What Makes a Serial Killer Tick

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(No Transcript)
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What Makes a Serial Killer Tick?

• "It was an urge. ... A strong urge, and the
  longer I let it go the stronger it got, to where
  I was taking risks to go out and kill people
  risks that normally, according to my little rules
  of operation, I wouldn't take because they could
  lead to arrest." Edmund Kemper.

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What they are

• Minimum of 3-4 victims, with a cooling off period
  in between
• Killer is a stranger to the victim
• Murders appear unconnected or random
• Sadistically dominate the victim
• Victims have symbolic value to the killer
• (Ex. Ted Bundy killed woman who resembled his
  ex-girlfriend)
• Victims are vulnerable

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Who they are

• White male
• Lower to middle class
• 20-30 years old
• Physically or emotionally abused

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Who they are (continued)

• Triad of symptoms
• Set fires
• Torture animals
• Wet their beds
• Brain injuries are common
• Fascinated with the police or authority figures,
  many try to join armed forces

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Who They Kill

• Serial killers choose victims who are weaker than
  themselves
• The killers need to dominate or control the
  victim.

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Why are they so difficult to spot?

• Serial killers are often charming and polite
• They blend into society
• They stalk their victims by gaining their trust

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Mask of Insanity

• The most coveted role of roaming psychopaths is a
  position of authority
• Many join the military
• (Ex. Berkowitz and Bundy)
• Some play police officer
• When caught, they will assume a mask of insanity

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What makes a serial killer tick?

• Traditional explanations include childhood abuse,
  genetics, chemical imbalances, brain injuries,
  exposure to traumatic events and perceived social
  injustices.

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Types of Serial Killers

• Visionary Motive Considered insane or
  psychotic. Often hear voices or see visions
• Mission-Oriented No psychosis. Killer needs to
  rid the world of those he considers immorally or
  unworthy.
• Ex. Prostitutes
• Thrill-Oriented Kills for fun. Gets a high
  from killling.

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Types of Serial Killers

• Lust Killer Sexual killer. Is turned-on by
  killing. The more gruesome the crime the more
  turned on.
• Serial killers can be more than one type

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Types of Crime Scenes

• Organized Killer shows premeditation and effort
  to avoid detection
• Characteristics
• Planned offense
• Transports and hides body
• Controlled conversation
• Missing weapon and evidence
• Victim is a stranger and is submissive
• Crime scene reflects control

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Crime Scenes continued

• Disorganized Spontaneous and frenzied assault.
  Victim is selected at random and crime scene is
  where encounter took place.
• Characteristics
• Body and evidence left at scene
• Spontaneous offense
• Victim or location is known
• Crime scene is sloppy
• Sexual acts done after death

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Crime scene continued

• Mixed crime scene shows characteristics of both
  organized and disorganized crime scenes.
• Could indicate the presence of two offenders or
  that the offender planned the crime and was
  interrupted during the act.

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Crime scene continued

• Atypical crime scene Scene that cant be
  classified by the data available. Decomposed
  remains fall under this category.