Have You Seen The TRULY DISTURBING "Budd Letter”? – Inside the Mind of Cannibal Killer Albert Fish
"A boy or girl’s behind… the sweetest part of the body. It took me 9 days to eat her entire body" – Albert Fish
Albert Fish, one of America's most notorious serial killers, shocked the nation with his gruesome crimes against children in the early 20th century. But perhaps nothing was more disturbing than the letter he sent to the mother of one of his victims, 10-year-old Grace Budd. This infamous "Budd Letter" provides a horrifying glimpse into Fish's depraved mind and the unspeakable acts he committed.
[Content warning: The following contains graphic descriptions of violence]
"My dear Mrs. Budd,
In 1894 a friend of mine shipped as a deck hand on the steamer Tacoma, Capt. John Davis. They sailed from San Francisco to Hong Kong, China. On arriving there, he and two others went ashore and got drunk. When they returned, the boat was gone.
At that time, there was a famine in China. Meat of any kind was 1-3 dollars a pound. So great was the suffering among the very poor that all children under 12 were sold for food in order to keep others from starving. A boy or girl under 14 was not safe in the street. You could go in any shop and ask for steak, chops, or stew meat. Part of the naked body of a boy or girl would be brought out and just what you wanted cut from it. A boy or girl's behind, which is the sweetest part of the body and is sold as veal cutlets, brings the highest price.
John stayed there so long that he acquired a taste for human flesh. On his return to N.Y., he stole two boys — one 7, one 11. He took them to his home, stripped them naked, and tied them up in a closet, and then burned everything they had on. Several times every day and night he spanked them — tortured them — to make their meat good and tender.
First, he killed the 11-year-old boy, because he had the fattest ass and of course the most meat on it. Every part of his body was cooked and eaten except the head, bones, and guts. He was roasted in the oven (all of his ass), boiled, broiled, fried, and stewed. The little boy was next, and he went the same way. At that time, I was living at 409 E. 100 St. He told me so often how good human flesh was, I made up my mind to taste it.
On Sunday, June 3, 1928, I called on you at 406 W. 15 St. and brought you pot cheese and strawberries. We had lunch. Grace sat on my lap and kissed me. I made up my mind to eat her.
On the pretense of taking her to a party, you said yes, she could go. I took her to an empty house in Westchester I had already picked out. When we got there, I told her to remain outside. She picked wildflowers. I went upstairs and stripped all my clothes off. I knew if I did not I would get her blood on them.
When all was ready, I went to the window and called her. Then I hid in the closet until she was in the room. When she saw me all naked she began to cry and tried to run down the stairs. I grabbed her and she said she would tell her mamma.
First, I stripped her naked. How she did kick, bite, and scratch. I choked her to death, then cut her in small pieces so I could take the meat to my rooms, cook, and eat it. How sweet and tender her little ass was roasted in the oven. It took me 9 days to eat her entire body. I did not fuck her, though I could have if I wished. She died a virgin."
The chilling letter penned by Albert Fish to the mother of his victim, Grace Budd, stands as one of the most disturbing artifacts in criminal history. Beyond its gruesome content, this letter offers a rare and unsettling glimpse into the psyche of a depraved serial killer. By examining the psychological elements evident in Fish's writing, we can gain valuable insights into the mind of a man whose actions continue to horrify and fascinate true crime enthusiasts decades later.
The Power of Confession
Fish's decision to write the letter six years after Grace Budd's murder reveals a compelling psychological need for recognition and perhaps even a twisted form of closure. This act of confession, while ultimately leading to his capture, demonstrates:
- A compulsion to relive and recount his crimes
- A possible desire for notoriety or infamy
- A lack of empathy, evident in his willingness to inflict further pain on the victim's family
The letter serves as a chilling reminder that for some criminals, the act of confessing can be as psychologically gratifying as the crime itself.
Detachment and Dehumanization
Throughout the letter, Fish describes his heinous acts with a disturbing level of detachment. His clinical description of cannibalism and murder suggests a profound disconnection from normal human emotions and morality. This detachment allowed Fish to:
- View his victims as objects rather than people
- Commit acts of extreme violence without apparent remorse
- Rationalize his behavior through elaborate and twisted logic
This level of emotional detachment is a hallmark of severe antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy.
The Role of Fantasy
Fish's letter begins with a fabricated story about cannibalism in China, demonstrating the power of fantasy in his criminal psychology. This blend of reality and fiction highlights:
- An active and disturbed imagination that fueled his crimes
- The use of fantasy as a means of justification for his actions
- A possible inability to fully distinguish between reality and his own dark imaginings
The intertwining of fact and fiction in Fish's narrative provides insight into how fantasy can play a crucial role in the development and perpetuation of criminal behavior.
Linguistic Analysis: The Devil in the Details
The language Fish uses in his letter is surprisingly articulate and descriptive. This level of detail serves multiple psychological functions:
- It allows Fish to relive the experience, providing a form of psychological gratification
- It demonstrates a level of pride in his actions, suggesting a complete moral inversion
- The specificity of his descriptions indicates a deeply ingrained memory of the events, highlighting the significance of the crime to his psyche
The careful choice of words and vivid imagery in the letter reveal a mind fixated on the details of violence, suggesting an all-consuming obsession with his deviant acts.
Conclusion: The Abyss Gazes Back
Analyzing the Albert Fish letter from a psychological perspective is a harrowing journey into the darkest recesses of the human mind. It forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about the extremes of human behavior and the thin line that separates sanity from madness.
While the letter's contents are undeniably disturbing, its study serves an important purpose in the fields of criminology and psychology. By understanding the mindset of individuals like Albert Fish, we can work towards better prevention, detection, and treatment strategies for severe personality disorders and criminal behaviors.
As we delve into such dark subject matter, we must remember that behind every true crime story are real victims and grieving families. The Albert Fish case, while fascinating from a psychological standpoint, represents a tragedy of immense proportions—a sobering reminder of the very real and devastating consequences of unchecked mental illness and human cruelty.
