Serial Killer: Albert Fish

1. Serial Killer: Albert Fish He’s really really really insane, like you have absolutely no idea, and he sort of looks like Jigsaw from SAW

2. Definition of a Serial Killer Definition of a Serial Killer: Person who usually murders three or more people, with time in between murders. The gratification for these killers is often psychological gratification, rather than having a motive such as revenge, money, etc. It has been hypothesized that all serial killers have some type of “Antisocial Personality Disorder.” What my definition of a serial killer is: In my opinion a serial killer is a person who becomes obsessed with certain people’s lives, in which their may be no relation of the killer and the victim at all, simply random. (No real reason for their death.) Normally there is some pattern in the way these killings occur, a signature…

3. Background…THE Albert Fish • YOUTH • Born 1795 • Father 43 years old than mother • History of mental illness in family • Father died of heart attack, mother placed him in an orphanage…beaten…enjoyment (Practices developed - drinking urine and coprophagia. Fish also began visiting public baths where he could watch boys undress) • Homosexual relationship age 12…

4. Background 1880, His mother got a job and took him out of the orphanage, however it was too late…already extremely corrupted. 1890 – Arrived in NYC, male prostitute, began raping young boys 1898 arranged marriage by mother, 6 children, became a house painter…Even after his marriage he continued with child molestations Brothels, Castrations, Relationship with mentally retarded man… 1903 - Arrested, embezzlement, Sing Sing Facility 1917 his wife left him…lost complete touch with society

5. Masochism Definition: Masochism is a form of sexual gratification in which an individual is sexually aroused by either the threat or enactment of pain or humiliation Also began to bask in the pleasure of pain (Ex. Would soak cotton balls in alcohol and place in his anus and light them on fire…you don’t even want to know the other things he did…) Began hearing voices, God He did everything the voices told him to do, without hesitating as a man with no morals. He assumed nothing wrong with what he did at all, It was his belief that God had told him to “torment and castrate little boys.” Doctors said he suffered from a religious psychosis

6. Victims • Claimed to have children in every state, his known victims listed on next slide. • Were generally people he thought society would not miss such as African Americans and other children under the age of 18, most were very young though. • How he killed • Normally consumed all of his victims • Would always severely beat and torture victims before killing them. • Often killed with strangulation.

7. Known Victims Francis X. McDonnell, age 8, July 15, 1924 Billy Gaffney, age 8, February 11, 1927 Yetta Abramowitz, age 12, 1927 Grace Budd, age 10, June 3, 1928 Mary Ellen O'Connor, age 16, February 15, 1932 Benjamin Collings, age 17, 1932

8. Grace Budd Case Answered a classified add of a young man looking for work in the country, Fish posed as a farmer. Met their daughter… (Stated in letter, “Grace sat in my lap and kissed me. I made up my mind to eat her.” Few weeks after he got to know them and gain their trust, he tricked them into letting Grace take go to a birthday party… Took her to an abandoned barn and did unspeakable things to her. Seven years later, in November 1934, an anonymous letter was sent to the girl's parents which led the police to Albert Fish.

9. The Letter………. “Dear Mrs. Budd. In 1894 a friend of mine shipped as a deck hand on the Steamer Tacoma, Capt. John Davis. They sailed from San Francisco for Hong Kong, China. On arriving there he and two others went ashore and got drunk. When they returned the boat was gone. At that time there was famine in China. Meat of any kind was from $1-3 per pound. So great was the suffering among the very poor that all children under 12 were sold for food in order to keep others from starving. A boy or girl under 14 was not safe in the street. You could go in any shop and ask for steak—chops—or stew meat. Part of the naked body of a boy or girl would be brought out and just what you wanted cut from it. A boy or girl's behind which is the sweetest part of the body and sold as veal cutlet brought the highest price. John staid there so long he acquired a taste for human flesh. On his return to N.Y. he stole two boys, one 7 and one 11. Took them to his home stripped them naked tied them in a closet. Then burned everything they had on. Several times every day and night he spanked them – tortured them – to make their meat good and tender. First he killed the 11 year old boy, because he had the fattest ass and of course the most meat on it. Every part of his body was cooked and eaten except the head—bones and guts. He was roasted in the oven (all of his ass), boiled, broiled, fried and stewed. The little boy was next, went the same way. At that time, I was living at 409 E 100 St. near—right side. He told me so often how good human flesh was I made up my mind to taste it. On Sunday June the 3, 1928 I called on you at 406 W 15 St. Brought you pot cheese—strawberries. We had lunch. Grace sat in my lap and kissed me. I made up my mind to eat her. On the pretense of taking her to a party. You said yes she could go. I took her to an empty house in Westchester I had already picked out. When we got there, I told her to remain outside. She picked wildflowers. I went upstairs and stripped all my clothes off. I knew if I did not I would get her blood on them. When all was ready I went to the window and called her. Then I hid in a closet until she was in the room. When she saw me all naked she began to cry and tried to run down the stairs. I grabbed her and she said she would tell her mamma. First I stripped her naked. How she did kick – bite and scratch. I choked her to death, then cut her in small pieces so I could take my meat to my rooms. Cook and eat it. How sweet and tender her little ass was roasted in the oven. It took me 9 days to eat her entire body. I did not **** her tho I could of had I wished. She died a virgin.”

10. Capture The letter led to the capture of THE Albert Fish. “The letter was delivered in an envelope that had a small hexagonal emblem with the letters ‘N.Y.P.C.B.A." standing for "New York Private Chauffeur's Benevolent Association’” Landlady of the house he had recently moved out of, informed officers he would be returning to pick up a check from his son that he asked the her to hold for him. Lead investigator waited for his return and captured him…Fish made no attempt to deny his murder, though tried to kill the investigator upon reaching the police station

11. Trial/Execution March 11th, 1935 On premeditated murder Grace Budd, march 11th, 1935 NYC…pleaded insanity heard voices…ward agreed court gave him death sentence, executed 1936… He didn’t make much an effort to deny his killings Killed in the electric chair at Sing Sing… "the supreme thrill of my life”…He also was remembered saying, “Why am I even here.” (Sing Sing Correctional Facility)

12. Sources http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/fish/index.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Fish http://www.prairieghosts.com/fish.html http://crime.about.com/od/serial/p/albertfish.htm http://images.google.com/images?q=albert%20fish&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi