The Murder Of Lambert Fox: A Serial Killer

A serial killer named Lambert Fox escaped prison and was hunting for his seventh victim. His childhood seemed ordinary from the outside, but on the inside, it consisted of abuse and violence. Fox showed signs of aggression and antisocial behavior when he was young but used sports as his outlet. He never got the professional help he needed. When Fox turned eighteen, he quit sports to focus on his education at Stanford University. Losing his outlet, he became aggressive toward the people he loved. Fox murdered his best friend after an argument about a crush. He got away with it, and as time went on, he murdered more and more people. It became more painless with every killing. He began to enjoy the feeling. Police inevitably caught Fox after his

Fox had nothing to lose, so professionals sampled his DNA for future reference and testing. Researchers discovered a mutation in the MAOA gene. This mutation was known for causing violent and antisocial behavior. The judge considered this throughout his trials, ultimately granting him a lighter sentence because of the modification of his gene. Fox ended up in a less secure prison than he should have been if the judge had not considered his genes. His violent behavior did not stop while incarcerated. The lighter sentence also allowed him to figure out a way to escape. Again, he became a threat to society. The variant of the MAOA gene is a topic that is present in courtrooms. The frightening truth is that “an estimated 68% of released prisoners were arrested within 3 years, 79% within 6 years, and 83% within 9 years” (Alper). All this information leads to the question: a mutation of the MAOA gene causes irrational and violent behavior, but are their actions

Researchers found unusual and interesting traits of this gene. This gene produces the monoamine oxidase-A enzyme, which is involved in the breakdown of serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters. These are responsible for behavioral routines (“Maoa Gene: MedlinePlus Genetics”). Every person, man or woman, has the MAOA gene, but the mutated version is when it becomes concerning. The defective MAOA gene is linked to abnormally aggressive behavior and can make one strangely antisocial (McSwiggan et al.). This gene is most commonly harmless, although if one has a mutation in this gene and is abused or mistreated as a child, they are at risk of becoming dangerous. Many factors go into gene expression. Environmental factors can range from the food one consumes to how one manages their thoughts. Past backgrounds, like childhood and recent experiences, have a part in aggression caused by the mutated gene. The MAOA gene mutation is most common among men. An offender with a gene that makes them more susceptible to killing might kill again if they get out of jail. This is one of the consequences of a lighter sentence. Criminals with a variant of the MAOA gene should not obtain a shorter sentence because factors including the environment, past experiences, the regularity of the gene, other genes, and repetitive mistakes contribute to the effects of the