Lectures 4 & 5: Homicide/Serial and Mass Murderers
I. Types of Criminal Homicide
A. Murder: Requires malicious intent (aim to cause death or great bodily harm) or “depraved indifference.”
1. Intend to Kill:
a. First Degree Murder: Premeditation (planning/deliberation beyond fleeting thought); includes especially brutal, cruel, or extreme acts.
b. Second Degree Murder: Malicious intent but without premeditation or extreme cruelty.
2. Extreme Recklessness: Homicide under circumstances showing extreme indifference to human life.
3. Felony Murder: Any death resulting during the commission of a dangerous felony (e.g., robbery, arson); usually first-degree.
B. Manslaughter: Homicides resulting from lack of malicious intent or reckless disregard; a step down from murder.
1. Voluntary Manslaughter (felony): Intentional killing under extenuating circumstances (e.g., provocation, emotional duress without cooling off time); includes excessive force in self-defense.
2. Involuntary Manslaughter: Unintended homicides.
a. Negligent Homicide: Resulting from negligence (some misdemeanors, some felonies).
3. Misdemeanor Manslaughter: Homicide during a misdemeanor.
a. Vehicular Homicide: Death from motor vehicle infractions; misdemeanor.
C. Justifiable Homicide: Homicide under duty or necessity (e.g., killing fleeing felon, self-defense, legal executions).
D. Excusable Homicide: Defendant argues no liability under circumstances.
1. Killings by misadventure or accident with some liability, but not criminal.
2. Includes offenders with mental illness preventing understanding of offense (insanity defense).
II. Trends in Homicide (U.S.)
Homicide rate peaked in 1980, generally dropping since, with recent increases.
Young black men are most likely victims.
Intra-racial event (within same race).
High rate compared to other industrialized countries.
Two-thirds committed with a gun.
80\% of victims are male; 90\% of offenders are male.
Half of victims are between ages 16 and 30; median offending age is 26.
Of single-victim, single-offender homicides, 23\% of victims did NOT know offenders.
In OHIO (single-victim, single-offender):
2\% of females murdered by stranger vs. 15\% of males.
56\% of females killed by family vs. 19\% of males.
64\% of females killed by intimate partner vs. 17\% of males.
Females most likely killed by intimate partners.
Men most likely killed by known non-family (friends/acquaintances).
III. Definitions of Homicide
A. Homicide: Killing of one person.
B. Multiple Homicide: Killing of more than one person.
C. Mass Murder: Several people killed at the same time and place in a single episode.
D. Serial Murder: Several murders at different times.
IV. Serial Murder
A. Criteria (Holmes & Holmes, 1994):
At least 3 victims.
Time period between first and last greater than 30 days.
B. Spree Murder: Time period between first and last is less than 30 days.
C. Comparison/Characteristics:
Majority of both conventional and serial murderers are men; victims often women and children.
Serial killers more likely to murder women, older people, strangers; victims play little role in precipitating own death.
Serial murderers are more likely to be White (exception: Wayne Williams).
Average age of first kill for serial murderers is _.
Try to avoid detection.
Can act alone or in pairs (shared serial murder).
Often psychopathic; those not, dehumanize victims.
Often described as normally adjusted by acquaintances.
Few use firearms; prefer 'hands-on' methods (stabbing, strangulation).
No regional pattern (unlike non-serial murder, more common in Southern U.S.).
Several modern serial murderers have been homosexual (e.g., John Wayne Gacy; Jeff Dahmer).
V. Female Serial Murderer
Average first murder at an age of _ (continues for five years before apprehension).
Most murders in killer's home; often murderer and victim share residence.
Most popular weapon: poison; then other poisons; then stabbing/cutting.
Victims often powerless (children, elderly, sick).
Victims often immediate/extended family, employers, friends, suitors.
Very few female mass murderers.
VI. Four Types of Serial Murderers (Holmes & De Burger, 1988)
A. Visionary Type (least common):
Killings in response to auditory/visual hallucinations (instructions to kill).
May involve biological factors (e.g., brain damage, biochemical abnormalities).
B. Mission-Oriented Type:
Consciously chooses to eliminate a group/category deemed undesirable or unworthy.
C. Power/Control-Oriented Type:
Gratification from having power over victims, thrill of deciding fate.
D. Hedonistic Type:
Seeks pleasure/thrills from the kill itself, its associated sexual arousal/gratification, or consequences.
3 Subtypes:
1. Lust-oriented killer: Motivated by sexual arousal and gratification.
2. Thrill-oriented killer: Motivated by sadistic thrills (beating, torturing).
3. Comfort-oriented killer: Motivated by comfort and money.
2 Types of Lust Killers:
a. Disorganized asocial type:
Profile: Below average intelligence, socially inadequate, unskilled worker, sexually incompetent, low birth-order, unstable father's work, harsh discipline, anxious mood during crime, minimal alcohol use, minimal precipitating stress, lives alone, lives/works near crime, minimal interest in news, significant behavioral changes.
Crime Scenes: Spontaneous, random stranger victim, minimal conversation, random/sloppy scene, suddenly violent, minimal restraints, sex after death, body left in view, weapon/evidence present, body left at scene.
b. Organized nonsocial type:
Profile: Average to above average intelligence, socially competent, skilled worker, sexually competent, high birth-order, stable father's work, inconsistent childhood discipline, controlled mood during crime, uses alcohol with crime, precipitating stress, lives with partner, mobile with car, follows own crimes in news, may change jobs/leave town.
Crime Scenes: Planned offense, targeted stranger victim, controlled conversation, scene reflects control, demands submission, restraints used, aggressive prior to death, body hidden, weapon/evidence absent, transports body.