BUTCHER. They called him "Uncle Willie." At night, Robert "Willie" Pickton visited the streets of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The women he picked up never came back... His goal: to kill an "even fifty."For years, police built a long list of missing prostitutes, women at the edge of society. Some people claimed there was a serial killer. One detective lost his job for saying so. But investigators didn't have a single body...until someone found a skull sawed in half...
On land that had made his family millions, on a squalid pig farm near a school, a condo development and a Starbucks, Robert Pickton ran a house of horrors for decades. Friends, neighbors and community leaders came and went, while Pickton committed debauchery, torture, and bloodletting rivaling the worst on record. What he did to his victims was unspeakable. What he did to the bodies was unimaginable. How he got away with it is the most shocking crime of all...
Now, on April 7, 2009, Gary C. King, tells us the true story in his 13th true crime novel, BUTCHER. A freelance author and lecturer, Gary is regarded by readers and critics alike as one of the world's foremost crime writers, a reputation he has earned over the last 28 years with the publication of more than 400 articles in true crime magazines in the United States, Canada, and England. Big Thrill contributing editor, Christine Goff, was fortunate enough to catch up with the him. Here's what King had to say.
From what I discovered, you began your career writing articles for true crime magazines. What was your first story, and what drew you to write it?
My first story was about child murderer Manuel Cortez, who viciously murdered two young girls in Ashland, Oregon in the late 1970s. It was a major story in the Pacific Northwest at the time and I, like many others, was appalled by what Cortez had done. Wanting to try my hand at writing, I gave it a whirl and the story became TORTURED BY THE SADIST IN THE PRESS BOX!
Your first true crime novel, BLOOD LUST, was published in 1992. What made you turn to writing books?
I wanted to see if I could write books. I did not know if I had what it takes to write a book, and I was looking to open up new markets so that I could freelance full time.
Since then you've written over 400 stories and 13 true crime books, including BUTCHER. What have you discovered about killers, victims and/or yourself in the course of writing these stories?
I discovered that if I was not very careful that I would take on a dim or dark view of humanity. Therefore I guard against that view of the world because I also discovered that people tend to be inherently good and that there are only a few bad apples whose actions tend to overshadow the goodness in humans.
I am drawn to true crime, fascinated by what drives someone to commit murder. What fascinates you about writing these stories?
I am fascinated with these stories because each one almost always involves a sociopathic mind, albeit of varying degrees, and it is interesting to me to attempt to unravel what it is that make these people tick.
BUTCHER tells the story of Robert Pickton, a Canadian from a wealthy family who was one of the world's most heinous serial killers of all time. How did you learn about him?
I was able to speak with a few people who knew Pickton, and documents became available to me that detailed some of his background and family history--some that was public, and some that was not-so-public. Aside from visiting the area where the crimes occurred, I used the telephone a lot and obtained some of my information via e-mail.
How do you research your non-fiction books?
I research my books utilizing as many sources that become available to me. Often this involves interviewing many of the principle players (when they'll talk, or can talk), study of the police files whenever possible, attend trials and study trial transcripts, and so forth. With regard to BUTCHER, there was a near blackout of the media and that made it difficult to talk to anyone. But there is always a way to get the information--sometimes it is just more difficult to obtain.
Do you ever run into resistance about telling the stories?
Occasionally, but everyone typically lightens up when they understand that my aim is to humanize the victim(s) and that I'm not out to do an expose piece on the cops. I typically write from a pro-police point of view, but I do not cover up their mistakes--those get included along with the positive aspects of their work on a given case.
What has been the most difficult book you have written to date? Why?
Driven to Kill, about child killer Westley Allan Dodd. It was emotionally draining and disturbing to write about someone who molests and murders children. My own children were small at the time, and I became angry that someone could so cold-bloodedly steal and destroy such innocence.
Have you ever been frightened by the story, or drawn unsavory characters to yourself because of the telling? (For example, Ann Rule told me a story about a guy that her daughter saw at several of her book signings over the years. It turns out it was the Green River Killer--a book she had researched for years and was under contract to write if the case was ever solved.)
Right after Murder in Hollywood was published, I received an e-mail believed to have come from Robert Blake's bodyguard expressing unhappiness about the book. I turned it over to one of the detectives at LAPD, and he agreed that it sounded like the bodyguard. The detective said he would question the bodyguard about it, but I never heard anything else about it. It kept me looking over my shoulder for awhile, however.
What is next up? I see that you have some possible movie deals in the works. The next book?
I am currently working on an as-yet untitled book about millionaire Reno, Nevada businessman Darren Mack, who brutally murdered his wife, Charla, because he was unhappy over the terms of their divorce. After stabbing Charla to death, he attempted to kill their divorce judge, Chuck Weller.
