'Holmies for life': Shocking pictures reveal sick online fans of Dark Knight massacre gunman James Holmes who wear his favourite clothes



They draw his portrait, scrawl him long gushing letters and wear his favourite clothes.

Yet the subject of their affections isn't a pop singer or Hollywood star - but a mass murderer accused of shooting dead 12 people and injuring dozens more in one of the nation's most horrifying crimes.

Fans have pasted their devotion to 24-year-old Colorado gunman James Holmes across the internet, where they swap stories of their admiration, upload their drawings and call themselves 'Holmies'.

Sick fan: Admirers of the gunman who shot dead 12 people in a Colorado cinema have paid tribute to him online, with some wearing plaid in reference to reports he was wearing plaid when he was caught

They have posted pictures of themselves wearing plaid clothing - after Holmes was apparently arrested wearing a plaid jacket.

'In case you guys were wondering, I did get my coffee,' one fan posts, along with a picture. 'And look, I even put on plaid to walk two blocks in this disgusting weather. Holmies for life. Haha.'

Other images show them drinking slurpees, a reference to an interview Holmes featured in with his classmates when he was 18. During the clip, he says it is his life goal to own a slurpee machine.

They also outline their admiration for the killer in disturbing drawings which all feature his bright orange hair; he told police he had dyed it to look like Batman's nemesis, The Joker.

Offensive: The fans call themselves 'Holmies' after the 28-year-old killer James Holmes

Proud: Fans have uploaded their pictures to photo sharing website Tumblr

Concerning: Others upload pictures of themselves drinking slurpees, referring to an interview Holmes conducted when he was 18 saying it was his life's goal to own a slurpee machine

In further worrying posts, 'Holmies' mull over what to write the killer, with one saying they had to scrap their first letter to him as 'it came off seeming like I was implying something about what he's done'.

The poster, named jimbosplaidshirt, writes: 'Just finished my letter. It's probably really cheesy, tacky, annoying, poorly written, and/or boring. I thought of so many questions I could ask him.

'I asked him if he was reincarnated and came back as a beverage, what would he want to be. A little outlandish, but, whatever. It's funny, ey?'

According to Buzzfeed , which collected the images, an online chat room has also popped up, with one screen shot showing a discussion of his orange hair and how it 'is the mark of the devil'.

Childish: 'Holmies' have also uploaded their drawings celebrating the flame-haired killer

Frightening: One manic picture that was uploaded to the website shows hearts around Holmes

Adoration: After uploading the pictures to Tumblr, other internet users lambasted the images

Another user uses the chat room to explain what a Holmie is: 'A Holmie is someone with an interest in this case who may or may not [find Holmes attractive]. I fall under the 'may' category.'

The posts, uploaded to Tumblr, have been lambasted by other users, with one writing: 'The holmies tag is the worst thing.'

It is not the first sick outpouring of respect for the killer, who opened fire on a cinema audience at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado 10 days ago.

In deplorable tweets, dozens of men and women called the murderer 'kinda cute' and 'hot' - becoming virtual groupies just hours after his killing spree.

The tendency of some people to be sexually attracted to mass murderers is rare, but it's common enough that psychologists have a term for it - hybristophilia or 'Bonnie and Clyde Syndrome.'

Pen pals: Fans also mull over what to write the killer in prison, revealing they 'do not want to imply he has done anything'. Others post rules concerning what they are allowed to write to him

The 'Bonnies' find dangerous men alluring, psychologists say, despite the inherent personal peril of being near them, according to pop culture blog Jezebel.

'James Holmes is kinda hot,' Chelseah Montani tweeted within hours of the murder spree.

'How many people are judging me for thinking James Holmes is hot? I want to write him letters when he goes to prison,' added Henry Valentine.

Dozens of fan pages also sprung up on Facebook with one, the James Holmes fan club, created less than two days after the massacre.

On these, the accused shooter is described as a 'misunderstood man', 'entertainer' and 'monarch'.



Adored: Showing just how obsessed they are, fans have also set up a chat room to discuss the killer

Killer: James Holmes opened fire at a cinema in Aurora, Colorado 10 days ago, killing 12 and injuring 58

Internet memes have also been created - one is a mocked-up picture of Holmes as a military veteran receiving a medal from President Obama.

Another uses a picture of the Joker from the last Batman movie and reads: 'It's simple, we kill the audience.'



Although there have been supporters, others posted their disgust and fury.



Jennifer Lambert wrote: 'I pray that there is a special place in hell reserved for James Holmes, and to the person responsible for this page, I hope there is a spot reserved for you too!'

The new posts come a day after Holmes appeared in court for his arraignment, where he was told he faces 142 criminal charges.



Each death carried two separate murder charges, one for premeditation and one for showing extreme indifference to life. Both of the charges carry the death penalty as a possible sentence.



