Madoff, the financial serial killer

An article in the New York Times grapples with the mystery of Bernard Madoff, a man who was highly respected and trusted by everyone who knew him, a man who defrauded and stole the life savings of the people who highly respected and trusted him, a man who is likely the biggest thief and defrauder in history. Here are excerpts:

Mr. Madoff’s confidence reminds J. Reid Meloy, a forensic psychologist, of criminals he has studied.

“Typically, people with psychopathic personalities don’t fear getting caught,” explains Dr. Meloy, author of a 1988 textbook, “The Psychopathic Mind.” “They tend to be very narcissistic with a strong sense of entitlement.”

All of which has led some forensic psychologists to see some similarities between him and serial killers like Ted Bundy. They say that whereas Mr. Bundy murdered people, Mr. Madoff murdered wallets, bank accounts and people’s sense of financial trust and security.

Like Mr. Bundy, Mr. Madoff used a sharp mind and an affable demeanor to create a persona that didn’t exist, according to this view, and lulled his victims into a false sense of security. And when publicly accused, he seemed to show no remorse….

That’s why Mr. McCrary says it’s not too far-fetched to compare Mr. Madoff to serial killers.

“With serial killers, they have control over the life or death of people,” Mr. McCrary explains. “They’re playing God. That’s the grandiosity coming through. The sense of being superior. Madoff is getting the same thing. He’s playing financial god, ruining these people and taking their money.”

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Paul K. writes:

Considering the thousands of lives Madoff has wrecked, I consider him a suitable candidate for the death penalty. Anything less seems unbearably inadequate. The man is an absolute fiend.

National Public Radio has interviewed several victims, such as 76-year-old Allan Goldstein, who lost his entire life savings.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at January 27, 2009 12:11 PM | Send