Books like The misbegotten son by Jack Olsen

Arthur John Shawcross, born in the hardscrabble North Country of New York, grew up in Watertown. From an early age he exhibited violent and arsonistic tendencies that led to psychiatric examinations. His military service in Vietnam exposed him to extreme trauma, after which he returned to his hometown and committed a series of arsons and burglaries. Prison time was short; after a parole council granted him early release, Shawcross moved to Binghamton and triggered another well‑documented murder spree, including the killing of two children. His continued release and relocation to Rochester—without prior police notification—fueled a subsequent string of murders targeting women and children. Over the span of these crimes, he was believed to have killed at least eleven persons, with multiple bodies discovered in ice, reeds, and swamp waters. The book examines the conflicting psychological evaluations of Shawcross, juxtaposing viewpoints that viewed him as a monstrous, irreparable threat against those who argued he remained a redeemable, troubled youth. Through case studies and detailed analysis of his domestic and criminal history, the biography offers insight into the complexities of profiling, criminal justice, and the grim realities of serial murder in modern New York.

First publish date: 1993