For more information on Gary C. King, to learn more about his books, or to find out his signing schedule, please visit his website at www.garycking.com. King also writes the Bizarre Crime of the Week blog for Investigation Discovery: http://discovery.blogs.com/bizarre, so be sure and check it out.
Contributing editor, Christine Goff, is the award-winning author of the bestselling "Birdwatcher's Mystery" series. She began her career writing non-fiction for local, regional and national publication. Chosen Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' 2002 Writer of the Year, two of her novels were named finalists for the prestigious Willa Literary Award for Best Original Paperback Fiction; and her latest novel, DEATH SHOOTS A BIRDIE, was a named finalist for the Colorado Authors League 2008 Best Genre Fiction Award. Her novels focus on environmental concerns through bird-related issues. Currently, she is working on a new book; a thriller set in Israel.
I wanted to see if I could write books. I did not know if I had what it takes to write a book, and I was looking to open up new markets so that I could freelance full time.
Since then you've written over 400 stories and 13 true crime books, including BUTCHER. What have you discovered about killers, victims and/or yourself in the course of writing these stories?
I discovered that if I was not very careful that I would take on a dim or dark view of humanity. Therefore I guard against that view of the world because I also discovered that people tend to be inherently good and that there are only a few bad apples whose actions tend to overshadow the goodness in humans.I am drawn to true crime, fascinated by what drives someone to commit murder. What fascinates you about writing these stories?
I am fascinated with these stories because each one almost always involves a sociopathic mind, albeit of varying degrees, and it is interesting to me to attempt to unravel what it is that make these people tick.
BUTCHER tells the story of Robert Pickton, a Canadian from a wealthy family who was one of the world's most heinous serial killers of all time. How did you learn about him?
I was able to speak with a few people who knew Pickton, and documents became available to me that detailed some of his background and family history--some that was public, and some that was not-so-public. Aside from visiting the area where the crimes occurred, I used the telephone a lot and obtained some of my information via e-mail.
How do you research your non-fiction books?
I research my books utilizing as many sources that become available to me. Often this involves interviewing many of the principle players (when they'll talk, or can talk), study of the police files whenever possible, attend trials and study trial transcripts, and so forth. With regard to BUTCHER, there was a near blackout of the media and that made it difficult to talk to anyone. But there is always a way to get the information--sometimes it is just more difficult to obtain.
Do you ever run into resistance about telling the stories?
Occasionally, but everyone typically lightens up when they understand that my aim is to humanize the victim(s) and that I'm not out to do an expose piece on the cops. I typically write from a pro-police point of view, but I do not cover up their mistakes--those get included along with the positive aspects of their work on a given case.
What has been the most difficult book you have written to date? Why?
Driven to Kill, about child killer Westley Allan Dodd. It was emotionally draining and disturbing to write about someone who molests and murders children. My own children were small at the time, and I became angry that someone could so cold-bloodedly steal and destroy such innocence.
Have you ever been frightened by the story, or drawn unsavory characters to yourself because of the telling? (For example, Ann Rule told me a story about a guy that her daughter saw at several of her book signings over the years. It turns out it was the Green River Killer--a book she had researched for years and was under contract to write if the case was ever solved.)
Right after Murder in Hollywood was published, I received an e-mail believed to have come from Robert Blake's bodyguard expressing unhappiness about the book. I turned it over to one of the detectives at LAPD, and he agreed that it sounded like the bodyguard. The detective said he would question the bodyguard about it, but I never heard anything else about it. It kept me looking over my shoulder for awhile, however.
What is next up? I see that you have some possible movie deals in the works. The next book?
I am currently working on an as-yet untitled book about millionaire Reno, Nevada businessman Darren Mack, who brutally murdered his wife, Charla, because he was unhappy over the terms of their divorce. After stabbing Charla to death, he attempted to kill their divorce judge, Chuck Weller.
For more information on Gary C. King, to learn more about his books, or to find out his signing schedule, please visit his website at www.garycking.com. King also writes the Bizarre Crime of the Week blog for Investigation Discovery: http://discovery.blogs.com/bizarre, so be sure and check it out.
Contributing editor, Christine Goff, is the award-winning author of the bestselling "Birdwatcher's Mystery" series. She began her career writing non-fiction for local, regional and national publication. Chosen Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' 2002 Writer of the Year, two of her novels were named finalists for the prestigious Willa Literary Award for Best Original Paperback Fiction; and her latest novel, DEATH SHOOTS A BIRDIE, was a named finalist for the Colorado Authors League 2008 Best Genre Fiction Award. Her novels focus on environmental concerns through bird-related issues. Currently, she is working on a new book; a thriller set in Israel.
