Confessions of a Murderess

Reports

— Your farm is quite lovely, Mrs. Dorothy. Your daughter told me she loves this place — I stated — It's a shame you have to increase security after the girl's death.

— Stacy was almost the same age as Suzanne. It's normal for me to feel scared — she said.

— You're right. Can we go back a little to the past?

— If it doesn't take too long.

It's not easy to define what makes certain people adopt a stance that goes against the preservation of life. Monsters whose sole objective is violence, extermination, and the m******e of innocents. Sociopaths are studied from a psychological perspective of mental decline, genetic factors, or a violent episode during childhood, but that doesn't justify the atrocities these individuals have committed.

What many don't know is that there are sociopaths leading ordinary lives out there. They have great jobs, date, and even get married in church. They seemingly hide from the public that doesn't interest them and become a kind of malevolent special agent, revealing their true face only to their victims at the moment of death.

— Mrs. Dorothy, I need you to tell me something. Who bought the shed that belonged to your farm? — I asked.

— Will this help with the investigations? — she seemed uncomfortable.

— We found Kimberly Lancaster's body in the shed at the beginning of the year. Kimberly was suspended by a hook from the ceiling.

— I understand. It's a shame to see young people being brutally murdered like this. But it's been three years since I sold the shed's land. Honestly, I have no idea who the buyer is, as they never showed up here.

Psychopaths can be cold and calculated, while sociopaths tend to act more impulsively and irresponsibly. It all depends on how they were raised, their environment, their relationships, and their traumas during childhood. But one thing is certain, they are all manipulators and liars, and they lack empathy and emotional bonds with anyone.

Psychopaths want to avoid risks. It's more common for their crimes to be premeditated. Most of the time, they take advantage of vulnerable people to profit from others' suffering. However, since sociopaths are more impulsive, their bursts of violence end up leaving compromising clues along the way.

— Mrs. Dorothy, is there any address or information about the buyer that could be useful for the police?

— On the day I signed the sales contract, there was a Legal Attorney representing a meatpacking company.

— How did this man look? — I asked. — Could you describe him in detail?

— I'm not sure I can describe him in detail, Miss Norman. Sorry, but my memory isn't better than when I was twenty-five. I'm getting old.

— Then just describe him.

— Let me think...

Psychopaths are naturally confident, extroverted, and charming. They can dominate through words, making others believe that their confidence is award-worthy. During my years in the police force, I've seen many women falling for their smooth talk. Killers earn reputations, negotiate deals that would be nearly impossible, and even get s*x, with this being the last stage, the ultimate bridge to death. After s*x, it's normal for their victims to be discarded, as they are no longer of use.

Serial killers aren't a product of our corrupt modern society. They have existed in many cultures since ancient times. Elizabeth Báthory, for example, an important countess of the Báthory family, became a historical figure after committing heinous crimes driven by a dark obsession with beauty.

Elizabeth spent much of her life in Csejte Castle in western Slovakia. She was the daughter of Anna Báthory and Baron George Báthory. She grew up in a time when the Turks had conquered most of the Hungarian territory. The girl was raised on her family's estate in Ecsed, Transylvania. As a child, Elizabeth experienced several seizures caused by epilepsy, which likely numbed her most delicate emotions. At the time, one of the treatments for epilepsy was to pass human blood on the patient's lips or have them drink a mixture of blood from a healthy person. This may have motivated Elizabeth to become a serial killer, partly in search of a cure for her disease, as well as for the symbolism of the act. As a child, she grew to enjoy the scent and taste of blood on her lips.

Vain and very beautiful, Elizabeth was engaged to Count Ferenc Nadasdy at eleven years old and began living in his castle in Sárvar. In 1578, Count Nadasdy spent long periods away from home after being appointed the commander of the Hungarian army. Elizabeth spent most of her time alone in the castle. Her Machiavellian tendencies emerged during this time. She punished and tortured her own servants with pins, blades, or scissors. In winter, she killed her victims by forcing them to undress and walk in the snow, throwing cold water on them until they died of hypothermia.

Count Nádasdy died in 1604. After becoming a widow, Elizabeth's crimes grew increasingly cruel. Besides the maids, she began including royal girls, duchesses, and notably important baronesses on her list. She came to believe that the blood of noble and virgin girls would be miraculous, capable of transforming her into a younger and more beautiful woman.

It's hard to imagine such malevolent beings as Elizabeth Báthory existed before criminology and police investigation evolved. Many serial killers were never brought to trial.

— Mrs. Dorothy, I don't have all day — I stated. — What did the attorney look like?

— Let me think... I think he was a bit darker than me. Tall, thin; at least he seemed thin in that black suit. He had a small neck, white hair, and deep dark circles under his eyes. He wasn't charming. Believe me. Ask Yasmin if you want. My daughter is much more strict than I am about this kind of thing.

— Was he perhaps this man? — I showed her a photo of Adam.

— Hmm... no — Dorothy France observed the image and responded. — Definitely not him. He's even older. Can I go now? I'm tired of this topic.

— I suggest you find the contract sometime this week. The police in Rox will come to collect it.