Department of Criminal Justice Serial Murder Charles L. Feer, JD, MPA Bakersfield College Department of Criminal Justice

FBI Serial Murder Symposium (2005) 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) 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) 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) 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: Single-occupancy 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: 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: Control Domination Media Attention Personal/sexual excitement

Offenders – Criminal Background S.K. Offenders often have a persistent and extensive criminal history; 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: 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