Should Murderbilia Be Legal?

Who would pay $9,000 for a book of paintings by serial killer John Wayne Gacy, or over $12,000 for the original death sentence of the "NYC Cannibal" Albert Fish? Murderbilia collectors -- people who see the hobby as a way to connect with famous killers. Victims' families, however, tend to view the practice as a twisted scheme to make a quick buck off of horrible, violent acts.

Should a hobby that capitalizes on crime be legal? Legislators have tried to outlaw the practice, but would such a law also infringe on rights guaranteed by the Constitution?

We spoke with four people who have strong opinions about murderbilia: Tod Bohannon, operator of MurderAuction.com; Mark Lunsford, whose daughter was murdered; Joe Hiles, owner of SerialKillerCentral.com; and victims' advocate Andy Kahan.

Read what they have to say, vote in our poll at the bottom of the page and tell us what you think.

Tod Bohannon: Operator, MurderAuction.com
Tod was 13 when he saw "Helter Skelter." For the son of an attorney mom and a detective dad, it was a life-changing event. "My mother suggested I write to Charlie Manson," he recalls.

They became pen pals. Every so often, Charlie calls him from prison. And that started Bohannon, 31, on a lifelong fascination with murderers.

What does he collect?
Paraphernalia from the sickest of the sick, serial killers. He claims to have teeth from several, but won't say who. "They send them to me for friendship ... these are people who have developed a trust in me. There are only so many teeth that can go out, only so many inmates going to lose teeth, if you can be one of them guys that get one of them teeth, you have done something."

Understanding Murderbilia fanatics
"Even though they have done some pretty horrific things, the monster the media shows you ... is not all that [murderers] are," says Bohannon. "They do have great personalities, some of them, some of them have huge hearts. When they were on the streets, [there was] a lot of turmoil that drove them, and now they have been [taken] out of that element, a lot of them see things more clearly than they did when on the street."

For Bohannon, it's all about making a connection with someone infamous. "A lot of them are good friends," he says. "I have shared a lot with a lot of them."




Why he started Murderauction.com:
With his own collection increasing, and knowing others with similar interests, Bohannon wanted a safe, secure way for people to buy, sell and exchange their trophies. Three years ago, he started Murderauction.com, an online site dedicated to murderbilia. It has about 800 members, he says. "I wanted a feeling of trust, like on eBay."

What's sold on Murderauction.com?
Killer collectors sell artwork, hair -- even a brick from Jeffrey Dahmer's apartment.

The oddest item?
The semen-stained underpants of Hadden Clark, sentenced for two killings and claiming to have killed more according to Serial Killer Data Base. Bohannon says he had to downplay that. "We are not at the point that we advertise he came in his shorts, that is even vile for me. I have some of his items -- a tissue and a Q-Tip he used. But I don't want his stained shorts. If he wants to wash them and send them, OK."

Murderbilia isn't new:
"When Billy the Kid was killed, someone took his guns," says Bohannon. "When Dillinger was shot, people were taking handkerchiefs and swabbing his blood. The people who bitch about this just don't understand." Killers, he says, are people, too.