# Spree killer "crazy eyes" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477 "2012-12-19T01:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/1 "2012-12-19T01:50:46Z")
Does anyone else notice a trend in spree killers having the “crazy eyes” in their photographs? Some examples: [Batman](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02287/aurora-batman-holm_2287407b.jpg) [shooter](http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/50a4d13d6bb3f7cf1300000b-400-/james-holmes-new-mugshot.jpg) [CT](http://images.christianpost.com/full/57210/adam-lanza.jpg?w=262)[shooter](http://www.aliefpost.com/wp-content/plugins/RSSPoster_PRO/cache/a6bdc_ht_adam_lanza_sandy_hook_shooter_nt_121216_wg.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/2 "2012-12-19T02:03:17Z")
I hadn’t said anything about this, because I thought maybe it was just me. I’ve been noticing a trait among unbalanced people wherein you can see more of the bottom or bottom and top of the eyeball, exposing the entire iris. Of course, I’m sure there’s just as many normal looking people with psychotic tendencies, but the ones we get the most of are the ones with…THE EYYYEEESSSSS!!! ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/3 "2012-12-19T04:15:48Z")
the gem that shot Gabby Gifford ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/4 "2012-12-19T04:31:13Z")
Not a killer, as far as I can tell, but definitely [crazy eyes](http://www.onewhiteduck.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bachmann-newsweek-900.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/5 "2012-12-19T05:22:31Z")
Bit of selective choices going on here. Most spree killers don’t have the crazy eyes. Charles Whitman didn’t, James Huberty didn’t, Jivery Woong didn’t, Nidal Hasan didn’t, Mark Barton didn’t, Marc Lepine didn’t, Seung-Hi Cho didn’t, Thomas Hamilton didn’t, and on and on. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/6 "2012-12-19T06:38:34Z")
In at least two cases, the media [did it on purpose](http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/07/26/media-briefs-sun-photoshopping-fairfax-pay-wars-wsj-on-murdoch/). See also the [O.J. Simpson front page](http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/ojs-last-run-a-tale-of/). Anyone can look crazy or stupid for a thousandth of a second. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/7 "2012-12-19T06:45:21Z")
how could you not mention the [one](http://timelifeblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/12_19_1969.jpg?w=592) who started the bizarre eyes thing: [here’s](http://bryanleatherwood.tripod.com/manson3.gif) looking at you, kid ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/8 "2012-12-19T07:23:41Z")
Really! I’d already decided that if I was out in a public gathering place (like the mall :rolleyes:) and saw somebody “stealthily” approaching with bugged-out eyes I should yell the warning “Crazy eyes! Crazy eyes!” It might not be an historic indicator of madness but it seems to be so now. When the white shows all around the iris, they’re seeing things that aren’t there. And we don’t want to be in their sights. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/9 "2012-12-19T09:16:47Z")
Seen the same eyes in people on large doses of coke and stims, wondering if it is somehow related to dopamine? ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/10 "2012-12-19T14:08:01Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > In at least two cases, the media [did it on purpose](http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/07/26/media-briefs-sun-photoshopping-fairfax-pay-wars-wsj-on-murdoch/). That cite is rubbish. The sun thing is obviously red-eye due to camera flash. And the other example in the cite was just a by product of standard production techniques, as the cite itself says. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/11 "2012-12-19T16:47:10Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Does anyone else notice a trend in spree killers having the “crazy eyes” in their photographs? > > Some examples: > > [Batman](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02287/aurora-batman-holm_2287407b.jpg) [shooter](http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/50a4d13d6bb3f7cf1300000b-400-/james-holmes-new-mugshot.jpg) > > [CT](http://images.christianpost.com/full/57210/adam-lanza.jpg?w=262)[shooter](http://www.aliefpost.com/wp-content/plugins/RSSPoster_PRO/cache/a6bdc_ht_adam_lanza_sandy_hook_shooter_nt_121216_wg.jpg) How strange… didn’t even know there is an “Alief Post” and I grew up in Alief, and my parents still live near there. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/12 "2012-12-19T17:28:42Z")
Keep in mind that those pictures are the ones the media **choose** to show. I’ve heard it said that media photographers always take more than one photo “in case the first one is good.” ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/13 "2012-12-19T17:32:26Z")
More than eyes the common links I see are He was so smart He was such a quiet friendly neighbor ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/14 "2012-12-19T19:30:40Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > Keep in mind that those pictures are the ones the media **choose** to show. > > I’ve heard it said that media photographers always take more than one photo “in case the first one is good.” This - the media is going to go out of their way to slant the story to fit their narrative. Crazy killer - well let’s make sure the pics show just that! Innocent victim - let’s make sure the pics show that! ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/15 "2012-12-19T19:39:46Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > More than eyes the common links I see are > He was so smart > He was such a quiet friendly neighbor That’s why I shout a constant barrage of stupid sounding insults at my neighbors; I want them to feel safe. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/16 "2012-12-19T19:58:51Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Not a killer, as far as I can tell, but definitely [crazy eyes](http://www.onewhiteduck.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bachmann-newsweek-900.jpg). Come on. You know this one has a basement that would make Torquemada squeamish. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/17 "2012-12-19T20:11:05Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > More than eyes the common links I see are > He was so smart > He was such a quiet friendly neighbor But I can totally believe he’d kill Buckwheat. He talked about it constantly. ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/18 "2012-12-19T22:57:27Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > Keep in mind that those pictures are the ones the media **choose** to show. > > I’ve heard it said that media photographers always take more than one photo “in case the first one is good.” Yup, was just coming here to say that. Also, the photos we usually see in the news are mug shots or similarly posed ID photos. Everyone pause for a moment and check your driver’s license (or other ID) - crazy eyes? I’ll bet so… ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/19 "2012-12-19T23:15:09Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Not a killer, as far as I can tell, but definitely [crazy eyes](http://www.onewhiteduck.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bachmann-newsweek-900.jpg). [Gotcha one better.](http://media.salon.com/2011/05/how_is_callista_gingrich_part_of_my_generation.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477/20 "2012-12-19T23:45:05Z")
Spicks and specks a music trivia show used to have a bit called serial killer or musician, showing a photo of each and contestants picking the right one. People did no better than random. Otara [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spree-killer-crazy-eyes/644477.md?page=2)