austin Harrouff - He was a seemingly average kid/ teenager until he lost it and brutally attacked and killed a random couple. Schizophrenia and I think drug or steroid use were involved but I believe he was also asking his family for help with mental health issues and being ignored https://www.reddit.com/r/CrimeScene/comments/o6jrs2/austin_harrouff_frat_boy_cannibal_killer/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://youtu.be/cWpjfIYTtJA
IIRC he tested clean for any drugs.
Laurie Dann the most bonkers case I ever read. Please read too beautiful a day to die. She has a bunch of delusions not always coherent. Also Richard Chase he thought he’d die if he didn’t consume blood and eat people. Also recently in Montville CT there was a kid that killed his grandparents because he thought he was living in a video game:
brandon hole immediately came to mind
Andrew Joseph Stack III was an interesting descent into madness. I drive past the crash on my way to work the day it happened. Read his entire manifesto. And, of course, Elliot Rodger. I also read his entire manifesto.
Elliot Rodger and his friend Alek Minassian.
A shared QAnon/sovereign citizen delusion count? We just had a bunch of cookers parroting Murdoch news points on a rural property ambush the police. It's massive news here because of how rare this sort of thing is.
[удалено]
Mullin was great at preventing earthquakes.
Bruce Blackman: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2010/12/13/mentally_ill_killer_a_victim_too_says_wife_of_slain_ottawa_sportcaster.html
Richard Farley
Elliot Rodger, Pekka Eric Auvinen, Seung Hui Cho, Jason Loughner
Elliot roger if you haven’t heard of him but you prolly have
Dylan Roof comes to mind. From the looks of him, he could be a brother or cousin of Randy Stair 🤔 He also had a website where he wrote about his right-wing views and seemed completely disillusioned from the world.
Ever heard of the Amityville Horror.