Current Unsolved Mysteries

[CuriousMind90]

A lot of the "Missing Persons/Serial Killers/Bizarre Disappearances" which are shown on UM happened in the 60s and early 1990s--Of course because this was when the show aired. Is it just me, or does it seem like Serial Killings and bizarre or tragic Missing Persons cases seem to happen less often than they did back then? Or is it just the media doesn't pay attention to it as much unless it's a huge case?

With regard especially to Serial Killers, it seems like certain "periods" of time are more prone to serial killers appearing--I wonder if there's anything cyclic about it. For example, the late 19th-early 20th century was a time rife with all sorts of deranged killers both here in the US and abroad. Then during the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, yes there were some, but there was a lull--There weren't like a bunch out there doing horrible things. Then you had in late 60s-maybe 1995/1996 a WHOLE era of those sort of crimes, many of which were detailed on UM. I wonder if there is some social factors involved with Serial Killings as to the number and whatnot.

[cocytus]

Originally Posted by CuriousMind90

A lot of the "Missing Persons/Serial Killers/Bizarre Disappearances" which are shown on UM happened in the 60s and early 1990s--Of course because this was when the show aired. Is it just me, or does it seem like Serial Killings and bizarre or tragic Missing Persons cases seem to happen less often than they did back then? Or is it just the media doesn't pay attention to it as much unless it's a huge case?

With regard especially to Serial Killers, it seems like certain "periods" of time are more prone to serial killers appearing--I wonder if there's anything cyclic about it. For example, the late 19th-early 20th century was a time rife with all sorts of deranged killers both here in the US and abroad. Then during the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, yes there were some, but there was a lull--There weren't like a bunch out there doing horrible things. Then you had in late 60s-maybe 1995/1996 a WHOLE era of those sort of crimes, many of which were detailed on UM. I wonder if there is some social factors involved with Serial Killings as to the number and whatnot.

There have always been serial killers, but no one seems to have made the "connection" between serial murders, bad childhoods and mental illness until the late 1970's.

Also there a number of factors which, IMHO, created the conditions in which serial killers came into prominence in the US:

1) Changes in family structure - Most people lived in intact (although certainly not healthy) family environments until the early 1960's. When divorce became easier and more common, more families were fractured and people who were simply "odd" became more likely to become killers.

Also a strong male role in the home would tend to blunt the effects that incipient sociopathy would have on a male child in a manner that a more nurturing female (or a domineering one) would not. The types of behaviors that symptomatic of male serial killers would not be tolerated by a strong male relative, especially a father.

2) The interstate highway system - Prior to the late 1950's, interstate travel was difficult and expensive. The development of an interstate highway system allowed easier travel between the states and also helped to develop the trucking industry which has been a frequent employer of proven and suspected killers.

3) The sexual revolution - As women gained their own economic and social freedoms, there were suddenly more women that lived alone, were unmarried and felt no qualms about traveling alone or going off w/o telling anyone for extended periods. This was almost (and I hate to use the analogy) like "Disneyland" for a serial killer that preys upon women.

Also as being gay became less of a social stigma, more gay men and women hung out more often in public places and things that were formerly well-hidden (cruising & cottaging) became almost publicly "acceptable." Since a number of serial killers have targeted gay men that cruised or gay prostitutes, there appears to be a linkage between more openness about homosexuality and serial murders.

4) The civil rights era - Frankly, prior to the Atlanta Child murders, few crimes committed against Black Americans were seen as being "serious" enough to investigate if they were INTRA-racial rather than INTER-racial. This probably allowed more than a few Black serial killers to escape justice and the ones that were caught to escape accountability for most of their crimes.

Not only Black serial killers, but many other killers of from distinct ethnic groups probably escaped due to thosegroups being isolated in their own communities until the Civil Rights era. The police rarely intervened in disputes in minority or ethnic communities and as such they were perfect havens for serial killers.

5) The police - Frankly, the police prior to the early 1970's come across as being a rather racist, brutal and stupid lot. They seemed to have little in the way to crime solving skills (outside of the major cities), they were primarily interested in protecting people that resembled themselves and their leadership seems to have been very poor.

After lawsuits and issues from the civil rights era, it seems most communities decided to raise the standards for being a police officer and the quality of policing seems to have improved since then. Although it could still use some improvements.

Now that most departments have computers,access to DNA & forensics testing, have POST accredited officers that are more intelligent and have more professional leadership, they have finally become a formidable opponent to serial murderers.

There are many more reasons, but I think that these are primary reasons that serial killers became more prominent and "successful" from the mid 1960's until the late 1980's.

[Steve W.]

"A lot of the "Missing Persons/Serial Killers/Bizarre Disappearances" which are shown on UM happened in the 60s and early 1990s....."

Did you mean the 80's?

I agree that there should be new episodes which show cases like that from the '90's and 2000's.

[wiseguy182]

Originally Posted by CuriousMind90

Or is it just the media doesn't pay attention to it as much unless it's a huge case?

i started a thread on that a little while ago. Unfortunately, the media does have its certain cases it liked. If a beautiful female disappears, you can be rest assured it will receive gigantic coverage.