Stories in the newspaper yesterday were disheartening. After reading them, I had to conclude that full-blown sexual predators are everywhere, and doing something about them will be difficult.
The first story I found was about Canadian Col. Russell Williams, an elite pilot who was commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, the largest air force base in the country. In 2005 he was photographed with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. On February 7, 2010, he was charged with murdering a young woman who had been missing for almost a week.
That’s not all. Williams, considered a “shining bright star” in the military, has been charged with the murder of two women, sexual assault of two other women, and 82 break-ins. What did he steal? Women’s panties. An Ottawa newspaper reported that police seized more than 500 pairs from his home.
The charges have shocked the Canadian military. Retired Major Greg McQuaid wrote reports that helped Williams get promoted. McQuaid’s observation, however, is telling:
“I remember he had a very focused stare or look, and I was just reminded of that when this happened and they showed the photos of him and I said, there’s that look. I remember that look. It was like he’s looking through you at the back of your head,” McQuaid said.
To read about this incredible story, click on these links:
Canada top commander charged with murder, assault, on Philly.com.
The secret life of Colonel Russell Williams, on Macleans.ca. This story discusses psychopaths at the end.
Another story in the Sunday paper was about another sexual predator in the Catholic Church—this one from Brazil. A Polish priest, Marcin Michael Strachanowski, is accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old former altar boy, and then threatening to kill the youth if he spoke of it.
According to news reports:
Judge Alexandre Abrahao Dias said that investigators found “erotic material sent to the victim via Internet to seduce him” and that the priest also took other youths to the parish house, “which he converted into a kind of erotic dungeon where he submitted them, often with the use of handcuffs, to orgies.”
To read about this case, see:
Polish priest accused of running pedophile ”˜dungeon,’ in the Montreal Gazette.
Priest charge cites ”˜erotic dungeon,’ on Philly.com.
The Canadian colonel is being prosecuted. The priest has been arrested, and the diocese of Rio de Janeiro didn’t cover up the incident. It immediately suspended the priest and expressed regret over the alleged abuse.
These guys have been caught. Given the nature of their crimes, if proven guilty, they’ll probably go to prison for a long time.
Ten days ago, a sex offender in California, John Gardner III, was sentenced to life in prison for raping and murdering 17-year-old Chelsea King and 14-year-old Amber Dubois.
California lawmakers are now considering a bill, nicknamed Chelsea’s Law, that would mandate life sentences for some child molesters and lifetime parole for others. It’s a great idea—but it will cost a lot of money.
After the first 10 years, keeping the predators in jail would cost tens of millions of dollars, according to a California corrections department analysis. But the Legislative Analyst’s Office, which provides fiscal and policy analysis to the California Legislature, puts the cost much higher—at hundreds of millions of dollars.
Read the article here:
California bill aimed at molesters would cost millions, on Google.com.
Last week, Lovefraud reported that the Supreme Court upheld a law to keep sex offenders in jail after their sentences are served. People who commit crimes like these deserve to spend their lives in jail. But is our society willing to pay for it?
No life:
Our system is a MESS…..we cut costs to spend more!
We all need a system of which makes society think twice about the consequences…….Harsh and swift consequences…..whatever they may be!!!!
Brian, Oxy, Hopeforjoy, Libelle and all, here are some of the scriptures which back what I wrote earlier.
Deuteronomy 19:10 That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance, and [so] blood be upon thee.
Deuteronomy 19:11 But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
Deuteronomy 19:12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
Deuteronomy 19:13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away [the guilt of] innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Deuteronomy 19:16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him [that which is] wrong;
Deuteronomy 19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy [is], shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
Deuteronomy 19:18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, [if] the witness [be] a false witness, [and] hath testified falsely against his brother;
Deuteronomy 19:19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
Deuteronomy 19:20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
Deuteronomy 19:21 And thine eye shall not pity; [but] life [shall go] for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Pay close attention to 19:20, our Lord telling us to have everyone witness the execution of an evil person so no more will commit evil.
