Alferd+Packer





=**Biography & Basic Background**=

Born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1842, his family migrated to the west in 1862. One of three children of James Packer and Esther Griner, Packer was served in the Union Army in the American Civil War, given his profession as a shoemaker. However, several months later he was discharged from the Army for epilepsy, and even though he moved to a different Army in Cleveland, he was still discharged for epilipsy in 1864. Being in a situation where non of the professions he enjoyed suited him, he decided to collaborate his profession on gold, being the years of gold mining. Yet, it seemed evident that this profession as well, would face an end as well.

= How it happened & Victim Profiles =

In the cold November of 1873, Packer, along with 21 men headed for mountains of San Juan from Chief Ouray’s camp in Colorado. Yet, their expecedition was not successful at at all. Starting out with only 10 days of food, their expectancy of 40 miles was actually a 75 mile trip in search for gold. Yet Packer, being their guide in search for gold, had actually led them toward Lack San Cristobal instead of Lake Fork, which had multiple shelters and preserved food. However, with the cold rushing through Packer’s bones and snow blowing like never before in the high altitudes of the mountains, Packer decided to lead the group of men to the opposite direction which is Lake San Christobal, and decided to consume the men. When the patrol finally found Packer alone near the Los Pinos Indian Agency near Gunnison, he was found alone, and yet, so fine in shape. Yet, on investigating how the men perished, Packer signed a confession in May 8, 1874, stating that some men died of old age, some had fallen of a cliff, while one may was hunting and accidentally shot another, while the rest tried to kill Packer for hunger.

Yet, due to multiple holes found in Packer’s story, he was first arrested. Being just arrested yet not officially jailed, Packer was forced to lead the investigators to the scene, where of course, he led them to the wrong place as well. While Packer was still being investigators for the murder of 21 men, John A Randolph of Harper’s Weekly discovers victims near Lake City, where skeletons and human flesh only remained. Shocked by such discovery, Packer was accused of cannibalism, and the official trial began on April 6th, 1883. The method of murder is still not known, although Packer is found guilty on April 13th, and receives a death sentence. However, this is not the end of the cannibal. Several days later, he escapes the jail soon after, and when asked about his escape, he stated that the sheriff had let him go. Hiding under name of John Schwartze in Cheyenne, Wyoming, he was discovered by authorities, however, was sentenced to 40 years in prison. However with trouble and worry at his old age, he died on April 23, 1907.

=Possible Tools Used for Murder:=

Rifle

Sharp Rock

Pushing toward the Edge of a Cliff

Amazon Knife

=Relevance to Psychology Today=

However, this is not the end of this man. On September 17, 1989, the Scientific Sleuthing Inc. took action of an exhumation project trying to scientifically identify the traits of cannibalism, yet still today, the characteristics of these harsh murders are still not found. So how does this help us relate to psychology? Well, from this case, we were able to conclude that hunger, or the basic necessities of the humankind is considered as one of the factors that trigger the act of cannibalism. In my opinion, the idea of shock and hunger in such a cruel environment triggers one to do an action where one has never done before; if it is triggered from primary characteristics such as hunger. Even though there has not been any research found based on traits that causes cannibalism, it seems that when one is trapped in such a harsh condition like never before, the mind triggers one to commit an action to fulfill that desire, such as hunger. I was able to conclude from this scene that the mind and the mood seems to be altered depending on biological and physical conditions.

//A Theatrical Trailer of Alferd Packer; The cannibal's tail is widely portrayed as a popular, historic event://
media type="youtube" key="fpvbHC4-k8c" height="348" width="424"

= Baseball Card of Alferd Packer =



=Citation=

"Alferd Packer." //Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2011. .

"Alfred Packer." //Colorado.gov: The Official State Web Portal//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2011. 

"Alfred Packer." //City of Littleton Official City Web Site//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2011. 

"Make your own baseball cards." //Dream Catchers Website//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2011. 