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Why Do So Many Serial Killers Come From the Pacific Northwest? A New Book Offers a Theory

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The 1970s and ’80s are frequently referred to as America’s “Golden Age” of serial killers in the Pacific Northwest, a period sometimes called “America’s Killing Fields.” Over the subsequent years, numerous explanations have been proposed for why this era saw an unusually high number of violent psychopaths like Ted Bundy, the Hillside Strangler, the Green River Killer, and the I-5 Killer. These theories range from the construction of Eisenhower’s 1954 highway system that encouraged hitchhiking, to post-World War II child abuse by traumatized soldiers, to the sensationalized media coverage of the emerging “true crime” genre.

During this time period, several factors may have played a role in increasing the number of serial killings, including some less apparent causes such as toxic substances like lead, copper, and arsenic that seeped into the air from industrial smelters. For instance, ASARCO in Tacoma, Washington, frequently released a cloud of lead and arsenic that fell as a white ash, harmful to pets and capable of stripping paint off cars. The air itself was tainted with lead, giving it a distinctive odor that is still reminiscent today in Tacoma. Serial killers like Gary Ridgway, Israel Keyes, and Ted Bundy resided in the vicinity.

Similarly, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Caroline Fraser, then only 7 years old and living not far away, also experienced the summer murder spree of Ted Bundy in 1974. In her upcoming investigative book titled “Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers“, released on June 9th, she delves deeply into the “lead-crime hypothesis,” a theory that gained traction among academics before becoming mainstream in the early 2010s. Being born and raised in Seattle during that period, Fraser’s book offers an extensive exploration of this contentious theory to date. From her home in New Mexico, she shares her belief that exposure to toxic chemicals might have played a role in the sudden increase of serial killers, discusses what initially sparked her fascination with them, and argues against their self-perception as being exceptionally intelligent.

TIME: Your last book was a biography of Little House on the Prairie author Laura Ingalls Wilder. How do you go from that to serial killers?

For quite some time now, I’ve been nurturing an idea for a book. Being a native of Seattle, I recall vividly the influence Ted Bundy had on my upbringing. Although I didn’t personally encounter his crimes directly, the proximity of where they occurred to my home made a significant impact. On that fateful Sunday afternoon, he abducted and murdered two women near Lake Sammamish – a mere six miles from me. This event caused Ted’s name to become ubiquitous, with posters, sketches, and police compositions of his face plastered everywhere. It was the main topic of conversation that summer, leaving an indelible mark on me about the turmoil and madness unfolding. And it wasn’t just him; many others followed…

…the Zodiac Killer, John Wayne Gacy, Gary Ridgway, Jeffrey Dahmer, Son of Sam, Richard Ramirez. Did it feel like suddenly serial killers were everywhere?

Back in the ’80s, when Ramirez was making headlines, it struck me odd that people were more puzzled by the events unfolding rather than questioning why this was happening. I mean, nobody seemed to be considering if there was an increase in killers or if there was something peculiar about the Pacific Northwest. Even though the FBI claimed expertise, they weren’t offering any insights into the underlying cause of this phenomenon. It’s clear now that serial killings have always been present, but never on such a scale as we were witnessing then.

Many theories over the years have sought to explain. How did you arrive at yours?

As a film enthusiast, I ponder what concoction of factors could mold a serial killer, and it’s a complex puzzle indeed. For decades, FBI analysts have pointed to physical and sexual abuse as key components. These individuals frequently hail from impoverished backgrounds, often lacking a stable father figure or enduring an abusive one. The absence or mistreatment of their fathers, a pain they carry throughout life, is sometimes misdirected towards their own victims.

With the advancement of our understanding of the human brain, we’ve begun to consider other factors as well. Concussions and head injuries, be it from accidents or rough handling during delivery by doctors back in the 50s, might have played a role in shaping some serial killers’ brains. Moreover, certain deficiencies in essential vitamins during pregnancy or infancy can significantly impact brain development, potentially leading to cognitive impairments.

