Kenhardt - Secrets 20

Joe opened the file and scanned through the photos. No blood this time. Cause of death? Asphyxiation. ‘He changed his M.O,’ Joe noted. ‘Probably still getting into the swing of things. Testing the waters, experimenting, trying to find the mode of killing he preferred,’ John said. ‘Irving was the first. Stabbing. IT’s quick, aggressive, and unplanned. The second kill, Darby,’ John nodded to the photographs. ‘This one the unsub took his time on. Planned it out, chose a victim, executed his plan thoroughly.’ ‘That’s unusual,’ Joe said. ‘Most serial killers stick to one method. If it weren’t for the word sad at the crime scene, do you think these two cases would have even been connected?’ ‘Maybe not,’ John said. ‘But two men, five years apart in age, turn up dead within a month of each other? I’m sure police would have linked the murders eventually. But it doesn’t matter whether we would have linked them or not. He killed again ONLY two weeks after Darby.’ John handed Joe the third file. ‘Patrick Brooks, age forty - two. Husband and father of two.’ ‘That’s quite the age jump,’ Joe said. ‘Ten years on the first victim,’ John said. ‘But still a pattern. All the men who were killed were between the ages of twenty - seven and fifty - four. This unsub had a type. ‘Men,’ Joe said. ‘Is that unusual?’ ‘Not particularly. Most victims of serial killers are woman. Usually young. But there have been quite a few serial killers who target men.’ ‘He could have been gay? Had some kind of hatred toward men - maybe a misandrist?’’ Joe suggested. ‘Given the age groups, I’d say the unsub was somewhere between thirty and fifty. Am I correct?’ ‘You are indeed. Back then it was predicted that the guy was anywhere between thirty and fifty, white, middle class, male. As I’ve already told you, they believed this was his first time killing. He was getting the hang of it, trying new things, graduating from amateur status to professional hitman by his last kill.’ ‘The age group is odd to me,’ Joe said. ‘The majority of serial killers who do kill men usually target youths and teens. Take Jeffrey Dahmer for example. Killed 17 young men. John Wayne Gacy killed 33 teenage boys. Gacy sexually assaulted his victims, and it was believed that Dahmer was gay.’ ‘You’re right, sexuality definitely could have been a factor. Perhaps the unsub was homosexual and was taking out his rage and aggression on these men. Maybe he was rejected. Perhaps he had Daddy issues. He just wanted control of a situation. And yes, the age factor is a bit strange. Dahmer and Gacy both targeted teens, along with the Freeway Killer, Patrick Kearney. Killed 43 young men and teenagers in the 70’s. Raped them before killing them. I’m guessing our unsub either wasn’t interested in Youths, or was older himself. There was no indication of sexual misconduct on any of the men,’ John leaned forward to grab more files. ‘But age could be irrelevant. There have been other serial killers who have targeted middle - aged men. Mexican serial killer Juan Corona. Or Dennis Nilsen, who was a necrophiliac, and killed 15 men between 1978 - 1983,’ John continued. ‘Adolfo Constanzo, human sacrifice.’ It was quiet for a moment. ‘There are some messed up people in this world,’ Joe finally said. John let out a small laugh. ‘You can say that again. Here,’ He handed Joe four more files. ‘Victims four and seven. Robert Baldwin, age forty - three. John Morgan, age fifty. David Hill, age thirty - eight. And finally, Paul Monoghan, age fifty four.’ Joe opened up the files, skimming over the photographs and evidence logs. Stabbed, Stabbed, Strangled, Shot. The killer’s grand finale was a single bullet to the head. Then nothing else after August of 1965. As if the killer just dropped off the face of the earth, disappeared forever, and was never heard from again. It was Friday night, so they decided to go out to dinner. Jordan’s favourite restaurant was a place called Belle Notte, meaning Beautiful Night in Italian. ‘I like Lily, And Bella is a very cute and dainty name.’ Jordan said. They had somehow landed on the discussion of baby names. Jordan’s friend was pregnant and wanted name suggestions. Jordan happened to be an expert. ‘What about Hayley?’ Joe suggested. Jordan made a face and shook her head. ‘Way too mainstream. Come on, Joe, this generation already has enough Hayley’s and Jessica’s and Sarah’s.’ ‘What’s wrong with mainstream?’ Jordan gave him another look. ‘We need unique names. Different names. Like Apple.’ ‘Apple?’ ‘You know, Apple Martin? Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s daughter?’ ‘Never heard that one before.’ Jordan laughed. ‘Okay, Apple is a bit of a stretch. But Kaia is nice. Or Reign, Summer, Autumn…’ ‘Winter, Fall.’ Jordan laughed. She twirled her fork around her pasta and lifted some into her mouth. Joe watched her. ‘What were you like as a teenager?’ he asked suddenly. She finished chewing then took a sip of wine, Eyeing him. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘I’m just curious to know what teenage girls are like.’ ‘Is this about the case?’ ‘No,’ Joe paused, Jordan’s eyes on him. ‘Okay, yes.’ ‘Joe, we agreed no work talk at dinner.’ ‘It’s not work talk! Just tell me what you were like.’ Jordan rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t know, I was just an average girl, I had friends, boyfriends. We had fun, skipped school, did the usual stuff.’ ‘What’s the usual stuff? Did you drink? Do drugs?’ ‘We drank, yeah. But I never did drugs. Maybe pot a few times.’ ‘Keep any big secrets?’ ‘Where are you going with this?’ Joe sighed, moved the food on his plate around. ‘I’m just trying to get into their heads, These girls,’ he paused. ‘They had a lot of secrets. And I’m trying to figure out how and why they died.’ ‘I thought you were certain it wasn’t suicide.’ ‘I was. I mean, I am.’ He took in another breath. ‘I’m still not sure. There are so many factors. So many things to take into account.’ ‘Like what?’ He gave her a look. ‘You know I can’t tell you details.’ She nodded her head and took another bite of pasta. ‘Anyways,’ Joe said. ‘I’ll find out more tomorrow.’ ‘Why tomorrow?’ It’s Saturday.’ ‘The funeral.’ ‘You’re going?’ ‘Yes. We all are. I’m hoping I can talk to more people there.’ ‘Joe,’ she said. ‘That’s a bit insensitive. At least wait until the service is over. These girls just died and you want to be interrogating everyone?’ ‘No, not interrogating. Talking.’ She nodded but remained silent. ‘Have you ever heard of The Sad Killer?’ he asked suddenly, putting down his knife and fork. ‘Is that a movie?’ ‘No. It’s a serial killer…’ ‘OH, come on Joe. One night. That’s all I ask.’ ‘He killed seven men in the summer of 1965,’ Joe continued, relaying the facts. ‘Was never caught.’ ‘Okay? Why is this relevant?’ ‘It happened in Kenhardt.’ ‘THE MURDERS?’ ‘Yes. That’s why I asked if you’d heard of him.’‘I didn’t know Kenhardt had murders.’ ‘Exactly. It’s practically unheard of, which makes it all the more unsettling. Especially since no one ever solved the case.’ ‘So what, that’s your job now?’ He laughed. ‘I was reviewing the case with the Chief tonight. It’s all very interesting.’ ‘You know what I mean.’ ‘I do,’ she took another sip of her wine. ‘My boyfriend is a nutcase who loves murderers.’ ‘Not true,’ he said. ‘I love you and you’re not a murderer.’ ‘That you know of,’ she winked. ‘It’s fascinating though. I think I’m going to talk with one of the old reporters on the case, see if I can get more information.’ ‘Seriously?’ she was clearly not impressed. ‘Yeah. It was fifty - one years ago, but most of the people from that summer are still in Kenhardt. No one ever leaves that place….’K