Kim Mager, a retired detective from the Ashland City Police Department in Ohio, details her experiences interrogating Shawn Grate, one of Ohio's most infamous serial killers, and the quest for a confession that changed a small town forever.
Former detective Kim Mager's memoir, "A Hunger to Kill: A Serial Killer, a Determined Detective, and a Quest for a Confession That Changed a Small Town Forever," delves into her 33-hour interrogation of Shawn Grate, one of Ohio's most infamous serial killers.
Grate, known as "The Ladykiller" for his charming demeanor, murdered at least five women in three Ohio counties, including Stacey Stanley, Elizabeth Griffith, Candice Cunningham, Rebekah Leicy, and Dana Lowrey.
The Ladykiller: A Serial Killer's Hunger to Kill
Mager, a 30-year veteran, initially found Grate unremarkable as he gave a rehearsed confession to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman. However, as she delved deeper, she realized his true nature.
"His hunger to kill is something that has haunted me," said Mager. "He described it as a force within him that he couldn't control."
The Ladykiller: A Serial Killer's Hunger to Kill
Mager's interrogation method, which involved mirroring Grate's body language and asking open-ended questions, eventually led him to confess to all five murders.
"I wanted him to understand that I believed him," said Mager. "I wanted him to know that I saw him as a flawed human being, capable of both good and evil."
The Ladykiller: A Serial Killer's Hunger to Kill
Mager's book also examines Grate's troubled childhood and the factors that may have contributed to his violence. She believes that Grate's upbringing, in which he felt abandoned and disconnected from his family, played a significant role.
"He told me he felt a void within him that he could never fill," said Mager. "He used his victims to try to fill that void, but it never worked."
The Ladykiller: A Serial Killer's Hunger to Kill
Grate, who is now on death row for the murders of Stanley and Griffith, has been sentenced to three life sentences for his other crimes. Mager acknowledges that his remorse may not be genuine, but she believes that it is important to show compassion even to the most heinous criminals.
"By understanding the darkness within others, we can better protect ourselves and those we care about," said Mager.
The Ladykiller: A Serial Killer's Hunger to Kill
Mager emphasizes that the victims should never be forgotten. "They were daughters, mothers, sisters, and friends who had their lives cut short by a senseless act of violence," she said. "Their stories deserve to be told."