I know this idea is a taboo here, but many women are attracted to psychopaths – there is massive anecdotal evidence and some scientific evidence too. It’s not so much that psychopaths are manipulative (I know they are), but if you add this sexual attraction of so many women for psychopathic traits in a society where female choice has more impact than in traditional societies, it’s easy to understand why some wonder whether psychopathy is not being selected for, and hence, on the rise, despite the massive investments in security. Prisons are now a huge business.
I believe the only possible way to decrease the prevalence of psychopathy is to make people accountable for the crimes of the mate they choose to have a child with.
Nicolaid – I hope you dont mind me saying that I think thats a bit black and white…I dont think you can boil things down so far….
I will have a go at boiling down a response: You could say that many women (and men) are attracted to familiar roles for them selves….and involvement with certain familiar types (who tend to like of the sex) perpetuates the problem?
Nicolaid—Are you serious?? “I believe the only possible way to decrease the prevalence of psychopathy is to make people accountable for the crimes of the mate they choose to have a child with.” Sorry, I find that a little hard to swallow.
I don’t think it’s that women are attracted to psychopaths, per se. I see it as a kind of vicious circle. A woman can be cool, confident, on the up and up, can have it going on, but may harbor a bit of doubt or insecurity somehow, somewhere in her life. She meets a man (ahem, psychopath) who hones in on this insecurity, makes her feel beautiful where she is smart, makes her feel smart where she is beautiful, will build her confidence, only to tear it down in the end. Did she see it coming? No. Did she say Oh, look, here’s a psychopath, let me fall in love with him? Of course not.
Could this said woman use lessons in believing in herself to the fullest extent? Sure. Kind of sucks when you do the work on yourself, feel like you’re on the right track, become the woman that you feel would be attractive to the kind of man you are looking for, a woman you can be proud of at the end of the day just to meet said psychopath.
Start over again from square one.
Nicolaid,
Your comment is unnecessarily sexist. Lovefraud has heard from plenty of men who have had children with psychopathic women. Obviously, the men found the women attractive, or they wouldn’t have gotten involved.
Furthermore, psychopaths do not appear to be disordered at first. They appear charming, helpful, flattering, and totally into the person who is their target. According to Lovefraud’s survey results, most victims do not see the abusive behavior right away; it doesn’t show up for months, and sometimes even years.
I don’t think anyone intentionally gets involved with a psychopath.
Women, just as men, are attracted to the FANTASY that is generated by the spath – the romance, the whirlwind courtship, the promises, being made to feel “valued.” The inflitration of the spath into people’s lives is insidious – sly – cunning – manipulative.
As Donna has pointed out, the “attraction” is based on a lie – fabrication – deceit – false personna. They MIRROR the good qualities that they observe in other people and act out those “qualities” as their very own, though they have no notion of why they are. They are without conscience or remorse.
Unfortunately, Nicolaid, reproduction is an inherent “right.” There is no law against reproduction, regardless of WHO is producing the offspring. Holding people “accountable” is so much easier said than done.
EB’s involvement in attending Court trials is something that EVERY CITIZEN should do: see your legislation in action, and your judicial system flounder. See what goes on behind the heavy, oak doors. Listen to the outrageous claims, the pitiful truths, and the dismissals by Judges.
Accountability? Nice concept.
I know there are female psychopaths as well (I’ve met a few) but I think they are less numerous and they wreak less havoc. I don’t feel offended as a male when someone tells me that males are more agressive on average or that the vast majority of serial killers are males. That’s not sexism ; that’s the truth. Male and female brains differ on several aspects (I recently read Susan Pinker’s book on the subject, which I recommend to everyone), but especially when it comes to sexuality. We have evolved diverging sexual strategies and everyone knows that the characteristics that attract each sex are not the same. There is nothing we can do about it.
Of course, women won’t consciously think : « Great ! A psychopath ! How sexy ! Let’s have a baby and hopefully, he will inherit a few evil genes ! » Few people clearly know what is a psychopath. When I was bullied by my boss, I first saw him as an a***. It took me a few days to see that. But it took me more than one year before reaching the conclusion that he was no ordinary jerk.
