My parents watch Criminal Minds and similar shows all the time, two friends of mine bought a book about a serial killer and my Twitter timeline is full of people talking about a new true crime podcast. It's just my bubble or is it a broad cultural phenomenon?
relating or connecting is not the same as projecting. I've played a little fast and lose with that so far, so I'll take some of the blame. However, you have raised an interesting point about the victims I've failed to consider. edit: forgot what the last thing I commented was, you make a good point.