Most Evil Season 1 Episode 16 Jeffrey Dahmer and Rod Ferrell

Most Evil season 1 episode 16 focuses on the comparison and ultimate ranking of two infamous murderers - Jeffrey Dahmer and Rod Ferrell.

Jeffrey Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender who was responsible for the murder and dismemberment of 17 young men and boys between 1978 and 1991. Dahmer had a fascination with necrophilia and cannibalism, and would often keep parts of his victims as trophies. His crimes shook the nation and he ultimately received 15 life sentences before he was beaten to death by a fellow inmate in 1994.

Rod Ferrell, on the other hand, was the self-proclaimed leader of a vampire cult in Florida. In 1996, Ferrell and his group traveled to Kentucky to visit a member’s family. That’s when the crime occurred. Ferrell and his accomplices beat to death the victim’s parents, then fled back to Florida. Ferrell was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.

The episode delves into the minds of these two men, outlining their childhoods and the psychological factors that led to them becoming murderers. Maisch suggests that while Dahmer was a product of a broken home, his intelligence and alcoholism played a significant role in his malicious actions. Alternatively, Ferrell had a good home life but experienced a significant amount of stress during his adolescence. He was fascinated with vampires and Gothic culture, and his obsession led to his connection with the other members of his vampire cult and his ultimate conviction for murder.

As the episode progresses, the host explores the motivations of each murderer and categorizes their actions. He considers whether their crimes were reactive or proactive (meaning whether the murder was caused by an external factor or if the individual was acting independently) and where these murderers fit in the model of the psychopathy checklist.

Ultimately, the episode’s goal is to compare and rank these two murderers to determine which one is “most evil.” The ranking system developed by Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Michael Stone is utilized, which awards points based on criteria such as narcissism, sadism, and planning. The higher the score, the higher the ranking in terms of evil actions.

Overall, the episode provides a glimpse into the psychological makeup of two of America’s most notorious murderers. By analyzing their upbringing, behavior, and ultimate actions, the show aims to provide insight into what makes a person capable of such horrific crimes and how they can be identified before it is too late.