WHY DO SERIAL KILLERS KILL?
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF SERIAL KILLERS is as close as you will ever come to discovering the answer … and in the killer’s own words!
In this one-of-a-kind book, author Mary Brett corresponded with some of America’s most evil convicted serial killers and asked just one question: WHY? Their return letters give an insightful look into the dark mind of each killer. The reader also will be able to scrutinize direct quotes, unedited, from interrogation statements, trial testimony, media interviews, and parole hearing inquests.
75 Serial Killers are included in the book, some only known to the unfortunate victims’ family, friends, and community, while others are the most infamous in the annals of serial killers. All bios feature the crime, the capture, the victims, and background facts. Crime scene photos, some graphic, are featured.
From The Book:
*content warning: the following excerpt contains material that may not be suitable for young audiences*
GARY RAY BOWLES “The I-95 Killer” 7 Kills
DOB: 1/25/1962 VA
DOD: 8/22/2019 FL, age 57 by lethal injection, RAIFORD, FLORIDA
SENTENCE: DEATH PENALTY-TWICE
FACILITY: UNION CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE (DEATH ROW 23 years)
THE CRIME: Gary Ray Bowles killed six gay men (he claims he killed seven) in a spree starting in 3/1994 and ended with his arrest in 11/1994. His spree spanned three states: Florida, Georgia, and Maryland. He robbed his victims but robbery does not appear to be the motive and each kill was branded as an “over-kill.” Some of his victims were found with a cloth, paper, leaves, or a sex toy shoved very deeply into their throats. Bowles hung out in gay bars where he met his likely prospects. He would offer household chores and sex in exchange for a place to stay.
BACKGROUND: Bowles biological father died before he was born from black lung. He, his mother, and his older brother were often violently abused by an alcoholic stepfather. He left home at age 13, after seriously injuring the stepfather with a brick in retaliation. His mother stood by her husband, basically abandoning Gary. He was homeless for a time and immediately started earning money as a prostitute, a profession he continued to engage in for approximately 20 years even though he always professed he was a heterosexual. His first arrest was in 1982 (age 20) for the sexual battery of a girlfriend and he was sentenced to six years. His second offence was for the unarmed robbery of an elderly woman and he was sentenced to four years.
He was described as handsome, charming, manipulative, a liar, the perfect con man.
OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE SERIAL KILLER: In a first UNEDITED letter to the author, Bowles claimed he killed his first victim because the victim showed him a pornographic video of a young boy with two adult men: “It shocked me.” “I just snapped.” It should be noted that no video tape was found at the crime scene nor any evidence that the victim had been a pedophile. In fact, none of his six known victims had any past arrests or reputations for engaging in sexual acts with a child. “I guess I am a serial killer but I guess not your average serial killer.” “Sad to say, but it’s not hard to kill somebody. You can kill someone pretty easy if you have a mind for it.” “In my mind they all got what was deserved. I just wanted to kill as many people as I could before they caught me.” “I wasn’t trying to commit the perfect crime.” “I was just, you know, out of my mind with rage and hate.” “I felt kinda like a sense of justice. In my mind I thought what I was doing was alright.”
An UNEDITED excerpt from a second letter written by Gary Ray Bowles to the author 4/23/2016: “Each murder was for different reasons, but when I did the first one I seen something that caused me to remember something from when I was 9 years old, and it caused me to snap and kill for the first time. After the first murder I knew my life was over, and that lead me to kill six more times. The F.B.I. never charged me with the 7th murder but I’ve proved I did it and they still won’t charge me.”
Gary Ray Bowles final written statement before execution: “I’m sorry for all the pain and suffering I have caused. I hope my death eases your pain. I want to tell my mother that I am also so sorry for my actions. Having to deal with your son being called a monster is terrible. I’m so very sorry. I never intended this to be my life. You don’t wake up one day and decide to become a serial killer.”
“I was treated with respect for the last 73 days on death watch, and I felt human again.” “I’m sorry to the other families who did not get closure. I’ve told the FBI everything, no cases left open.” Bowles response when authorities asked about cold cases on their books.
ADDITIONAL FACTS:
- Bowles was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list while on the run in 1992. Most likely, the violence and over-kill exhibited during his killing spree created the urgency to quickly locate and apprehend him.
- Bowles beat a girlfriend so badly in 1982 that a detective remarked she had seen better looking bodies in the morgue. He was sentenced to six years but received an early release.
- He was the subject of A&E’s show, “The Killer Speaks”/ 2014 Season 2, Episode 4.
I can’t wait for this to come out!
Sounds very interesting and very real. I can’t wait to read it.
Such great research and fabulous action. Mary Brett’s writing style makes readers feel they are part of the story, not just reading about it.