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True Crime Explicit #3

The Butcher of Humanity: The True Story of Carl Panzram a Product of Hatred and Vengeance

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Is it nature or nurture? Was one of the world's cruelest serial killers created by his surroundings, or was he born that way?

Get ready to go on a dark and chilling journey through the mind and actions of one of the world's cruelest serial killers ever – Carl Panzram.

Born on a dying farm and soon abandoned by his father, Carl Panzram's life was bleak from the start. While other children played and went to school, he toiled away on his family's land, the threat of brutal punishment always looming over his head.

Yet instead of shaping him into the meek, obedient boy his family wanted, Panzram grew meaner with each passing year. His first arrest happened before he had even turned ten.

The young troublemaker would soon find himself at the mercy of cruel teachers, pastors, and jailers alike. They tried to beat goodness and religion into him but ended up kicking all the goodness out.

When he broke free, he only had one goal in to cause as much pain and suffering as he could.

Find out what made this cold-blooded killer so wicked and how he earned the nickname "the Human Animal." Draw your own conclusions as you take a peek inside the devious mind of Carl Panzram.

True Crime Explicit is a series that contains descriptive accounts of abuse and violence. If you are especially sensitive to graphic content, it is advisable to avoid this series.

143 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2021

253 people are currently reading
183 people want to read

About the author

Genoveva Ortiz

82 books16 followers

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5 stars
96 (31%)
4 stars
101 (33%)
3 stars
79 (25%)
2 stars
21 (6%)
1 star
8 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Kade Gulluscio.
975 reviews65 followers
February 1, 2023
This wasn't my first read by this author, so I knew what to expect going in this time. haha.
If you are into true crime, this series has been absolutely amazing. The books are all novella length, so you get the storyline and facts straight to the point here.
The book kept my interest and kept me engaged. The author is great at that.

This particular book is about Carl Panzram. This man was the true definition of a monster. He had an attraction to boys / teens unfortunately. He felt no remorse for the depravity he unleashed on these young souls either. This man .... was evil.

Well worth the read if this is your cup of tea!
Profile Image for Robin Morgan.
Author 5 books287 followers
May 15, 2021
Ever since I started trying to be a good Christian woman and have gotten engrossed in reading/reviewing non-fiction Christian books, it's been a while since I've sat down and read a good True Crime book. [I happen to be a TOP CONTRIBUTOR of Amazon for this genre.]

The reason an individual like myself would ever want to read such a shockingly, disturbing book like this is simple; I'm fascinated by how any person, such as the subject of this book, Carl Panzram, could ever become such a heinous, cruel, vile, murderous one, who went against almost every tenet of the Lord.

As in most cases, the root cause for their behavior stems from their children, of which Panzram's case is a prime example.

Growing up as a child, Panzram had no childhood to speak of. Instead of going to school like you and me, with the ominous threat of harsh chastisement hung over his head, he got forced to be like a slave as he labored his life away on his family's farm. This occurred because of the twisted way his parents wanted to mold him into their intention of becoming a timid, amenable son. Instead, his behavior grew increasingly viciousa, and before he turned ten, he wound up getting arrested for his first serious crime.

One might think that his going to school and going to church would his atrocious behavior around; however, the contrary occurred since he found himself confronted by merciless teachers and blasphemous pastors who wound up decimating any goodness he might have still possessed.

As the years went by, his behavior turned frighteningly revengeful as he rejoiced in inflicting as much misery and torment to others that he could muster.

The writing in this book is fraught with the highly graphic descriptive accounting of Panzram's brutal and heinous behavior, which should be avoided in reading by anyone who is fainthearted.

