5 - Modus operandi and staging

Signature

A pattern of distinctive behaviors that are characteristic of, and satisfy, emotional and psychological needs.

Staging

Purposeful alteration of a crime or crime scene to mislead investigators.

Investigative strategies for staging

Methods employed to assess victimology, evaluate injuries, and conduct forensic examinations during investigation.

Behavioral patterns

Recurring actions by an offender that can help distinguish between their signature and MO.

Emotional needs

Psychological motivations that manifest through an offender's signature behaviors.

Signature behaviors

Acts committed by an offender that are not necessary to commit the crime but suggest psychological or emotional needs.

Limitations in profiling

Challenges faced in understanding an offender's signature over time due to changing behaviors or precautionary acts.

Indicators of staged crime scene

Signs that suggest a crime scene has been manipulated to mislead investigators.

Types of crime scene staging

Common methods like disguising murder as suicide or redirecting investigation focus.