Serial Killers

Dr. Kelley Kline

FSU-Panama City

I. What is the common profile for

most serial killers?

Demographics:
A. Ethnicity- The majority of serial killers are
caucasian ( Estimates range from 82-86%).
Following Caucasians, African Americans make up
the next category of serial offenders (estimates of
13-20%), and then Hispanics (2%).

B.
Age

Most serial killers are between the ages of 26 &

31 years of age:
Distribution of Serial Killers Ages (recorded at
time of arrest). There is no difference in age of
serial killers versus people who kill only once.

Age category
18-25
26-31
32-36
37-42
Over 42

Percentage
17%
28%
12%
25%
18%

C. Gender
Serial killers are predominantly male.
Godwin estimates that males account for

approximately 95% of serial murderers.

This has been supported by other studies.
Keep in mind--this low estimate for female serial

murder most likely reflects societys attitudes toward

female aggression.

D. Educational Status
The research thus far, shows that serial murderers

tend to be poorly educated.

Most serial killers did not finish high school

Some had high school diplomas, but most did not go

on to college.

Only a fraction finish college and get postgraduate

degrees.

E. History of Mental disorders

The data on the occurrence of mental illness

in serial killers is mixed.

One study found that 28% of serial killers

had been treated for mental illness. This is

in sharp contrast to a study done by the FBI
that found that 69% of their offenders had
some form of psychopathology.

F. Offender Sexual History

Sexual orientation--predominantly heterosexual,

followed by homosexual, and bisexual,
respectively.

Sexual activity:
Pornography (64-81%)
Fetishes (sex toys, etc. --58%)
Voyeurism (17%)**
Bestiality (sex with animals)-less common, but has
occurred in some serial killers.

II. Who tend to be the victims?

A.Genderofvictim
Serialkillerstendtopreyonwomenof
theirsamerace(predominantlyCaucasian).

Womenaccountforasmuchas67%ofthe
victimsinserialmurders.

Instudiesofsexuallysadisticcriminals,
itwasreportedthat73%oftheoffenders
onlyvictimizedfemales,comparedwith17%
whoonlyvictimizedmales.Tenpercent
victimizedbothgenders.

B. Victims age

The target age range for most serial murderers

is between the ages of 18 and 50 years.

Age of victim Percentage

Under age 10 5%
11-17
22%
18-50
67%
50+
5%

C. Victims are often strangers & easily

accessible to offenders

Victimsareusuallycompletestrangersto
serialkillersinmajorityofcases.

Prostitutes,drifters,&hitchhikersare
theirvictimsofchoicebecausetheyare
easyprey&arentusuallymissedby
society.

Somehomosexualkillersenjoyhuntingyoung
gaymen(e.g.,JeffreyDahmer,JohnWayne
Gacy).

III. Female Serial Killers & their

victims

Femaleserialkillerstendtobe
"blackwidows"whokillasuccession
ofhusbands,lovers,orotherfamily
members.

Theycanalsobenursesorother
medicalprofessionalswhobecomeself
appointed"angelsofdeath"murdering
babies,elderly,orthedesperately
illinamisguidedefforttorelieve
theirsuffering.

IV. Serial Killer Behavior

Personality:Serialkillerstendtobe
sexuallydysfunctional&lowinselfesteem.

Natureofkillings:killingstendtobe
sexualinnature.Usuallyarepartofan
elaboratefantasythatbuildstoaclimaxat
themomentoftheirmurderousoutburst.

Serialkillersgenerallymurderstrangers
withcoolingoffperiodsbetweeneachcrime

Serial killer behavior contd.

Manyenjoycannibalism,necrophilia,&
keeptrophylikebodypartsasmementos
oftheirwork(e.g.,fingers,heads).

Killersareusuallysadisticinnature
andoftenreturntocrimescenesorgrave
sitesoftheirvictimstofantasizeabout
theirkillings.

Manyfollowthepoliceinvestigationof
theircrimes&someenjoytaunting
authoritieswithlettersorcarefully
placedpiecesofevidence(e.g.,Zodiak
Killer,SerialSnipers).

V. Background of Most Serial Killers:

Mostserialkillersgrewupinviolentand
dysfunctionalhouseholds.

Mosthadconductdisorderbehaviors:
enjoyingtorturinganimals,settingfires,
chronicbedwettingetc.

Inadulthoodmanyserialkillershavebeen
reportedtohavesometypeofbraindamage
&substanceabuseproblem(alcoholand/or
drugs).

VI.
Killers
Method
of
Homocide
Weapons are chosen with care (Godwin text).

Hands-on weapons are chosen for 3 reasons :

1. To touch the victim
2. Because touching the victim with the weapon further terrorizes the
victim.
3. The touch degrades the victim
Most common forms of death (in order from most to least) are:
Knife (stabbing, throat- slashing, hack-sawing, axing)
Ligature (strangulation)
Firearm (guns, shotgun, rifle)
Hands & Feet (kicking, stomping)
Bludgeoning (being beaten to death by blunt instrument)

VII. Serial Killers Sexual Degradation of

the Victim

It is argued that most serial killers, harm and kill their

victims in an attempt to gain control over others. Possibly
causing physical pain and humiliation to their victims,
makes the serial killer momentarily feel a sense of control
and power in their lives. Many killers were terribly abused
as children and this is often for revenge.

Sexual sadism is a particularly strong method by which

serial killers show their strength, domination, and power
over their victims.

Forms of sexual degradation produced

by killers (from most to least) are:
Vaginal Penetration (rape)
Attempted Sex Assault
Anal Penetration (anal rape)
Sex Organs Assaulted (hands, objects, or weapons

used to harm genital areas)

Foreign objects (bottles, gun, other projectiles inserted
into genitalia)
Male sexual assault (anal rape)
Necrophilia

VIII. Serial Killers Sadistic Behavior

A.

Torturing their victims- while they are

still alive by -- cutting them, presenting
electric shock to their genitals/body parts,
stabbing them, cutting off body parts, repeated
sexual assault, mentally torturing them,etc.

B.

Dismemberment postmortem--body
parts will be cut off following victims death.

C. Ritualistic acts

These include evidence of candles burning,

blood poured, and other potential
religious/Satanic symbols found near body.

D. Piquerism- killers experience sexual

excitation from ripping or tearing material or
human flesh. Is usually a unique signature of
killings.

E. Victims body posed

Where is the body positioned.

Does not
refer to posing the body which is rare.

F.

Anthropophagy - Refers to
cannibalism (eating human flesh & body
parts). Usually is the signature for the
killer since its fairly rare.

IX. Serial Killer Psychological

Reflection
A.

Serial Killers may take trophies from crime

scenes.

These trophies allow the killer to relieve his crime and

to receive vicarious gratification from the murder.

Trophies often include personal belongings of the

victim: teeth, hair, body parts, clothing, jewelry,

victim identification cards (license, credit cards).

B. Photos

Offender may take photos or videotape

victims during sadistic acts (to replay for their
enjoyment after the victim is dead and the
body has been disposed).

C. Diary - Some serial murderers keep

diaries or other written accounts of their
killings. They may also have a scrapbook
containing the news paper clippings of the
crimes and police investigations.

D. Offender Interjecting himself into

police investigation
The serial killer may follow the

investigation very closely and get involved,

but this is fairly rare.