A psychopathic mind.
“It is devoid of any emotional connection, empathy, sympathy, remorse, regret—even fear—when it comes to other human beings,” said Dr. Scott Bonn, an expert on criminal behavior, including that of serial killers.
Tri-State area residents can celebrate Halloween in a big way through a 90-minute, interactive, multimedia event— “Serial Killers with Dr. Scott Bonn”— Wednesday at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland.
The critically acclaimed, live theatrical event takes attendees into the minds of serial killers, including Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer.
Bonn—a criminologist, former award-winning criminology and sociology professor at Drew University in New Jersey, author and expert commentator-analyst for multiple high-profile true crime television programs—will offer insights into the motivations, fantasies and compulsions of infamous serial killers.
The event is broken up into two acts.
“Act number one is where I take the audience inside the minds of several of the most diabolical serial killers of the last 50 years, based on my actual involvement in these cases and my experiences and interactions with them,” Bonn said. “It’s a unique perspective.”
David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) and Dennis Rader (Bind, Torture, Kill or BTK) are two serial killers with whom Bonn corresponded. Their cases are part of Bonn’s show, as is the more recent alleged Long Island serial Killer Rex Heuermann.
“I describe their progression, their evolution into the monsters that they ultimately became—their motivations,” Bonn said.
Act number two consists of a live Q&A session during which audience members ask everything they ever wanted to know about serial killers.
“It usually ends up being a really interesting, lively discussion,” Bonn said.
One word sums up why people are fascinated with serial killers, according to Bonn.
“Empathy,” he said. “What I mean by that is we humans are empathetic creatures. We have the empathy gene, if you will, that serial killers—psychopaths—do not.”
Bonn said humans tend to be drawn to both the good and the bad of the world, to understand motivations.
“Frequently, we’re drawn to things that are larger than life and deadly,” he said. “I make the comparison even in my show that a serial killer like a Jeffrey Dahmer has three things in common with another predator in nature—the great white shark. They’re both very rare, exotic and deadly. Isn’t it interesting in our popular culture that we have a “Shark Week” on the Discovery network every year and we also have a “Serial Killer Week” on the Oxygen network. There’s this fascination.”
Serial killers become celebrity monsters, Bonn said.
“Ted Bundy is this macabre celebrity, yet he’s this symbol of evil and a monster in our culture as well,” he said.
One individual who stands out as the “worst of the worst” according to Bonn’s expertise is Dennis Rader—BTK.
“He’s as close to a cold-blooded killing machine as I’ve ever encountered,” he said. “He’s a true psychopath, also known as a malignant narcissist.”
Bonn said that is someone who has the classic narcissistic tendencies. They only experience the world according to how it benefits them.
“The malignant part is sadism,” Bonn said. “He’s a sadist as well.”
Bonn is the author of the bestselling popular culture book “Why We Love Serial Killers: The Curious Appeal of the World’s Most Savage Murderers.” He has provided expert commentary and analysis for a number of high-profile true crime TV shows and documentaries on A&E, Discovery network, Oxygen, Investigation Discovery and Travel Channel.
Bonn is “super excited for (his) show.”
“I look forward to meeting true crime fans,” he said. “Hopefully providing them with a very informative and entertaining evening.”
The doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8.