Serial killers are some of the most puzzling people of all time. There are many different types of serial killers out there, but the most puzzling of all are the serial killer couples. These are men and women that share in the macabre actions of taking human life. Sometimes one is dominant while the other helps out under direction, and sometimes they both share in the killing of innocents happily. Regardless, serial killer couples are among the most disturbing killers in history.
One of the most indescribable serial killer couples were an elderly couple named Faye and Ray Copeland. This old couple was caught and charged with five murders, though they are suspected of many more. Apparently, they were hiring workers for their farm and then executing them as they went along. The five bodies found in shallow graves on the farm were all shot in the back of the head, and the forensics matched the gunshots to Ray’s rifle. They were the oldest couple to be sentenced to execution, but neither were actually executed. Ray died on death row, and Faye had her sentence commuted to life in prison.
Canadians Paul and Karla Bernardo are at the opposite end of the spectrum. They did not kill for convenience or profit. They did it for fun and for sex. Karla claimed that she was not a willing partner to the killings of no less than three teen girls, including her own sister. She said that Paul was forcing her, and beating her at every turn. Paul was, in fact, beating Karla, but the video tapes that the couple made of the sexual abuse and torture of the young girls showed that she was a willing partner. She actually participated in the abuse clearly. Still, she is free from jail after serving prison time. Paul is in prison today.
Gerald and Charlene Gallego set the world on fire with at least ten killings of young women between 1978 and 1981. They were among the most brutal and heartless serial killers the United States had ever known. The entire state of Nevada was scared to death, and rightfully so. The victims of this serial killer couple were raped and then slaughtered in every way imaginable. One young pregnant woman was even buried alive. Charlene inexplicably was released from prison after serving a 16 year sentence. Her role in the crimes was securing the trust of the young ladies, and then turning them over to Gerald for his sadistic torture and rape.
These are only three of many serial killer couples in history. The phenomenon is not one that we understand very well yet. Hopefully in the years to come they will learn more, but in the meantime they continue to pop up at least once every couple years. Some theorize that serial killer couples exist and are operating all the time, much like the serial killers that kill solo. It is hard to say, but one thing is for sure…they are among the most depraved members of our society.
