British serial killer Elliot Rodger, who slaughtered six people in a shooting rampage, had become hooked on a bodybuilding supplement that may have triggered his anger, a close friend claims.
Chris Akin, a friend of Rodger, said that the killer started taking the supplement creatine after a mutual friend died in a bodybuilding accident while trying to lift a 550-pound weight, the
New York Post reports.
Akin said that he noticed a change in attitude in Rodger, 22, after he began taking the supplement daily to build muscle mass and attract women, and get over his grief from losing his close friend.
"The more I dwell on this, the more I realize that it may have set him off and made him turn to creatine to drown his feelings," said Akin.
Creatine is not illegal or a steroid, but, an organic acid sold in tablet form or in flavored powders and mixed with liquid. Bodybuilding enthusiasts use it to build muscle and train harder. Side effects of creatine can include weight gain, muscle cramps, muscle strains and pulls, stomach upset, diarrhea, dizziness, high blood pressure, liver dysfunction, and kidney damage.
It is also known to cause mood swings and even depression in some individuals. Bodybuilders have reported getting angry easily and hyper in online forums on the Bodybuilding.com website, to which Rodger reportedly contributed.
Akin claimed Rodger's supplement use and online bullying were linked to his killing six people and injuring 13 in Santa Barbara County, Calif., before committing suicide. Rodger explained his actions in a lengthy manifesto and videos posted to YouTube, in which he shared his anger over still being a virgin.
In his manifesto, Rodger — the son of Hollywood director Peter Rodger — said he planned to "wage a war against all women and the men they are attracted to." He added: "If I can’t have it, I will destroy it. I will destroy all women because I can never have them. I will make them all suffer for rejecting me."
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