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 Percentage
 18-25 17%
 26-31 28%
 32-36 12%
 37-42 25%
 Over 42 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 society’s 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. Gender of victim
 Serial killers tend to prey on women of their same
race (predominantly Caucasian).

 Women account for as much as 67% of the victims

in serial murders.

 In studies of sexually sadistic criminals, it was

reported that 73% of the offenders only victimized
females, compared with 17% who only victimized
males. Ten percent victimized both genders.
B. Victim’s 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
 Victims are usually complete strangers to serial
killers in majority of cases.

 Prostitutes, drifters, & hitchhikers are their victims

of choice because they are easy prey & aren’t
usually missed by society.

 Some homosexual killers enjoy hunting young gay

men (e.g., Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy).
III. Female Serial Killers & their
victims
 Female serial killers tend to be "black
widows" who kill a succession of husbands,
lovers, or other family members.

 They can also be nurses or other medical

professionals who become self-appointed
"angels of death" murdering babies, elderly, or
the desperately ill in a misguided effort to
relieve their suffering.
IV. Serial Killer Behavior

 Personality: Serial killers tend to be sexually

dysfunctional & low in self-esteem.

 Nature of killings: killings tend to be sexual in nature.

Usually are part of an elaborate fantasy that builds to a
climax at the moment of their murderous outburst.

Serial killers generally murder strangers with cooling off

periods between each crime
Serial killer behavior contd.
 Many enjoy cannibalism, necrophilia, & keep
trophy-like body parts as mementos of their work
(e.g., fingers, heads).

 Killers are usually sadistic in nature and often

return to crime scenes or grave sites of their victims
to fantasize about their killings.

 Many follow the police investigation of their crimes

& some enjoy taunting authorities with letters or
carefully placed pieces of evidence (e.g., Zodiak
Killer, Serial Snipers).
V. Background of Most Serial Killers:

 Most serial killers grew up in violent and dysfunctional

households.

 Most had conduct disorder behaviors: enjoying

torturing animals, setting fires, chronic bed-wetting etc.

 In adulthood many serial killers have been reported to

have some type of brain damage & substance abuse
problem (alcohol and/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 victim’s 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. Victim’s 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.