Mass Murderers, Spree Killers and Serial Killers

1. Mass Murderers, Spree Killers and Serial Killers

2. What is a Multiple Murderer? • A multiple murderer is a person who has killed more than one victim. • They are classified into 3 different categories, based on the patterns of their murders: • Mass Murderers • Spree Killers • Serial Killers

3. The Mass Murderer • Kills 4 or more people at one location during one continuous period of time (a few hours or even a few days) – there is no “cooling off” period. • Most mass murderers fall into one of three categories: • Family annihilators, • Individuals with mental defects, and • Disgruntled workers • They might kill • family, • coworkers, • students, and • random strangers. • Their motives for murder vary. Many motivations are possible, including the need for attention or fame.

4. Examples of mass murderers include: • Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (Columbine – killed 13), • Cho Seung-Hui (Virginia Tech killings – killed 32), • Jared Lee Loughner (Tucson, Arizona United States 2011) • Six people died and 19 were injured after he opened fire outside at a Safeway, shooting first U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. • Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik, • killed 77 people and injured 121 on July 22, 2011.

5. Spree Killers • These murderers kill two or more victims, at more than one location. • Although their murders occur in separate locations, their spree is considered a single event, because there is no "cooling off" period between the murders – they happen close together.

6. Charles Whitman (tower massacre at University of Texas at Austin), killed 16 and injured 32 people around the campus after killing his wife and mother at their homes in 1966 • Beltway sniper attacks United States 2002 John Allen Muhammad & Lee Boyd Malvo • Muhammad and 17-year old Malvo killed 10 and injured several others over the course of three weeks. Muhammad, who was 41, was executed November 10, 2009. Malvo is currently serving six consecutive life sentences. • Andrew Cunanan murdered at least five people, including fashion designer Gianni Versace, during a three-month period in 1997, ending with Cunanan's suicide, at age 27.

7. Serial Killers • A serial killer is typically defined as an individual who has murdered three or more peopleover a period of more than a month, with down time (a "cooling off period") between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is largely based on psychological gratification. • The FBI’s STANDARD PROFILE OF A SERIAL KILLER: • Caucasian male • Between the ages of 18 – 32 • Usually evidence of child abuse in their background • Signs of the “McDonald Triad” in their background: • Bedwetting beyond age 10 • Abuse to animals • History of arson • Most operate alone. • Unlike mass murderers and spree killers, serial killers usually select their victims and plan their crimes carefully • Often, a sexual element is involved with the killings, but the FBI states that motives for serial murder include "anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking.“ • The murders may have been attempted or completed in a similar fashion and the victims may have had something in common; for example, occupation, race, appearance, sex, or age group.

8. How do Serial Killers find their victims? • There are typically two ways in which killers will hunt for their victims (Homes and DeBurger): • GEOGRAPHICALLY STABLE SERIAL KILLERS • They hunt for their victims in the same area as they liver, or at least nearby, and dispose of the body in the same area. • GEOGRAPHICALLY TRANSIENT SERIAL KILLERS • Those who travel continually to confuse the police, disposing of bodies far from the murder scene.

9. The Organized Offender (Psychopathic) • organized criminals “are antisocial but know right from wrong, are not insane and show no remorse” (APA, 2004). • Their crimes are carefully planned, premeditated, and staged to prevent the police from finding any evidence on-scene which reflects their intelligence usually measured at an over 120 IQ. • very specifically chooses his victims by age, appearance, gender, lifestyle, occupation and other details which would be trivial to anyone but him. • This type of person fits well into society. • He is often gregarious and out-going and often gets his way with people because of his manipulative manner. • He is a pathological liar and has a chameleon personality. • He selects victims he can control and dominate, he also selects the site of the attack, stalks the victim and researches his craft. • The crime scene will reflect controlled rage in the form of ropes, chains, gags or handcuffs present or on the victim. • There is often evidence of torture, rape and aggressive act prior to death. • He often collects trophies in the form of jewelry or other personal items of the deceased. • The organized offender follows the news media and may even communicate with the police through letters or phone calls, often taunting the police and pointing out his superiority. EXAMPLE: TED BUNDY

10. Age: The offender is approximately the same age as his victim. The average age is usually under 35, however can range from 18 to 45 years. • Sex: Male • Race: Usually the same race as the victim, but the local ethnic make-up should be considered. • Marital Status: Married or living with a partner. Offender is usually sexually competent and has a significant female in his relationship. • Education: Normal to superior intelligence and street-wise. He has completed high school and may have some college experience. He was probably known as a trouble maker at school. • Residence: Lives some distance from the crime scene. Lives in middle-class rental and takes good care of his home. • Physical characteristics: Usually well-built. Takes good care of himself and is often concerned with appearance. • Employment: This offender has the ability to handle almost any type of employment, but tends to seek out those jobs that project a macho image; for example, bartender, truckdriver, construction worker, police officer, fireman or paramedic. • Arrest record: Arrests for interpersonal violence, sex offences. May have a poor driving record and many unpaid parking tickets. Fist-fights are also common.

11. The Disorganized Offender (Psychotic) • Disorganized Offenders tend to be young and sloppy; • often under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or a mental disorder. • Because their crimes are unplanned, they tend to leave lots of evidence on-scene, such as fingerprints or blood reflecting their intelligence which is usually within the 85-90 range on the IQ scale (APA, 2004). • They tend to be among the younger of siblings and have fathers with poor employment history who used harsh discipline. • They tend to have poor personal hygiene and are very reclusive • This offender rejects society which he feels has rejected him, maybe because of some societal aversion. He is an underachiever with a poor self-image and his appearance is messy or even dirty. He is a night person and he commits his crimes in a blitz-style manner and tries to quickly silence the victim.The crime scene will be random and sloppy and the body is often left at the place of the attack. There is no real effort to conceal the body and the murder weapon might even still be there.There is often a lot of evidence on crime scenes left by disorganized offenders, such as smearing of blood and fingerprints. This type of offender may also take a souvenir. The souvenir can be an object or article of clothing or in some cases even a body part.

12. Age: These offenders range in age from 16 to their late 30s. • Victim: The selected victim is simply a victim of opportunity who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Many disorganized offenders experience their acting-out phase between the ages of 17 and 25. • Sex: Male • Race: Usually the same race as the victim, but local ethnic make-up should be considered. • Marital status: Single • Education/intelligence level: High school drop-out. Possibly community college. Below average intelligence. Considered a marginal student. • Physical characteristics: Thin, possibly with acne or some physical malady that contributes to an appearance that is different from the general population. • Employment: This type of offender may not be employed. If he is he will most likely seek out unskilled work. His job will be a simple menial one, requiring little contact with the public. Dishwasher, janitor, maintenance man etc. • Residence: Close to the area of the crime scene. Usually lives alone in a rental property or with his parents or with a significantly older female relative. • Arrest record: Arrests for voyeurism, fetish thefts, burglary, exhibitionism or other nuisance offenses. EXAMPLE: ED GEIN