7. From Delinquent Child to Mentally Troubled Soldier
Growing up, Marcel Petiot was a problem child. Various incidents of violent behavior and numerous brushes with the law got him expelled from multiple schools. As a result, the young delinquent was forced to complete his education in a special academy for troubled youth who could not be handled by regular schools. When WWI broke out, Petiot joined the French Army. However, between the horrors of trench warfare, in which he was wounded and gassed, and his already troubled psyche, Petiot suffered a nervous breakdown.
He was sent to a series of rest homes, where he got arrested multiple times for stealing morphine, wallets, blankets, photos, and letters. He ended up in military jail for a while, before he was sent to a psychiatric hospital. There, Petiot was diagnosed with a variety of mental illnesses. The signs of evil were there: some examiners thought that Petiot was a menace and wanted him institutionalized, but they were overruled. In hindsight, their recommendations should have been heeded. Eventually, Petiot was discharged from the military with a disability pension.