Before we even delve into chemical exposures, it’s crucial to remember that each killer has their unique story—a blend of experiences, upbringing, and circumstances that have combined in a chilling cocktail.

The “lead-crime hypothesis” posits a direct correlation between crime and lead, or as you put it, “More lead, more murder.” What’s the connection?

In the years following World War II, significant amounts of lead were present in the atmosphere, predominantly due to two primary sources: leaded gasoline, widely used for several decades, and heavy industries such as smelting. While the exact extent is still under discussion, it’s generally accepted that a substantial portion of the rise in crime during the 1980s and ’90s might be linked to lead. Known for causing aggression and harming developing brains, there’s now little debate that lead plays some role. The reduction in leaded gas usage in the ’90s seems to coincide with a decrease in crime rates. In the 1950s and ’60s, geochemist Clair Patterson discovered that lead exposure led to what he termed “a loss of mental acuity.” The effects of lead can span various aspects, including intelligence and personality traits. Numerous studies link lead exposure to a specific type of damage in the frontal cortex associated with increased aggression, particularly in males. The higher the lead exposure, the greater the brain volume mass, and lower brain volumes have been linked to increased levels of psychopathy.

Is there something specific about males from the Pacific Northwest?

As a passionate moviegoer captivated by historical narratives, I found Tacoma’s story particularly gripping. Unlike other cities in the country, it had an operational smelter right at its heart, spewing emissions that blanketed not just Tacoma but the entire Pacific Northwest in a plume stretching up to a thousand square miles, even reaching as far as British Columbia. The crime wave that swept across America during this time was particularly severe in Washington State, with rates nearly 30% higher than the national average – a figure tripled!

One reason I became so intrigued by this tale is the profound impact one man, Bundy, had on the Northwest Pacific narrative. He was an early proponent of this movement and eventually became so vocal that he was mythologized, even glamorized to some extent. The media often described him as “terrific looking” and “Kennedyesque.

Serial killers thrive on attention and want their names out there. How do you write about them without buying into the hype? And does hype encourage others?

Serial killers place a significant emphasis on their images and often harbor fixations towards each other; for instance, Israel Keyes was an admirer of Ted Bundy. I aim to portray Bundy in a manner distinct from “handsome genius.” The Hannibal Lecter effect contributes to the notion that serial killers are exceptionally cunning and more intelligent than others. However, this is largely unfounded. Instead, we tend to overestimate their intelligence and abilities. When they’re ultimately exposed, they often turn out to be pitiful individuals. It’s crucial to reveal this side of them. Nevertheless, I question whether such portrayals would drive someone to commit serial killings in the first place. These acts are predominantly sexual and involve a twisted excitement derived from violence and tormenting victims. The high occurrence of necrophilia during this period is quite unusual. It all suggests a disturbance in the brain’s wiring.

America’s Serial Killer Database counted 669 serial killers in the 90s, 371 in the 2000s and 117 in the 2010s. Where do you think they’re all going?

It’s likely a police officer would argue that our ability to apprehend criminals has improved due to increased resources allocated to law enforcement agencies, causing suspects to be caught earlier and kept in jail for longer periods. Advocates of mass incarceration might support this view. Enhanced technology, such as DNA analysis, forensic evidence, and video surveillance, have significantly facilitated the identification of serial killers compared to previous times.

However, I prefer to consider it from a different angle: Just like how we’ve designed cars to be safer for drivers, we’ve also focused on improving overall human well-being. Expectant mothers now take prenatal vitamins, child-rearing practices have evolved, and mental health services have seen substantial advancements. The understanding of the link between repeated head injuries in American football and cognitive decline, as well as increased aggression, has significantly improved.

The banning of toxic substances like lead contributed to a significant drop in crime rates. I believe that serial killers are not on the rise but rather have always existed at similar levels; we haven’t necessarily cultivated them any more than we’ve inadvertently created more cars with dangerous designs.

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2025-06-10 15:06

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