Is there value in a killer's artwork?

A U.S. website is continuing to offer items linked to notorious Canadian killers such as Clifford Olson, Roch Theriault and Robert Pickton despite threat of an investigation by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).

This item from Canadian serial killer Clifford Olson is available for purchase on the U.S.-based MurderAuction website. MurderAuction.com's wares include signed notes and photos from Olson, and artwork by Theriault. The macabre website also offers an artist's drawing of convicted killer Karla Homolka.

The site's owner, William Harder, said prisoners have the right to send out material and his site has the right to be the conduit for sales.

But Sharon Rosenfeldt, the mother of one of the children killed by Olson and president of the Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, said that she was "appalled at this going on."

A correctional service spokesperson said prisoners are free to mail letters as long as they don't pose a security or safety risk, contain offensive or obscene material , or interference with a prisoner's correctional plan.

Should Canadian prisons crack down on material sent from prisoners? Are you surprised that such an auction site exists? Is there value in a killer's artwork? Let us know what you think in the comments below.


(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)