Joe Hiles: owner of SerialKillerCentral.comJoe Hiles always had an interest in true crime books. "Mostly about serial killers," says the 30-year-old from Sabina, Ohio. "I once read a book about Richard Ramirez and in it, it said he spent his time in prison writing letters to people on the outside, so I thought I'd give it a try," says Hiles. Ramirez replied. "It kind of snowballed from there." Like Bohannon, Hiles began collecting and eventually started his own Web site – Serial Killer Central, or skcentral.com.
What's on Skcentral.com?
Aside from selling collectibles -- like a baseball autographed in prison by Manson and Juan Corona – skcentral.com has articles, discussion forums and rich media assets.
Serial Killer Memorabilia
Charles Manson red and black tarantula from San Quentin Prison, 1986. Recently offered for sale ($950) on Serial Killer Central.
Copy of the Black Dahlia wanted poster, recently up for bidding on MurderAuction.com.
John Wayne Gacy original oil painting titled "The Making of Pogo." Recently up for sale ($4,500) on Serial Killer Central.
Ed Gein signed greeting card with crucifix from Wisconsin Hospital for the Insane. 1983. Recently up for sale ($12,500) on Serial Killer Central.
Charles Manson and Juan Corona autographed baseball, entitled "You Got It Cold Soul," 1999 Recently up for sale ($2,100) on Serial Killer Central.
A signed O.J. Simpson USC Trojans jersey. Simpson added the inscription "Heisman '68." Recently up for bid on MurderAuction.com.
A Charles Manson signed and fingerprinted piece entitled "Hanging Man" including a 13-inch lock of his hair. Includes signed prison documents pertaining to Involuntary Haircut at Corcoran Prison. Recently up for sale ($1,800) on SerialKillerCentral.
Issei Sagawa's semen in a vial. Picture of the murderer holding the vial is presented as authenticity. Recently up for bidding on MurderAuction.com.
Kenneth Bianchi custom-made door knocker. Recently up for bid on MurderAuction.com.
Ramon Salcido clown painting on heavy art board. Recently up for bid on Murderauction.com.
Who buys this stuff?
"All kinds of people. Regular people like me mostly. Musicians, artists, actors ... I've heard that Johnny Depp has a couple Gacy paintings ... don't know if it's true or not though."
What are his most distinctive pieces?
Hiles says he paid $200 for a prison-worn shirt belonging to Aileen Wuornos. "I got it from a guard that snuck it out of the prison the night she was executed," he says. "I have one item, from Jeremy Bryan Jones, that I bought from another collector. It's a tracing of his d*ck on a sheet of paper, and he came all over the paper so there's a nasty yellow stain all over it."
