Serial killers, cults, kidnappings, oh my! It isn’t just the police who have a keen interest in these psychos. Strangely enough, high schoolers do too. What motivates people to do such terrible things? How much detail and time went into such calculated, cold schemes? These questions haunt the heads of students at Littleton High School, even the ones you would least expect. But what about it is so intriguing?
“One of the things that fascinates me personally about true crime is how much work and thought has to go into it, not just in solving it, but also in the crime itself. Every detail is thought out. Nothing is left unturned,” said Kadence McMillan, Sophomore.
Freshman Elsa Rodriguez agreed, saying, “Serial killers have a certain way of doing things. Sometimes they do it in the ABCs, they really go over their tracks.”
“I find it so fascinating because this intelligence is something that could be used for good, but they don’t. And I think it is also interesting, learning about the motives, causes and processes,’ said McMillan. “One of my favorite cases is the JonBenét Ramsey case. I’m really excited because they are finally working on solving it. The ransom note itself, in that case, is so fascinating. There are so many detailed aspects that go into cases, especially cold, unsolved ones.”
Whether it is through podcasts, books, documentaries, or just a good old internet search, young people have been researching and studying true crime more and more. It is a phenomenon happening across the country, with social media also shedding light on some of the darkest cases.
LHS in particular has such an interest in the mystery and the macabre that several Freshman have gotten together to study and dissect these cases. “In True Crime Club we did this clue game where you had to find the killer, so that was really fun,” said Rodriguez, who is a member of the club.
What kind of twisted childhood could possibly cause people to devolve into cold-blooded monsters? The mystery of the unknown is intoxicating, and likely a major reason why true crime will always intrigue young people, here at LHS and beyond.
