Robert Andrew Berdella Jr. January 31, β October 8, was an American serial killer who kidnapped , raped, tortured, and murdered at least six young men after forcing his victims to endure periods of up to six weeks of captivity. Berdella became known as the "Kansas City Butcher" due to his practice of extensively dissecting his victims' bodies, which he would then dispose of in garbage bags, and "The Collector" due to the movie which he stated was the basis of the fantasies behind the modus operandi of his crimes.
The family regularly attended Mass, and both sons regularly attended religious education courses. As a child, Berdella was intelligent, but a loner who rarely played outside his home and seldom had friends visit to socialize.
He had a speech impediment and wore thick glasses from the age of five because he was severely nearsighted; he was also diagnosed with high blood pressure for which he took several medications.
Berdella was largely unathletic, whereas his younger brother, Daniel, seven years his junior, displayed an aptitude for sports from an early age. Berdella's father valued sports and physical education and viewed his older son's lack of interest in sports as a sign of failure, often comparing him unfavorably with his younger brother.
Occasionally, Berdella's father physically and emotionally abused his children, such as by beating them with a leather strap. Berdella performed well academically, though teachers often found him difficult to teach, partly due both to his aloofness, and his being the recipient of bullying by other students. Because of this he seldom socialized with his peers. When Berdella reached puberty, he discovered that he was homosexual ; initially, he kept this fact a closely guarded secret and he did not become open about his sexuality for several years.
