Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"Arthur Shawcross was the archetype of a person you'd half jokingly call a psycho, a monstrous malignant tumor of a man who nestled himself into neighborhoods and either killed or just plain disturbed every life he touched." — Marcus Parks
"He committed every crime known to man. He never added to society in any way, shape or form. He only ever subtracted." — Henry Zebrowski
"He was born with a blank look on his face. And according to his mother, he almost never cried... The reason why he never cried is because he was incapable of actually crying like a human being from birth." — Marcus Parks
This episode of The Last Podcast on the Left embarks on a deep dive into the early life of Arthur Shawcross, a serial killer known for his brutal crimes in upstate New York. The hosts meticulously detail Shawcross's profoundly disturbing childhood, marked by an apparent absence of empathy from birth. They describe his unusual lack of crying, his tendency towards violence even at a young age, and his inability to form social connections. The narrative highlights his fascination with causing distress to others, including younger children, and his early engagement in acts of cruelty towards animals. The episode also touches upon the complex and often contradictory accounts of his early sexual experiences, emphasizing his prolific lying and the difficulty in establishing concrete facts.
The discussion further explores Shawcross's development into a "misfit" who struggled to adhere to societal norms. His literal interpretation of language, his aggressive outbursts when confused, and his peculiar habits like crawling under radiators or always taking the most direct, often hazardous, path to a destination are highlighted as indicators of his aberrant psychology. The hosts delve into his early criminal behaviors, including arson and theft, and his disturbing tendencies, such as spying on neighbors and recounting their intimate moments to their children. The episode also examines the impact of head injuries sustained throughout his life, speculating on their role in exacerbating his already aggressive and antisocial tendencies.
The latter part of the episode focuses on Shawcross's early romantic relationships and his military service. Despite his violent and antisocial nature, he managed to marry multiple times, with his wives often warned by others about his disturbing behavior. His time in Vietnam is recounted, though the hosts heavily scrutinize his exaggerated and likely fabricated claims of combat heroism and extreme violence, suggesting these were fantasies that fueled his later criminal desires. The episode concludes by setting the stage for the continuation of Shawcross's story, emphasizing the early patterns of violence and manipulation that foreshadowed the heinous crimes he would later commit.