Serial Killers and Intelligence:
EXTRAORDINARILY SMART, OR UNUSUALLY DUMB?
Nature or nurture are often debated when it comes to serial killers. Surely, it is a combination of both of those things. But what about intelligence? Does it take a smart person to commit such heinous acts?
RODNEY ALCALA
Rodney James Alcala is an American serial killer who was active between 1968 and 1979. The “Dating Game Killer,” who was responsible for at least five deaths and possibly 100s. He worked as a freelance photographer and graduated from both UCLA and NYU. His IQ is reported to be a surprising 170. Rodney Alcala is a genius. Still, he wasn’t smart enough to get away with his crimes and is currently awaiting execution in California.
JOHN WAYNE GACY
If you hate clowns, you’ll hate this guy. Gacy worked as Pogo The Clown, but had a sinister secret; he raped, tortured and killed 33 young male victims in his Illinois home. His IQ was 118. Not too shabby, but not extraordinary either…
