Serial Killers and Criminal Profiling Notes to help with Profiling Project

Typology of Serial Killers Visionary Feels impelled to commit murder by visions or “voices in my head.” Mission orientated rid society of certain types of people eg. prostitutes, runaway kids, racial group etc Hedonistic Kill for the pure thrill and joy of it; the majority of serial killers are hedonistic serial killers. Power/Control orientated Gains more satisfaction from exercising complete power over his victims, and sexual activity is almost always involved

Motivation Power Re-Assurance [Compensatory] - behavior that restores the offenders self worth and confidence. Power Assertive [Entitlement] as above but expressed through control, mastery and humiliation while showing authority. Anger Excitation [Sadistic] - the violence is eroticized or pleasure given from suffering - primarily sexual. Anger Retaliatory [Anger/Displaced] - rage general, symbolic or specific often domestic violence, stranger sex assault, work related homicide etc. Profit - material or personal gain - non-signature type & not related to any specific emotional need

Offense planned Victim a targeted stranger Victim personalized Controlled conversation Crime scene reflects overall control Demands submissive victim Restraints used Aggressive acts prior to death Body hidden Weapon/evidence absent victim or body transported from scene Associated with psychopathy The Organized Serial Killer

The Disorganized Serial Killer Spontaneous offense Victim or location known Depersonalizes victim Minimal conversation Crime scene random and sloppy Sudden violence to victim Minimal use of restraints Sexual acts after death Body left in view Evidence/weapon often present Body left at death scene Associated with Psychosis

Signature SIGNATURE –The behavior/expression of fantasy the killer must leave at the scene to satisfy emotional/psychological needs. Goes beyond what ’ s necessary to commit crime and tells about the offender ’ s psychological needs and motivation. –Usually consistent and unique to that killer

Signature In sum, signature is a combination of behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. The signature is sometimes called a "trademark" or "calling card" and reflects a compulsion on the part of criminals to go beyond just committing the crime to "express themselves" in some way that reflects their personality. Douglas & Olshaker (1998:90) define it as "something the offender has to do to fulfill himself emotionally... it is not needed to successfully accomplish a crime, but it is the reason he undertakes the particular crime in the first place." Signatures usually put the offender at great risk because they must stay at the crime scene longer, so ordinary signature is often hard to detect. At other times, it's obvious, such as when an offender goes to the trouble of leaving a Bible at the scene of the crime.