Robert Berdella: Kansas City Butcher

Overview

Robert Andrew Berdella Jr. was an American serial killer who murdered at least six young men. His murders occurred in Kansas City, Missouri.

Berdella was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for one of his victims. Later, he would plead guilty to first-degree murder, and four charges of second-degree murder.

Berdella is nicknamed "Kansas City Butcher" due to the dissecting of his victims' bodies.

Early Life

Berdella was born January 31, 1949. As a child, Berdella was intelligent and performed well in school. However, he was a loner. He had a speech impediment, was near-sighted, and was unathletic.

His father viewed highly of athletic activities and saw Berdella's lack of interest as a sign of failure. His father would abuse him both physically and emotionally.

When Berdella reached puberty, he discovered he was homosexual, but kept it a secret from others.

By his mid-teens, Berdella became aggressive. He was particularly aggressive towards women.

On Christmas Day 1965, Berdella's father passed away from a heart attack. He began to rely on his religion, Catholicism. This was a way for him to find solace.

Not long after his father's death, his mother remarried. He resented this action and viewed it as a form of betrayal.

During his college years, Berdella had excellent grades. He became acquainted to a group who give him drugs. He would then sell the drugs to other students to earn profit.

He engaged in animal torture at least twice. He would brutally hurt the animals.

When Berdella turned nineteen, he was arrested for attempting to sell meth to an undercover officer. He was bailed out of prison, and a month later he would be caught with the possession of marijuana. However, due to lack of evidence he would be released.

Life After College

In 1969, Berdella withdrew from college. He began to spend his free time with male prostitutes, petty criminals, and runaways.

To his neighbors, Berdella was thought as flamboyant and civic-minded. Berdella encouraged more neighborhood watch patrols and even volunteered at fundraising events. In the mid-1970s, Berdella began working as a senior cook at multiple restaurants in Kansas City.

Murders

It is believed that Berdella committed his first murder on July 5, 1984 on nineteen-year-old Jerry Howell. Berdella gave him a tranquilizer before continuing with the rest of his brutal crimes.

Berdella's murders of the five other victims were just as brutal. However, I will not go into detail as it is greatly triggering.

Berdella had admitted that the crimes were done to satisfy his darkest fantasies and that the movie The Collector had left a major impression on him.

Death

On October 8, 1992, Berdella died from a heart attack. He was forty-three-years-old when he died.

Shortly after, the judge at his trial was informed of Berdella's death. In response, the judge sarcastically said, "Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy."

Other Information

Convictions: First-degree murder (2), second-degree murder (4), selling amphetamines, sodomy, assault, sexual assault.

Motives: Sexual sadism, possession, control.

Berdella began socializing in gay bars in Akron in 1967. Berdella had a brief relationship with bisexual Vietnam veteran in 1982. This relationship was the few serious ones that Berdella had.

Investigators had until 7:30 on April 3 to collect sufficient evidence to formulate an arrest warrant. Investigators had the hospitalized victim confirm Berdella as his captor through a series of photographs. They used this as a way for them to persuade the judge into signing the statement of probable cause, which justified the search of Berdella's house.

When more evidence was found of his brutal crimes, Berdella's bail sum increased to $750,000, which was considered an incredible amount at the time.

Imprisoned at Missouri State Penitentiary.