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True Crime
Murderers I Have Known
More than one, less than a dozen?
Dennis Auerswald is a weird dude. I can say this because he’s safely in prison for the rest of his life and, God willing, I’ll never have to see him again.
He becomes eligible for parole on September 27, 2040, at which time he will theoretically be 90 years old.
Can I ever erase the image of him sitting on the other side of my desk like an evil, sweater-clad gnome?
No. But I’ve seen worse, and the occasional murderer livens up my day.
I like my job because I’m curious about people — what makes them tick, what kinds of secrets they have. People are like living, breathing Rubik’s Cubes to me. I must solve them.
Especially the criminals. I’m endlessly fascinated by the capacity of people to thoroughly and completely live their lies. Most psychopaths could win an Oscar for the performance of innocence they give in casual conversation.
I once had a telephone conversation with a former high school classmate who was sitting in prison on rape charges (which he had committed while he was the chief of police — go figure).
