Forensic Psychology Serial Killers & Criminal Profiling

Definition  “Three or more separate events in three or more separate locations with an emotional cooling off period in between homicides.”  “Three or more separate events in three or more separate locations with an emotional cooling off period in between homicides.” First coined by Robert Ressler in 1970’2 First coined by Robert Ressler in 1970’2 Used first in the Ted Bundy case Used first in the Ted Bundy case First “accepted” serial killer was Jack the Ripper First “accepted” serial killer was Jack the Ripper

Serial Killers  (Usually) don’t know their victims.  (Usually) don’t know their victims.  Reflect a need to dominate victim.  Reflect a need to dominate victim. Rarely kill for material “profit”. Rarely kill for material “profit”. Killing often has symbolic meaning. Killing often has symbolic meaning. Often choose vulnerable victims: Often choose vulnerable victims: Prostitutes, Runaways, etc… Prostitutes, Runaways, etc…

Characteristics of Serial Killers Based upon 36 incarcerated serial killers. Based upon 36 incarcerated serial killers. 1984: By FBI agent Robert Ressler. 1984: By FBI agent Robert Ressler. >90% are white, males. >90% are white, males.  years old.  years old.  Intelligent  Intelligent  Abused as children  Abused as children physical, sexual, emotional physical, sexual, emotional Cruelty towards animals. Cruelty towards animals.

Serial Killer Characteristics Cont. Interest in fire (  pyromania). Interest in fire (  pyromania). >60% still wetting bed at age 12. >60% still wetting bed at age 12. Abandoned by fathers; domineering mothers Abandoned by fathers; domineering mothers Hate their fathers. Hate their fathers.  Perform poorly in school.  Perform poorly in school.  Don’t hold jobs well.  Don’t hold jobs well. Childhood psychiatric problems; high suicide attempt rates. Childhood psychiatric problems; high suicide attempt rates.

Four Motives for Serial Murder  1. Manipulation  1. Manipulation  2. Domination  2. Domination  3. Control  3. Control  4. Sexual Lust  4. Sexual Lust Most common. Most common.

Categories Visionaries Visionaries  Murder because they hear voices or have visions that direct them to do so.  Murder because they hear voices or have visions that direct them to do so. Missionaries Missionaries  Murders because they believe that they are meant to get rid of a particular group of people.  Murders because they believe that they are meant to get rid of a particular group of people. Hedonists Hedonists  This type kills for the sheer pleasure of it, although what aspect they enjoy varies  This type kills for the sheer pleasure of it, although what aspect they enjoy varies 4 categories 4 categories

Hedonistic killers Lust Lust  Most common motive  Most common motive Sexual gratification is main motivation Sexual gratification is main motivation Thrill Thrill  Act of killing is main motivation  Act of killing is main motivation

Hedonistic killers Gain Gain  Financial or personal gain is motivation  Financial or personal gain is motivation Power Power Very similar to lust but not sexual connection Very similar to lust but not sexual connection  Like feeling powerful  Like feeling powerful I.E. – Hannibal Lecter – wanted to be God I.E. – Hannibal Lecter – wanted to be God

Catching Serial Killers  Difficult to catch because they easily blend back into society after they kill.  Difficult to catch because they easily blend back into society after they kill. EX: BTK Killer EX: BTK Killer Dennis Rader Dennis Rader Married 34 years. Married 34 years. 2 grown children. 2 grown children. Worked as a code enforcer. Worked as a code enforcer. Cub Scout leader, active in church. Cub Scout leader, active in church.

Criminal Profiling  Examines modus operandi & victim type.  Examines modus operandi & victim type. Tries to determine the types of personality characteristics the killer possesses. Tries to determine the types of personality characteristics the killer possesses. Helps to reduce population from which the killer is among. Helps to reduce population from which the killer is among. Increases the likelihood of catching. Increases the likelihood of catching.

Beginning of Profiling  1888, London – Jack the Ripper  1888, London – Jack the Ripper 5 prostitutes murdered & disemboweled. 5 prostitutes murdered & disemboweled. Dr. Thomas Bond (surgeon) Dr. Thomas Bond (surgeon) Performed autopsy on #5. Offered “thoughts”: Performed autopsy on #5. Offered “thoughts”: Anger/Hatred towards women. Anger/Hatred towards women. “Strong, cool, & daring”. “Strong, cool, & daring”. Must wear a cloak to hide blood stains. Must wear a cloak to hide blood stains.  Middle aged, loner, no real job.  Middle aged, loner, no real job.

Psychiatric Approach to Profiling 1930’s-1960’s. 1930’s-1960’s. Karl Berg questioned Peter Kurten (German serial killer in prison 1930). Karl Berg questioned Peter Kurten (German serial killer in prison 1930).  Secret Profile written on Adolf Hitler  Secret Profile written on Adolf Hitler Detailed analyses to help understand crimes. Detailed analyses to help understand crimes. Not yet behavioral profile. Not yet behavioral profile.  Lead to structure & ideas of profiling today.  Lead to structure & ideas of profiling today.

