Yesterday, I went to the studios of Inside Edition to be interviewed. People want to know what it feels like to have been photographed by a serial killer. How does it feel know that my life could have easily ended in June of 1979 along with the other victims? Inquiring minds also want to know how I feel about Rodney Alcala.
Do a search on “stuck by lightning twice” and you will discover that the odds of being struck by lightning once are 1/3000. The odds of being struck twice are 1/9,000,000. Since there are 300,000,000 people in America this unusual event has happened.
What does a person who was nearly struck by lightning once, and then actually struck 23 years later say about the near miss in the distant past?
An Ohio man Larry Reynolds, was actually struck by lightning twice and he says he feels “glad to be alive!” (How surprising is that?) I too feel glad to be alive. But also feel the need to say genug* and to try to get more justice for the real victims.
Justice for the victims means doing something to reduce the dangerousness of known violent psychopaths.
It is not enough to dispose of or imprison Alcala, we must change the system that enables psychopaths to strike over and over again.
At the time Alcala photographed me he had already been convicted of two violent crimes**. When he was 24, Alcala kidnapped, sexually assaulted and tried to kill an 8 year old girl, hitting her over the head with a pipe. He escaped and was a fugitive for two years before he was arrested in Concord, N.H., living under the assumed name of “John Berger.” He was arrested in August, 1971 after someone saw his picture on a wanted poster.
He also assaulted a 15 year old girl he lured in the guise of wanting to take her picture.
After these two incidents, Alcala killed at least 5.
There is no doubt in 2010 that Alcala is a psychopath. In the 1970s we didn’t have any reliable method for diagnosing psychopathy, but today we do. The PCL-R when administered by trained professionals can diagnose psychopathy with excellent reliability.
I therefore propose that all individuals convicted of violent or sexual assault be evaluated with the PCL-R and thoroughly assessed by trained professionals not hired by the prosecution or defense, prior to sentencing. The purpose of this assessment would be to inform the judge and jury of the presence of psychopathy and other risk factors that indicate the offender will do the same thing or worse again.
Juries and judges should be able to sentence an offender to life-time supervision. We need to train forensic professionals to do the job of monitoring these individuals and we need to watch psychopaths closely if they are released into society. We should stop simply turning convicted psychopaths over to their families who haven’t the slightest idea what to do with them (more on that next week).
I made the above recommendation to Paul Boyd of Inside Edition. He impressed me as a real reporter who was interested in the issues; someone who takes the ethical implications of his job seriously. I just hope his editors give him the freedom to tell this story.
Please everyone get beyond the silliness of “OMG what does it feel like to be struck by lightning twice?” and instead tackle the real question of what to do about sociopaths/psychopaths.
At the end of March, I spoke with a reporter from People Magazine for over an hour and am sorry that I failed to convince him to do a real story and exercise real journalism- or maybe the tabloid editors just wouldn’t publish the real story. However, if you want to see pictures, I am in this weeks’ issue “OMG”!
*a Yiddish word that means ENOUGH, pronounced ganoog
**for more see http://www.ocregister.com/news/alcala-236499-phase-girl.html?pic=4
In fact, I just had a brain bubble. Ms Donna, you have built an incredible site, here, with literally hundreds of contributors, their stories, their expertise, and all of the rest. Do you think that appearing on a program like Oprah or Dr. Phil (I really don’t care for his programming, but it is what it is) with your panel of experts and a physical stack of the individual stories and posts might bring legal attention to this issue? I believe that the authors of the recommended readings would be willing to stand in unison in such an effort, as well. I know I would – I’d speak to the media if I thought it would make a difference.
Buttons,
Thank you so much for your confidence. Once my book comes out this summer, we will embark on a media campaign. A book, of course, gives us a “hook” to get on shows like these. At that time, I will certainly ask for the support and assistance of Lovefraud readers.
Congratulations on your publication, Donna – my GOD it’s just incredible to know just how many human beings have been harmed by these Things.
So, I did this, just now – I sent an email to Oprah even before I saw your response, and this is how it went:
“To whom it may concern,
I am a Survivor of several encounters with individuals who were either diagnosed as “Cluster B” personalities, or who perfectly fit the profile. In layman’s terms, “Cluster B” refers to sociopathic/psychopathic individuals who demonstrate a complete absence of conscience, empathy, or remorse. Typically, the general population associates sociopathic/psychopathic individuals with violent criminal behavior – Alcala, Gacey, Bundy, and other “serial” killers, and generally male. The fact is that a parent, sibling, offspring, supervisor, or physician also has the potential to be sociopathic and inflict untold damage on their “source targets (ST).” A ST is anyone that feeds the needs of the sociopath, willingly, or not. Victimization ranges from domestic violence, to theft, to larceny, to murder, and everything in between, especially the abuse of the Legal System, such as it is.
