Episode 123 - Gary Michael Hilton: The National Forest Killer

This week, we’re taking a look at a bit of an outlier in the psychological profiles of serial killers. Gary Michael Hilton, known as The National Forest Serial Killer, is an American serial killer responsible for four known homicides between 2007 and 2008 committed in three states, all of which occurred within the premises of national forests. What makes in stand out among other serial killers is the idea that his motivation for committing these horrendous crimes, by all accounts, appears to be money. The question here is whether the definition of the term “serial killer” includes assumptions regarding their motives. Must a monster be sexually motivated to be classified as a serial killer? Technically, no. But do we in greater society think of these types of monsters differently? We’re getting into the deep end here. Join us! Campfire: Tales of the Strange and Unsettling is created for adult audiences only. The content and discussion in this show will necessarily engage with various accounts that include violence, anxiety, fear, and occasional body horror. Much of it will be emotionally and intellectually challenging to engage with. We will flag especially graphic or intense content so as to never put you in an uninformed or unprepared position. We will do our best to make this a space where we can engage bravely, empathetically, and thoughtfully with difficult content every week.  This week’s episode includes descriptions/sound related the following sensitive subjects.  Extreme Graphic ViolenceDismembermentSexual AssaultUnhoused PeopleChild AbuseChild NeglectGun Violence Check Out Our Friends! BeneBenPlayinhttps://www.youtube.com/@benebenplayin Mothmen 1966https://store.steampowered.com/app/1755030/Mothmen_1966/ Bigfoothttps://www.bigfootplay.com/ Articles: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-hilton-dunlap-s/43553662/ https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-hilton-bryants/43556278/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/gary-hilton Books:https://a.co/d/9VEgTKy Adverts! Support Campfire on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/campfiretalesofthestrangeandunsettling Satisfy All of Your Merch Needs:https://www.teepublic.com/stores/campfire-tales-of-the-strange-and-unsettling?ref_id=25702 Join the conversation on social media at:www.campfirepodcastnetwork.com  Discord: https://discord.gg/43CPN3rz Instagram:instagram.com/campfire.tales.podcast GoodPods:https://goodpods.app.link/T0qvGnXnplb Twitter:www.twitter.com/campfiretotsau  Facebook:www.facebook.com/campfire.tales.podcast Visit Our Linktree for Any and All Campfire Info:https://linktr.ee/Campfirepodcast Special Thanks: Gregg Martin for music contributions! Go follow him on Instagram at Instagram.com/reverentmusic , on Bandcamp at https://reverentmusic.bandcamp.com/releases or on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/album/6QVhQsYQeeBVOtxrelehTI?si=V5CAxS8sSXyVFn14G7j-GA Additional music & SFX provided by Artlist.ioElias Armao for graphic design! Go follow him on Instagram at instagram.com/doggedlinedesignsupply  Jonathan Dodd for merch design! Show him some love at https://linktr.ee/jonathandodd Easton Chandler Hawk! Support his work at https://linktr.ee/eastonhawkart Christina at The Crescent Hare! Support everything she does at https://thecrescenthare.bigcartel.com/products Todd Purse at Create Magic Studios! Support his work at https://linktr.ee/Createmagicstudios