Pat Wandling: For Americans, true crime stories have a multifaceted lure

At this writing, Justin Mohn awaits a verdict and sentencing for the gruesome murder of his father Michael in their Levittown home earlier this year. The 33-year-old killer gained national attention for his attack after he posted a graphic YouTube video displaying his father’s decapitated head and a bloody bathroom scene. The younger Mohn also called for the overthrow of the U.S. government.

The murder trial that opened this week in Bucks County Court gave me an idea for this week’s column. Why are we so intrigued by crime stories with all their horrible consequences? Why am I? 

I’m not alone. I was chatting with a friend and former colleague last week about our shared television interests, particularly true crime. Kathryn Canavan published a popular book about it in 2021: True Crime Philadelphia. It’s a great book with many unusual Philadelphia-centered crime stories, from America’s first bank robbery to the real-life killers who inspired Boardwalk Empire.  

Millions of people are interested in crime stories for a variety of reasons. Canavan says, “It’s human nature from Cain to Abel to Shakespeare to tonight’s headlines. We’re fascinated with crime. What drives people to kill? What makes people go wrong? Why do we care? Maybe it’s self-preservation. Humans learn early from stories — from grisly kids’ fairy tales, all the way to adult true crime.” 

Or is it just some captivation by mystery, murder, and macabre? Actually, there’s plenty of research on the widespread interest in crime stories, cold cases, and trials. Reports run the gamut from simple to deep. I tend to find perpetrators’ “reasons” for their offenses, especially murders, most interesting. Why would someone plan and carry out a murder or several murders? What’s wrong with them? 

Everyone has a thought or opinion. Richard Lettieri, Ph.D. a forensic psychologist, wrote in Psychology Today that people continue to watch crime shows and murders for a multitude of reasons. He notes particularly that many women want to absorb tips on how to survive dangerous encounters with predators and that men find such stories foster feelings of manliness.  

Also, the self-preservation factor could pique interest in true crime shows; they’ve evolved as a means of learning danger and defensive actions. Or, our true crime viewing might provide the same sort of escape from daily drudgery as the daytime “soaps.” 

There’s nothing more “true crime” than seeing a murder trial unfold in a courtroom. Every courthouse, including our own in Doylestown, has a few “trial junkies” that arrive every day to watch a trial, especially a high profile, dramatic murder trial. In most cases, these folks are interested in the unfolding of the case and seeing justice done, as has been reported.   

They are among those who want to understand criminal behavior, while some other true crime viewers may have a fascination with the macabre. Whatever the motivation for watching, all of it takes place in a safe environment. 

True crime aficionados want to look into the mind of such perpetrators as Justin Mohn. Upon hearing this horrific story early this year, nearly everyone, including myself, asked the “why” question.

And as my friend said, true crime gets us into the “minds of criminals.” The desire to understand the “whys” attracts and interests most of us. I hope.

Pat Wandling hosts Speak Your Piece weekdays at noon on WBCB 1490.