Given the intense nature of this book and my being an aficionado of the genre of true crime, I've given this book and its authors 5 STARS.
Profile Image for Samantha.
1,919 reviews40 followers
March 2, 2025
Wow...what a life Panzram lived. It certainly didn't make up for the terrible things he did, but it definitely gave some clarity into the possible reasons why he had turned to such depravity. His life was quite the whirlwind of time in and out of jail. He was also quite a world traveler, which was an interesting detail. This was a fast-paced read that I found both disturbing and entertaining.
Profile Image for KaiaCat666.
9 reviews
August 23, 2022
For someone as complicated as Carl Panzram, this book is way too short. It felt very rushed
Profile Image for Deirdre.
1,571 reviews16 followers
June 6, 2021
This is the story of the vicious killer Carl Panzram. It's terrifying in that this is a true story of a man who roamed the country and other continents meting out devastating cruelty & murders wherever he went. Genoveva Ortiz is making a name for herself in the true crime genre through the assistance of the publisher that releases her books (True Crime Seven) and her writing style. Her manner of storytelling that depicted the harsh upbringing one man suffered that went a long way to creating the monstrous killer he became. His own actions and cruel treatment in a wide variety of correctional institutions in the early 20th century didn't break him. It seemed like the torture and pain directed toward him made him stronger and more determined to seek revenge against helpless victims.

Anyone could be Carl's victim but he had an unnatural attraction to young boys and teens. The brutality he inflicted on them was nauseating. But Panzram gained pleasure from inflicting his sadistic sexual assaults on any vulnerable man he could get into his clutches, whether on the outside or while incarcerated. He also enjoyed doling out punishing beat downs. And he had a penchant for setting fires. This was a shocking story that is not for the squeamish. His crimes are described in enough detail to illustrate just how depraved a monster he was. If you enjoy reading true crime this is a book that should be in your library!
Profile Image for Irish_I_was_reading.
427 reviews1 follower
March 30, 2025
"Is it nature or nurture that is responsible for the cruelest of mankind - or is it a combination of the two?"

This book is classified as True Crime. This book is about Carl Panzram, who is know as one of the most brutal serial unalivers, and how his entire life went from being born to death. He was arrested at eight years old for the first time, and possibly received brain damage from abusive parents. He joined the military in 1906 and once he got out, he was in and out of trouble.

I gave this book five stars. The phrase "not every sociopath is a psychopath, but every psychopath is a sociopath" stuck out to me with this one. I personally feel like it was a combination of upbringing, and being a sociopath.
2,293 reviews5 followers
May 24, 2021
Very good book.

This book is researched and written. Panzram was vicious and brutal to his victims. Panzram suffered brutality as a child and adolescent. Ortiz does not use his horrible past to excuse what Panzram did. Panzram, himself, wondered if he were born evil, or if his horrific past made him evil. Ortiz is descriptive of his murders. History of the prison system back then is included. A fascinating read.
Profile Image for Ginny.
8 reviews
March 1, 2023
Would be higher rated but

Would have rated higher except for the glaring mistakes. Such as: one man getting shot at by an officer, who missed with every bullet. Then the man died the next day due to a gsw he sustained during the shooting with said officer. Also Panzram's last words are disputed here as saying a "dozen men" instead of " ten men." Which is it for each scenario??? How much is actually correct for the rest of the story?
Profile Image for Zoe Taylor.
79 reviews
January 10, 2026
The only thing that comes to mind after reading this one is, surround your self with evil become evil. To me everything he did was what he was taught, he didn’t know any better. Perhaps if he had a more lovely stable family, and was surrounded with good men to look upto this might not of happened. He was so full of hatred from a child up to the day of his hanging, what a sad live to life carry around all that hate.
Profile Image for Bambi Goggio.
198 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2021
Well written and inciteful, this book covers the entirety of Panzram's life. The book probes the argument of nature vs nurture. . Equally disturbing are the acts of violence committed by and upon Panzram, including harsh punishments while incarcerated, without excusing him.
Profile Image for Blanche Padgett.
170 reviews
May 23, 2021
Good Stories

It was a good book. I heard about Carl on a movie I watched. And the other story I knew nothing about. But it was good too
Profile Image for Leta.
31 reviews
July 18, 2021
Pretty good

Kept my attention and I was interested in this story. I wish there was more detail about the murders. I recommend this book.
6 reviews
August 25, 2021
Not overwhelming

I found the book to be rather amateur hour but is meant for everyone. It did have interesting cases in it just wish there were some more to it.
53 reviews
April 17, 2022
An evil man

The book details the life of an evil man. You are left with a strange sense of sadness for Panzram's wasted life and for all the lives he stole.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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