Serial Killers 1 Subtypes Patterns Motives PDF

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Serial Killers: I. Subtypes, Patterns, and Motives by Laurence Miller 1. How do most people’s vicarious fantasies differ from those of a serial killer? 

For the serial killer, such fantasies are not cathartic but facilitative. His/her fantasies build, along with a neuropsychodynamically driven hunger that only torturing and murdering another human will satisfy. (2)

2. Where did the myth of werewolves likely come from? 

16th century Europe. Brutal mutilations blamed on a supernatural beast because folks couldn’t believe a person could do such a thing.

3. What was the first comprehensive text about of serial sexual homicide in the modern era? List the characteristics included in the description of serial homicide. What are signature aspects?  

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The first comprehensive text about serial sexual homicide was Psychopathia Sexualis by Richard von Krafft-Ebing in 1866. It included characteristics like the tendency to lie and manipulate, take souvenirs from the crime scene, use ligatures, prolong torture for increased sexual arousal and pleasure, engage in an escalation of sadistic behavior, use pornography, humiliate and degrade victims, and carefully plan the murders to avoid detection. These people don’t show signs of obvious psychopathology. Signature aspects are the serial killers “idiosyncratic touches on the crime scene” which reflect the killer’s personality and psychopathology. (2)

4. Describe Jack the Ripper. Why did people think he led a “double life”? Was his case ever solved? 

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Jack the Ripper is one of the most famous serial killers, he was active in Victorian England during the late 1800’s. He specialized in murdering prostitutes, stabbing, disemboweling, and sexually mutilating the victims. People thought he was a doctor because he was so surgically precise, leading to the idea that he lead a double life – doctor by day and serial killer by night. His case was never solved. (2)

5. Give a brief description of Albert Fish. What led to his arrest?

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Albert Fish was a pedophile and serial murderer. He abducted a young girl, pretending to take her to a birthday party. He strangled her and cut up her body, then made a stew which he ate. Six years after the he did that, he sent a letter to the child’s mother with details of what he did, which led to his arrest. (2)

6. How was Albert DeSalvo similar in other similar homicide careers? 

An escalation in violence from voyeur to burglary to rape to serial murder. Also, used charm to enter into victims’ homes, posing as a repairman or scout for a modeling agency.

7. How many serial murderers does the FBI believe are currently active in the United States? 

200 to 500 (3)

8. How much of the world’s total population lives in the United States? What percentage of the world’s serial killers might live in the United States? Why is that rate so high? 

The United States has 5% of the world’s population, but maybe 75% of the world’s serial killers. We have such a mobile population. (3)

9. Why do the authors say serial killers are so dangerous and frightening? 

They rarely stop killing unless they die or are apprehended. And, case clearance rate only 10%. (3)

10. Who continues to be favored target of serial killers? Why? 

Prostitutes, because they are disenfranchised victims who are easy to find, isolate, and kill without arousing too much public outcry. (3)

11. What is anthrophagy? 

Eating of humans. (3)

12. Who inspired Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs? 

Ed Gein

13. What is the only thing that Americans fear more than serial killers? 

Terrorism.

14. Who was John Wayne Gacy? Ted Bundy? David Berkowitz? Jeffrey Dahmer? John Allen Muhammed? Use Table 1 as a reference. 

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John Wayne Gacy - active 1972 – 1978, posed as a police officer, detained boys and young men at his home, sexually assaulted, strangled, and buried them under his house Ted Bundy – active 1974-1982, he raped, killed, and mutilated his female victims, he displayed trophies – including severed heads – in his apartment. He tried to plead multiple personality disorder in his court trial and failed. David Berkowitz – active 1976-1977, “Son of Sam” in the New York City area. He shot and killed young, long-haired, brunette women with a handgun. He claimed to receive demonic messages from his dog. Jeffrey Dahmer – active 1987-1991, lured young men into his apartment, drugged, sexually assaulted, murdered, mutilated, and ate them, storing their body parts around his house. He experimented in making “sex zombies” by performing lobotomies on his victims. John Allen Muhammed – active in 2002, teamed up with Lee Boyd Malvo in the Washington, DC area, known as the “Beltway Snipers.” They shot 10 people with a gun out of the back of their truck. (Table 1, page 3)

