“[Dahmer] asked his lawyer to hold them for him,” Chalmers said. “I knew a guy who knew his lawyer and that’s how they’re here.”
You can also see a spoon that belonged to Dahmer.
One of the most notorious serial killers in the U.S. was Charles Manson. Among the many Manson items, you can see a Christmas card Manson wrote to Chalmers and Manson’s personal copy of the book Helter Skelter taken from his prison cell.
His first face-to-face interview with a convicted serial killer was with David Berkowitz, known to many as The Son of Sam. Berkowitz was convicted for a series of murders in New York City between 1975 and 1977 and he was also tied to some arsons.
He initially claimed he was getting his orders from a dog named Sam, hence the nickname. He later admitted that the dog explanation was a hoax.
Included in his display are letters to Chalmers from Berkowitz and a photo of Chalmers and the killer.
“I still talk to him today,” Chalmers said.
Another interesting tidbit of memorabilia is a clown mask from John Wayne Gacy’s home. Chalmers points out that at one time, Gacy used to have a job as a clown at children’s birthday parties.
There is a separate section about killers from South Carolina including the infamous Pee Wee Gaskins who terrorized the eastern part of the state including Horry County.
In addition to actual profiles, visitors can learn interesting facts such as only 7% of serial killers are women. And by the way, their usual modus operandi for killing is either poisoning or suffocation.
As far as correspondence with the killers, Chalmers said he initially sends letters directly to them in hopes of getting a reply. Some of have sent him items or drawings they have personally made while in prison.
“I’ve also gotten a lot of confessions over the years,” he added.
Tickets to the museum cost $40, according to their website.
In addition to perusing the hundreds of displays, a visitor can upgrade to a VIP experience for $87 and visit a special room in the rear where Chalmers points out some of the “worst of the worst” killers.
