CJ 266 Deviance and Violence Seminar 3

SEMINAR OVERVIEW Welcome Unit 4 Writing Assignment Defining Serial Murder Mass, Serial and Spree Murders Constructing Typologies of Serial Killers Explaining Serial Murder Myths of Serial Murder

Unit 4 Writing Assignment Guidelines The many questions associated with serial murder investigation bring about criticism and public and media pressure. There is a globalization perspective to serial murder investigation. Identify and discuss the investigative tools and approaches used by law enforcement here and abroad in their investigative approaches. Is this affected by media pressure and actions or by public criticism?

Unit 4 Writing Assignment Guidelines Your paper should be 3-4 pages and include: At least 2 outside sources to support your claims (APA style) The various investigative tools/techniques that law enforcement uses in the U.S. and other countries. The media's role in that process.

“Facts” about Serial Killers Law enforcement Media Public

How Do We Define Serial Murder? Serial murder occurs when one or more individuals . . . commits subsequent murder (after first murder) over a period of time is relationshipless (victim and attacker are strangers); occurs at a different time and has no connection to the initial (and subsequent) murder; is frequently committed in a different geographic location; typically follows a pattern (victims/methods/motive); the motive is generally not for material gain but is usually a compulsive act specifically for gratification based on fantasies.

Mass Murderers vs. Serial Killers Mass murderers—generally apprehended or killed by police, commit suicide, or turn themselves in to authorities. Serial killers—usually make special efforts to elude detection. Both evoke fear and anxiety in the community, but the reaction to a mass murder will be much more focused and locally limited than that to serial killing. Mass murderer kills groups of people at once, whereas the serial killer individualizes his or her murders. Serial murderers continue to kill over time.

Mass Murderer Characteristics These offenders are primarily: White, male, and encompass a wide age range. Handguns, semiautomatic guns, and rifles are the weapons used to kill suddenly and swiftly Victims are often intentionally selected by the killer and other persons who happen to be in the area also become prey. Some offenders, simply frustrated by perceived injustices and inequities, lash out at groups of victims who bear no relationship to them.

What is a Spree Murder? Spree murders occur when. . . Three or more victims are killed by a single perpetrator within a period of hours or days in different locations. Offenders often act in a frenzy, make little effort to avoid detection, and kill in several sequences. Offenders may kill more than one victim in one location and travel to another location. There appears to be no cooling-off period even though the murders occur at different places

Differences Among Mass, Serial, and Spree Murderers Mass Serial Spree Murder is means of control over life Usually arrested or killed at crime scene Often commits suicide after the crime Eludes arrest and detection Likely to travel and seek out victims Evokes long-term media/public attention Kills individuals Kills several in short period of time Murders viewed as single incident Murderer is usually white male Motivated primarily by material gain or revenge Victims usually female Firearms are the common choice of weapon Kills in spontaneous rage c

Commonalities Among Mass, Serial and Spree Murderers Commit homicides in an effort to regain, even for a brief moment, a degree of control over their lives.

Typologies of Serial Killers Bio-socio-psychological categories Mobility (traveling, local, place specific) Sexual Taxonomies Motivational Organized vs. Disorganized

Factors for Constructing Typologies Specific Victims Specific Methods Variety of victims Specific victims Variety of methods

Explaining Serial Murder BIOLOGICAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL Extrovert vs. introvert Mental disorders Personality disorders Dissociative disorder SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION Social structure theory Social process theory

MacDonald Triad Animal torture or killing Enuresis (bed wetting) Fire setting

Trauma-Control Model for Serial Murder Predispositional Factors Facilitators Low Self-esteem fantasies Trauma Event(s) Increasingly violent fantasies Homicidal behavior Dissociation Trauma Reinforcement(s)

MYTHS ABOUT SERIAL KILLERS MYTH FACT They are nearly all white. One in five serial killers is black. They are all male. Nearly 17% are female. They are insane. Insanity is a legal term. Very few offenders (2%–4%) are legally insane. They are all lust killers. Many are, but several cases do not involve sexual assaults, torture, or sexual mutilations. They kill dozens of victims. A few have high body counts but most kill under 10 victims. They kill alone. About one in four have one or more partners. Victims are beaten, stabbed, strangled Some victims are poisoned or shot. or tortured to death. They are all very intelligent. Most are of average intelligence. They have high mobility in the U.S. Most offenders remain in a local area. They are driven to kill because Many kill as a result of rejection they were sexually abused as children. as and abandonment in childhood.

WRAP UP Any Questions/Concerns? Next Seminar Topic: Be prepared to discuss victimization in serial murder.