I have written several books with serial killers as protagonists—some have been published, some have not. My oldest killer was a man in his forties, the youngest was a sixteen-year-old girl. Now, after twenty-five years of writing, I have discovered the perfect serial killer may be an elderly woman.
I didn’t know that when I began writing Too Old For This. My protagonist, Lottie Jones, showed me what I was refusing to see all along. Like so many elderly women, she had become invisible. But that isn’t the only reason why she is a great serial killer. As I learned, there are quite a few advantages to being an older woman.
The first, and perhaps the most obvious, is life experience. Think about how many decisions a person makes every day, every month, every year. Some are small and inconsequential, others are much bigger and can be life altering. The longer people have been around, the more they see the results, and the ramifications, of their decisions.
For a serial killer, this kind of information is invaluable. They learn how investigations are handled, what the police are likely to do next, and when they might show up at the door. They also learn about their victims and what to do with their bodies. If they manage not to get caught, they learn which mistakes to avoid in the future.
Lottie is seventy-five years old and retired, but now she has been forced to kill again. She knows what comes next, she knows the process that will unfold in the wake of her actions, and she prepares accordingly. This gives her a very real advantage over younger killers.
Many older people have also learned, if not mastered, an underrated skill: The ability to do nothing. In a world where action is everything and doing something is the preferred way to fix or solve a problem, Lottie has realized there is a better way. Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing, then wait and see if the problem resolves itself.
Patience is not just a virtue, it is a skill, an art, and for a serial killer, it is essential. If there is one quality a killer needs to be successful, it is discipline. They must determine the right place, time, and circumstances. If something isn’t going to work, they must be able to control themselves, to wait until the time is right, and to walk away if something is amiss.
Lottie also knows how people see her. All of us make judgments about ourselves and others, and we have all been judged for something: how we act, how we look, our lifestyle, or where we come from. This is particularly true for women, who are pressured to live up to whatever beauty standard is popular at any given time.
A woman of seventy-five has been judged and stereotyped countless times for countless reasons, and it doesn’t stop as they grow older. All of this can be used to a serial killer’s advantage.
People think she is physically weak? Great, then she is less likely to be suspected.
People think she is declining mentally? Even better. No one expects her to remember things accurately, including her own alibi.
Lottie takes advantage of both assumptions to help her get away with murder. She doesn’t mind looking unattractive, appearing physically feeble, or acting a little ‘dotty’ if it helps get her what she wants.
We often think of older people as being set in their ways, but this isn’t always true. Everyone can change and grow regardless of age, and the ability to adapt is crucial for a serial killer. They may be forced to change their plans on the spur of the moment. If a potential victim zigs instead of zags, a killer must adapt accordingly. Those who have done this before are used to unexpected challenges, and they are more likely to succeed.
Another myth about the elderly is that they are depressed and unhappy. In more than one study, happiness levels by age produce a U-shaped curve. People are happy when they are young, and it declines during middle age. As people get older, the happiness level goes up again. Many factors contribute to happiness, including meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose. To this, Lottie would say: Who has more purpose than a serial killer?
Indeed, she has goals, she has focus, and she consistently works to achieve them.
With so many advantages, it became clear to me that an elderly woman could be the perfect serial killer. Yet there are some disadvantages as well, beginning with physical strength.
In any age range, you will find a wide spectrum of strength, athleticism, and stamina, including in elderly people. No two seventy-five-year-olds are alike, just as no two thirty-year-olds are alike.
In Lottie’s case, her physical state falls somewhere in the middle. She has arthritis, particularly in one hip, and she has aches and pains that randomly come and go. Lottie also tires out quicker and enjoys afternoon naps (though who amongst us does not?)
While she tries not to let this hold her back, she does have to adjust. Moving a dead body is never an easy thing, even for someone young and strong, and she is forced to come up with creative ways to get it done.
Memory loss, particularly in the short-term, can also be an issue. Lottie does not suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s, but that doesn’t mean her memory is perfect, nor is it as good as it used to be.
As with physical strength, the key is to acknowledge and adapt. Lottie comes up with several methods to make sure she doesn’t forget anything, the same way that non-serial killers do, and she worries about making a mistake. When you know your memory isn’t as good as it could be, you become extra careful about making sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
Not only is she a serious contender for the perfect serial killer, but at seventy-five years old, she is in her prime.Maybe that isn’t such a bad quality after all.
Which is not to say any of this is easy. Even for a psychopath who has no empathy for others, it’s difficult to be a serial killer in today’s world. With our modern technology and science, many of the most famous serial killers would have been caught much faster. For those just starting out, it’s even more difficult, there is less room for mistakes and dozens of ways to get caught.
But for a woman who began decades ago and knows how to get away with murder, Lottie isn’t just good at what she does. Not only is she a serious contender for the perfect serial killer, but at seventy-five years old, she is in her prime.
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