World’s Greatest Athlete Recalls Alarming Run-In With Serial Killer
Former heavyweight champion of the world Mike Tyson has garnered a reputation for being a real killer in the ring, thanks to his decades of hard work, training, and impeccable commitment to top-tier fighting. Given how dangerous Tyson could theoretically be, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could strike fear within his heart. Therefore, it may come as a serious shock to learn that Mike Tyson was once interviewed by a notorious serial killer, triggering a full-blown SWAT raid on his boxing gym.
The Encounter
According to a write-up in Atlanta Black Star, the interaction between Mike Tyson and the serial killer occurred in the summer of 2006, just a few weeks before the killer was apprehended by the authorities. Apparently the man, whose name was Dale Hausner, was working as a boxing reporter at the time interviewing talent at a gym in Phoenix, Arizona. Hausner scored a golden opportunity to sit down with Iron Mike as he was in the midst of training for his October 2006 exhibition match against journeyman boxer Corey Sanders.
Days after Tyson’s brief interview with Hausner, federal investigators and SWAT operatives surrounded the Phoenix gym, prompting the fighter to question what he had done wrong. Before the authorities explained to Mike Tyson that he had been in the midst of a notorious serial killer just days earlier, they showed him a photo from the interview, and asked if Tyson recognized the man.
Still not understanding that he wasn’t the one facing legal trouble, Tyson humorously responded “Well, sir, I don’t know, I was promoting a fight, if I must have said something to him, if I offended him, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
The Crimes
It was then that the police filled Mike Tyson in on the situation, and asked if he could help to lead them to the serial killer and his accomplice, Samuel Dieteman. Obviously, Tyson was bewildered to learn that the small but kind man that he had met just days earlier was under federal investigation for shooting nearly 30 people, killing 8, and committing a wide array of other heinous crimes.
The boxer had no useful information to share with the police, though they were able to locate Hausner and Dieteman days later at their shared apartment in Mesa, Arizona, and place them both under arrest.
Eventually, it came to light that the duo had been driving around the streets of the greater Phoenix area, high on methamphetamine, randomly shooting at people and animals with the intent to kill. They also set fire to numerous establishments in the area, including two Glendale Wal-Mart centers, causing up to $10 million in damage. While Mike Tyson has had his fair share of legal issues over the years, including a DUI in Arizona later that very year, he must have been completely staggered to learn that he had come face to face with an unabashed serial killer.
Interviewed By A Serial Killer
Mike Tyson publicly spoke about his experience with the serial killer during a 2017 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where he joked about his response to the police and his surprise at the whole situation. While Jimmy Kimmel is normally quick-witted and prepared with a wide array of sarcastic responses, even he seemed completely taken aback by the story, humorlessly confirming “You got interviewed by a murderer?”
The boxer and future Mike Tyson Mysteries actor was lucky enough to be an important and protected media figure at the time, since Hausner and Dieteman seemed to be killing with reckless abandon. Mike Tyson was also lucky to be- you know- one of the strongest men and greatest fighters to walk the Earth at the time, making him a hard sell for even the craziest of serial killers to take on. At the end of the day, it just goes to show that you can never be too careful.
Source: Atlanta Black Star
Login with Google