My fascination with true crime started at an early age.
Author Jeff Ignatowski
I was born in 1980 and grew up in Murder Town, U.S.A., otherwise known as Wilmington, Delaware, about 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I ran the streets during some of the most violent history that region of the United States has ever seen.
I grew up listening to stories of my dad's mob connection; he had a relationship with Angelo Bruno, the deceased boss of Philadelphia, and his chance meeting with Charles Manson. These stories gripped my attention as a child. I wanted to live that life and did my best to emulate it.
I also loved reading and could read at a very early age. I remember reading my brother's books on Shakespeare when I was four years old. By age 8, I was reading Stephen King and any mafia biography I could get my hands on.
I also suffered abuse as a child, which shaped how I related to the world. Although I learned many great lessons about survival and overcoming, I also struggled to connect with people and get in touch with my own emotions.
I used to create games and make my friends play them on my grandfather's stairs in the 'hood. At that time, my friends didn't have much of a choice. I was a bully and forced them to play, whether they liked it or not.
I also started writing in grade school. Back then, it was only short stories, but I found an escape while writing. All the crazy thoughts that I struggled with, that were unacceptable to the world around me, could be written into a compelling narrative, and people would accept them. I remember shocking everyone when I had to write my 8th-grade paper, and I chose to write on Forensic Pathology. I visited my brother's college and witnessed an autopsy for research on the project. The paper was to be at most eight pages, and I turned in a 26-page report.
As an adult, I became a counselor for the Department of Juvenile Justice in Kentucky. I wanted to help youth who faced struggles similar to mine. During this time, I received most of my psychological training and even became Counselor of the Year, winning a state-wide award for the department. My achievement allowed me to become part of the S.M.A.R.T. Team, which helped brainstorm ideas for the entire Department of Juvenile Justice.
It would be years before I entered the true crime scene again, but it all started with a visit to a local oddities shop. While I was in the shop, my son asked to buy a pack of cards, and that interaction inspired me to create KILLERS—THE CARD GAME, which has become a best-seller, and I no longer have to force anyone to play.
I met John Borowski, a true crime author and documentarian, and Steve Giannangelo, an author and professor, a year later. They brought me on stage to discuss "Serial Killer Culture." This would be the final push that I needed to return to public speaking.
I began doing talks on "Serial Killer Psychology" and another talk where we dissected the psychology and behavior from interviews of serial killers. These would lead to my Roku show "Serial Killers Around the World," and my YouTube shows "5 Min Murder" and "Route 666."
My upcoming book, BEYOND THE HEADLINES, brings me full circle to everything I have loved from childhood.
