A serial killer can be someone that everyone knows, whether they are a friend, lover or father. However, no one is aware of his killer instinct until it is too late. This country has been plagued for years by serial killers. They are difficult to spot and almost impossible to detect once they begin murdering innocent people. Most serial killers tend to be young white males, often from families with broken homes. They might have suffered abuse as children, either sexually or physically.
While no serial killer is the same, there are some common traits that all of them share. According to Sue Titus Reid’s sixth edition Crime and Criminality, a serial murderer is a person who commits multiple murders at different times. (Reid., p.134). Although serial killers are known for their crimes for many decades, Jack Levin claims that seven of the ten most horrific mass murders in American history were committed in the past decade. (Douglas p.137). Ted Bundy was a serial killer who is well-known and loved by many.
Three women were convicted, but he is suspected of killing 36 more (Douglas). What is it that makes someone a serial murderer? Levin points to the fact that serial killers are not just “snaps” or “go insane” as popular belief (Douglas at p. 137). Many serial murderers were victims of abuse in childhood. Jack Levin stated that many serial criminals have suffered abuse, neglect or incest as children. This has led to poor self-images. (Douglas. p. 137) Many serial killers have had a difficult childhood, often without any kind of nurturing relationship.
Many of them come from homes where their parents are absent or ineffective. Where authority is not clearly defined and they can engage in destructive behavior undeterred. A serial killer’s murder spree is planned and meticulously planned. The motive often is revenge (Douglas at p. 137). Serial killers often plan their crimes meticulously. He searches for victims based on their appearance, lifestyle, and occupation (Clark at p. 206).
A pseudorelationship is a method used by serial killers to win the trust of the victim and avoid the use force to kidnap them. (Clark. p.206). He persuades the victim to do things with him that they would not do with strangers, and then he strikes. Psychologists label a serial killer as a sociopath when they continue to kill over time, often showing sociopath tendencies. Two FBI agents analyzed serial killers over eight years. They discovered two types, organized and disorganized, in their respective personalities (Clark. p. 6).
A well-planned killer is likely to be highly skilled, intelligent, and socially connected. The average IQ score of men in the eight-year research was 115. Some had IQs of 145 (Casey p.80). Organized serial killers can be almost completely disorganized. They are either below-average intelligence or have a low level of social and sexual competence. (Clark p.206). They often are the youngest or smallest child in the family. They were often abused as children or subject to harsh discipline.
They are more likely to be anxious about the crime than organized murderers. They have never used alcohol or drug before the crime and are usually under minimal stress. They usually live in a single room, often near the crime scene. They are not interested in news stories about the crime or move about to escape arrest (Markowitz at p. Disorganized killers often kill unplanned and often in a spontaneous fashion. “These types are more likely to be caught quickly, as they often leave behind the most evidence, which includes the murder weapon,” Markowitz, p.
Research suggests that almost all serial murderers targeted women. Their crimes often had a sexual side. Many serial killers lead overactive fantasies and live to fulfill them. “If a serial murderer’s hunt does not yield a suitable “victimof opportunity”, the killer may return to past abductions and murders in order to continue their fantasies. (Stalking evil at p. 85). To depersonalize himself, the killer might use excessive assaults to the victim’s face.
The victim is usually blindfolded and/or restrained. The victim is often subject to a series or assaults that can lead to their death.
The body of the victim is usually hidden. Evidence is carefully destroyed. Sometimes, the killer might also carry the murder weapon to be used again in subsequent murders. “Mutilation or disembowlment of the breasts, genitals, and face are hallmarks of a disorganized murderer, who leaves an sloppy criminal scene with bloody and flesh scattered all around” (Stalking evil at p. 85). Serial killers might take “trophies” or “souvenirs” to prolong their kills, or until the next one.
These trophies might include underpants of victims, jewelry and credit cards. Some killers may even use video cameras to record their victims in order to replay the crime multiple times. “The anger and rage of a serial killer typically surface in the 20’s. In most cases, the first murder is the result of a “precipitating stimulator” which is an event that causes him to overreact (Clark). Mass killers are usually white middle-class, middle-aged males.
Although they might feel some remorse after the first killing, the killers soon lose that feeling and begin to enjoy the pleasure of the second. The murder hunt never ends once the killer is caught. He can continue operating for many years unnoticed. These men are not aware of the reasons they kill. Jack Levin states that the mass killer can be depressed, disillusioned and despondent while they are killing but act afterwards as if nothing had ever happened” (Douglas at p. 137).
Serial killers may be fascinated by law enforcement. Some serial killers might go to bars in order to be heard by cops. Being part of an investigation allows them to retain control over the deed. Jack Levin stated that knowing that they are guilty of the crime, and have not left any evidence, is like getting their Bachelor of Science (Douglas).
Serial murderers are driven by a need to control and dominate their victims. Many people will not use a firearm if they desire to be physically close to the victim. Serial killers are aware of what they are doing, but they don’t care. Douglas, p. Levin said that they don’t have mental defects, but a character defect. They aren’t mad, they’re just bad. They are not insane, but they are clever. They aren’t sick, they are sickening,” Douglas, p.137.
Authorities claim that serial killers have a strong tendency to have problems with their sexual relationships (Reid at p. 4). Serial killers have a history of having a difficult childhood. (Stalking evil, p. 85). According to their interviews, a serial killer could be either a first- or second-born child. Although his father was a reliable provider, he was not consistent with discipline during his childhood. While a serial killer can live with another person, they are usually not aware of his activities (Clark at p.206). “There are two types if multiple homicides. The mass killings are frequently reported on the news.
In this case, the murderer kills several victims in a very short time. Serial killings are different in that the murderer does not violently lash out, but instead kills one victim over a number of days, weeks or years. This can even go on for decades.” (Douglas p.137). Ted Bundy is undoubtedly one of America’s most well-known serial killers. “Ted Bundy was raised in Philadelphia to a humble, middle-class family. He was the youngest of three girls from the home of a Philadelphia nurseryman. Ted Bundy was the first child of Louise Cowell. Bundy lost his father when Bundy discovered that he was pregnant.
Ted and his mother moved to Tacoma with her uncle and family just before their fourth birthday. Bundy was later married to John Culpepper Bundy. That’s how Ted got the last name. Although Ted did not like his stepfather, John was his mother’s favorite man. Ted did whatever he could to upset the stepfather. Ted, for example, became friends with a young black boy living down the street from his stepfather who was prejudiced (Michaud, Ayensworth HUGH, p. 99).
Ted was eight years of age when his mother had given birth to Glenn, a boy, and Sandra, a girl, in 1965. Richard was born in 1961. Ted was the same boy as any other boy. He dreamed of becoming a movie cowboy Roy Rogers’ adopted son and owning his pony.
He was a Cub Scout Scout. Ted Bundy did not have everything.
Bundy, who was 25 years old, had a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and worked as a campaign assistant for Dan Evans, Washington’s governor. Bundy was articulate, charming, industrious and witty, making him a young politically active lawyer (Markowitz p. 3). Young, attractive, and wealthy women began to appear in Seattle as mangled corpses after their relationship ended. Bundy was very intelligent and would trick women to go with him.
He would arrive on college campuses and put his arm into a sling to ask young women to carry his books (Michaud, Ayensworth HUGH, p. 99). Bundy was a good-hearted, trustworthy young lady who resembled the girl next door. Lynda Ann, 21, was his first victim. She had an impressive voice, a wide set blue eye, long brown hair, and a smile. She was a University of Washington senior psychology student. She wanted the job of teacher (Michaud&Ayensworth-Hugh, p.99).
Bundy was attracted to her as a pretty, young, outgoing girl. Bundy was convicted only of the murders of three girls: Lisa Levy (20 years old), Margaret Bowman (21 years old) and Kimberly Leach (12 years). Bundy wasn’t convicted of these three murders. He is still suspected of killing close to 30 other women from Washington, Utah, Colorado (Michaud-Ayensworth hugh, p. 100). Most of his victims were in their 20s. Bundy made his final mistake on August 16, 1975. The location was Granger, Utah.
Utah State Policeman, returning home from night shift, saw a Volkswagen-driving man. It turned its headlights on and moved off. The trooper met the trooper at a station. Bundy, the trooper’s driver, stated that he was lost after seeing “The Towering Inferno” in a drive-in theatre. The trooper found out that “The Towering Inferno was not playing at the theater.” He was puzzled why a student of law, all dressed in black, was hiding in Granger at night. Bundy was found with a crowbar and an icepick, handcuffs, pantyhose that had been made into masks, and pieces of cloth from his bed sheet.
Bundy faced charges of evading police and possessing tools for burglary. It was a joke, but Bundy accepted it. Soon, he faced charges for kidnapping in Murray and as a telephone operator. He was soon made a public suspect in the disappearances of Utah and Washington (Markowitz p. 3). True serial killers are those who have committed multiple murders at different times. (Reid. p. 34). “Recent research on serial murderers has refocused attention upon the sociopath” (Reid.p.134).
Sociopath tendencies are common in people who murder for a long time. Serial killers often have low self-esteem. Sociopaths can also have difficulty feeling the pain and sorrow of others (Casey. p.80). Levin says that approximately 500 people per year are murdered by serial killers. This is far less than the 23, 000 single victim homicides each year (Douglas at p. 137). This may seem like a small number, but 500 victims is 500 murders for those families.
Serial killers could be any person, but you won’t know where they might lurk. Serial killers are well-known and hard to find. Sometimes it takes police years or even months to locate them. They just hope that they can catch them before the flee. Douglas believes serial killers are not able to be rehabilitated once they are convicted. They will be able to receive help from someone else.
