Mary Wiltenburg writes this story in the Christian Science Monitor about people who are drawn toward corresponding with and sometimes marrying incarcerated criminals. The subject is of some interest to me since, frankly, it's a total mystery why this occurs. Wiltenburg suggests that part of the reason is people are attracted to notoriety.
Serial pedophile John Wayne Gacy and serial murderer Ted Bundy both married women they'd corresponded with before their executions. In 1996, "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez married in prison. Just last month, a personal ad on WriteAPrisoner.com by Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother who drove her two sons into a lake in 1994, drew an estimated 1 million e-mails and letters.
The article discusses other possible motivations, but they really don't seem to provide a complete picture of why this happens. Not discussed is my personal belief that most of these relationships start impulsively, on a whim, with no real intention to continue it after the first response. From there, due to charm or charisma, the relationship, albeit long-distance, blossoms. I don't think that any of these folks started out by saying to themselves, "Hey, I think I'll marry a convicted serial killer." But, I could be wrong.
The article is worth a look even if you aren't interested in the addresses and links to a number of sites providing personal ads of inmates.
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