Danny Rolling: The Making of A Serial Killer

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This has taken me forever to write because the book was so disturbing that I had to take frequent reading breaks. That is your warning. It is disturbing from a sexual perspective, as well as a graphic and violent perspective. But it's also disturbing from seeing into Danny Rolling's mind WHILE he was committing these acts.

What I liked about this book is that it really is from the mind, writings, and drawings of Danny Rolling. This should be a Forensic Psychologist's dream! But after reading this book and delving more into the mind of Rolling, I don't feel that I am any closer to understanding "why" he committed these murders. Sure, he can blame it on being possessed by a demon or an evil entity , which very well could be the case. However, without this demon involvement, he really can give no reason as to why he committed the murders. That is very scary...to think that someone could take your life for no reason at all...except to be haunted by dark spirits who compel you to do evil.

Rolling seemed to function normally in life. He seems to have been a very intelligent person. Unfortunately, he had a rough childhood, which he discusses. That is something that we see in many of these killers - a rough childhood, an unusually close relationship with the mother, a broken/strained relationship with the father. Hmmm, I should start a spreadsheet to see the similarities as I read all these books! (Side note: I love spreadsheets.)

Something interesting about Rolling's murders is that each of his victims was at random. He did not know any of the victims, nor did he spend any time following them, although he did watch at least one of them for a few nights before he attacked. I found it completely absurd that he says that some of these rapes actually turned into consensual sex. I think that is a fantasy of his that he wishes would have happened. I do not think any of the girls would have had sex with him willfully after he broke into their house and frightened them, let alone, sit in the kitchen and drink a beer with him afterwards. Since I think these are fantasies of Rolling's, it really is hard to decipher what is true and what is not true from his writing and thoughts in this book. So, keep that in mind while reading. I don't think he is truthful, so I feel like there are things we will never know.

I'm most excited to share a special bonus blog post with you soon. A friend that I have known for over 20 years actually went on a couple of dates with Rolling a month before he committed the Gainesville murders! I can't wait to share her story with you!