Executive Summary
Serial murderers have killed three or more people, usually with a pause in between each killing. They frequently experience a psychological desire to murder, and they could feel they have control and influence over their victims. Serial murderers could have a particular modus operandi or way of doing business. Some might even have an identity, such as leaving a specific imprint on the victims or stealing something from the crime scene.
According to research, some people may have a genetic or neurological predisposition for violence and hostility from birth. There are many different reasons why people commit serial killings, and some may have been influenced by abuse or trauma they encountered as children. Although not every serial killer may have experienced childhood trauma or early exposure to violence, this is a common trait of these criminals. Therefore, serial killers are most likely bred and not naturally born. This essay will examine two well-known serial murderers, Luis Garavito and Pedro López, to determine why they committed their crimes and propose a remedy.
Introduction
Serial murderers have always fascinated the general public because of the macabre nature of their murders and the mystery surrounding their reasons. During the 1980s and 1990s, Luis Garavito and Pedro López murdered dozens of children in South America, making them two of the most infamous serial killers in modern history (Harrison & Frederick, 2022). Both individuals were apprehended and brought to court, but the scars they left behind from the communities they terrified will never heal (Chan & Chan, 2019). This study aims to determine why Luis Garavito and Pedro López committed murders and propose a prevention strategy.
Luis Garavito
Luis Garavito is one of Colombia’s most prolific and infamous serial killers. The actual number of his victims is still unclear, although he is thought to have killed at least 138 boys between the ages of 8 and 16 (Serena, 2022). He is commonly referred to as “La Bestia” or “The Beast,” born on January 25, 1957, in Génova, Quindo, Colombia (Serena, 2022). He grew up in squalor as one of seven siblings.
Garavito experienced assault, abuse, and neglect at a young age. His mother was claimed to have been mentally disturbed, and his father was an alcoholic who beat him and his mother regularly. At 16, Garavito quit school and started working as a street seller (Serena, 2022). He also began to partake in minor offenses like drug usage and stealing, and he eventually entered the prostitution industry.
Early in the 1990s, Garavito started his murderous rampage, picking on young boys, many of whom were from underprivileged areas. He would entice them with assurances of food, cash, or presents before transporting them to remote locations where he would torture, rape, and kill them (Harrison & Frederick, 2022). His method included chopping off the boys’ hands and feet and often beheading them. Additionally, he would sodomize them and occasionally even eat their genitalia. Garavito avoided arrest for several years by hopping from place to place and regularly altering his look (Harrison & Frederick, 2022).
However, in 1997, after being discovered attempting to kidnap a young boy, he was finally apprehended in Villavicencio, Colombia. He admitted to murdering more than 140 children during his trial, and he was convicted on 138 charges of murder. The highest punishment under Colombian law that could have been imposed on him was 1,853 years in jail (Chan & Chan, 2019). Due to his horrific crimes and years-long evasion, he is Colombia’s most notorious serial killer.
Garavito has committed horrifying acts, yet it is still unclear why he did so. Some experts have hypothesized that he would have been motivated by a desire for control and power. In contrast, others have conjectured that he might have been out for vengeance on society for his traumatic upbringing (Simon, 2020). He may have also been affected by a mental ailment, such as psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder, which may have influenced his actions (Simon, 2020).
His atrocities have significantly affected Colombian culture, and Garavito’s case has received much media attention. There have been requests for more protection for young children at risk, and many have criticized the police for their delay in apprehending him (Chan & Chan, 2019). Given that most of Garavito’s victims come from underserved neighborhoods with little access to healthcare and education, the story of Garavito also highlights the problem of poverty and social inequality in Colombia.
Garavito’s story highlights the need to address the root causes of socioeconomic disparity and violence to ensure the protection of young children. He was one of the most prolific serial killers in history, responsible for the deaths of at least 138 boys (Serena, 2022). Although his childhood abuse and neglect likely affected his behavior, it is still difficult to understand why he committed such horrific acts.
Pedro López
Pedro López, often known as “The Monster of the Andes,” was a serial murderer from Colombia. He is said to have murdered around 300 young girls in South America throughout the 1970s and 1980s (Nucleus, 2023). Pedro’s tale is horrifying, and it is hard to fathom why he would conduct such horrific actions. On October 8, 1948, Pedro López was born in Santa Isabel, Colombia (Nucleus, 2023). López was one of 13 children whose alcoholic father often beat them. This marked the beginning of a life marred by violence and cruelty.
As a sex worker, López’s mother frequently brought customers back to their house, exposing her kids to sexual activity at a young age. López was also abused sexually and said that he had just turned eight years old when he was raped by a man (Nucleus, 2023). His mother also found him sexually assaulting his sister in their home.
He was detained as a juvenile after being caught stealing as a young man. After his release, he explored South America while working odd jobs and committing misdemeanors. The start of López’s murdering spree did not come until the late 1970s. His typical victims were young girls between 8 and 12 (Nucleus, 2023). He would entice them from their houses, rape, and then kill the girls by strangling them (Karapetyan, 2020).
