Episode 123 - Gary Michael Hilton: The National Forest Killer

Campfire: Tales of the Strange and Unsettling

This week, we’re taking a look at a bit of an outlier in the psychological profiles of serial killers. Gary Michael Hilton, known as The National Forest Serial Killer, is an American serial killer responsible for four known homicides between 2007 and 2008 committed in three states, all of which occurred within the premises of national forests. What makes in stand out among other serial killers is the idea that his motivation for committing these horrendous crimes, by all accounts, appears to be money. The question here is whether the definition of the term “serial killer” includes assumptions regarding their motives. Must a monster be sexually motivated to be classified as a serial killer? Technically, no. But do we in greater society think of these types of monsters differently? We’re getting into the deep end here. Join us!

Campfire: Tales of the Strange and Unsettling is created for adult audiences only. The content and discussion in this show will necessarily engage with various accounts that include violence, anxiety, fear, and occasional body horror. Much of it will be emotionally and intellectually challenging to engage with. We will flag especially graphic or intense content so as to never put you in an uninformed or unprepared position. We will do our best to make this a space where we can engage bravely, empathetically, and thoughtfully with difficult content every week.

This week’s episode includes descriptions/sound related the following sensitive subjects.

Extreme Graphic Violence

Dismemberment

Sexual Assault

Unhoused People

Child Abuse

Child Neglect

Gun Violence

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