What caused this to happen?
Why were most of the documented 20th century serial killers American?
What behavioral “type”/“profile” leads to serial versus mass versus spree killer?
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Part of it is just that California is a very populous state, so has more of everything.
But also it’s believed that “copycat crimes” (people getting crazy ideas from TV) could be a factor.
California in the 60s and 70s was booming with people moving in for the sunny lifestyle and hippie culture. The population explosion overwhelmed police, who didn’t have today’s tech to track criminals. Plus, police departments didn’t communicate well with each other, making it easier for serial killers to operate without getting caught. Add in the growing media coverage, and it seemed like serial killers were everywhere.
Because it’s nice here and they have the freedom to pick their worksite, duh.
Anyway, SoCal in the 60’s was rapidly expanding, so you have lots of movement of people coming in, so unfamiliar faces become the norm. Likewise as a decent portion may have been stretched thin to make it out here, they became more susceptible to traps due to desperation. Also, since there is a decent chunk of midwestern people, there may have been more trust in strangers.
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I remember a study coming out recently. Either it’s underway or it’s already wrapped up, but it was trying to connect the dots between the higher concentrations of lead poisonings back then with the serial killings
The timing part is theorized to relate to people returning from Vietnam with untreated PTSD or similar issues. Plus they knew how to use weapons. Or children of WWII vets with similar issues.
Also, California was rapidly developing at the time. Any time a state goes through rapid population growth/development, it tends to attract people from other parts of the country with few connections. Part of the reason you hear so much about crazy shit in Florida now is due to similar factors. Florida is the most recent state in the continental US to have seen a massive explosion in population. That attracts some odd people. Or people who don’t want to be found/recognized.
Because the KKK killing multiple black people weren’t considered serial killers? Although this would more so apply to early 1900s USA then 1960s. But the KKK were active then.
I’d imagine due to crowds of people flocking to the spectacle of the scene, creating a hunting ground of the vulnerable, lost and forgotten.
High lead levels due to leaded gasoline during childhood. California was ground zero for car-centric communities in the postwar era.
The link between crime rates and lead levels is quite strong.
What evidence do you have that there was concentration of serial killers in California during the 60’s/70’s?
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