This smiling boy grew up to be one of the most evil men on earth

December 18, 2025 by salah

However, the thin, blonde-haired boy did have a few friends growing up.

“He was a fun kid to be around as a child,” said Ted Lee, who grew up in the same neighborhood.

But as the young man grew, a dark fascination began to emerge. Some people think it started when he was just four years old and watched his father dig up animal bones beneath their house.

The sounds of the bones sparked a strange thrill, and he became obsessed with what he called his “fiddlesticks.” He explored further, searching for bones and even dissecting live animals to study their skeletons.

When the family moved to Bath Township, Ohio, his interest intensified. He began collecting large insects and small animal skeletons in a hut near their wooded property, some preserved in jars of formaldehyde.

His father, assuming it was scientific curiosity, taught him how to clean and preserve bones, skills the boy eagerly adopted.

Escalating obsession

The obsession soon escalated. He started gathering roadkill, dissecting animals, and burying them near his hut. Sometimes, he placed skulls on makeshift crosses.

By 14, he had started drinking heavily, hiding liquor in his jacket and calling it “my medicine.” His parents’ marriage collapsed, ending in a bitter divorce. By the time he graduated in May 1978, his mother had moved out with his younger brother, leaving the 18-year-old alone in the family home.