In Brooklyn on February 11, 1927, a boy named William Gaffney was playing hide-and-seek with his friend Billy Beaton and Beaton's 12 year old brother. Gaffney ended up disappearing and was nowhere to be found. When Beaton was questioned by the police as to what happened to Billy Gaffney, he said "the boogeyman took him".
Born on May 19, 1870, Albert Fish's immediate family would be treated for mental afflictions and his mother suffered hallucinations. His parents would send him to an orphanage where he would receive beatings while Scripture would be read out loud. Permanently melding pain, pleasure and religion together. Pleasure because the beatings would happen so regularly, he began to look forward to them.
1898 saw him marry and father six children. All of whom would lead average lives until 1917 after Fish's wife ran off with another man. He would have his kids participate in sadomasochistic games. One called "Bucks Up Hands Up" would have him guess how many fingers his kids would be holding up. If he was wrong, they would have to spank him with a paddle. His masochism and depravity extended far beyond these games. He was known for eating his own feces, defacating on the floor in motels after he left them (the thought of someone having to clean up after him caused arousal), drinking urine, whipping himself with a cat-o-nine tails, sticking pins in his parinium, stuffing paper into ass and lighting in on fire and much more.
Taken altogether it paints a picture of a truly nightmarish figure. One that preyed on children and ended up committing the most heinous of acts: devouring the 10-year old Grace Budd. His letter to the parents detailing the crime. He was found guilty on the charge of premeditated murder and executed on January 16, 1936.
Taken altogether it paints a picture of a truly nightmarish figure. One that preyed on children and ended up committing the most heinous of acts: devouring the 10-year old Grace Budd. His letter to the parents detailing the crime. He was found guilty on the charge of premeditated murder and executed on January 16, 1936.
Out of all the major serial killers: the Dahmers, the Geins, the Gacys, the Bundys, it is Albert Fish who shakes me to my core. He seems like a nightmare transplanted into reality.
For more information check out Harold Schechter's book Deranged.
There is also an informative episode of Last Podcast on the Left:
I've read that letter. A lack of remorse is always more troubling than the Dahmers and Geins who're upset and confused by their actions.
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