Murder Is An Open Door

"I killed them, because they invited me in. They practiclly asked me to." The white male in his early thrities looked back at me with a serene face. You would think he was sitting in a park enjoying the spring weather instead of chained to the table in the California State Police Department. The detective looked the young man in the eyes, but turned away, unable to stomach the peacefulness of his demeanor, "Please explain how somebody thinks an unlocked door is a death sentence?"

"You see, Detective, if someone keeps their door unlocked, it means you're allowed to come in and do as you like. If a door is locked, it means they are busy and shouldn't be bothered. Eevryone knows that." The detective adjusted uncomfortably in his chair, "You think an open door gives you the right to murder a pregnant woman with two children and then eat them?" The young man shrugged with the attitude as if I had asked him how his day had been, "Not necessarily."

The detective slammed his fist down on the table, "Then why do it!?" The young man was unflinching, "Alright, I'll admit it. I was in the neighborhood and saw them coming inside after going to the grocery store. I was pretty sure I had known her in high school. I just wanted to say hello." The detective spit, losing his professionalism, "So, how did they all end up dead?"

The young man brought up his chained hands to tap his chin in thought, "I knocked, but no one answered. And since the front door was unlocked, I just went inside. She got really angry for some reason, and threateend to call the police," he continued casually like he was commenting about the weather, "I really didn't want to go back to the Ward, so I shot her. And then her kids wouldn't stop crying, so I shot them, too."

The detective picked up a manila envelope from the corner of the table. Opening it, he revealed crime scene photos depicting the blood-soaked victims. On their necks and bellies were teeth marks and knife wounds that resembled cutting into a turkey. The young man reached out and stroked the photos lovingly, "Oh, I remember now. The little ones were so tasty. And she was so lovely. She was all grown up from that awkward teenager I knew in school."

The detective snatched away the photos in disgust, "They are DEAD, you bastard. You murdered them in cold blood, descrated their bodies, and now you don't even show a shred of remorse! You are a sickening criminal, and I'm going to do everything to make sure you're punished to the full extent of the law. You'll never see the light of day, again." The young man cocked his head in confusion at the detective, "But... the door was unlocked."

***Note: On the 8th of May 1980, the jury found Richard Chase guilty of six counts of first degree murder after entering the premises when the door was unlocked. Rejecting the argument that he was not guilty by reason of insanity, sentenced him to die in the gas chamber. His fellow inmates, aware of the extremely violent nature of Chase's crimes, feared him, and according to prison officials, often tried to persuade Chase to commit suicide.

On December 26, 1980, Chase was found in his cell, dead. An autopsy found that he committed suicide with an overdose of prescribed antidepressants that he had saved over several weeks.