He often disposed of their remains in unmarked graves or abandoned them in places where no one would likely find them. Until 1980, when he was arrested trying to kidnap a small girl by an entourage of indigenous people in Peru, Lopez could elude law authorities for years (Karapetyan, 2020). After beating López and handing him over to the police, the natives released him since there was insufficient proof. López was ultimately apprehended in Ecuador in 1983 after being discovered trying to kidnap three young girls there. He quickly admitted to murdering more than 300 children throughout South America when the authorities found the corpses of four young girls in his hands (Nucleus, 2023).
After being found guilty of the four murders, he received a 16-year jail term. However, López was only sentenced to 14 years because of a law in force (Chiriboga Aldáz, 2019). After being freed, he was returned to Colombia, where he was quickly detained for a different offense (Chiriboga Aldáz, 2019). He was convicted and given a mental hospital term, where he still resides.
It is hard to comprehend Pedro López’s reasoning for his conduct. López said he was inspired to murder by a voice in his brain that he believed to be a “spiritual force” that gave him the orders to carry out these horrible deeds (Surana, 2022). Additionally, he claimed he was seeking retribution from society for the abuse he had experienced as a child (Karapetyan, 2020).
It is also important to note that his murders occurred during a period when South America was experiencing political unrest and violence. Many nations where he operated were plagued by poverty, corruption, and civil unrest. The girls who became López’s victims were often indigenous, poor, and prone to exploitation (Surana, 2022). In this sense, his acts might be a symptom of a more significant social issue.
Pedro López’s life was a living hell, replete with sexual assault, physical brutality, and the murder of many young women. Even though his motivations may never be understood, his actions serve as a clear reminder of the terrible consequences of abuse and trauma on a person and the broader community in which they reside. His actions serve as a potent reminder of the damaging effects of abuse and trauma on a person.
Solutions to Serial Killer Actions
It is crucial to remember that Luis Garavito and Pedro López’s serial murders are among the most terrible crimes conceivable. These people pose a danger to society and have committed many killings. While it is impossible to reverse what they did, several ways exist to prevent this in the future. This will be possible through providing mental healthcare, establishing law enforcement activities, education, awareness campaigns, and supporting victims and their families.
The first strategy is to provide better mental health treatment to serial killers. According to research, many serial murderers have mental health problems such as psychopathy, borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment of these illnesses may lower a person’s risk of becoming violent and committing horrible acts.
The second strategy is to step up law enforcement activities. This involves strengthening our capacity to identify and look into possible serial murderers. Using more advanced technologies and data analysis may assist law enforcement in spotting trends and perhaps stopping future homicides. Additionally, giving law enforcement more resources to look into these cases can aid in bringing justice to the victims and their families.
Third, campaigns for education and awareness may also help avoid future occurrences of the same kind of tragedy. This involves teaching people about probable serial murderer warning signals and enticing them to report any suspicious activity to the police. Furthermore, enhancing knowledge and understanding of mental health problems can aid in lowering the stigma attached to receiving treatment and improving access to care.
Fourth, supporting the victims and their relatives is crucial, too. Help people recover from the trauma of the crimes; this also entails offering counseling and support services. In addition, helping victims and their families financially to pay medical expenditures and other costs related to the crimes might lessen some of their burdens.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Luis Garavito and Pedro López’s crimes as serial murderers are despicable and have harmed numerous people. While we cannot change what they did, several ways exist to stop this from happening again. We may strive toward a safer and fairer society by enhancing mental health services, stepping up law enforcement, fostering education and awareness, and helping victims and their families.
References
Chan, H. C., & Chan, H. C. (2019). Case 12—The Colombian Serial Rapes and Homicides of Young Boys: The Case of Luis Alfredo Garavito Cubillos (1992–1999; Colombia). A Global Casebook of Sexual Homicide, 195-210. Web.
Chiriboga Aldáz, M. (2019). Relationship between childhood traumas and serial killers (Bachelor’s thesis, Quito). Web.
Harrison, M. A., & Frederick, E. J. (2022). Interested in serial killers? Morbid curiosity in college students. Current Psychology, 41(6), 3768-3777. Web.
Karapetyan, M. V. (2020). The Causality of Serial Killers’ Crime in Early Childhood. Web.
Nucleus. (2023). Pedro López – The True Crime Database Pedro López. The True Crime Database. Web.
Serena, K. (2022). He killed over 100 kids in Colombia and could be released in 2023. All That is Interesting. Web.
Simon, G. Ü. (2020). Portrayal and Attributes of Serial Killers and Some of the Most Notorious Ones. Internal Security, 12, 261-273. Web.
Surana, P. (2022). What Makes Someone a Serial Killer?-The Self vs the Environment. The Self vs. the Environment. Web.