Inside the Mind of Dennis Nilsen: The British Jeffrey Dahmer

Introduction

Dennis Andrew Nilsen, aka the “Kindly killer” and the “Muswell Hill Murderer”, was a Scottish criminal who terrorised London with his bone-chilling killings between 1978 and 1983. He committed almost fifteen murders and had been reported as a necrophile. Nilsen used to lure his victims to his residence through deception and then kill them by strangulation. His necrophilia personality was the most chilling aspect of his story, where he used to perform various rituals on his victims after their deaths, including cutting and burning the body parts and sometimes flushing them in the toilets. He was caught after his disposal of dismembered human entrails blocked his household drains that were found by the drain cleaning company, who later contacted the police. Due to the similarities between their crimes, sexuality, and lifestyle, Nilsen has been referred to as the “British Jeffrey Dahmer”.

Personal Life of Nilsen

Nilsen was the second of three children born to Elizabeth Duthie Whyte and Olav Magnus Moksheim, born in 1945 in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. Both Nilsen’s parents were working and had a difficult marriage. His parents divorced, and his mother went to see her parents with all three of them.

Nilsen grew up in a working-class family and joined the Army at a young age. After his military service, he entered the police force but eventually transitioned to a job centre. Nilsen presented himself as an unremarkable and solitary figure, concealing the darkness that lurks within.

As Nilsen moved through various jobs and struggled with his personal life, he experienced isolation and desperation. His loneliness deepened, and he began to grapple with his unresolved issues related to his sexuality and the difficulties he faced in forming meaningful connections with others.

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How did Nilsen become the Kindly Killer and Muswell Hill Murderer?

Dennis Nilsen’s first known murder was that of Stephen Holmes (14-year-old), whom he first encountered in London in 1978. Nilsen lured Holmes to his apartment with the promise of food and shelter. Once inside, Nilsen strangled Holmes to death.

The circumstances surrounding Holmes’s murder set the pattern for Nilsen’s subsequent crimes. Nilsen targeted vulnerable individuals, often young men who were either homeless or in precarious situations. He would offer them hospitality, but this hospitality would ultimately lead to their tragic demise.

After killing Stephen Holmes, Nilsen engaged in disturbing acts with the body, eventually disposing of the remains. This crime marked the beginning of Nilsen’s dark and violent spree that would continue for several years until his arrest in 1983.

Despite the gruesome nature of his actions, Nilsen was known to be articulate, polite, and seemingly considerate. The ability to blend into society and maintain a veneer of normalcy contributed to his notoriety as the “Kindly Killer”.

All his victims were students or homeless men whom he picked up from bars and brought to his house either for sex or just for company. Nilsen strangled and drowned his victims during the night, waking up with little memory of what he had done. He used his butchering skills, learned in the army, to help him dispose of the bodies. Nilsen could access a large garden and burn many remains in a bonfire.

Many people have regarded Nilsen as the “Muswell Hill Murderer”, but this title belongs to another British serial killer by the same name Dennis Andrew Nilsen, who operated in the Muswell Hill area of London during the 1960s. This other Nilsen, sometimes referred to as “Muswell Hill’s Mr. Murder” or “Muswell Hill Strangler”, is distinct from Dennis Andrew Nilsen, the ‘ Kindly Killer’, who committed his crimes in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

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The Muswell Hill Murderer killed at least three young boys between 1964 and 1965. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1966. It’s important to clarify the distinction between these two individuals to avoid confusion due to the similarity in their names and the fact that they both committed heinous crimes in London.

Arrest and Trials of Nilsen

Nilsen’s crimes came to light in February 1983 when a drain near his residence in Cranley Gardens in North London got blocked. A plumber was called to investigate, and upon discovering human flesh and bones in the drain, he immediately contacted the police. The authorities then returned the remains to Nilsen’s apartment.

On February 9, 1983, the police arrested Dennis Nilsen at his home. When they entered his apartment, they found evidence of his gruesome crimes, including dissected body parts, human remains, and detailed notes on his victims.

The investigation that followed, uncovered the extent of Nilsen’s crimes. Forensic experts worked to identify the victims and piece together the events leading to their deaths. Nilsen himself confessed to the murders during police interviews, providing chilling details about his actions.

Nilsen faced trial at the Old Bailey in London in October 1983. He was charged with six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. During the trial, Nilsen admitted to the killings but pleaded not guilty on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

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Nilsen’s defence argued that he was suffering from a personality disorder and was not fully responsible for his actions. However, the jury rejected this defence, and on November 4, 1983, Nilsen was found guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Nilsen began serving his life sentence at HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London. Later he was transferred to HMP Full Sutton. Despite multiple appeals, Nilsen remained incarcerated.

Finally, on May 12, 2018, Dennis Nilsen died at 72. His death was attributed to natural causes. Throughout his imprisonment, Nilsen did not express remorse for his crimes and maintained a detached and unemotional demeanour, contributing to his reputation as the “Kindly Killer”.

What does Psychological Analysis say about Nilsen?

According to various psychologists, multiple factors are responsible for the psychopathic personality of Nilsen. He was involved in a series of superficial, transitory relationships with men, though they did not assuage his feelings of profound isolation and loneliness. Like Jeffrey Dahmer, he sought somebody “who wouldn’t leave”; that is, a corpse.

Psychological Autopsy and Forensic Investigation

Some experts have explored the possibility of Nilsen having personality disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder, which is often associated with a disregard for the rights of others and a lack of empathy.