Helen Morrison

Helen Louise Morrison (born July 9, 1942) is an American forensic psychiatrist, writer and profiler. She was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and attended Temple University, the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis.[1] She is best known for her efforts to understand the psychology of serial killers, and personally interviewed about 80 of them, though unfortunately there is no substantial data or proof that the majority of these interviews ever occurred.

Not to be confused with Helen Balfour Morrison.

Works

The focus of her research has been to find common personality traits among serial killers. She has published a book, My Life Among the Serial Killers: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Murderers.[1]

Morrison was a witness for the defense at the trial of John Wayne Gacy, testifying that he was legally insane because he was "unable to separate from his mother psychologically" and never developed a separate identity.[2] The jury rejected Gacy's insanity defense and found him guilty. After his execution, Gacy's brain was removed and was in Morrison's possession.[3]

References
  1. "Morrison, Helen 1942- - Contemporary Authors". 2005. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  2. reporter, Jane Fritsch, Tribune staff. "Psychiatrist has Gacy's brain in her basement". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  3. Sullivan & Maiken 2000, p. 354.
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