Podbit · Last Podcast On The Left
The hosts debate why serial killers were so prevalent in the 1970s-1990s and why they seemingly disappeared. DNA testing, social media, faster missing-persons reporting, and the shift toward mass public shootings all factor in — but the hosts hint the full explanation will take three episodes and goes deeper than leaded gasoline theories.
Where this was said
At 13:18 · chapter starts 10:40
Ed Larson suggests DNA testing is the main reason serial killers seem to have disappeared, and Marcus agrees it's part of the answer — but only part. Henry proposes that attention-seeking behaviors have shifted toward mass shootings, which offer instant visibility without the operational complexity of serial killing. Marcus adds that social media now flags disappearances faster, and that kids no longer run away or hang around train yards — the lost, vulnerable population serial killers preyed on is harder to access. The broader crime decline of the late 20th century is also noted. The conversation is a preview of the three-episode arc they're promising to explain the serial killer era fully. [1] — Marcus Parks "The hosts debate why serial killers were so prevalent in the 1970s-1990s and why they seemingly disappeared. DNA testing, social media, fas…" 13:18
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