The Seven Key Phases of a Serial Killer

What they have in common… The Triad are the major childhood warning of future “violent behavior” –1. Deviant Behavior (pyromania) –2. Cruelty to Animals –3. Bed-wetting

The Seven Phases cover the stages a serial killer usually follows. Theses phases include the very beginning when they plan the killing or think about the killings to the final breakdown before or after they are caught. More Commonalities…

Step one: Aura This is when a serial killer secludes themselves form society. They start to fantasize about death, murder, arson or rape, depending on their M.O. The potential serial killer may only withdraw themselves mentally, the killer may still look as though they are leading a normal life.

Example Ed Gein secluded himself both physically and mentally. Ed boarded up his mothers corpse in her bedroom and only lived in a couple of rooms in the whole farm house. Neighbors say they rarely saw Gein and described him as a hermit.

Step 2: Trolling The killer begins to scope where they maybe able to get the victims. Depending on the killers Modus Operandi (Method of Operation) this could be anywhere. Sites could include parks, playgrounds, college campuses, malls or secluded trails.

Example David Berkowitz “son of Sam” Berkowitz trolled New York City, although his victims were at random, he trolled the city until he found the victim.

Step 3: The “Wooing” phase Some serial killers just strike, They like the surprise aspect of things. Others like “wooing” their victims, just talking to them and trying to get on friendly terms but when that victims guard is down and they feel safe the killer strikes. Some serial killers love this feeling and is part of the reason they continued.

Example John Wayne Gacy “pogo the clown” Gacy picked up hitch hikers and local boys promising them money, jobs, a place to stay, sex and on most cases he lured them with a bit of marijuana.

Step 4: Capture The capture phase is basically the way they get their victims. Many serial killers like the look of terror on the victims faces. Whether it’s a hitch hiker who realizes the door handle is gone or one of Gacy’s victims realizing the handcuffs around their wrists are real. Most killers pride themselves in the terror they inflict

Example Ted Bundy Bundy sometimes wore a cast on one of his limbs and pretended to need help (trolling) but when he struck he struck fast and furious to capture the shocked and awed look on their faces.

Step 5:The Murder The actual murder is the climax of the serial killer cycle. The power of the built up energy and lust the killer gets from the fantasy and the build up is released when they actually make the kill. Many often have orgasms during the murder. There are also preferences, some like the strangulation and others like torture or even quick kills

Example Jack the ripper appeared to strangle his victims to unconsciousness first, slash her throat to kill them, before performing the mutilations, suggests that his prime goal was not to merely cause death but to satisfy a sexual desire.

Step 6: Totem Many killers loose the feeling of power and the pleasure of the kill once he person is dead. Many have taken souvenirs to commemorate the kill and the pleasure they received from that victim. The items taken could be anything from jewelry, clothing and body parts.

Example The BTK killer (Dennis Rader) took hundreds of photos of his victims, took items from them and created binders chronicling his murders. He used index cards to make a system to organize all his trophies.

Example Jeffrey Dahmer- would lure men back to his apartment and take pictures so he could remember each and every step of his murders. After death, he cut open torsos for sexual pleasure and would dismember the men. Some parts of the bodies he chose to keep as trophies, usually the genitals and heads. The genitals were preserved in formaldehyde. The heads were boiled until the flesh came off.

Step 7: Depression After they are caught or right before the killer realizes that they most likely may never kill again. The joy they once took from being able to fantasize and then complete the fantasy is now gone. Some may even try to commit suicide, often they don’t go through with suicide and often revel in the pain they caused.

Example Dr. Harold Shipman Body count somewhere between 215 and 500 his spree last 23 years. He was in the middle of serving his sentence when he was found hanging alone in his cell.