I agree with Robert Trivers’ assumption that self-deception is a major psychological mechanism that helps us deal with many situations in life (no-one is immune). I believe many women have evolved a sexual preference for a certain amount of psychopathic traits which they tend to see in a rosy and unrealistic light.
For instance, if I judge that a man is arrogant and cocky, such a woman will probably see him as « confident ». These qualities are on a continuum. But depending on the fine-tuning of your antennae, you will shed a different light on the same personality traits. Some will find the man unpleasant, others will like (or love) him.
Men experience a similar delusion. I’ve noticed that it took me somewhat longer to recognize that an attractive girl was not as nice, or clever, than I whished she was, simply because of her shining sex-appeal. It takes longer to sink in. My females friends are usually quicker than me to size her up because they are not influenced by their mating brain.
When women fall in love with dangerous offenders (as often happens), they don’t think : « great ! he is dangerous ! » They rationalize their love, tend to think that justice was unfair, or that he had been provoked or that he was abused as a child, etc. They are willing to downplay the seriousness of the offense, because they are in love, and they even think that they are working towards the greater good of society because, if they love the man, he will become prosocial again. Unfortunately, he doesn’t change, but they have three kids, and one of them becomes a killer. In the process, she gets abused too. It’s a vicious, unending circle.
From a darwinian point of view, it makes sense that some women should have evolved a preference for a (more or less) heavy dose of psychopathic traits. If you have a psychopathic son who is good at seducing women (or that women are attracted to him because of his psychopathic charisma), he is going to spread your genes more quickly than a non-psychopathic son who stick to one woman. It’s in your own interest (or in your gene’s interests), even if you end up suffering because of his behavior. Think of the relationship between male and female european mantis. Is the female « psychopathic » ? Or is the male blindly working towards the diffusion of his genes through self-sacrifice ?
The same can be observed among a few species of apes and monckeys : the females obviously prefer to mate with the males that would be deemed the most antisocial or psychopathic, especially those who have killed their own infants, which seems incredible. Many of these females prefer to mate with the males who don’t hesitate to kill rivals to secure what they want and they are willing to endure some abuse to get his sperm. Females can choose, though. There is no sexual coercion.
I’m writing a book on this subject and I have hundreds of examples in my head. You may read Hervey Cleckley again. I think he saw this problem clearly.
I don’t mean to offend anyone. I think it is much more easy to discuss with women who may have a preference for some psychopathic traits ”“ and help them understand the issue ”“ than with psychopathic individuals. Since psychopathy probably has genetic roots, the choice of a psychopathic mate can have disastrous consequences for everyone, a few decades later.
But love is blind and powerful, still.
Nicolaid,
Should I be accountable for the crimes one of my adult children commits? Do I get “time off” because one of my two biological sons is NOT a murderer.
How is locking me up at 44 years old (when he committed the murder) going to help society, or teach me to not have more children? So scare other young women away from having chikldren in case they were to grow up and become criminals?
How about if I married a man, we had a child, and a week after the baby was born he robbed a bank and went to prison? I should go to prison with him as well? Though I was completely unaware of him having even a thought of robbing someone? Who takes care of my child while both my husband and I are in prison?.
In some countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia families were executed or punished for the crimes of one member of the family, but I don’t think punishing the entire family worked very well.
Nicolaid, I beg to differ with regard to your assumption that female spaths are less harmful.
It IS offensive when a general statement is made – I have met MANY female spaths, the latest one being a former friend. This person has every earmark of a male spath, with the exception of her gender. She is decietful, she is dishonest, she is ULTRA manipulative, she is a convicted criminal, and she is physically/emotionally abusive to her family members and, in particular, her spouse. I can see her committing murder for the sake of money.
If you’re writing a book, it would behoove you to do more extensive research and engage in psychiatric and psychological studies being conducted, specifically to erase this notion that male spaths are more dangerous/harmful than female spaths.
The concensus for the roots of spathy has not been reached, and never shall be. Certainly, genetic information has an impact, but there are MORE examples of spathy being a “learned” behavior.
To compare the mating practices of a praying mantis with that of the behaviors of a human psychopath is like comparing mercury to cirrus clouds – there is no correlation.