SERIAL KILLER: Charles Hatcher

Charles Hatcher was an American serial killer officially convicted of murdering two children, though investigators believe he was responsible for many more assaults and homicides. His life was defined by a revolving door of prisons and psychiatric institutions, where he became known for his repeated escapes and his ability to manipulate his documented mental health issues to feign insanity in pursuit of lighter sentences.In this episode, we’ll explore what is known about Hatcher’s early life and upbringing, trace the escalation of his crimes—from non-violent car thefts to attempted kidnappings and murder—and answer a question that has stuck with me: Was Charles Hatcher responsible for the 1969 murder of Dorothy Miller?Our coverage on Charles Hatcher and his crimes will continue in part two, where we highlight the victims of his horrible crimes. Sources: Amber Keen, George Lewis, Kara Stone, Andrew Lucas, Charles Ray Hatcher, 2005, Department of Psychology, Radford UniversityKris Jensen, Terry Hughes, Kent Darr, Mike Anton, Gary Sawyer, Beverly Van Hook, The ugly odyssey of Charles Hatcher, May 15, 1983, The Quad City TimesTerry Ganey, Innocent Blood: A True Story of Obsession and Serial Murder, 2016Support the showIf you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-formIf you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creatorSave $20 on a Buzzsprout paid plan using this referral link!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2372693Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson