Addressing the challenges and limitations of utilizing data to study serial homicide

This paper examines the contemporary problem of serial and multiple homicide. To test whether rates for serial homicide and multiple homicide have increased significantly in the 1980's as compared to the 1950's, a newspaper index search was conducted for these two decades. The data indicate that the numbers of both types of homicide were considerably higher for the 1980's, even when adjusted for population size. However, the serial and multiple homicide rates have increased only as much as have overall homicide rates. There is no indication in the data of a specific swing toward serial and multiple murder, which appear today as a part of general increasing lawlessness. The observed general pattern of case material suggests that serial and multiple homicide show generally opposite characteristics.

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Reframing Serial Murder Within Empirical Research

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x15598572 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 61 (5) ◽

pp. 544-560 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Elizabeth A. Gurian

Keyword(s):

Popular Culture ◽

Case Studies ◽

Empirical Research ◽

Descriptive Statistics ◽

Serial Killers ◽

Serial Murder ◽

Comprehensive Overview ◽

Serial Homicide ◽

Continued Use ◽

Offending Patterns

Empirical research on serial murder is limited due to the lack of consensus on a definition, the continued use of primarily descriptive statistics, and linkage to popular culture depictions. These limitations also inhibit our understanding of these offenders and affect credibility in the field of research. Therefore, this comprehensive overview of a sample of 508 cases (738 total offenders, including partnered groups of two or more offenders) provides analyses of solo male, solo female, and partnered serial killers to elucidate statistical differences and similarities in offending and adjudication patterns among the three groups. This analysis of serial homicide offenders not only supports previous research on offending patterns present in the serial homicide literature but also reveals that empirically based analyses can enhance our understanding beyond traditional case studies and descriptive statistics. Further research based on these empirical analyses can aid in the development of more accurate classifications and definitions of serial murderers.

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Serial Killers & Their Easy Prey

Contexts ◽

10.1177/1536504218776961 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 46-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jooyoung Lee ◽

Sasha Reid

Keyword(s):

Law Enforcement ◽

Vulnerable Populations ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Legal Status ◽

Serial Killers ◽

Serial Homicide ◽

True Crime ◽

Precarious Legal Status

How do serial killers get away with murder? For years, law enforcement, true crime writers, and journalists have portrayed serial killers as criminal masterminds. But, a closer look at serial homicide cases reveals a different story: Serial killers are opportunists who target marginalized and vulnerable populations. Specifically, they target street sex workers, who become “easy prey” because of their precarious legal status.

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A Case of Serial Homicide by Injection of Succinylcholine

Medicine Science and the Law ◽

10.1177/002580240004000215 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 169-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

H Maeda ◽

M Q Fujita ◽

B-L Zhu ◽

K Ishidam ◽

S Oritani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pleural Effusion ◽

Pulmonary Oedema ◽

Muscle Relaxant ◽

International Association ◽

Lethal Dose ◽

Forensic Sciences ◽

Puncture Site ◽

Serial Homicide ◽

Prolonged Apnea ◽

Minimum Lethal Dose

The abstract of this paper was presented at the 14th Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences, Tokyo in 1996. We report a bizarre criminal case of suspected serial homicide by injection of a muscle relaxant (succinylcholine). Five victims were found buried in a rural area. In two victims showing moderate decomposition (about three months after death), intense pulmonary oedema with pleural effusion was observed. Evidence of a puncture site was found in one of the victims. Succinylcholine could not be detected in the victims, but was identified in a syringe found near the corpses. The 40-mg ampule dose of succinylcholine administered intramuscularly to the victims, possibly causing prolonged apnea, was considered to be at least around the minimum lethal dose, although the combined effect of the sedation with hypnotics also used was not negligible.

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The temporal stability and cross-situational consistency of behavioural themes in serial homicide

10.22215/etd/2005-08138 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Natalie Jones

Keyword(s):

Temporal Stability ◽

Serial Homicide

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Serial homicide

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.312.7022.2 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 312 (7022) ◽

pp. 2-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

J. Scott

Keyword(s):

Serial Homicide

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Exploring the Similarities and Differences in Offender Characteristics Across Aspiring, Probable, and Successful Serial Homicide Offenders: The Importance of an Inclusive Approach to the Study of Homicide

10.31235/osf.io/5b6w9 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Enzo Yaksic ◽

Daniel Konikoff ◽

Dan Gordon ◽

Robyn Mooney ◽

Clare Allely ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Identification ◽

Developmental Trajectory ◽

Serial Killers ◽

Insufficient Evidence ◽

Pivotal Point ◽

Serial Homicide ◽

Study Results ◽

Offender Characteristics ◽

Inclusive Approach ◽

Similarities And Differences

The current study examines potential serial homicide offenders (SHOs), a previously unacknowledged offender group comprised of aspiring and probable SHOs, and compares them to successful SHOs. Data on 17 aspiring, 46 probable, and 16 successful SHOs were collected. The study results indicate that potential serial killers share more in common with successful SHOs than they do with one-off homicide offenders. While there is overlap among these groups, there is insufficient evidence to suggest discreet transitions among categories or that being a potential SHO is the final step on a pathway towards becoming a successful SHO. Potential SHOs cannot reliably be thought of as prospective SHOs if all things were equal. An as yet identified factor, such as resiliency, still separates potential SHOs from successful SHOs. Early identification and timely intervention is important to interrupt impending murders by potential SHOs and halt them at this pivotal point in their developmental trajectory.

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