15. How does the FBI define serial murderers. 

Those who act alone or with an accomplice, kill at least 3 people over a period of time with a “cooling off” period between the murders, indicating premeditation of each killing. (4)

16. How do mass murderers differ from serial killers in regard to their motive, goal, and weapon of choice? 

Mass murders kill multiple victims in a single incident, whose fantasies revolve around actual or imagined persecutors. Their goal is to kill as many victims as possible, quickly and efficiently. They mostly use guns. Serial murderers like to kill close up and slowly. (4)

17. Describe the demographic characteristics and personality traits of a typical serial murderer. 

A white male from 20 to 40 years old. He is often a loner, but may be married or be in a relationship. He often (but not always) appears charming and intelligent.

18. What percentage of serial killers have a previous criminal history? Which two crimes are frequently associated with serial homicide? How are these two crimes similar to each other?   

More than half. Burglary and rape. They are similar in that they both invade/violate another person. (4)

19. Who is the typical victim of serial murder? Do the victims typically know the serial killer?  

A white, female, young adult. No, the victims of serial sexual homicide do not typically know the killer. (4)

20. What is a serial killer’s trophy? Give some examples. 

A trophy is a memento from the crime scene, like jewelry or internal organs. (4)

21. Describe Reinfeld’s syndrome. Why do some preindustrial societies partake in the same activity?  

Reinfeld’s syndrome is also known as clinical vampirism, where the killer feels a compulsion to drink their victim’s blood. Some preindustrial societies believe drinking their slain adversary’s blood or eating a body part conveys their power to them and/or protect one from the slain enemy’s spirit (4)

22. According to most authorities, what kind of relationship do serial sexual murderers act out with their victims? 

An intense fantasy relationship. The selection, stalking and capturing of victims becomes foreplay with torture and killing representing climax. (4)

23. Who are many serial killers fascinated with and sometimes impersonate? 

Police officers. (5)

24. Explain each of the five typologies of multiple murderers proposed by Dietz.  

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Psychopathic sexual sadists – kill for the sheer pleasure of torturing and murdering their victims in a sexual way (Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy) Crime spree killers – embark on one or more bouts of murder, usually associated with other crimes like robbery; derive a thrill from the power and opportunity to flaunt authority (Bonnie and Clyde) Organized crime functionaries – professional or semi-professional “hit men” who kill for money; enjoy a sense of power and control from being in this line of work Custodial killers – murder vulnerable victims who are supposed to be in their care, known as “angel of death” cases, may occur in hospitals or nursing homes, typically by asphyxiation or medication overdose Psychotic killers – murder under the influence of some delusion (5)

25. List and describe the four conceptual commonalities between serial killer typologies that the authors describe.    

Sexual sadists: they kill for the pleasure derived from the domination, control, torture, humiliation, and murder of another Delusional killers: they are on a mission to rid the world of undesirable persons. Might be psychotic or radically ideological Custodial killers: they murder individuals under their care. May overlap with other categories. Utilitarian killers: they murder for some kind of concrete gain, such as financial. But, is often also mixed with anger or revenge.

26. Describe organized and disorganized serial killers, including level of intelligence, planning, ritual, mobility, victims, taunting of law enforcement, etc. How clear cut are these categories in the real world? 

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Organized serial killers – above average intelligence, considers himself superior, takes great care in personal appearance; careful planning of their crimes, very mobile & will travel long distances, ritual is important, victims are usually strangers who they consider to be the “right type,” has a “torture kit,” stalks the victim for hour or days, takes a souvenir, takes pride in thwarting police and taunting them. Disorganized serial killers – average or below average intelligence, loner and recluse, underachiever, poor self-image, less careful about planning and has more haphazard behavior, impulsive and spontaneous, lack manipulation and cunning, “blitz attacks” and overkill, doesn’t take trophies, minimal effort to cover up the crime. These categories better seen as a continuum than as distinct categories. (7)

27. What percentage of serial killers are female? How do the motives, methods, and victims of female serial killers differ from their male counterparts? 

15%. Female serial killers are most commonly motivated by monetary gain or histrionic attention seeking. They tend to start later than male serial killers, around the age of 30. Female serial killers use poison and kill people they know, including family members. (7)

28. Is psychopathology typically present in professional serial killers? 

No. (9)...