Crime Face Attraction

Crime face from Crimestopper’s page in Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

This mornings paper had an article about how Arthur Shawcross died of neglect while serving his life sentence. Sounds like someone found a way to trim the New York State budget. The article described Shawcross one of New York’s worst serial killer (I was trying to recall the best). And it reminded readers that noted crime author, Jack Olsen, wrote a book about him. Peggi reads true crime and thought that was a particularly good book.

I guess we share some sort of fascination with crime. I worked as a graphic artist for the Rochester Police, pulling mug shots for a memorable year, and I usually use that as my excuse. I’ve been painting mug shots from the paper on and off for many years now and I keep going through phases where I question why I paint these people. It doesn’t really help their plight and most people would rather not look at the paintings so what is the point? – That sort of questioning. I find these faces a lot more interesting than happy smily people, more interesting than good looking models, more interesting than poseurs although many of these people may be just that. It’s meaty material and there is probably no more to it than a preference for either C.S.I. or that Charlie Sheen show.

The last Crimestoppers page in our paper was in December and I just got around to scanning it. The photos are only thumbnail size in the paper and I discovered it helps to have a little bit bigger source so I print them out a larger size. Most of these people rather unattractive but every once and a while there is a looker like this 22 year old wanted for Grand Larceny.

3 Comments

3 Replies to “Crime Face Attraction”

  1. jack olson also wrote a book about dean corll (the man with candy), houstons’ own mass murderer. a few years ago, i bought an original pencil drawing by elmer wayne henley jr. from ebay not knowing anything about the artist. when i researched elmer wayne turns out he was dean’s sidekick.elmer eventually killed dean corll and is doing life. there has been some bruhaha about these guys making money and selling art for profit from jail. now i think any proceeds go to victim restitution. there is a documentary i have called collectors about two guys who are obsessed with serial killer art and travel around collecting it and encouraging the artists. olson writes with some talent, his depiction of east side houston during the time of the murders is quite compelling.

  2. A NY investigative report said Shawcross died not from neglect – but a lack of proper medical care. A nurse may have delayed his transfer to a hospital which might have better responded to his serious and immediate medical condition. There is some question now if the nurse did this on purpose.

    I am shocked at the outpouring of hate from all the electronic Christians who posted on the D&C pages:

    http://www.democratandchronicle.com/comments/article/20100126/NEWS01/1260324/Arthur-Shawcross-death-tied-to-lax-care-in-prison-report-says

    I am no fan of Arthur Shawcross. Once a friend of mine brought one of his victims, Franny, to a party of ours at 10 Manhattan Square. As the Olson book explains, while she was being strangled, she said, “I love you,” to her killer. Was it a ploy – or a heartfelt plea? It doesn’t matter – he killed her anyway. She was just a giggly kid as I remember.

    The hatred of all the posts is understandable – but I disagree. If Shawcross deserved to die, it was up to the State to kill him – not a nurse who may have been having a rotten day. As I said in one of my posts, he was judged in an earthly court and received his sentence. If you are a believer, he will also be judged and receive punishment from a much higher court which does not respond to our most base instincts.

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