We read about these people’s actions in the news, every day. Mothers who murder or neglect their children, spouses who murder their partners for money (or, sex), and the list is endless. What we do not hear about, nor are we educated about, are the millions walking undetected in society who use and abuse ST’s to result in emotional, financial, spiritual, sexual, and physical devastation. The legal system refuses to address sociopathy as criminal unless violent crimes are a direct result. Divorce and custody battles are often based upon a sociopath’s need to exert control and pain, and Family Courts in every jurisdiction in the Nation are blind to the collateral damage. ST’s aren’t limited to the ignorant, undereducated, or oblivious. Most adult ST’s are well educated professionals who are targeted because of their finances, their appeal, and/or their ability to trust. The offspring of socipaths are likely to either develop into socipaths or future victims, by default.
There are literally hundreds of websites and publications that were built and written to specifically address identifying, healing from, and avoiding socipaths. The argument is often made that there were plenty of “red flags,” so why didn’t the intended victim just run? If it were that simple, then we wouldn’t have Susan Smith pushing her vehicle into a lake with her two sons strapped in their car seats to please a lover and seek attention. Maddoff would never have been able to commit his crimes if there were more validity paid to his disorder. Literally, tens of hundreds of individuals wouldn’t be draining personal, local, and Federal resources as imposters. The Cluster B Personality takes by whatever means available or necessary to facilitate their needs, wants, or desires.
I have had sociopathic exposure to an ex-husband, intimate “friends,” former business associates, and my own son who is currently perpetrating “Stolen Valor.” My son entered the US Army in 2003, graduated from Boot Camp, and went directly to Walter Reed Army Medical Center after threatening to commit suicide, which I had no knowledge of, due to HIPPA. He spent the rest of his enlistment at WRAMC and was diagnosed as “Cluster B Traits” personality after he attempted to strangle his then-pregnant former wife of 3 months. While he was at WRAMC, my son fabricated and forged military documents and Military Service Awards to portray himself as a wounded, decorated Iraqi-War Veteran. I have the physical evidence of his forgeries in my possession and have alerted a number of agencies with regard to his activities, with no results or even mild interest. The details of my son’s history and subsequent actions are far too involved to include in an email, and I would be willing to answer any and all specific questions with regard to my experiences with him, as well as the others. My son is very violent, is armed with handguns and assault rifles, is unstable, and there is nothing that I can do to help him, and nothing to stop him from committing murder or mayhem. Thanks to HIPPA, my son is able to maintain his facade, drain resources meant for actual veterans, and perpetrate his crimes without detection or exposure.
I am only one of tens of thousands who have had exposure to sociopathy, and allowing 1/2 hour or hour-long segment to Cluster B Traits isn’t enough to educate the general population or to facilitate an understanding in the professional communties and legal system to address this epidemic of tragedy.
Please, see the website http://www.lovefraud.com and read about some of the average, everyday individuals and professionals who have been nearly (and, actually) ruined by these people who move so freely within society. Please, as a Survivor, I ask that this topic be taken to the level of education and prevention by your programming director. Socipathy can never be cured or prevented, but it can be recognized, acknowledge, and addressed by the legal system with a better understanding of just how many people are affected, every day, by the actions and choices of these individuals. I would suggest that your program consider a week-long series on identifying, healing from, and avoiding Cluster B Personalities, as well as their drain upon society and their flawless ability to abuse our Legal System.
Most sincerely,”
The email address, for anyone else who might be interested, is: feedback@oprah.com
I was moved by The Spirit, and took action. I don’t know how much good it will do, but I had to Do Something, I guess.
Ms Donna, if there is anything further that I can do, I’m in. I’m done, and I’m frigging IN. Brightest blessings
Wow Buttons,
What a powerful letter! I think it might be a great idea, for as many of us as are willing, to write similar letters, referencing your letter and your idea, in support of Oprah taking this to the public and shining her particular light on it.
If the subject could be approached in the right way, presented in the right way on her show, without sensationalism or focusing on serial killers, or focusing on only the notorious sociopaths who actually do end up in the news.
I support your effort Buttons and I will write to her also.
J.
Sent to the same address:
To Whom it may concern:
The subject of sociopaths and their effect on our lives, families, communities and nation is one that deserves real attention. The most dangerous ones may in fact be the one next door.
Far too little information about these types of individuals and the destructive character of being in relationships with them is provided to adults of any age and as a result, young adults often get caught up with them and IF they get free, are likely to fall victim over and over.
I’m the wife of a bigamist. The Federal Marshals aren’t sure they know who he is and he certainly left a lot of his story untold to me. I’m struggling with the loss of what I thought was an ideal mate and the costs of untangling with him.I’d like to see him get jail time for this because he is an active participant in dating web sites often communicating with as many as 25-30 women at a time.
