Murderbilia and the People that Buy It

Have you heard this word before – “Murderbilia”? No kidding – it is real! Hair, finger nails, bodily fluids, poems and artwork of convicted (and sometimes executed) murderers are some of things that are sold now.

An article written by Emily Hudson states…
“Ted Bundy was executed by electric chair at Florida State Prison in Starke, Fla. His last words were, "I'd like you to give my love to my family and friends." Then, more than 2,000 volts of electricity were sent through his body. He was pronounced dead at 7:16 a.m. on Jan. 24, 1989.

But that was not the end of Ted Bundy. Anyone willing to pay the price can keep him alive by owning one of his "fried hairs" found underneath his execution chair.

Similar items, such as the poems, artwork and even fingernail clippings and bodily fluids of infamous serial killers, referred to as "murderabilia," sell for big bucks on various online markets and auction sites.”
And…
“The more common items on these sites are prison envelopes, self-portraits, pictures and various letters between the infamous killers and family, friends or legal counsel. Fans of the different murderers, named "serialphiles" by sociologists, will spend anything from pocket change to large sums of money, depending on the notoriety of the murderer. The gun Gary Gilmore used to kill his victims started out in auction at $1 million.”
Have you recoiled in revulsion yet?

Some one sent me information that a Canadian Convict was also attempting to sell his products on the Murderauction.com site. This was stopped by authorities.

I can only imagine what a Victim’s Family must go through thinking that the person that killed their loved one is selling his products through an auctioneer on the Internet. Worse yet… often selling things from the killer… as almost a “deified” product.

Ms. Hudson quotes a number of sources – one being Andy Kahan who is the director of the Houston Mayor’s Victim Office. Andy has done a huge amount of research in this area – uncovering some of the sickest things imaginable.

Who would sell this kind of material and items?

Andy Kahan points out that one of the popular sites – MurderAuction.com is run by Mr. Tod Bohannon. Hang on to your seat on this tid bit of information – Tod is a KINDERGARTEN TEACHER in Georgia! No kidding.

On one site that I looked at I found…
“Mad Slasher Christian Magee Typed Letter Signed In Full”“Item description:Magee terrorized southwestern Ontario in the mid-seventies. He raped and murdered three teen-aged girls between 1974 and 1976 and has been in a mental institution ever since. His autograph is one of the rarest and hardest to obtain of all contemporary killers. A functional illiterate, this one page letter was dictated to a patient at the mental hospital, who typed it for Magee. Signed In Full, Chris Magee.This item has a reserve price and is not available for purchase through Buy It NowFREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE”
Lest you think that this is only about the “whacko cases” that happen in strange places like Texas or Georgia… nope – Mr. Magee did his crimes in the Strathroy area of Ontario, Canada.(Read about it below).

The families of three teenage girls of 1974 – 1976 would never forget what happened. These girls could have been in their early 50s now and grandparents themselves… but they are gone.

Mr. Magee gets notoriety – but the Victim’s Family gets nothing but the continual feeling of loss and dull memories of a bright young lady that never came home.

I write about this today to make you aware. Being aware means that we can stop or slow the sickness that has spread so far into our world.

It is not the first time this has happened. 2009 is no different from years ago – when a hanging in Ontario would draw large crowds for the spectacle. Hangings for that reason were done late at night. In Peterborough’s case the church bells were rung for 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the man died.
(http://murraylincoln.blogspot.com/2009/02/kingstons-cold-gray-tower.html
And
http://murraylincoln.blogspot.com/2009/02/peterboroughs-last-hanging_13.html )

In the wonderful old days of the Wild West – stories and photos of the executions of bad men displayed a body propped up for people to have their photos taken beside it.

Not much has happened to make it different… people still want the sensational and others want to provide it.

I am thankful that our Canadian - Correctional Service Canada – has taken steps to make sure this kind of nonsense is stopped – or slowed where possible.

Hats off to our CSC leadership.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

Sources:
Sale of 'Murderabilia' Raises Moral Questions
http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/67321
MurderAuction.com
http://www.murderauction.com/
Magee Document
http://www.daisyseven.com/auction/item.php?id=2942
Magee Story
http://tocrime.blogspot.com/2006/01/killers-eyes.html