Jason Michael Moss (February 3, 1975 – June 6, 2006) was an American attorney who specialized in criminal defense. He was best known as the author of The Last Victim: A True-Life Journey into the Mind of the Serial Killer (1999), a memoir about his exploration of the minds of incarcerated serial killers, which started as a research project in college. He corresponded and conducted personal interviews with several notorious killers.

Struggling with depression, Moss died by suicide in 2006. His book was adapted and produced as a film, Dear Mr. Gacy, released in 2010.

Personal life

Moss was born in Bethpage, New York in 1975 and attended local schools. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As an honors student, he had completed a research project into the minds of serial killers by establishing correspondence with them and gaining interviews. At the age of 19, he met twice with John Wayne Gacy in prison, less than two months before the killer was executed.

Moss later said that he formed the strongest relationship with Gacy. Their exchange of letters led to regular Sunday morning phone calls, during which Gacy reiterated his innocence. In his book, Moss explored the development of his correspondence with Gacy, shortly before the killer was executed. Moss asserted that he became Gacy's "last victim" during their face-to-face meeting. While he understood that he had deliberately lured Gacy, he felt overpowered and manipulated by him, in the same way that he might have manipulated and controlled his victims. Moss felt that his overall experience allowed him to gain an understanding of how a serial killer's mind works.

Reception

Moss's book quickly became a bestseller. In 2000 a paperback edition was released, and also made the New York Times bestseller list. A film adaptation of the book, Dear Mr. Gacy, was released in 2010, starring Jesse Moss (no relation) and William Forsythe.

Suicide

Jason Moss died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in his Henderson, Nevada home on the morning of June 6, 2006.

References

  • Crimelibrary chapter on Jason Moss
  • Obituary: Jason Moss, Las Vegas Review Journal
  • Book Review on Google
  • Dear Mr. Gacy, 2006 film website – screenplay adapted from Moss & Kottler's book