What Makes a Killer
A look into the life and crimes of the world’s most infamous serial killers. Featuring interviews with family members, forensic experts, law enforcement, and witnesses.
From John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer to the “Night Stalker” Richard Ramirez and the Butcher of Plainfield, Ed Gein and "Son of Sam" killer, David Berkowitz – What Makes a Killer explores how they became killers.
Our Editor's Take
What Makes a Killer brings a different approach to the true crime podcast realm. It focuses on why people become murderers. Host Jennifer Nittoso explores the childhoods, mental issues, and motives of people who decide to kill. She also studies killers' methods and how they avoid capture.
Each murderer is unique, but What Makes a Killer reveals commonalities. A disappointing maternal relationship is one predictor. David Berkowitz's (the Son of Sam) mother conceived him in an affair. His father didn't want him. They placed him for adoption. Berkowitz's adoptive mother said his birth mother died. When he discovered her lie, resentment started. At age 14, Berkowitz's adoptive mother died. He located his birth mother and learned she had a daughter that she kept. His resentment intensified. Berkowitz began killing women to prevent them from having unwanted children. The podcast explores why his rejection turned into revenge.
The Hillside Stranglers also had complicated mothers. Angelo Buono called his mother a "whore." She took him to meet men and made him wait outside. His adopted cousin Kenneth Bianchi's mother was a sex worker. He and Buono began wearing fake police badges to coerce females into their cars. They killed ten victims. Rape and strangulation stopped exciting them. So, they began burning victims with cords. They injected them with air and chemicals to induce embolisms. The What Makes a Killer podcast assesses their sadistic behavior and their relationship.
The first podcast episode involves an extra-depraved killer. Joachim Kroll committed bestiality, pedophilia, cannibalism, rape, and murder. He eluded cops for decades. Kroll's neighbor made a disgusting discovery that led to his arrest. Kroll had a low IQ and an abusive father. He endured war, bullying, and romantic rejection. Only his mother loved him. Then she died. Like other killers, maternal disappointment was one problem Kroll couldn't tolerate.
Nittoso is a voice actor, voiceover artist, and audiobook narrator. She is a former meteorologist and reporter. Nittoso interviews killers' relatives and experts who study murderers. Her investigative and narrative skills make this podcast compelling. New episodes of What Makes a Killer come out each Thursday.
Episodios
