The sad story of Frank Dryman, alias Victor Houston, alias Frank Valentine

[uberreiniger]

Murderer tracked down by victim's grandson after hiding in the open for 40 years.

What's sad about this story is that despite everything the murderer has done to atone (in his mind,) for the crimes, I don't think he's really changed. Criminals who display the sheer level of dissociation that this man displays really scare me. Having constructed an entirely separate persona on which to blame his actions, he hasn't really repented.

I grew up in the area where the BTK murders happened and when he was arrested he tried the same thing, saying that he wasn't responsible for the murders, that the "demon" inside him was. Of course BTK makes this one-off rage killer look like Barney the dinosaur, but the psychological fracture is the same.

"I killed them... but it wasn't me!"
-Walter Sullivan, Silent Hill 2

Comments

[punkyami-chan.livejournal.com]

Yeah....I just read the article...that is a really compelling evidence for a dissociative break. Of course HE didn't commit the crime, his other, old self did. But that's not the same person...tell that to the family who's son, father, grandfather's life you took.

My friends are actually surprised I didn't become a profiler because I'm really good at analyzing people and actions. I think I just have read one too many mystery novels and do too much people watching.

This guy needs to stay behind bars for a few more pounds of flesh. Whatever his current weight is.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

If anything I'd say he was a text book case of a dissociative break.

I'm really into true crime stuff too. One of my hobbies.