Watch The Monster of the Andes: Pedro Lopez

The Monster of the Andes: Pedro Lopez from A&E Crime Central is a chilling documentary of the life and crimes of one of the most infamous serial killers in modern history. Pedro Lopez, also known as "The Monster of the Andes," was responsible for the rape, torture, and murder of at least 300 young girls across South America during the 1970s.

The documentary goes in-depth into Lopez's upbringing, showing how he was abandoned by his mother at an early age and left to fend for himself on the streets of Colombia. As a child, Pedro Lopez was molested by an American man and subsequently ran away from home. He began his life of crime at an early age, committing his first murder when he was just eight years old.

As Lopez grew older, he began targeting young girls, luring them with promises of food and shelter before raping and killing them. The documentary features interviews with survivors, family members of victims, and law enforcement officials who worked to apprehend the killer. Their first-hand accounts of the atrocities committed by Pedro Lopez are chilling and heart-rending.

One of the most fascinating aspects of "The Monster of the Andes" is the role that cultural and societal factors played in Lopez's evolution into a serial killer. The documentary argues that the "machismo" culture prevalent in many parts of South America, which glorifies male aggression and sexual conquest, played a key role in normalizing Lopez's behavior. Additionally, poverty and lack of economic opportunities left many children vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, providing fertile ground for predators like Lopez to prey upon.

Despite the scale and brutality of Pedro Lopez's crimes, he managed to evade capture for more than a decade. The documentary outlines the various law enforcement agencies that pursued Lopez, including Interpol and the Ecuadorian, Peruvian, and Colombian police forces. It also discusses how his capture, in 1980, played out in the media and how his trial was ultimately handled.

Overall, "The Monster of the Andes: Pedro Lopez" is a well-crafted and deeply disturbing documentary that provides insight into the mind of one of the most notorious serial killers in history. While the subject matter is difficult to watch, the documentary does an excellent job of contextualizing Pedro Lopez's crimes within their cultural and societal frameworks. The interviews with survivors and family members of victims add a personal touch to the story, making it all the more poignant. This documentary is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the psychology of serial killers and the societal structures that enable their crimes.

The Monster of the Andes: Pedro Lopez is a series that ran for 1 seasons (1 episodes) between December 2, 2004 and on A&E Crime Central