Jason Moss (writer)
| Jason Moss | |
|---|---|
 John Wayne Gacy with 19-year-old Moss in March 1994, less than two months before Gacy was executed.[1] | |
| Born |
Jason Michael Moss February 3, 1975 Bethpage, New York, U.S. |
| Died |
June 6, 2006 (aged 31) Henderson, Nevada, U.S. |
Cause of death | Suicide |
| Nationality | United States |
| Alma mater |
University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of Michigan Law School |
| Occupation | Attorney, writer |
| Known for | The Last Victim |
| Spouse(s) | Charlotte Moss |
Jason Michael Moss (February 3, 1975 – June 6, 2006) was an American attorney and author of The Last Victim, a memoir about his interviews with incarcerated serial killers.
Personal life
Moss was born in Bethpage, New York. At the time of his death he was married to Charlotte Moss. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Following the experiences recounted in his book The Last Victim, he served internships with the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. He was a 2002 graduate of University of Michigan Law School. At the time of his death, he was a practicing criminal defense attorney.
The Last Victim
While studying at UNLV for his honors thesis Moss established relationships with John Wayne Gacy, Richard Ramirez, Henry Lee Lucas, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Charles Manson. He did so by researching what would appeal to his subjects the most and then casting himself in the role of disciple, admirer, surrogate, or potential victim, as necessary.
Moss later said that he formed the strongest relationship with Gacy. Letters led to regular Sunday morning phone calls during which Gacy proclaimed his innocence. In The Last Victim Moss tells the story of his correspondence and eventual meeting with Gacy, shortly before Gacy was executed. As implied in the book's title, Moss asserted that he became Gacy's "last victim" after their face-to-face meeting; he was overpowered, he said, by the mind of the serial killer. Moss felt that this experience allowed him to gain an understanding as to how a serial killer's mind works, not only in regard to manipulating and controlling a victim, but also how he could manipulate Gacy by acting as a lure.
A film adaptation of the book, Dear Mr. Gacy, was released in 2010, starring Jesse Moss (no relation) and William Forsythe.
Suicide
Jason Moss died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in his Henderson, Nevada home on the morning of June 6, 2006. The significance, if any, of his chosen suicide date (6/6/06) has been the subject of speculation. Moss reportedly delved "heavily into Satanic stuff" while writing his book.[2]
References
- ↑ Moss & Kottler 1999, p. 258-259.
- ↑ Kalil, M (June 13, 2006): LV Review-Journal archive Retrieved October 20, 2011