BTK AND TED BUNDY VIE FOR BEST SERIAL KILLER AWARD

August 3 2009

Plainfield, WI – The rise of the serial killer has become one of the more disturbing and engaging developments of the 20th century. Though such individuals existed well before the beginning of the last century the growth of celebrity killers throughout the century has solidified them as one of the most important and influential set of
criminals in history. Names such as Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Andrei Chikatilo have come to personify the barbarity and brutality of the mass murderer and thrust that character into the public consciousness.

That popularity has of course led to the serial killer being a modern boogeyman. The routine appearance of such killers in movies, books, and videogames has reflected and further solidified the reputation of the killer as one of the most important ghouls in the human experience. Because of that growth and continued interest in killers both real and fictional a group of entrepreneurs has set about immortalizing serial killers and rewarding those with a penchant for perversity and extremely high body counts. ‘The Slashies’, the ‘Oscars of mass murder’ will be held in the hometown and on the birth day of the man credited with sparking the rise in popularity of the serial killer, Ed Gein.

“We do not advocate murder in any way. We want to make that absolutely clear. The
Slashies are not about murder they are about a culture phenomenon that has swept not only our country but the entire world. They are an acknowledgment of events and achievements not a promotion or endorsement of them,” said Slashies co-founder Evan Waters. “Serial killers are as important a part of our society as doctors and lawyers. They are a part of the air we breathe and the water we drink and it is time we gave something back to them. We have stood in fascination, and many have made millions off them, and never returned the favour. Now it is finally time to return that favour and reward them accordingly.”

Included in the first set of awards will be the legend award which has two contestants, BTK and Ted Bundy. Body counts and creativity will also be awarded in the first of what is to be an annual exhibition. Future instalments of the fest will include such categories as ‘Best Kill’ and ‘Best use of Bodily Remains’. Ed Gein is officially ineligible for any awards but the legend trophy is named in his honour.

“There’s little doubt that serial killers have become a more integrated part of society. In the days of Jack the Ripper they were a thing to be frightened of but today they are just another part of the fear industry, much like Vampires and Werewolves. Obviously they have a major impact on the families of their victims but this is first time
anyone has sought fight to acknowledges their impact on society as a whole,” said Scrape TV Mass Murder analyst Drake Webber. “Of course there are issues of taste
but there’s little doubt that there will be a significant amount of interest in these awards. The popularity of serial killers has become so massive in the last few decades that it’s sure to bring a lot of attention and with that a lot of advertising interest.”

The initial set of awards will be broadcast online but the founders hope for mainstream television coverage in the near future.

“One of the best things about the serial killer market is that so few people are able to do it successfully. Most murderers are caught after one or two killings and never make it into the public realm. Killing isn’t like singing or acting where more or less anyone can get into it. Killing takes a lot more skill and serial killing is the upper echelon of that realm,” continued Webber. “I really don’t see any way that this can’t be a success. With serial killers popping up every day and their popularity showing no signs of diminishing the potential is nothing but upwards for anything related.”

The organizers are reportedly working on a plan to allow the BTK killer Dennis Rader on a temporary furlough in time for the ceremony, raising expectations that he is the front runner for the legend award. Ted Bundy was executed in 1989.   

Mike Michaels, American Correspondent

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