Serial Murder
Charles L. Feer, JD, MPA
Bakersfield College
Department of Criminal Justice
FBI Serial Murder Symposium (2005)
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Serial Murder is the unlawful killing of two or
more victims by the same offender in separate
events, at different times.
There is a “cooling off” period between the
killings.
There is a Predisposition to serial killing that is
biological, social and psychological in nature.
(It is not limited to a specific characteristic or
trait.)
FBI Serial Murder Symposium (2005)
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They have the appropriate biological
predisposition, molded by their psychological
makeup, which is present at a critical time in
their social development.
Certain Traits are common to some serial
killers:
Sensation Seeking, Lack of Remorse,
Impulsive, Need for Control, Predatory
Behavior. (Common among Psychopaths.)
FBI Serial Murder Symposium (2005)
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The Crime Scene Behavior of Psychopaths is
likely to be distinct from other offenders.
Serial Killers are driven by their own unique
motives or reasons.
Offenders select a victim based upon
Availability, Vulnerability, Desirability.
Serial Killers are not limited to any specific
demographic group.
For those who are Sexually Motivated, violence
and sexual gratification are intertwined in their
psyche.
Numbers (estimates)
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5000 Victims per year;
35 Identified Serial Murders at large.
Text Book says an increasing phenomenon
since the 1950s.
There are no accurate data on prevalence and
numbers of serial killers.
Difficult to gauge annual number of serial
murder victims.
Victims
 Victims of serial killers are most often
strangers (90%).
 The lack of a preexisting relationships in
serial murders makes identifying suspects
difficult.
Victims
 Many Serial Killers select victims who
apparently are not missed by others. They
are given up as runaways, adults who left on
their own volition. (Young drifters, itinerant
farm workers, streetwalkers.)
 Serial offenders prefer the group of people
offering easy access. People who disappear
without causing alarm or concern.
Victims
 While serial killers may begin by selecting
highly vulnerable victims, some will gain
significant more confidence and will target
more challenging victims. (Changing their
M.O.)
 Serial Killers prefer more hands-on killing;
strangulation or beatings using hands and
feet.
Victims
 Serial Killers often murder in accordance
with a carefully thought-out plan (especially
sexual predators) .
 SK offenders exhibit more planning by
moving the victim from one location to
another, using restraints, disposing of the
body at a site that the offender is familiar.
Victims
 Some Serial Killers have set up situations
where murders resemble drug related
homicides.
 i.e. Calvin Jackson – New York: Singleoccupancy hotel, guest where poor, socially
isolated, elderly. Police were repeatedly
called regarding deaths; attributed to drugs,
alcohol, old age. (No evidence of grotesque
sexual abuse of the victim.)
Offenders
Come from all ethnic and racial groups.
i.e. “Cartel Enforcer” Jose Manuel Martinez (53) admits to 9
murders, Tulare, Kern and other counties. Suspected in 30
murders across the country. Convicted in Alabama as well as
Tulare County. (Sentencing –LWOP- in November, 2015.)
Offenders – Criminal Background
 Products of their:
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Genetic Makeup
Upbringing
Social Environment
Development Path
Offenders – Criminal Background
 There is no single identifiable causal factor in
the development of a serial killer.
 Motives:
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Control
Domination
Media Attention
Personal/sexual excitement
Offenders – Criminal Background
 S.K. Offenders often have a persistent and
extensive criminal history;
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Being predatory
Rapes
Residential Burglaries
Offenders – Criminal Background
 S.K. Offenders are drawn to committing murders
that attract media interest. (“Spine-chilling fear
put into a community.”)
 Some write letters to the media.
 Offenders rarely (if ever) kill on the basis of
compulsion or irresistible impulse. (Insanity
Defense.)
 It is due to opportunity and availability of a
suitable victim.
Offenders – Criminal Background
 S.K. Offenders commit their crimes within their
geographic comfort zones.
 Those comfort zones expand as they become
more skillful and confident.
 Some have large comfort zones as a result of
their work: Itinerant workers, truck drivers,
traveling sales, military personnel.
Typologies
 Typology refers to a particular system for
classifying personality or behavior patterns.
 Often there will be an overlap between
categories.
 Typologies seem to help us make sense of
something that is incomprehensible.
Typologies
 Visionary
 “A particular type of people must be
destroyed.” (College students, prostitutes,
gay people, derelicts.)
 They can be sub-grouped to “Demon
Mandated” or God Mandated.” (Psychotic)
 There is no Ideal Victim Type (gender, age,
race, hair color, personality traits,
occupation.) “Disorganized”
Typologies
 Mission-Oriented
 Determines on his/her own that there is a
particular group of people who are
undesirable and must be eliminated.
 Acts on a self-imposed duty.
 “Less disorganized”
Typologies
 Hedonistic (Pleasure / Thrills)
 People are objects for use of one’s own
enjoyment.
 Three sub-groups:
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Lust (exclusively sex – i.e. necrophilia)
Thrill (Induce pain, terrorize/torture the victim.)
Creature Comfort (Money, live the good life.)
• Majority of Female Serial Killers
Typologies
 Power / Control
 Obtains satisfaction by having complete life
or death control over the victim. “Power
over the helpless.” (May include sexual
component.)
 “Organized” - Will seek specific victims
who appear especially vulnerable and easy
to victimize (i.e. children).
Profiling continued
 Examine the offender style or dominant theme in
the way that the offender interacts with the victim.
The “role” the offender assigns to the victim.
 Understand the chain of events that led up to the
offender – victim interaction.
 Was the victim targeted (meeting offender’s
selection criteria) or one of opportunity (location,
occupation, vulnerability, physical characteristics,
activity)?
Victim was one of Opportunity
 Location; indoor, outdoor, wooded path,
parking lot.
 Occupation; prostitute, homeless, unemployed,
exotic dancer, student.
 Vulnerability; young, naïve, intoxicated,
distracted.
 Physical Characteristics; hair color, clothing
style, weight, height.
 Activity; jogging, hiking, shopping, driving.
Profiling continued
 Role the offender assigned to the victim.
 “Canter 3-Theme Model”
 Object Theme – body was destroyed through
dismemberment, decapitation, burned, punctured.
 Vehicle Theme – emotional attacks, expression of
the offender’s desires and anger. Associated with
previous experience in the offender’s life.
(Blindfolds, Props, “Specialized” Offending Kit)
 Person / Human Theme – recognition that the
victim is a person. (Distorted form of intimacy, i.e.
biting.)
Conclusion
 It is important to have the understanding of
the above, as one serial killer will adopt the
same approach to all his victims.
Questions