About
Ever wonder about the truth behind the sensationalized headlines when it comes to history's most infamous killers? So did author Jeff Ignatowski, a nationally known speaker on the psychology of serial killers, who turned that curiosity into his meticulously researched book BEYOND THE HEADLINES: True Crime's Myths and Legends.
More than a collection of dramatically told true crime stories, Ignatowski's anthology challenges and explores the integrity of widespread myths surrounding infamous personalities such as Jack The Ripper, Dennis Rader, Elizabeth Bathory, Ed Gein, and Ted Bundy. It provides a deeper understanding of their stories through historical insight, criminological analysis, and a careful separation of fact from fiction.
Having spent years counseling incarcerated youth offenders and studying serial killer psychology through his collaboration with other true crime and forensic psychiatry experts, he examines in BEYOND THE HEADLINES how these narratives have been molded by and, in turn, shaped public beliefs and media representations.
BEYOND THE HEADLINES invites readers to reconsider what they think they know about these "monsters" and their crimes. By challenging conventional narratives, readers will come away with a deeper understanding.
Excerpts From the Book
"Jack the Ripper was a frenzy killer, who seemed to kill because he took exception to ladies who lived on the street in the Whitechapel area. He used a knife and seemed to be enraged at several of the murder scenes. On the other hand, Holmes seemed to be a very calculated killer. He would gas people and did not prefer to use a knife, until after death, where he would dismember the bodies for disposal or sale. This is still the most compelling argument against Holmes being Jack the Ripper.”
"He may not be the most well-known killer in this book, but he may well be the most influential in pop culture. No other killer has inspired as many movie franchises as the story of the Butcher of Plainfield. Norman Bates from Psycho, Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs were all inspired by his story. The account of the life of Ed Gein is so strange, and what they found in his barn was so macabre, it has influenced the way we think about modern horror.”
"If there is one case that will be forever etched into the annals of true crime history, it is the case of Ted Bundy. There have been many cases before him and since, but none showed us the horrors of what a smiling face, an intelligent mind, and the depravity of a soul could do within our society. The case of Ted Bundy would have far reaching implications for our law enforcement, investigations, and psychology. We would finally get a real look inside the mind of a killer. Sadly, it would only be the beginning.”
"Unlike other killers that we have described, Dahmer was not trying to hide his crimes in any conventional sense. He did not try to find random victims, he did not attempt to clean up the crime scene, and he did not try to hide the bodies.”
"The fantasy that Rader was constantly building within himself, was of complete control over these women. Everything that he did would feed his desire to have that control. The danger of stalking them and knowing their every move would be fuel for the event to come.
About
My fascination with true crime started at an early age.
I was born in 1980 and grew up in Murder Town, U.S.A., otherwise known as Wilmington, Delaware, about 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I ran the streets during some of the most violent history that region of the United States has ever seen.
I grew up listening to stories of my dad's mob connection; he had a relationship with Angelo Bruno, the deceased boss of Philadelphia, and his chance meeting with Charles Manson. These stories gripped my attention as a child. I wanted to live that life and did my best to emulate it.
I also loved reading and could read at a very early age. I remember reading my brother's books on Shakespeare when I was four years old. By age 8, I was reading Stephen King and any mafia biography I could get my hands on.
I also suffered abuse as a child, which shaped how I related to the world. Although I learned many great lessons about survival and overcoming, I also struggled to connect with people and get in touch with my own emotions.
I used to create games and make my friends play them on my grandfather's stairs in the 'hood. At that time, my friends didn't have much of a choice. I was a bully and forced them to play, whether they liked it or not.
I also started writing in grade school. Back then, it was only short stories, but I found an escape while writing. All the crazy thoughts that I struggled with, that were unacceptable to the world around me, could be written into a compelling narrative, and people would accept them. I remember shocking everyone when I had to write my 8th-grade paper, and I chose to write on Forensic Pathology. I visited my brother's college and witnessed an autopsy for research on the project. The paper was to be at most eight pages, and I turned in a 26-page report.
As an adult, I became a counselor for the Department of Juvenile Justice in Kentucky. I wanted to help youth who faced struggles similar to mine. During this time, I received most of my psychological training and even became Counselor of the Year, winning a state-wide award for the department. My achievement allowed me to become part of the S.M.A.R.T. Team, which helped brainstorm ideas for the entire Department of Juvenile Justice.
It would be years before I entered the true crime scene again, but it all started with a visit to a local oddities shop. While I was in the shop, my son asked to buy a pack of cards, and that interaction inspired me to create KILLERS—THE CARD GAME, which has become a best-seller, and I no longer have to force anyone to play.
I met John Borowski, a true crime author and documentarian, and Steve Giannangelo, an author and professor, a year later. They brought me on stage to discuss "Serial Killer Culture." This would be the final push that I needed to return to public speaking.
I began doing talks on "Serial Killer Psychology" and another talk where we dissected the psychology and behavior from interviews of serial killers. These would lead to my Roku show "Serial Killers Around the World," and my YouTube shows "5 Min Murder" and "Route 666."
My upcoming book, BEYOND THE HEADLINES, brings me full circle to everything I have loved from childhood.
My fascination with true crime started at an early age.
I was born in 1980 and grew up in Murder Town, U.S.A., otherwise known as Wilmington, Delaware, about 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I ran the streets during some of the most violent history that region of the United States has ever seen.
I grew up listening to stories of my dad's mob connection; he had a relationship with Angelo Bruno, the deceased boss of Philadelphia,...