Unfortunately, the unsophisticated popular notion is that a man with more than one wife is punished enough and the burden of pursuing a bigamy charge in entirely mine. So, somebody else’s daughter is going to waltz home one day with the light of love in her eyes and a psychopath who has neither concience nor remorse on her arm and there is nothing I can do about it.
He has threatened to kill other wives and family, set houses on fire and served time for manslaughter and fraud.
I want to get a message out to our society that just because I was fooled doesn’t mean I am a fool, but it does mean he is a liar of proportions that are out of most people’s league and that he lied with intent to steal love, shelter, money and more over time because these people target their victims and have no second thoughts about taking what they want and can get before moving on to another victim.
Sometimes the victims live, sometimes, they don’t and the cases aren’t always sensational.The nicest people you know are targets for sociopaths and psychopaths.
Please contact Donna Anderson, Steve Becker and Dr Lianne Leedom at www. Lovefraud.com before it happens to someone you love. There are 5 million of these monsters in the US alone!
Thank you,
BRAVO, SILVERMOON!!!!!!!! Do it, Jennifer1011! EVERYONE get on this wagon……just do it. Don’t be afraid to speak the Truth!
Silvermoon, you are a brave, courageous, and strong woman, and it took a whole lot of guts to write that. Bless you, and everyone else who’s wading through the SocioCesspool.
Dear Buttons and Silvermoon,
The letters you wrote were ABSOLUTELY wonderful.
The thing I first noticed when I first came to LF was that the level of “smarts” on this site by the posters (not just the authors) is remarkably high. Which, believe it or not, made me feel somewhat better to know that all these “smart” folks were fooled just like me! Maybe I wasn’t so “dumb” to be fooled after all!
Glad you two folks are there. BTW buttons, there is a group I’ve heard about (not sure which one) which does PROSECUTE “stolen valor,” so maybe you can get some help that way if you can find it, I’m sorry I don’t recall the link. CRS! (can’t remember stuff)
Thanks so much for your encouragement, OxD – that’s one of the things that I learned about domestic violence/abuse – it’s not “stereotypical” at all. Brilliant men and women are abused and the patterns and dynamics are so frigging insidious…….
I did get in touch with an organization that is the same one that I think you’re talking about. She asked that I send copies of the documentation (keep the original physical evidence) and that they would speak to their liason to see what can be put into motion.
I think that the law enforcement agencies feel that people that make reports like mine are, somehow, trying to “get even” for something, and not following through because of that. With all of the false reports that people make, I do understand it, but I don’t have to LIKE it.
OxD, someone posted (gosh, I can’t keep up with these boards!) about your ability to put your experiences and wisdom into such eloquent and encouraging posts. I agree. You have a font of wisdom and it’s very helpful to see your courage – for me, I”m trying to get to that space and this type of support is priceless. We’re all going to Get There.
To Whom It May Concern,
Do you know what a personality disorder is? Do you know what someone who has a personality disorder looks like? Acts like? If you think you know…think again. Because the answers are chilling… and they are answers the nation needs to be made aware of.
More important, do you know what the red flags are when meeting someone who could be potentially toxic and ultimately dangerous in your life? How to avoid one? The tools to deal with one?
Also, are you or a family member or a friend involved with someone right now who has a personality disorder ? Chances are the answer will be an overwhelming yes (even from Oprah and/or her staff members), because they exist all around us.
The most severe and emotionally dangerous that are co-habitating amongst us are Sociopaths. Not all of them resort to murder. Many of them just set out to steal someones spirit and soul by severe emotional abuse , deceit, manipulation and control.
Instead of constantly doing stories on the victims, the survivors, and focusing on the final tragic moments of their lives or events that led up to it… I implore you to take a risk and do multiple segments on personality disorders/and everyday type Sociopaths. Their traits, their existence, their reason for being in life and who their prey are (everyday good people with an abundance of empathy along with some people with low self-esteem and possibly dysfunctional childhoods) and what Sociopaths/personality disordered people do to them AND how someone can protect oneself from them.
Sociopathy/personality disorders can be found in mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, lovers, friends, children, and all professions to name just a few. The nation would benefit from being made aware of THE TRUTH that has yet to be told on the level your broadcast is capable of bringing awareness, attention and education. Not to mention possibly saving many lives.
Feel free to begin your research on this subject at Lovefraud.com. As well as refer to the many books suggested on Lovefrauds website. Your life wont be the same after researching this subject – but it just may be changed in way that you werent aware you needed to be educated and informed in order to protect yourself.
Let the world know the truth about Sociopaths/personality disorders.
Without question, you will be saving lives and educating new generations to come.
Thank you.