John Mark Karr
Lee Harvey Oswald
John Wayne Gacey
Mark David Chapman
John Wilkes Booth
Does it seem odd to you? Why don't people commonly refer to President Lincoln's assasin as John Booth? Why don't we know David Berkowitz's ("Son of Sam") middle name?
2006-08-24 06:12:56 · 9 answers · asked by mayorofsteveville2002 3 in News & Events ➔ Other - News & Events
It is supposed to be done that way so that people with the same first and last name won't be confused with the killer's name. However, it seems more like a journalistic convention.
"John Wilkes Booth" was known colloquially by all three names, and that might be how it started for newspapers -- they just started saying all three names of a killer because it sounded more dramatic like that.
2006-08-24 06:23:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have noticed this too! Maybe it's to differentiate them from those with the same name. John Booth, John Karr and John Gacy seems like they might be other innocent men's names too. But how many Lee Oswalds can there be?
2006-08-24 17:24:15 · answer #2 · answered by BabyRN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I seem to remember hearing about this once. I think it had something to do with the fact that when you are arrested and tried, they use your full, legal name.
Good question about Berkowitz though. Not sure why we don't use his middle name. (which is Richard, by the way)
2006-08-24 06:21:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We all know tons of killer middle names, But how many Presidents middle names do you know?????
Funny where we have our priorities these days
2006-08-25 02:22:33 · answer #4 · answered by Boo Boo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they might not be the only ones with those names so middle names will help specify. you don't want people to say "john karr is the killer" + your dad is running his butt off to another state screaming "not me!"
2006-08-24 06:16:15 · answer #5 · answered by annie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont know mabey it makes it more dramatic... hmmm... interesting question, i love learning about psycho killers, although I wouldnt say all those you named were/are psychotic. Let me know if you find out!
2006-08-24 06:16:06 · answer #6 · answered by Brookelynn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good question... maybe so people don't name their kids the same names as psycho killers...
2006-08-24 06:15:40 · answer #7 · answered by ~*~That Silly Oto...~*~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of them are WAYNE.
2006-08-24 18:07:18 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
and yet we don't know your middle name....yet
2006-08-24 06:33:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