In the span of 7 weeks, there has been 7 cases of violent homicides at various locations Tenderloin, Oakland. Each homicide was reported by local garbage officials, who discovered the bodies while they were working. The victims vary in age, but all 7 are black males with braided hair. 6 of the bodies were found next to a dumpster, with the single exception inside one. All victims were bludgeoned beyond recognition and missing different body parts (each victim was mutilated, with the missing body part nowhere to be found). Judging from the bruises in the victims legs, the coroner infers the victims were bludgeoned with a baseball bat to death and mutilated with an axe post-mortem. The coroner determined victims time of death on Sunday evenings, with a single exception (the one found inside the dumpster) to be Tuesday morning. Police are having a hard time finding evidence, as there were no foreign prints nor DNA on the bodies of the victims. …show more content…
The evidence strongly points towards an experienced serial killer, with extensive knowledge of crime scene management. Profiling is defined as “a technique that identifies behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and demographic characteristics of known and unknown individuals, based on clues gleaned from a wide range of information” (Bartol,X). We unanimously agreed profiling, specifically crime scene profiling would be of much benefit in this situation. Bartol mentioned that careful examinations of the crime scene can present clues of behavioral patterns, motivations, and demographic variables which could lead to the person
Serial killers are a type person who commits a series of murders, often with no apparent motive and typically following a characteristic, predictable behavior pattern. Most of the time something triggers them and then they go on their serial rampage. Some things that can be part of a serial killer's profile is they are normally white males, late 20’s early 30’s, kills with in own race, method of murder is hands on, and their victims are selected because they share specific characteristics. The types of serial killers are disorganized asocial and organized nonsocial. The different types of serial killers are: missionary killers, power seeking, lust killing, visionary killer, thrill killing. The profiling of a serial killer's changes upon the
The article Serial killers: II. Development, dynamics, and forensics by Lawrence Miller dives in into the many aspects that encompass the psychological, neurological, and sociocultural elements that underline the average serial murderer. The elements involve childhood upbringing, types of aggression, typical neurochemistry, and subcultural theories. The article manages to include descriptions of the statistical patterns that involve the demographics, and motives that follow serial killers. It also discusses the validity and rationality of the insanity defense in prosecuting these extraordinarily vicious offenders.
Due to crime-inspired shows that air on television, fascination with serial killers presents itself more and more. People want to learn what makes a person break to the point of taking another’s life. Some suggest that killing releases a sexual desire, while others suggest that revenge may be the motive. A serial killer has the stereotypical look of a white male who tends to act socially awkward, not easily approachable, and possesses a mental illness. While the accuracy of this look tends to be true occasionally, the majority of the time a serial killer looks no different than anyone else and appears rather social. Some experts believe that a serial killer has codes in his DNA which causes him to kill; nonetheless, other experts believe environmental
Investigators using the practice of criminal profiling follows a process throughout the investigation. This commences with an evaluation of the malefaction scene and the malefactor act or acts itself, then an evaluation of the specifics of the malefaction scene/s. An analysis of the victim and preliminary police reports are then conducted before an examination of the autopsy report. Ending with developing a profile with offender characteristics, suggesting possible suspects utilizing the profile constructed and last possible apprehension of the suspect ("What Is Criminal Profiling And Why It Is Important | Twisted Minds - a website about serial killers", 2017).
By definition, a serial killer is one who has murdered three or more people with extended periods of time in between each victim, oftentimes with increasing frequency. Serial killers do not normally know who their victims are, so that they are complete strangers who fit their “ideal” type. More often than not, these victims are women because they are physically and mentally easier to manipulate than men. Through their smooth words and welcoming appearance, serial killers are able to lure their victims into their control (Schlesinger, 2000). There are various, grotesque ways that they go about murdering their victims, but they usually leave a trademark pattern. These patterns vary from how they leave the crime scenes, what “trophies” they take, the profile of their victims, and many other distinguishable factors (Zeigler, 2009).
serial killer: a person who commits a series of murders, often with no apparent motive and usually following a similar, characteristic pattern of behavior. (8)
Most of the time people cannot comprehend why people that work in the forensic department are sometimes overwrought with anxiety when they have a serial killer case brought into their lab. These forensic scientists have these feelings due to knowing that this could potentially help advance technology. Over the years, serial killers have unpremeditatedly helped further advance the criminal investigation process by unintentionally leaving things behind for a forensics team to analyze. When the team finally solves these cases, it continually propels things such as DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) analysis, finger print techniques, and not to mention the investigation process itself.
