'Psycho Babysitter' and Michael Myers copycat sentenced
Courtesy of Fictionalized Press
CHICAGO- Sentencing or rock concert? You would be forgiven for thinking the scene today at the Cook County Courthouse was the latter, as throngs of young people wearing homemade t-shirts gathered inside and outside of the courtroom. Their purpose? Show support for Corey Cunningham, 
a man found guilty last month of seven counts of aggravated murder in the first degree, one count of murder in the first degree, one count of arson in the second degree, and one count of criminal negligence in a series of slayings imitating famed killer Michael Myers last October.
Cunningham, 25, was previously acquitted of aggravated manslaughter. He was charged in 2019 after a child in his care died in an accident on Halloween. Despite the jury finding him not guilty, he was labeled by many a “psycho babysitter” and consequently ostracized in his hometown of Haddonfield, just north-west of Bloomington.
At his manslaughter trial, Cunningham presented as timid and hapless, taking the stand in his own defense against his lawyer’s wishes and stuttering through his explanation of the events leading to the death of his babysitting charge. He was sheepish and did not smile when the verdict was read. This led many people to suspect the whole thing was an act. “You can tell he did it because he wanted to feel powerful and a kid was an easy target,” an anonymous Haddonfield resident was quoted at the time.
The young man at the center of this trial stands in stark contrast to the one from 2019. He is brash and brazen, being threatened with contempt of court on multiple occasions. The first instance occurred on the first day of the trial, when Cunningham came to court smartly dressed in a suit, but unbuttoned his jacket to reveal a t-shirt with magic marker lettering. The shirt read “I am a monster. I am the monster you created. I am the monster you destroy.” He avoided being held in contempt by keeping his jacket buttoned for the rest of that day’s proceedings.
This sentiment has become popular with the fans Cunningham has amassed since his arrest. His crimes made national news in part due to his miraculous survival, after being shot twice by Michael Myers survivor Laurie Strode when he entered her home intending to kill her, suffering a self-inflicted stab wound, and having two cervical vertebrae fractured by Michael Myers himself, who had acted as a sort of murder mentor. Photos circulated widely of Cunningham in a spinal halo handcuffed to a hospital bed. Much was also made of his charming good looks, and the fact that his would-be last words were allegedly “If I can’t have her…” said in reference to Laurie Strode’s granddaughter. These facts are often cited by young people who admire Cunningham, or feel some sort of kinship with him.
“He’s such a babe,” said Danielle*, 24. She’s been attending since the third day of the trial. “He killed people that messed with his girlfriend and then killed himself when they couldn’t be together… but then he lived. It’s so Shakespearean.”
Another spectator, Kyle*, 27, who has been in attendance since the first day of the trial told reporters “He wasn’t psycho, but everybody said he was. They said he was until it was true. We all become the things people tell us we are.”
Cunningham’s other courtroom antics involve drawing pentagrams on the palms of his hands, choking himself with his handcuffs, and telling judge “I’m the devil and I did the devil’s business,” references to fellow convicted killers Richard Ramirez, Ailene Wurnos, and Manson Family member Charles “Tex” Watson respectively, laughing hysterically during descriptions of his crimes, and leaning over the bar that separates the courtroom to kiss a spectator in the gallery.
The spectator in question has been identified as Y/N, 2-, of Chicago, a Cunningham fan who was early to the party, beginning to send him letters in November of 2022 while he was still in the hospital. Since then the volume of fanmail he receives has grown exponentially, reaching a peak of 700 letters in one day last week. The subjects of the letters range from begging him to turn to Jesus, to marriage proposals, to requests to make films about his life. Of course at such volume, nearly all the letters go unanswered, but according to a source familiar with the subject, Cunningham has never missed replying to a letter from Y/N, dictating responses before regaining the ability to write them himself. After the kissing incident the judge required that Y/N sit in at least the second row of the gallery moving forward or be held in contempt.
Leading up to sentencing rumors swirled about who may or may not be speaking at the hearing. Names put forward included Laurie Strode, Allyson Nelson, the granddaughter with whom Cunningham had a romantic entanglement, and Roger Allen, father of the boy Cunningham was babysitting in 2019, among others. In the end, the only person to take the stand at the hearing was Cunningham himself, who, to the surprise of many, argued he should be met with the harshest punishment possible. His speech was concise, and chillingly, delivered with a smile.
“Everyone has the capacity to be a monster. Most people let themselves be monsters a little bit, but they won’t go all the way. If we had the death penalty, I’d ask for it. Give in, go all the way, become a monster just like me. Make me an example. It won’t make a difference. You made me a monster, and then you made me a rockstar.”
The courtroom, packed with people wearing recreations of Cunningham’s “I am a monster” shirt, and holding signs with sayings such as “Team Corey”, erupted into cheers and applause when he finished speaking. It took the judge several minutes to regain order.
The jury deliberated for only fifteen minutes before returning with the sentence. Seven consecutive life sentences, the maximum penalty for each count of aggravated murder, with an additional 45 years for his other crimes. As the sentence was announced Cunningham could be seen smiling and nodding. The spectators in the gallery caused a ruckus after each count, cheering, wailing, and booing in equal measure, prompting the judge to threaten to hold the entire audience in contempt of court if they did not quiet down. As he was led out of the courtroom at the end of the proceedings, Y/N could be heard shouting “I love you, Corey Cunningham!” Cunningham attempted to turn around to address the love confession, but bailiffs did not allow him to.
He is set to serve his sentence at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester.