Writing a Danger to Society

I've embarked on a unique social experiment: writing to individuals behind bars. This journey wasn't about judgment or condemnation; it was about seeking understanding forging unexpected bonds, and exploring dark complexities of the human experience. I'll be sharing real-time updates on this project as it unfolds (which may take time), and I welcome your suggestions and feedback along the way.

                   Ed Kemper was denied parole, again, on July 9th, 2024, with the prosecution declaring him to still be a danger to society. This comes as no surprise to those familiar with this notorious serial killer, as the heinousness of his crimes is overshadowed only by his lack of both remorse and empathy. Today, Kemper resides in a medical prison where he was moved after several trips to an outside hospital due to complications with his severe diabetes. Other than that, unverified sources 

say he is otherwise relatively healthy and can still walk though he frequently uses a wheelchair to get around. Another source said that Kemper recently met with a journalist numerous times, in person and over the phone, insinuating that there should be a new book or documentary coming in the near future. Disappointingly, no title or release date was given; but he has been featured in several newer works. As well, since being incarcerated Kemper has recorded thousands of hours of audiobook narration and assisted the FBI in the development of their Behavioural Science Unit, though most recently he’s said to have accosted a female staffer while transferring into his wheelchair. This of course only worked against him at his parole hearing earlier this month, where he was denied (for the twelfth time). His is not my most familiar case, but not for lack of intrigue. I’ve watched some interviews and read a few articles, but I’ve not yet dove into the depths of his mind.
               Now, at seventy-four years old, Ed Kemper is said to be just as paraphilic as ever. One unverified source mentioned him recalling sexual acts with his mother’s severed head to a staff member; the staff at his current facility are not in the habit of engaging in his more insidious fantasies and recollections. Valid. However, because my curiosities are never quite satisfied by the prosecutorial perspective. So, I’ve decided to reach out to Edmund himself. I’ve only just sent the letter, so I’ve not yet much to report. However, I’ve heard that he’s loquacious so unless he is no longer interested or able to respond, I suppose all there is to do now is patiently await his reply.
               I’ve mentioned that I will be writing incarcerated individuals (primarily of the serial killer variety) to a few acquaintances, and there seems to be a common, poorly masked abhorrence of the endeavour. In the interest of transparency, my desire to write violent offenders is not some convoluted infatuation that needs explored in therapy—though I’ve done that, too. What I’ve discovered is that what started as a simple morbid curiosity has evolved into an in-depth exploration of the darker crevices of the human psyche and experience. There’s a strange comfort in that darkness. Something that settles in a sort of reckoning with the fragility of life. Some say that you can’t truly appreciate the good that life has to offer until you’ve been touched by death. I know that my own encounters with death have taught me more about myself and about life than any therapy session or failure ever has. In some ways, I’ve dedicated my life to developing a relationship with death. One that even I don’t completely understand, and still, something sucks me in like gravity. In some strange and possibly disturbing way, it helps me feel grounded. I’ve experienced suicidality and the loss of friends and loved ones, I’ve extinguished the life of another being, and I have worked in hospice. I’ve engaged with legitimate psychopaths and murderers, most of whom I was entirely unaware were holding immense secrets and dark fantasies. At least this way, the interaction is at face value; their records are public record…like their location and inmate number.
               So, I’ll continue to find and write inmates incarcerated for violent crimes, and I will hopefully get some responses that permit conversation of substance. Dennis Rader, better known as BTK, and The Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, are also on my list; along with lesser known dangers to society.

Thanks for reading! I'm eager to hear your thoughts and questions. Do you have any experiences with pen pal correspondence? Any suggests for topics to discuss with my prospective pen pals? I'm all ears! Leave your comments below, and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter, The Dive!