Albert Fish, The Real-Life Boogeyman: A Conversation with True Crime Author Harold Schechter

Killer Psyche

Wondery | Treefort Media

True Crime, Exhibit C

4.6 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the case of Albert Fish. Though he appeared harmless, Fish was anything but; his crimes were fueled by a disturbing blend of sadism, cruelty, and unimaginable depravity. Candice unpacks the disturbing psychology behind his crimes and the twisted fantasies that fueled his brutality. Then, she sits down with legendary true crime author Harold Schechter, who wrote Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America’s Most Fiendish Killer!, to discuss Fish’s traumatic past, his chilling confessions, and what his case reveals about the darkest corners of the human mind.

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Want to get more from Killer Psyche?
0:02.8	Subscribe to Wondery Plus for early access to new episodes,
0:07.0	ad-free listening, and exclusive content you cannot find anywhere else.
0:12.8	Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
0:18.9	A listener note, this episode of Killer Psyche contains discussions of graphic violence, including the murder of a child. Listener discretion is strongly advised.
0:48.9	It was a crisp November afternoon in 1934 when a letter arrived at the Bud family home in Manhattan.
0:55.4	The words inside would unravel a horror beyond comprehension.
1:02.4	A confession so depraved, it shocked even the most hardened detectives.
1:08.3	The letter detailed the brutal murder of 10-year-old Grace Budd,
1:14.1	describing in chilling detail what had happened to her after she left with an elderly, soft-spoken man who promised her parents he was taking her to a birthday party.
1:22.3	That man was Albert Fish, a grandfatherly figure with kind eyes and a polite demeanor,
1:31.7	Fish was the embodiment of a wolf in sheep's clothing.
1:36.5	But beneath his frail exterior, lurked a predator unlike any the world had ever seen,
1:43.9	a sadistic killer who preyed on the most vulnerable,
1:49.1	a man who took pleasure in the suffering of others. By the time authorities caught up with him,
1:57.2	Albert Fish had spent decades indulging in the darkest human impulses, child abduction, torture,
2:05.6	cannibalism, and acts of unimaginable depravity.
2:11.6	Today, I will walk you through the terrifying life and death of Albert Fish, and later I will be joined by fame true crime author
2:20.2	Harold Schechter, who wrote the definitive book on Fish, deranged, the shocking true story
2:27.7	of America's most fiendish killer. Harold spent years studying Fish's case, his psychology, and the gruesome legacy he left behind.
2:40.0	Together, we will unpack the dark history of Albert Fish and the horrific acts he committed,
2:45.4	while shedding light on the twisted mind of one of the most notorious serial killers in American history.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wondery | Treefort Media, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Wondery | Treefort Media and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.