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Killers live, work and hunt among us.  They are wolves in sheep’s clothing, using deception as masterfully as an artist, painting an illusion.

Pathological liars are able to maintain their lies.  Scientists have researched the anatomy of lies and found increased brain activity when a subject lies.  Pathological liars have increased white material brain mass, which allows them to lie more successfully.

“Chronic liars are most commonly found among those who have Antisocial Personality Disorder, although some liars also suffer from factitious conditions like Munchausen’s Disorder or Munchausen’s by Proxy…Narcissists are also fond of lying. The most serious of the chronic liars are the psychopaths, who form the most severe 10% (roughly) of those with Antisocial Personality Disorder.” (1)

The following cases were profiled on the Discovery series, Most Evil, December 2008

On November 9, 1971, John List murdered his wife, mother and three children in cold blood.  He left a series of letters detailing his reasoning.  He was unemployed but he told no one and continued to leave the house each morning as though going to work.  He escaped justice for two decades, assumed a new identity and remarried. 

Susan Smith claimed a black man abducted her two small children and publicly pled for their safe return.  She cried but shed no tears.  As a child, Susan was molested and neglected in a home wrought with trauma.  She attempted suicide twice as teenager. It was a failed relationship with a married man at work that pushed Smith over the edge. She strapped both boys in car seats in the back of her car and drove the car into a lake. 

On Feb 6, 1986, 10 year old Zach Ramsey left home for school and disappeared.  Zach’s parents were suspects for years, although there was never any evidence to charge them. Bar-Jonah was arrested years later for murdering several young boys and suspected in Zach’s disappearance, though he was never charged.  Bar-Jonah has not admitted to killing Zach, though he has alluded to some knowledge of the crime.  Nathan Bar-Jonah was arrested for impersonating a police officer. He carried a fake badge and stun gun.  Police searched is apartment and found photos of children, lists of names, news clippings and journals written in code. The FBI deciphered the journals which contained horrific cannibalistic writings.  Bone fragments were found underneath the garage floor.  DNA results showed that the bones did not belong to Zach.  The identity of the child who’s bones were found is still unknown.

Impulsive murders and predatory murderers differ in their ability to regulate aggression. The prefrontal cortex protects most people from lashing out in rage. 

“This area of the brain is thought to be involved in planning complex cognitive behaviours and in the expression of personality and appropriate social behaviour.” (2)

BTK killer revealed himself in a letter to the media, seeking notoriety.  Deception was a game that he played with an entire community.  He thrived on attention which eventually led to his capture.  He led a double life, married with two children, he earned a degree in the administration of justice, was involved in his church and community and was even a boy scout leader.

1. Identifying a Pathological Liar, Wiki Answers, Retrieved January 2008

2.  Prefrontal cortex, Brain Explorer, Retrieved January 2008