Serial Murder Case Study

Serial Killers and Mass Murderers Mass Murderers and Serial Killers are nothing new to today’s society. These vicious killers are all violent, brutal monsters and have an abnormal urge to kill. What gives people these urges to kill? What motivates them to keep killing? Do these killers get satisfaction from killing?

Gruesome, cruel and heinous crimes unfortunately are committed by unstable, evil individuals who prey on innocent and vulnerable victims. Communities fall victim to panic and terrorization when high priority news headlines are announced regarding a crazed serial killer causing havoc in their area. Johnson & Becker (1997) state" members of society are captivated and at the same time delighted to hear and view the horrendous crimes and capabilities of serial killers." What exactly motivates these people to commit such horrendous acts of violence? Are they consciously aware of the wrong they are doing or is it a desire to fulfill a certain fantasy?

The first thing that happens when there is a crime being reported is the police are notified by the dispatcher. The police then record the time and the subject of the call. They also need to be sure to record who made the call and what was said during the call. Lastly the police need to be sure to record the dispatchers name and or number. Police going to a call have to be very alert and watch for fleeing suspects, witnesses or victims and the way to the call.

Serial Killers Serial killers have struck fear in the hearts of people, yet the public remains fascinated and intrigued by the crimes perpetrated by these individuals. There are several theories and factors that have been attributed to serial killers in an attempt to explain their behaviors. Furthermore, by indentifying the behaviors that are exhibited by serial killers, law enforcement professionals are able to gather information about these serial killers that will assist in the apprehension of the criminal. In the majority of serial homicides, a motivating factor, in addition to domination and manipulation of a victim, is the sexual gratification and desire that is experienced by the serial killer. Serial killers murder individuals because they believe, and feel, that the act will fulfill them and they will continue to murder people as long as they can (Douglas 191).

In the sick minds of those who murder, pain and death are twisted into a passion to kill. Unlike a “normal” individual, serial killers rely on murdering to fulfill their craving of their gruesome thrills and addiction. Most of society incorrectly views serial killers because of how they are portrayed on television. For example, Dexter is a handsome serial killer who does lead a normal life but, he takes it upon himself to rid all of the “bad guys” in the world in order to accomplish his need to kill. Then there’s Freddy Krueger, he gets revenge and kills people in their dreams, causing their death in the real world as well.

The Psychology of Serial Killers Many things today confuse, yet enthrall the masses. War, murder, medical science, incredible rescues, all things you would see on The History Channel. There is another topic that is also made into documentaries however, serial killers. Dark twisted people that commit multiple murders are of interest to the population, but what caused them to be this way. What horrible tragic set of events could twist a man to murder one or many people.

Mainstream media has idolized murder in today’s world by reporting the stories continuously, therefore making serial killers believe that if they kill, they will be famous. Some lust murderers have even been known to return to the crime and move the body to a location that will insure the discovery of the victim (Dietz 478). Many serial killers keep up with the news and media hoping to hear about their crime, but when the victim has not been found, the killer feels disappointed. The need for publicity of the crime reveals desire to terrorize the whole community instead of one specific person (Dietz 478). Investigations of these horrendous crimes can sometimes be hindered by publicity; if the chief of police is under pressure to get answers out to the press, important information or strategies may be leaked and would cause more problems for police (Dietz 478).

Serial Killers' Modus Operandi A plethora of serial killers, dead and undead, have been most horrifying in their methods. There are several types of serial killers, some have been caught while others continue to haunt their surroundings. There are several approaches in categorizing serial killers. One method requires examination of the crime scene, the other requires counseling with the serial killer. In profiling a serial killer, law enforcers realize that serial killers are not unlike regular people; there are several exceptions like schizophrenics but most of them look like everyone else.

After killing, he wanted to do it all over, which cause the killings of many innocent women. He came from an unstable family, and proved to want control over others, which he demonstrated by only killing women. Psychiatrists or psychologists want to understand why people become serial killers, and although there are some traits that might already explain it. In the end, on those serial killers will know why and what really caused their actions. To understand why they do it, they must first do the crime, something that society has done over time.

What circumstances pushed them to commit such acts? What goes on in their minds? These are just some of the questions that revolve in peoples head when they shockingly learn that their neighbor or coworker is a serial killer. Many people have lost their loved ones through serial killers. It’s bad enough that a person has to go through the loss of losing a loved one, but by the hand of serial killer, who has no remorse or respect for another human, makes