Lectures 4 & 5: Homicide/Serial and Mass Murderers

Murder

A type of criminal homicide requiring malicious intent (aim to cause death or great bodily harm), or acts considered reckless showing “depraved indifference.”

First Degree Murder

Murder requiring premeditation (planning, deliberation, or scheming greater than a fleeting thought), or acts of homicide that are especially brutal, cruel, or extreme.

Premeditation

A requirement for first-degree murder, involving some type of planning, deliberation, or scheming greater than a fleeting thought.

Second Degree Murder

Murder with malicious intent but without premeditation or extreme cruelty.

Extreme Recklessness (Homicide)

Homicide under circumstances that show extreme indifference to the value of human life.

Felony Murder

Any death that results during the commission of a dangerous felony, such as robbery, arson, or kidnapping, usually classified as first-degree murder.

Manslaughter

Homicides resulting from a lack of malicious intent or reckless disregard for life, a step down from murder.

Voluntary Manslaughter

Intentional killing of another but under extenuating circumstances, such as provocation or emotional duress without time or opportunity for cooling off, or when excessive force is used in self-defense.

Involuntary Manslaughter

Unintended homicides, typically resulting from negligence.

Negligent Homicide

A homicide resulting from negligence, which can be classified as a misdemeanor or felony.

Misdemeanor Manslaughter

Homicide occurring during the commission of a misdemeanor.

Vehicular Homicide

Death resulting from motor vehicle infractions, typically classified as a misdemeanor.

Justifiable Homicide

Homicide committed under circumstances of duty or necessity, such as killing a fleeing felon, in self-defense, or legal executions, where the killing is considered 'legally right'.

Excusable Homicide

Homicide where the defendant argues he or she should not be held liable under the circumstances, such as killings involving misadventure, accident, or an insanity defense.

Insanity Defense

A legal defense where offenders suffer from mental illness that prevented them from understanding the nature of the offense.

Homicide Rate Trend (US)

Peaked in 1980 and has been dropping since, with an increase observed in the last few years.

Primary Homicide Victims

Young black men are most likely victims; black males have highest rates, followed by black females, white males, and white females have the lowest rates.

Intra-racial Homicide

Homicide that generally occurs within the same race.

US Homicide Rate (International Comparison)

The U.S. has a high rate of homicides as compared to other industrialized countries.

Weapon Use in US Homicides

Two-thirds of U.S. homicides are committed with a gun.

Gender of Homicide Victims

80% of homicide victims are male.

Gender of Homicide Offenders

90% of homicide offenders are male.

Age of Homicide Victims

About half of all homicide victims are between the ages of 16 and 30.

Median Age of Homicide Offending

The median age of offending for homicide is 26.

Stranger Homicides (Single-Victim, Single-Offender)

About 23% of victims in single-victim, single-offender homicides did not know their offenders.

Female Homicide Victims in Ohio (Relationship to Offender)

56% of females were killed by a family member and 64% by an intimate partner in Ohio (single-victim, single-offender homicides).

Male Homicide Victims in Ohio (Relationship to Offender)

15% of males were murdered by a stranger and 19% by a family member in Ohio (single-victim, single-offender homicides).

Homicide

The killing of one person.

Mass Murder

The killing of more than one person at the same time and place, in a single episode of violence.

Spree Murder

When several murders have taken place at different times, and the time period between the first and last is less than 30 days.

Serial Murder

When several murders have taken place at different times, involving at least two victims, and the time period between the first and last must be greater than 30 days.

Serial Murder Criteria (Holmes & Holmes, 1994)

Must involve at least two victims, and the time period between the first and last must be greater than 30 days.

Serial Murderer Gender

The majority of serial murderers are men.

Serial Murderer Victims

More likely to murder women, older people, strangers, and those who play little or no role in precipitating their own death.

Racial Demographics of Serial Murderers

Serial murderers are more likely to be white, with exceptions.

Average Age of First Kill (Serial Murderers)

The average age of first kill for serial murderers is 28.

Social Perception of Serial Murderers

Serial murderers are often described by people who know them as normally adjusted persons.

Weapons (Serial Murderers)

Very few serial murderers use firearms, opting instead for more hands-on methods such as repeated stabbing and strangulation.

Female Serial Murderer (First Murder Age)

The average female serial murderer commits her first murder at age 31.

Female Serial Murderer (Murder Location)

Most murders committed by female serial murderers take place in the home of the killer, often where the murderer and victim share a residence.

Female Serial Murderer (Weapon)

The most popular weapon for female serial murderers is poison, followed by other types of poison, and then stabbing and cutting.

Female Serial Murderer (Victim Demographics)

A large percentage of victims are powerless, such as children or the very elderly and the sick, often from the murderer’s immediate/extended family, employers, friends, or suitors.

Visionary Type (Serial Murderer - Holmes & De Burger, 1988)

Killings in response to auditory or visual hallucinations with instructions to kill certain people or types of people; may involve biological factors.

Mission-Oriented Type (Serial Murderer - Holmes & De Burger, 1988)

Murderer conscientiously chooses to eliminate a particular group or category of persons who he feels are undesirable or unworthy of living.

Power-Oriented Type (Serial Murderer - Holmes & De Burger, 1988)

Gratification comes from having power over the victims, especially the 'thrill' of deciding whether a person will live or die, and how and when.

Hedonistic Type (Serial Murderer - Holmes & De Burger, 1988)

Murderer seeks pleasure or thrills from the kill itself, from the sexual arousal and gratification associated with the event, or from the consequences of the murder.

Lust-oriented Killer (Hedonistic Subtype)

A hedonistic killer motivated by sexual arousal and gratification.

Thrill-oriented Killer (Hedonistic Subtype)

A hedonistic killer motivated by sadistic thrills of beating and torturing the victims.

Comfort-oriented Killer (Hedonistic Subtype)

A hedonistic killer motivated by comfort and money.

Organized Asocial Lust Killer (Profile)

Characterized by below average intelligence, social inadequacy, unskilled work, sexual incompetence, low birth-order status, harsh childhood discipline, anxious mood during crime, minimal alcohol use, minimal situational stress, living alone, living/working near the crime scene, minimal interest in news coverage, and significant behavior changes.

Organized Asocial Lust Killer (Crime Scene)

Reflects a spontaneous offense, a random stranger victim, minimal conversation, a random and sloppy scene, sudden violence, minimal use of restraints, sex after death, body left in view, weapon/evidence present, and body left at the scene.

Disorganized Nonsocial Lust Killer (Profile)

Characterized by average to above-average intelligence, social competence, skilled work, sexual competence, high birth-order status, stable father's work, inconsistent childhood discipline, controlled mood during crime, alcohol use with the crime, precipitating situational stress, living with a partner, mobility with a car, following own crimes in the news, and potentially changing jobs or leaving town.

Disorganized Nonsocial Lust Killer (Crime Scene)

Reflects a planned offense, a targeted stranger victim, controlled conversation, a scene that shows control, demands for victim submission, use of restraints, aggression prior to death, a hidden body, absent weapon/evidence, and body transportation.