I have a friend who wants to get a tattoo on his forearm, consisting of a numbered "to do" list. He can then fill in the numbers with whatever he needs to accomplish that day. However, he's heard that serial killers sometimes have "To Do" lists on their arms containing names of their future or past victims. He doesn't want to raise any suspicions that he is a serial killer, rather than an admirably efficient and conscientious person. Does anyone know if this is true or not? A Google search wasn't helpful. Thank you.
posted by Mayree on Jan 24, 2013 - 37 answers

I'd like some suggestions of good true crime books to read. I'm particularly interested in books about crimes committed in the US that occurred or were solved relatively recently (preferably within the last ten years, but no more than twenty years ago). [more inside]
posted by spockette on Mar 19, 2009 - 15 answers

I am 96% sure that I have read/heard from a reputable source that murderers, especially serial killers, are an inherent reflection of Western society, and that both actual murderers and fictional portrayals are important significant elements. Part A: Is this just a half-remembered bit of dialogue from some prime-time criminal procedural, and Part B: if not, where is it from? [more inside]
posted by sarahkeebs on Mar 24, 2008 - 11 answers

Prompted by a Metatalk comment yesterday (can't link; page down; sorry) about meeting people from the internet: where did the stereotypical worry about strangers from cyberspace being serial killers come from? Did it ever happen? More than once? [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry on Apr 8, 2005 - 16 answers

If my wife and I ever have a child, and it is a boy, I would like to name him after Benjamin Franklin. However, she says he was possibly a serial killer. Is this true? What's the skinny on ol' Ben?
posted by geekhorde on Aug 27, 2004 - 22 answers