S
er
i
a
l
K
i
llers
understanding their world
“Serial murder is
a relatively rare event,
estimated to comprise
The National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) is a component of the FBI’s
Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG), and their mission is to provide behaviorally-based,
operational support to law enforcement agencies.
NCAVC research is designed to gain insight into criminal thought processes, motivations, and
behaviors. Research findings are refined into innovative, investigative techniques that improve
law enforcement’s effectiveness against violent criminals. Through these advancements, they can
capture more killers based on killer’s demographics, IQs, motives, methods, victims, and locations.
Serial
killer
defined
Someone
that has
killed
2
murders committed in
any given year. “
or more
separate
occasions.
2
or more
victims on
less than 1% of all
Their demographics
53%
90%
OF SERIAL KILLERS
ARE WHITE
Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
OF SERIAL KILLERS
ARE MALE
*
their brain
the IQ
Average IQ: 95
the Motives
Highest IQ: 165
Lowest IQ: 54
Average 140 IQ
for Bomb users
Average 85 IQ for Stabbing/gun users
“In my lifetime I have
murdered twenty-one
human beings...[and]
committed sodomy on one
thousand male human
beings. For all these things
I am not the least bit
sorry.”
--Carl Panzram
49%
9%
Power and
Enjoyment
$
Anger
11%
?
31%
Money
Other4
These percentages were based on a 2,222 sample size.
*
These numbers are based on a 214 sample size.
34%
*
Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
**
their methods
Fact
“Men are more likely to
commit homocide, BUT
once women have killed, they
are as likely as men to kill
again.”
FOLLOWED BY:
OF VICTIMS ARE
KILLED BY GUN SHOT
STRANGULATION (22%); SHARP
FORCE-STABBING (20%); BLUNT
FORCE (13%); and POISON (6%).
their victims
197
victims were
killed in
California
197
0
73%
which is 12% of all victims
recorded in the US from 1900 to
2010.
their locations
of the world’s
serial killers
live in the U.S.
Serial killers around the globe
Canada
61
China
30
Europe**
338
U.S.
2,856
Russia
41
Japan
82
South
America*
36
India
32
S. Africa
95
0
South America includes Mexico and Brazil
Europe includes Italy, England, Germany,
France, Scotland, and Poland.
Australia
54
2856
*
**
Serial killers In the u.s.
WA
75
1980
MT
12
OR
41
#1
THE LARGEST
NUMBER OF KILLS IN
THE U.S. OCCURED
ID
13
NV
44
CA
324
ND
3
SD
2
WY
8
UT
26
AZ
60
AK
7
CO
54
NM
17
MN
20
KS
37
OK
56
TX
218
HI
5
#3
#4
NY
163
MI
89
ME
6
NH
MA
4
RI
PA
IN OH
39
NJ 6 DE
89
IL
67 101
WV
50 CT 5
KY
VA
MO 128
DC 30
7
37
MD
79
83
TN
NC 50
49
AR
49
80
29 MS AL
SC
GA
32
55
46
LA
90
62
FL
252
IA
14
NE
15
WI
24
VT
4
#5
#2
0
324
their kills through the decades
By understanding serial killers, FBI behavioral units are able to know the killers sooner and stop the killers
faster. investigation advancements explain the drop in the number of kills in recent years.
Randy Steven Kraft John Wayne Gacy Gary Leon Ridgway
33 victims
48 victims
45 victims
Started
1972
Started 1982
Started 1972
Number of Kills
600
Ted Bundy
16 victims
Juan Corona
Started 1970s
25 victims
Started 1971
Jeffrey Dahmer
17 victims
Started 1978
Joel David Rifkin
17 victims
Started 1991
Anthony Sowell
10 victims
Started 2007
Jack the Ripper killed 5
prostitutes in 1888.
Between
35-50
450
300
Most famous
serial killer
serial killers around
the country are
active right now.
International
U.S.
Total
150
America’s first
serial killer
0
Decades
Sources:
1.
Aamodt, M. G. (2013). Serial killer statistics. Radford/FGCU Serial Killer Database. Retrieved from http://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Serial%20Killer%20Information%20Center/ Project% 20Description.htm
2.
Douglas, J. & Olshaker, M. (1996). Mind hunter: Inside the FBI’s elite serial crime unit. New York, NY: Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster.
3.
Morton, R. (2008). Serial murder: Multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators. National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime: Behavioral Analysis Unit. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder
4.
Philbin, T. & Philbin, M. (2009). Killer book of serial killers: Incredible stories, facts and trivia from the world of serial killers. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc.
H. H. Holmes confessed
to committing 27 murders
during the 1893 World’s Fair.