Keeney and Heide (1994) define serial murder to be the premeditated murder of three or more victims committed over time, in separate incidents, in a civilian context, with the murder being chosen by the offender. In recent years, there has been a considerable amount of research conducted in order to better understand and profile both male and female serial killers. With this new research in the law enforcement system, more information about female serial killers and how they tend to differ from their male counterparts is more accessible. The differences between male and female serial killers vary in many different areas such as victim damage, victim torture, weapon/method, stalking versus luring behavior, crime scene organization, reasons for murder, substance abuse history, psychiatric diagnosis, and household composition (Keeney and Heide, 1994). These differences, along with information describing the social background of the perpetrator, provide researchers and individuals in the law enforcement system with substantial signs that can be used to prevent further serial murders....
“A serial killer is someone who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month motive is usually based on psychological (often sexual) gratification, though the motives may also include anger, thrill, money, and attention seeking.” (“56 Facts About Serial Killers”). It is said that the average person will walk past at least 26 serial killers in their lifetime. That’s quite crazy to believe. Serial killers make up about one percent of murders in the United States. Although serial homicide is extremely rare, it’s a very interesting topic to hear about nonetheless. It’s terrifying to hear people committing these heinous crimes, but what really triggers them to do this? Most would say that they just happen to be born that
Several serial killers have a definitive and common personality profile. Almost every major social, biological, psychological behavioural influence that has been seriously suggested as playing a role in causing crime has been thoroughly thought as potentially contributing to the behavior of serial killers (Levin, 2008). The time period and amount of killings fluctuate depending on the individual committing the crimes. Usually, the murders happen in different geographical areas. A mass murder has a separate definition than a serial killer, because a serial killer has a “cooling off” period, where mass murders kill several individual in a single event.
Serial killers have many frightening facets. The most frightening thing about them is that experts still do not know what makes a human become a serial killer. Many experts believe serial killers become what they are because they have a genetic disposition or brain abnormality while other experts believe that a serial killer is created by childhood abuse; and some other experts believe that it is a combination of both brain abnormalities and abusive childhood experiences that creates a serial killer. A murderer is considered a serial killer when they “murder three or more persons in at least three separate events with a “cooling off period” between kills” (Mitchell and Aamodt 40). When defining a serial killer, their background, genes, and brain are not mentioned; perhaps one day those aspects of the serial killer can be included.
Just as insight into the mind of the artist may be gained by examining and comparing the progression of his work, so knowledge of the mind of the serial killer can be ascertained by an examination of his canvas: The murder scene. Forensic profiling is the attempt to do just that. An investigator tries to discern information about the killer based on the information at the crime scene, deducing information about the cause from the effect. This is not an exact science, and has been often likened to an art. It is the goal of this work to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the function and application of forensic psychology, as well as an explication of some of its strengths and weaknesses.
Pedro Alonso Lopez, “The Monster of the Andes,” is a serial killer accused of raping and killing over 300 girls. His technique was to lure susceptible young girls into isolated areas or buildings where he would then rape each of them before killing them. Using a variety of cruel and ruthless methods, he killed the girls, strangulation being most popular. Serial murders have become a fascination of the public due to the unimaginable bizarreness that is reality. “Normal” people question how and why a human being could be so brutally vicious toward another human; psychologists have been researching that exact question for years. There is much speculation about how serial killers come to be serial killers. What
Holmes’ past and behaviors we start to see a pattern of disregard and lack of remorse (H.H. Holmes Biography, 2015; Freeman 2007). The use of criminal profiling does have its limits when it comes to the accuracy of specific characterizes and behaviors, but is an important tool for investigators to use (Winerman, 2004). Looking at the organized and disorganized characteristics associated with serial killers, we see a few from each (Freeman, 2007). Holmes organizational characteristics include Holmes’ college education, his killing in one place and disposing of the body in another place, his dismemberment of his victims, he was socially adequate, and he had a normal to high IQ (Freeman, 2007). Organized serial killers are cunning and methodical about not only how they kill their victims, but how they approach, attack and dispose of their victims (Geberth, 1995). Most serial killers do not finish college, so Holmes was quite an exception to the stereotypical serial killer (H.H. Holmes, 2004). Holmes and some serial killers manipulate their victims through highly persuasive and charming behaviors (What Motivates Serial Killers to kill 2007). When it comes to Holmes’ disorganized characteristics we see that he lived near the crime scene, and he left physical evidence (Freeman, 2007). Holmes could be labeled a psychopath as he showed a lack of conscious, remorse, and guilt for his actions (H.H. Holmes, 2004; Johns,
Historically, crime and criminals have always caught the attention of law-abiding citizens. Whenever there is mention of serial killers or unsolved murders or abductions, psychological profiling, now a household term, floats to the top of the list of concerns (Egger, 1999). Psychological profiling is an attempt to provide investigators with more information about an offender who has not yet been identified (Egger, 1999). Its purpose is to develop a behavioral composite that combines both sociological and psychological assessment of the would-be offender. It is generally based on the premise that an accurate analysis and interpretation of the crime scene and other locations related to the crime can indicate the type of person who could have committed the crime (Egger, 1999).