Who did this again???

I was there but it didn’t happen Serial killers employ “bait and switch” tactics by presenting as charming, helpful figures to gain trust, then abruptly revealing their violent intent once victims are isolated. Classic Tactics • Ted Bundy: Baited with fake injuries (e.g., arm cast) or job offers, switching to abduction by feigning vulnerability before overpowering women in his car.[youtube] • John Wayne Gacy: Baited young men with parties, jobs, or “handcuff tricks,” switching to restraint and torture in his crawl space. • Gary Ridgway (Green River Killer): Baited sex workers with son photos for rapport, switching to strangulation during encounters. Detection Tips These deceptions exploit loneliness; switch happens post-isolation. Trust gut instincts on over-charm or rushed privacy—escape and report. Healthy bonds build gradually without urgency.[listverse]

I love my serial killers Serial killers frequently befriend or target trauma victims, exploiting their vulnerabilities like isolation, trust issues, or low self-worth to gain access and control.[cji] Predatory Patterns Many, like Ted Bundy or the Golden State Killer, present as charming “friends” or helpers to isolated individuals (e.g., runaways, abuse survivors), mirroring empathy while assessing compliance. Childhood-traumatized killers reenact dominance, selecting victims whose brokenness echoes their own—leading to rape/murder sequences fueled by power fantasies.[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih] Psychological Link Trauma victims’ hypervigilance paradoxically blinds them to manipulators; killers compartmentalize charm with sadism. Befriending signals high risk—escalates to coercion; survivors report grooming via shared “pain stories.” Seek therapy, report suspicions immediately.[cnn]

Befriending a serial killer often stems from hybristophilia, where individuals (typically women) romanticize dangerous criminals, ignoring red flags for thrill, attention, or perceived “nurturing” potential.[bcu] Psychological Risks Friends rationalize charm or “hidden pain,” but proximity exposes manipulation—gaslighting, isolation, and escalating threats erode sanity, fostering trauma bonds mimicking Stockholm syndrome. Many end up enabling crimes unwittingly or facing retaliation post-arrest.[wikipedia] Real Outcomes Cases like Ted Bundy’s girlfriends or Jeffrey Dahmer’s acquaintances reveal post-discovery horror: betrayal, media scrutiny, therapy needs. Cut ties immediately; report suspicions to authorities for safety.[crimeandinvestigation]