Days bleed into nights, nights into days. I sleep all day because there’s nothing else to do. When I wake, I listen for something—anything—to remind me I’m not alone. But all I hear is the pounding of my heart, the whispering voices that aren’t really there.

Solitary confinement isn’t punishment; it’s decay. The mind erodes, crumbling like old brick. Studies from the early 1900s showed that isolation causes hallucinations, memory loss, even psychosis. Prisoners in the 19th-century Eastern State Penitentiary were found rocking in their cells, muttering to themselves, their minds shattered beyond repair. Modern research confirms it: without human contact, the brain rewires itself into madness.

And yet, outside these walls, isolation grows.

Once free to play stick ball in the streets and parks, children now sit behind screens, locked away in digital cells. The cold glow of a tablet has replaced the laughter of a playground. Parents, distracted, offer devices instead of conversation. Social skills fade, empathy weakens. The world outside becomes less real than the world behind thin glass.

What happens when an entire society grows up this way? When does the comfort of solitude become preferable to the discomfort of connection? Will we build a world where eye contact is obsolete, where conversation is replaced by text, where voices—real voices—become foreign and strange?

I close my eyes, pressing my palms to my ears—anything to block out the inner chatter. I think of those children, growing up in a prison without bars, never knowing what they’ve lost. I think of the men in here, broken and forgotten. Are we so different? A life without connection is no life at all.

The mind is a fragile thing, meant to exist among others. Without it, we all become prisoners of our own making.

-K

The digital age has brought unparalleled connectivity and convenience, but it has also given rise to a new, chilling phenomenon: Social Media Serial Killers.

In recent years, a disturbing new trend has emerged where some serial killers utilize social media platforms as a hunting ground for their victims, exploiting the vastness of the internet to remain hidden in plain sight.

The anonymity afforded by online spaces has provided a cloak for these predators, allowing them to stalk and select victims with unprecedented ease. Unlike traditional criminal investigations, these faceless perpetrators operate from the shadows of the internet, leaving a digital trail that is difficult to trace.

One of the most unsettling aspects of this phenomenon is how social media becomes a tool for these killers to identify and target vulnerable individuals. By exploiting the trust and openness that often characterizes online interactions, they navigate through the vast web of profiles, seeking out those who may be susceptible to manipulation or coercion.

The anonymity these killers maintain is not only due to their digital presence but also a deliberate effort to conceal their real identities. They create fake profiles, use VPNs to mask their location, and employ a variety of tactics to cover their tracks. This makes it challenging for law enforcement agencies to connect the dots and apprehend these criminals before they strike again.

In some cases, these murderers engage in a disturbing game of cat and mouse with authorities, leaving cryptic clues or taunting messages on social media platforms. This not only adds to the psychological trauma inflicted upon victims but also serves as a sinister form of self-gratification for the perpetrators, who revel in the fear and confusion they sow.

The rise of anonymous serial killers on social media underscores the need for increased vigilance and awareness within online communities. Users must be cautious about sharing personal information, and platforms must implement robust security measures to identify and eradicate fake profiles. Maintaining privacy and ensuring safety in the digital age is a delicate balance.

Law enforcement agencies are grappling with the unique challenges posed by these faceless killers. Traditional investigative techniques are often insufficient in the realm of cyberspace, requiring a new breed of digital detectives who can navigate the complexities of online anonymity and trace the elusive trails left by these predators.

As a society, we must confront the uncomfortable reality that technology, while bringing us together, also creates new avenues for nefarious individuals to exploit. Initiatives to educate the public about online safety, coupled with advancements in digital forensics, are crucial steps in combating this dark intersection of technology and criminality.

I shouldn’t say so, but I know my way around a firewall and how to erase my own digital footprint. It’s why I maneuver into places I shouldn’t go and meet people who wouldn’t want to if they had a choice. Fortunately, society embraces technology first and thinks about security later (read more in SEETHINGS. The book is downloadable and free for a limited time). Despite what I know and share here, I don’t expect that to change soon.

The emergence of anonymous serial killers on social media is a chilling reminder of the ever-evolving landscape of crime in the digital age. The shadows of the internet provide cover for those who prey on the unsuspecting, demanding a collective effort to unveil these hidden threats and protect the vulnerable members of our interconnected society…

…from me.

–Kurdaitcha

Before the advent of DNA forensic science, solving crimes relied heavily on witness testimony, physical evidence, and circumstantial links.

Techniques like blood type analysis, matching fibres, or identifying weapons left at the scene were pivotal in drawing connections between criminals and their offences. The pre-DNA era posed significant challenges, but for crime writers, it’s a goldmine of intrigue—offering a canvas to craft narratives where cunning detectives and resourceful sleuths piece together crimes using intuition, observation, and innovation. Imagine a sleuth noticing a rare cigarette brand at multiple crime scenes or solving a murder with a perfectly timed alibi-breaker.

The introduction of DNA forensic science in legal systems transformed criminal investigations forever. DNA fingerprinting emerged in the 1980s as a groundbreaking tool, allowing investigators to identify suspects with unprecedented accuracy. However, its integration into legal systems varied across countries, creating gaps ripe for creative exploration.

* United Kingdom (1986): The UK became the pioneer of DNA evidence when it solved the infamous case of Colin Pitchfork using genetic fingerprinting. This groundbreaking moment marked a shift toward DNA-backed convictions.

* United States (1987): DNA entered the courtroom with the Florida case of Tommy Lee Andrews, ushering in widespread adoption. It wasn’t until the FBI’s CODIS system launched in the 1990s that DNA databases became game-changers.

* Australia (1989): DNA evidence debuted in Australian law in a murder trial—national DNA databases followed in the 2000s, reflecting an era of transformation in forensic investigation.

* Canada (1990): The first Canadian conviction using DNA evidence demonstrated its potential. Establishing the National DNA Data Bank in 2000 further strengthened its role in solving crimes.

* Germany (1993): DNA evidence entered German courts, gradually becoming a cornerstone of modern forensic practices. In the late 1990s, the creation of a comprehensive database closed countless cold cases.

For writers, these staggered adoption dates present captivating gaps where older, unresolved cases could be revisited with emerging DNA technology. Combine that with growing criminal databases, and there’s a plethora of new writing opportunities to explore. How might a detective uncover new truths in a case left dormant for decades? What old adversaries might resurface as the weight of DNA-backed justice looms large?

There’s a new public crime-solving platform on the horizon: Ancestry.com. Ordinary citizens willingly upload their DNA signatures to the site, hoping to find their genetic origins. Each signature uploaded enters a growing worldwide database. While criminals are unlikely to use the service, their relatives have their DNA results permanently filed, and police have access to these records. Blood relatives are closing cases without knowing it!

The advent of genealogical databases like these adds a modern twist. This new frontier has already led to the capture of notorious criminals, bridging the past and present in pursuing justice. For crime writers, this intersection of history, science, and human stories opens thrilling new narrative avenues.

My novel SEETHINGS exploits the pre-DNA/post-DNA gap. It’s downloadable and free for a limited time.

-M.