The cult effect.You may wonder why people ever were into Charles Manson, but seeing him at the beginning of his trial (and a bit before that) - that man was somethin' else. Charismatic motherfucker.
Women sitting outside the courtroom listening on radios for the verdict with Xes on their foreheads. It was really something else.
And let's not forget all the other fuckin' mental people. Ted Bundy. Not a far cry from how people treat photogenic killers today either. Same old shit.