Famous 1 st Case Dr. James Brussel Dr. James Brussel  The Mad Bomber – NYC  The Mad Bomber – NYC Lots of explosions in 1940’s-50’s. Lots of explosions in 1940’s-50’s. Sent many angry letters to newspapers, politicians, & utility company. Sent many angry letters to newspapers, politicians, & utility company. Dr. Brussel examined & offered thoughts: Dr. Brussel examined & offered thoughts: Sex, ethnicity, motivation, age, personal appearance, mental status, living arrangement, religion, & employment. Sex, ethnicity, motivation, age, personal appearance, mental status, living arrangement, religion, & employment.

FBI Profiling Due to increase in # of murders. Due to increase in # of murders.  Established Behavior Science Unit – 1972  Established Behavior Science Unit – 1972 Developed methods for analyzing unknown offenders in unsolved cases. Developed methods for analyzing unknown offenders in unsolved cases.  Used crime scenes to look for personality traits & mental disorder.  Used crime scenes to look for personality traits & mental disorder.

Profiling Today More “art” than science. More “art” than science. Based upon patterns of past cases, assuming human pattern is common. Based upon patterns of past cases, assuming human pattern is common. Examine: Examine: Crime scene, weapon, dump site, details about the victim (victimology), transportation, time of day, position of items in crime scene. Crime scene, weapon, dump site, details about the victim (victimology), transportation, time of day, position of items in crime scene.

Victimology  Learn as much as possible about the victim (hours/days before murder).  Learn as much as possible about the victim (hours/days before murder). Map movements. Map movements. Examine personal communications. Examine personal communications. State of mind & mental health. State of mind & mental health. Risk level (prostitute vs. girl in home). Risk level (prostitute vs. girl in home). Establish when the killer crossed paths. Establish when the killer crossed paths.

Profiles Include: Include: Age range Age range Ethnicity Ethnicity Modus operandi Modus operandi Living situation Living situation Education level Education level Criminal & Psychiatric records Criminal & Psychiatric records Psychological traits Psychological traits Area of residence Area of residence

The Mad Bomber George Metesky Middle aged Male. Middle aged Male. Slavic. Slavic. Lived with 2 unmarried sisters in CT. Lived with 2 unmarried sisters in CT. Neighbors called it the “Crazy House”. Neighbors called it the “Crazy House”. Unemployed, trips to NYC for church. Unemployed, trips to NYC for church. Former Con Edison employee. Former Con Edison employee. When arrested, changed into a double breasted suit! When arrested, changed into a double breasted suit!

Mad Bomber Profile Male Male Grudge against Con Edison Utility. Grudge against Con Edison Utility. Paranoid. Paranoid. Middle aged (50). Middle aged (50). Had been bombing for 16 years! Had been bombing for 16 years! Neat & meticulous Neat & meticulous Wear double-breasted suits. Wear double-breasted suits. Overly sensitive to criticism. Overly sensitive to criticism. Foreign or spent time with foreign people. Foreign or spent time with foreign people. “The Con Edison”. Slav & Roman Catholic. Slav & Roman Catholic. Bombs as weapons. High School, no college. High School, no college. Lived in CT. Lived in CT. Mail & Slav communities. Oedipal Complex Oedipal Complex Unmarried, female relative.

Richard Trenton Chase – Vampire of Sacramento: 1978 Crime: Crime: Murdered woman in home, eviscerating her & drinking her blood. Murdered woman in home, eviscerating her & drinking her blood. Profile: Profile: Male – most common. Male – most common. Scrawny – due to temperament studies. Scrawny – due to temperament studies. No career, little education – little thought/planning in crime. No career, little education – little thought/planning in crime. Disorganized, possible paranoia. Disorganized, possible paranoia. Left fingerprints & footprints. Left fingerprints & footprints.

Vampire of Sacramento: 1978 Profile continued: Profile continued: Home would be sloppy like crime. Home would be sloppy like crime. Lived alone. Lived alone. Mentally unstable, so didn’t drive car. Mentally unstable, so didn’t drive car. Likely lived in immediate area. Likely lived in immediate area. White, aged White, aged Based upon information that crimes as such are same aged, intra-racial, & paranoid person. Based upon information that crimes as such are same aged, intra-racial, & paranoid person. Likely to kill again soon. Likely to kill again soon. 3 days later; 3 people in home. Stole car & kidnapped baby. 3 days later; 3 people in home. Stole car & kidnapped baby.

Vampire of Sacramento: 1978 KILLER: KILLER: White male 27 years old. White male 27 years old. Lived 1 block away from killings. Lived 1 block away from killings. Paranoid delusions. Paranoid delusions. Lived alone, unemployed, treated in psychiatric facilities. Lived alone, unemployed, treated in psychiatric facilities. Body parts, empty pet collars, & bloodstained blender found in house. Body parts, empty pet collars, & bloodstained blender found in house. Upon release, killed 44 before these 4. Upon release, killed 44 before these 4. WHY? Saving his own life “because his blood was turning to sand & needed others blood.” WHY? Saving his own life “because his blood was turning to sand & needed others blood.”