Richard Grinell wrote:After all the publicity he received after the first two attacks, the donning of the executioner's costume was simple self-agrandizement. It was essentially the epiphany of everything he believed he was. It also served in concealing his identity, but this almost certainly wasn't its primary purpose. As stated above, any old head covering could have achieved this.
This guy's plan is to keep his victims calm so he can get them tied up without their trying to escape or scream for help. He tells them he's been on the run since breaking out of prison, and just wants their car/money. But he's wearing this elaborate executioner-type outfit, and Bryan and Cecelia had to figure a guy on the run isn't likely to stop along the way and create something like that. This fellow isn't dressing up like that just to steal from them, while he's on the run from prison.
In other words, he's trying to get them to believe he means them no harm, and they need not be afraid, while wearing that terrifying outfit, that he obviously didn't have when he escaped from prison, as he claimed.
I agree with you, that he created and wore it for himself, to play out his fantasy. But as far as the reaction it was likely to produce in his victims, it makes no logical sense. You don't generally calm people down by scaring the hell out of them with that costume, while telling them an obvious lie.
This is one of many things that make the LB attack so different from the others. The other crimes are calculated, quick, efficient hits. At LB, it's just bizarre.