When you think of fan mail, you probably picture adoring celebrities, not the chilling correspondence that lands in the hands of some of the most infamous killers. Yet, the phenomenon of the 10 creepy fan letters is real, and it shows how a twisted form of admiration can bloom around those who have committed the worst crimes. Below we dive into ten of the most disturbing examples, complete with the letters, the fans, and the eerie back‑and‑forth that followed.
10 Creepy Fan Letters Overview
This overview introduces the unsettling trend of women writing love letters to men who have become symbols of terror. From Ted Bundy to Kenneth Bianchi, each entry reveals how these fans expressed devotion, sometimes even attempting to emulate or assist the killers.
10 The Woman Who Creeped Out Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy, the notorious serial killer and rapist responsible for at least thirty deaths, was inundated with fan mail while incarcerated. One particular admirer, a woman named Janet, took her obsession to a fever pitch. She wrote a deeply emotional letter, proclaiming, “I got the letter you sent me and read it again. I kissed it all over and held it to me. I don’t mind telling you I am crying. I just don’t see how I can stand it anymore. I love you so very much, Ted.”
Bundy replied only once, but Janet’s reaction was nothing short of ecstatic. She treated the reply as the pinnacle of her existence. When she began appearing at his trials, Bundy grew uneasy. He even penned a note to his wife, Carole, pleading, “Stop letting Janet sit near her so that I wouldn’t have to look at her. There she sits contemplating me with her mad eyes like a deranged seagull studying a clam. I can feel her spreading hot sauce on me already.”
9 Dylann Roof’s Roofies
After white supremacist Dylann Roof opened fire on a Charleston church in 2016, a peculiar fan base of women emerged, dubbing themselves “roofies.” These admirers confessed a bizarre attraction, with one writing, “I feel so bad that I find Dylann handsome, but wtf can I do about it.”
Some fans took it further, tattooing Roof’s name beneath their breasts and maintaining blogs that bragged about the love letters they’d sent. Within this subculture, a hierarchy formed: veteran “roofies” scorned newcomers they called “newfies,” boasting about their deeper knowledge of Roof’s life and case details.
8 James Holmes’s Fangirls
“I hope you’re okay James,” a fan began in a letter to James Holmes, the 2012 Colorado theater shooter. The correspondence continued, “You’re all I think about. I actually had a dream about you, haha. I gave you a hand massage!” Holmes reportedly received thousands of such cards, each accompanied by personal photos, creating a wall of admiring portraits inside his prison cell.
The letters often praised his looks, with one admirer noting, “I can’t believe your curls are gone. I like them. You’re handsome, you have strong hands and facial hair, and really nice eyes.” Many concluded with a pledge of assistance, offering to do anything at his request.
7 Richard Ramirez’s Secret Admirer In The Jury
Serial killer Richard Ramirez, known as the “Night Stalker,” amassed a flood of fan mail, even commissioning custom stationery emblazoned with his moniker. Among the many admirers, a juror named Cindy Haden stood out. While serving on his jury, she delivered a plate of cupcakes inscribed with “I love you” directly to Ramirez.
Despite her affection, Haden ultimately voted guilty. Yet she remained convinced she had found her soulmate, visiting Ramirez in prison, proclaiming her love, and even introducing her parents to the man she believed was her true love.
6 Josef Fritzl’s Fangirls
Josef Fritzl infamously imprisoned his own daughter for 24 years, abusing her and fathering seven children. After his crimes surfaced, a surprising number of women sent him love letters, insisting he was “good at heart.” One fan even claimed she believed his horrific actions were a twisted form of protection for his daughter.
Fritzl’s cellmate recounted receiving dozens of such letters. One particularly unsettling image was sent by a female fan who posed beside a masked man, acting out a rape fantasy, then forwarded the photo to Fritzl. The fan’s perspective: “The fans saw him as the chief monster. They respected him.”
5 Ian Brady’s Eulogizers
When Ian Brady, the “Moors Murderer,” died of cancer in prison in 2017, a wave of women flooded the internet with mournful tributes, treating his death as a personal loss. One wrote, “Oh my God, I just heard about Ian. This is the worst day ever. I hope he’s at peace wherever he is. I love you Ian, and I will never forget how incredibly generous it was of you to reply to me. I’ll love you forever and I’ve got your name on me for the rest of my life.”
She displayed tattoos bearing the names “Ian,” “Myra,” “Jeff,” and “Ted” on her arms. Other fans expressed similar grief, crying over his death and praising his “interesting, fascinating brains and thoughts,” claiming he introduced a whole new perspective to them.
4 Anders Breivik’s Fan Club Has Tips On How To Write Him Love Letters
Anders Breivik, the Norwegian extremist responsible for the 2011 massacre of 77 people, receives roughly 800 letters each year, predominantly from female admirers. During his trial, a 16‑year‑old begged him to marry her, while a Swedish woman named Victoria publicly declared him her one true love, saying, “I really wouldn’t want to live a life without him.”
Online fan clubs even publish guides on how to craft the perfect love letter to Breivik, encouraging women to declare their admiration publicly, especially if they’re “cute.” The ultimate aim, according to the guide, is to inspire other men, proving that women admire militant nationalists and potentially encouraging copycat attacks.
3 Jeffrey Dahmer’s Loving Donors
Jeffrey Dahmer, the cannibalistic serial killer of 17 boys, oddly attracted a cadre of female donors. In 1993 alone, admirers sent him $12,000 to purchase cigarettes, books, and other necessities while he was incarcerated. A single London fan contributed $5,920, fascinated by the grisly details of his crimes.
When asked why she sent money to a monster, one woman admitted, “He did awful things, but deep down he isn’t a mean kid.” This paradoxical affection underscores the bizarre allure some killers hold over certain admirers.
2 Nikolas Cruz’s Facebook Community
A Facebook group of roughly 300 members, titled “Nikolas Cruz — the First Victim,” consists primarily of women who profess love for the Parkland shooter. They share collages with hearts around his image and exchange ideas on how to support him.
One 18‑year‑old member wrote, “When I saw your picture on television, something attracted me to you,” attaching a photo of herself, noting she was skinny with 34C breasts. Others posted similar explicit images, ranging from bikini shots to close‑up selfies. Their public defender, Howard Finklestein, noted he would not allow Cruz to see the letters, refusing to reward his crimes with fan mail.
1 Kenneth Bianchi’s Copycat Admirer
Veronica Compton, enamored with the Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi, penned a play titled The Mutilated Cutter and mailed it to him, hoping to capture his attention. She wrote, “I hope you received my letter and could spare a moment during your busy schedule to look over my play. I really think you will find the plot quite fascinating. After all, it was you who inspired it.”
Her obsession escalated to a dangerous level. In 1980, after sending suggestive photos to Bianchi, she attempted a copycat murder, smuggling his semen out of jail in a plastic glove to plant on a victim’s body. The plan failed; the victim escaped, police were alerted, and Compton was arrested.
Ironically, while incarcerated, she received love letters herself. A man named James Wallace abandoned his 37‑year marriage to write to her, all in the name of his devotion to a monster.