Why do we fetishize serial killers?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: Why do we fetishize serial killers?
Position1 of 3›: Serial killers are human
Argument1 of 2›: Serial killers live like regular people

People can’t spot a serial killer off the street. Serial killers often live normal lives among people.

The argument

Serial killers don’t look like criminals. Ted Bundy is a good example of a serial killer who tricked people by having a normal life. He received a psychology degree and had a family of his own. Because he was so popular, people never suspected he was a killer. If serial killers live regular lives like Ted Bundy before they’re caught, they are still seen as a regular person after they’re caught. Because they’re seen as a regular person, they are still seen as a typical person in society.

Premises

[P1]Many serial killers, like Ted Bundy, lead outwardly normal lives with families, education, and social standing before they are caught. [P2] When someone has lived a recognizably ordinary human life, people continue to perceive them as a regular person even after their crimes are exposed. [C] Therefore, serial killers are still human beings, not a separate category apart from the rest of society.

Counter-arguments

Although a serial killer might live like a normal person, there are a lot of internal issues that people don’t see. Dr. Al Carlisle analyzed Ted Bundy’s psychological process and realized that there were three reasons why Bundy was able to function normally and kill at the same time. The main reason was fantasy, the ability to keep his inmost desires away from his public persona.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P3] Serial killers aren’t accepted by the victim’s families. Serial killers shouldn’t be praised by the public.