Famous Serial Killers Who Are Aquarians
Aquarians are those born between January 21 and February 19. According to Cosmopolitan, those who belong to this air sign are deep thinkers and quite intelligent, and they may also exhibit eccentric behaviors. Aquarians are known to be assertive and are independent thinkers. In fact, they are often in their own head, thinking of how to go about certain things in unique and innovative ways. Because of this, they are often seen as loners and would rather be in solitary rather than in a group of people. Despite this, they are also known to be kind and always ready to lend a helping hand.
However, Aquarians also have a number of bad traits. For one, their practicality makes them lack empathy. They will not go out of their way to understand the feelings of others or try to put themselves in others' situations. Aquarians also have a tendency to be stubborn and stick to their usual ways and thinking, often not changing their stance on matters, per Revive Zone. Another negative trait is their extreme anger, which may make them lash out at the people around them. These negative traits can be seen in serial killers who are Aquarians, some of which include Gary Ridgway, Robert Berdella, and Jerry Brudos.
The Green River Killer
One of the most notorious serial killers who is an Aquarian is Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer. In the '80s and '90s, the surrounding areas near Green River in Washington became the dumping ground for the then-unknown serial killer, thus the nickname. The bodies of sex workers were discovered there, and for years, authorities had no leads on the identity of the perpetrator. Perhaps it was Ridgway's calculating ways that helped him evade authorities. According to ATI, he left cigarette butts and gum where he dumped bodies in order to mislead investigators, as he neither chewed gum nor smoked cigarettes. Aquarians are known to be intelligent, and Ridgway thought outside the box to be able to evade capture.
It wasn't until 2001 when Ridgway was finally charged with the murders. By then, technology has caught up, and his DNA was found in some of the victims. The serial killer entered a plea bargain, wherein he was spared from the death penalty in exchange for giving a confession and providing details on the murders and the locations of the bodies. "I killed so many women I have a hard time keeping them straight," Ridgway said (via Biography). He was charged with 48 counts of first-degree murder, but authorities believe he had more victims. In 2003, he was sentenced to 48 life sentences without parole.
The Kansas City Butcher
Robert Berdella, who was given the nickname the Kansas City Butcher, kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at least six men in the '80s. As a young boy, Berdella was a loner, one of the many traits of an Aquarian. He was the target of bullies, as he had vision problems, as well as a speech impediment, per ATI. His home life wasn't any better, and he experienced physical and verbal abuse from his own father. Berdella realized that he was a homosexual when he was in his teens. Coming into that realization gave him a boost of confidence, although he kept his sexuality a secret until he entered college.
As he grew older, Berdella spent his time with drug addicts and petty criminals who, according to him, he was helping. In reality, he was grooming and manipulating them in order to gain control. It was in 1984 when his disturbing behavior turned to murder, and it wasn't until 1988 when he was finally caught, as reported by Thought Co. One of his victims was able to escape and was found with a dog collar around his neck. He recounted to the police the torture that he endured in the hands of Berdella, and an investigation ensued. There were countless pieces of evidence against the Kansas City Butcher, and he was charged with assault, felonious restraint, and seven counts of sodomy. Upon further investigation, investigators found evidence that tied Berdella to six murder victims that hadn't been solved. Berdella was sentenced to life in prison and died of a heart attack in 1992.
The Shoe Fetish Slayer
Jerry Brudos is another serial killer who is an Aquarian. Brudos got into trouble at a young age. At just 17 years old, he committed his first attack on a woman, and his actions escalated from there, with women being his targets. It all started when he was 5 years old and his mother caught him wearing a pair of high heels, per Biography. She destroyed the shoes, and that was the beginning of Brudos' obsession with women's shoes.
In the 1960s, Brudos attacked, mutilated, and murdered women in the Oregon area. He often stole some of his victims' possessions — including their shoes — earning him the nickname the Shoe Fetish Slayer. Eventually, authorities had Brudos on their radar, and a search of his home produced a mountain of evidence that he was the murderer that they were looking for. Brudos eventually confessed to murdering four women, as well as assaulting and kidnapping many others, as reported by ATI. He was sentenced to life in prison and died of cancer in 2006.