A man who speaks with serial killers has shown off the gifts he has received from his unusual friends.
For more than 30 years, Phil Chalmers has been getting in touch with murderers to speak with them. As a result, he has got gifts from them.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, he said: “You get things. You get letters. You get Christmas cards. You get paintings.”
Some of the items he has received have been donations from law enforcement. He has things like a doll head that was found in the shed of Dennis Rader, unpublished books written by John Wayne Gacy – and a painting of Jesus. He also has a chocolate wrapper from a factory that Jeffrey Dahmer worked at.
Having already written books on his experiences, he’s now created a new podcast where he talks about his true crime venture.
Jeffrey Dahmer. Credit: PA
Where the Bodies are Buried launched in August and he looks at interviews with serial killers.
Chalmers said: “I’m not a fan of true crime. I talk to a lot of victims and their families. I see the pain that these crimes bring. I speak for the dead.”
Although he’s not a professional, he’s certainly put the time in. He started researching serial killers in about 1985, when he was growing up with his father, who was an alcoholic.
Chalmers, from Cleveland in Ohio, said: “I can kind of relate with some of their stories of dysfunction.”
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His first focus was on teen killers, before he turned his attentions to adults too.
But how does he set up interviews with these characters?
He said the key is honesty, explaining: “You send them a letter, introduce yourself. I’m real upfront with them.”
With most of the interviewees being in prison, he says they often ask him for something in exchange for their time. He said this is usually something like food or clothing.
He added: “I’m trying to get confessions of unsolved murders. ‘m trying to solve cold cases. I’m trying to locate bodies and I’m trying to bring closure to the victims’ families.
“Usually the families are glad that I’m doing what I’m doing.”
The episodes are usually about 40 minutes long and the interview lengths depend on how long they are allowed on the phone – some inmates get 15 minutes, while others get 30.
You can find out more on Phil’s Facebook page.
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