Why Would Any Woman Want to Marry van der Sloot?

Joran Van der Sloot may be behind bars, but he claims his popularity is on the rise.

The Dutchman, 22, is accused of killing Peruvian business student Stephany Flores, 21, in his Lima hotel room May 30. He's confessed, but claims the confession was coerced and he was tricked into giving it, and he wants it tossed out. He also remains the chief suspect in the 2005 disappearance in Aruba of Alabama teen Natallee Holloway.

Van der Sloot told a Dutch newspaper he's received dozens of marriage proposals from women sending him letters.

What are those women -- and others who've sought relationships with other criminals -- thinking?

It has little to do with the men, and more to do with the women themselves, Northeastern University criminologist Jack Levin explained on "The Early Show" Wednesday.

Men may be notorious killers but, says Levin, they have somehow become the new celebrity, showing up everywhere from magazine covers to T-shirts.

Inside van der Sloot's Prison Cell: Have a Look!
Van der Sloot Boasts of Marriage Offers
Van der Sloot Clams Up with Peruvian Judge
Inside Van der Sloot's Prison Cell
Expert: Van der Sloot's Moms Words May Boost Insanity Plea
Photos: Stephany Flores Murder
Photos: Van der Sloot Wanted for Murder
Photos: Natalee Holloway, Paradise Lost

"These women would love to date and marry a rock star or a rap idol," Levin pointed out. "But if they send a letter to a rock star, they're lucky if they get some kind of computerized signature on a photograph and that's it," explained Levin. "These new celebrities, these inmates, are very different. These women may actually get a marriage proposal." The appeal of those inmates is getting the response.

Even someone like Van der Sloot who, a psychological evaluation found, has no respect for women is still a seductive candidate, because these women believe he isn't guilty.

"These guys are so shrewd that they talk the women into believing they are innocent victims of injustice," said Levin. "Sometimes, the women who end up dating or even marrying these guys are given a mission, a purpose in life. They are going to show the world that their man is innocent."

As for Van der Sloot himself, he knows he is in hot water this time, Levin says, adding Van der Sloot is using the same tactics he used years ago in Aruba as what Levin calls "a manipulative sociopath.

"But this time, it's not going to work, because there's a tremendous amount of physical evidence against him. That's going to make all the difference," said Levin.

[rwsmith29456]

Hey, violent men are more 'interesting' and if I marry him he'll change.

[fuzzydbear]

maybe its about SAVING him? Women sometimes think "love" can save all.

[amerilatino]

Two words, rough S-E-X.

[steeepe]

Some women must be masochists. Only a genuine fool would want to marry that creature.

[mick7744]

The only person van der Sloot is likely to marry is Big Jose, who will turn him out to anyone with 2 cigarettes.

This arrangement will last for the rest of his life, however long or short his wretched existance may be.

Brave Joran will never be raped in prison. He will simply be ordered to asssume the position and will meekly give it up. He is a bully, and like all bullies, a coward.

I don't think the old, throw wine in their faces and beat them to death with a tennis racquet trick will work too well against those guys.

In any case, a butt-ugly, Dumbo eared punk like him should be flattered by all the attention he will receive from his new friends, that is, until his masters get bored with him and cut his lying throat.

[cara123456]

He is the only "pretty" white boy in there with dumbo ears and a pig nose. But the gay guys in there will look right passed that and see a cute little dutch boy with a lot to offer....

[amerilatino]

When the Shining Path lifers and Coca plantation inmates get a hold of him they will offer to do all kinds of things to him if his parents don't cough up protection money, he would have done a LOT better in a Dutch prison...

[cara123456]

And he is so ugly, he has a pig nose and looks gay to me, who would want to marry him? Some creepy ugly woman.Yuck

[msay3]

I think the word is "fugly"....LOL

[cara123456]

Did anyone else notice that really creepy evil smirk, almost as he new what he was going to do the first time he entered the hotel with Stephany Flores? I hope they examine that. And also his mug shot is so smug, like he didn't do ANYTHING wrong. His whole demeanor as he talks to the cops is so nonchalant, and matter of fact. Absolutely no emotion. Maybe a tiny bit of fear when he was getting tomatoes thrown at him, but that is it. No remorse or concern whatsoever, almost like he just killed the rat in his toilet.

[3ringquercus]

Classic sociopath behavior--the arrogance, the smirk--and the pathological lying. It's likely he's lying about all the marriage proposals too, so it's surprising news agencies are covering this like it's something real.

[fuzzydbear]

hes a serial killer, wonder what his rich daddy thinks? The dude is like what 7 feet tall? the short cocoa plant workers??? are gonna rape him?

[flowergirl007]

Losers.

[Ihateswineflu]

I find it pretty offensive that this sicko's crimes are being treated by some in the media as if it was a reality show. What he had to eat today, what his cell looks like, who his friends are. Disgusting! He's a psycopath who it looks like brutally murdered at least two women, and somehow this is being glamorized.

[scoutsout80]

C'mon, Nancy Grace and Jane Velez make money of this sort of crap, they need a job, right?

[Chris_VA]

Good point scoutsout. I guess you could it a kind of love [money]-hate relationship...

[scoutsout80]

What would Gloria Steinam say?

[voxpopulus]

She'd say "Spell my name right."