© Getty Images

Public fascination -

The public’s fascination with criminal behavior is partially motivated by a desire to understand how and why some people are able to commit their heinous crimes.

© Getty Images

Sense of challenge -

Curiosity about human behavior, questions of morality, and a Sherlock Holmes-esque engagement with the investigation process drive a sense of challenge.

Pictured is a recording of the 'Wrongful Conviction' podcast.

© Getty Images

Engaging stories -

Engaging stories allow consumers to arrive at their own conclusions—is the alleged criminal really guilty of the crime? Do the facts add up? Do the flaws in the investigative process raise questions about the validity of a conviction

Pictured is Gloria Allred, a member of the legal team featured in 'Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods,' a BBC documentary highlighting sexual assault at the hands of the former owner of Harrods. 

© Getty Images

Social platforms -

The genre really thrives on social platforms, where enthusiasts gather to exchange their own theories on what really happened, breaking down case details to discuss amongst themselves.

© Getty Images

Catching the public's eye -

But that’s not the only reason some people become fascinated with certain criminal cases. Sometimes, it’s the criminal that catches people’s eye. In the following slides, we highlight the criminals that have been deemed attractive by the public, and as such, garnered a disproportionate amount of attention. 

© Shutterstock

Luigi Mangione -

Luigi Mangione, the young man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in December 2024, has captured the hearts of many on the internet.

© Getty Images

Fan mail -

Mangione has received a great deal of ‘fan mail’ in the state correctional facility where he is held while awaiting trial. He has also received a great deal of financial support for his commissary account.

© Getty Images

Deny requests -

Mangione’s lawyer noted that they had to deny requests from strangers to foot his legal bills, while his supporters still managed to raise over US$100,000 for his defense fund.

© Getty Images

The Menendez Brothers -

The Menendez Brothers, Erik and Lyle Menendez, became a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s, with countless books, TV series, and other media made during their respective trials and in the years following their convictions.

© Getty Images

Convicted murderers -

The Menendez Brothers confessed to brutally murdering their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, following what they claim were decades of abuse. They are both serving life sentences for their crimes.

© Getty Images

Outside the mold -

Wealthy and attractive, hailing from Beverly Hills, their following was at least partially fueled by the fact that they, according to Forbes, “didn’t fit the usual mold of Hollywood-style killers.”

© Getty Images

Reignited appeal -

The appeal didn’t stop in the 1990s, a recent Netflix show ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,’ reignited interest in the brothers, inspiring a new generation of admirers, as well as in the case itself, in which public pressure to give greater weight to abuse claims has also garnered the support of celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

© Getty Images

Jeremy Meeks -

Then there’s Jeremy Meeks, who has been popularly referred to as the “world’s hottest felon.” The now-model was one of the first cases of a social media frenzy over a good-looking criminal.

© Getty Images

Mug shot -

Convicted over gang-related charges, the mug shot police uploaded of him (pictured) on their Facebook page went viral, prompting Meeks’ piercing green eyes to capture the hearts of many on the internet.

© Getty Images

Picture goes viral -

Hashtags, such as #feloncrushfriday, and tens of thousands of 'likes' in response to the police’s post launched a viral circulation of his image, prompting a campaign to raise money for his bail among his fans.

© Getty Images

Criminal turned model -

Meeks' appeal didn’t just garner the attention of the general public, but of modeling agencies, too. Days prior to his release from prison, Meeks signed a contract with White Cross Management. Since then, he has walked the runway for some of the world’s most famous fashion houses.

© Getty Images

Wade Wilson -

Wade Wilson, also referred to as the “Deadpool Killer,” confessed to murdering Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in 2019. Wilson already held an extensive criminal record before committing murder.

© Public Domain

Social media -

Despite his violent crimes against women, social media’s reaction to Wilson’s image garnered him a following. Letters and financial support from admirers began flooding Wilson’s account.

© Shutterstock

Bad boy effect -

The allure of the “bad boy effect” in conjunction with obsessions over good looks certainly creates a public following. The attention they receive isn't just limited to social media, but can also affect the case itself.

© Getty Images

Influencing juries -

The public, and therefore juries, can be influenced by the attractiveness of those involved in a crime. For juries, this influence is called the “attractive-defendant effect.”

© Getty Images

Beauty and empathy -

Studies show that, inside and outside the judicial system, those who are deemed more attractive can garner greater empathy from others.

© Shutterstock

Benefit of the doubt -

This means that people who are more attractive are more likely to receive “the benefit of the doubt,” prompting a greater likelihood of obtaining second chances.

© Shutterstock

Appeal is dangerous -

Sometimes, their appeal is also a source of danger. Serial killers, such as Jeffrey Dahmer (pictured), Richard Ramirez, Paul John Knowles, and Ted Bundy are prime examples of this.

© Getty Images

Casanova Killers -

Sometimes referred to as “Casanova Killers,” these types of criminals know how to use their intelligence, charm, and looks to seduce their victims. The media also contributes to the allure of even the most sadistic individuals.

© Getty Images

Evolutionary psychology -

According to Professor Amanda Vicary, who teaches psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University, the appeal women have to some criminals, even the most violent, is tied to evolutionary psychology.

© Shutterstock

Hunter-gatherer -

According to Vicary, “we are still attracted to the things that would have helped us survive back in our ancestral past, think hunter-gatherer environment.”

© Shutterstock

Fame -

Based on this theory, women can be subconsciously attracted to killers because they represent a dominant role in a social structure. There’s also another element that Vicary points out: the appeal of fame.

© Shutterstock

Attaching themselves to an image -

The “bad boy dominant male image,” in conjunction with a certain level of fame that criminals are able to achieve, may make some women believe they can achieve fame by linking themselves to a criminal.

© Shutterstock

Not limited to men -

This appeal is not just limited to men. Women like Lori Vallow (the “Doomsday Mom”), Casey Anthony (pictured), and famed TV personality, Martha Stewart, have also benefited from favorable media attention.

Sources: (The New York Times) (Forbes) (The Independent) (Koffel Law) (Fox 4 Now)

See also: History's most celebrated crime fighters

© Getty Images