Dennis Nilsen Murder Case

Dennis Nilsen is known today as the European Jeffrey Dahmer, the Muswell Hill Murderer, and the Kindly Killer. They are compared because Nilsen and Dahmer both began killing around 1978, were homosexual and dismembered young boys (NY Times 1992 & Bio.com). They also both have run-ins with the police and are charming enough to talk their way out the murderous accusations. Nilsen would eventually be charged with seven counts of murder and two attempted murders, however he admits to more than fifteen killings. Nilsen was born, Dennis Andrew Nilsen in November of 1945 in Scotland. By the age of four (1949) his parents had divorced and he alternated between residences, that of his grandparents and mother. His mother notes that Nilsen had very few

Upon inspection the plumber is quoted as saying “I haven’t been doing this job long, but I know that’s not shit” (Masters 1993). The plumber reported this to police and a full investigation was to take place the next day. That night Nilsen’s neighbors note he was outside the building by the manhole cover. The following day when police arrived the decision was made by Detective Chief Inspector Jay to interview Nilsen. Upon entering Nilsen’s apartment, Jay recalls he smelt a very foul odor. He then asked Nilsen where the rest of the remains were, he replied that the bodies were stored in the apartment in bags under the floor boards, in cabinets, and the kitchen drawers. (Crime and Investigation.UK) Nilsen was immediately taken into custody and admitted to the slaying of 15 young men over the past years, taking place in both apartments. His trial began on October 24th, 1983. Nilsen was charged with six murders and 2 attempted. He was then examined by three psychologists and after the conflicting testimonies of all three, it was concluded that the jury would ultimately decide his sanity. The judge gave instructions on the sanity decision by stating “a mind can be evil without being abnormal”