1. Serial Killers

Page 1: Warm Up

  • Discussion Questions:

    • What do you think qualifies someone to be considered a serial killer?

    • Which serial killers can you name?

Page 2: Good Things

  • Positive note or motivational message (content not provided).

Page 3: This Day in History

  • 11/18

    • 1885: Mark Twain’s first story is published.

    • 1945: The Nazi War Crime trials begin at Nuremberg.

    • 1928: Mickey Mouse makes his film debut in "Steamboat Willie."

    • 1969: Apollo 12 touches down on the moon.

    • 1978: The Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones, commit mass suicide.

    • Birthdays:

      • 1945: Calvin Klein

Page 4: Serial Killers

  • Overview of the topic of serial killers (content not provided).

Page 5: What is a Serial Killer?

  • Definition:

    • A serial killer is a person who kills more than three victims, across three or more events, typically with a cooling-off period in between.

  • Types of Killers:

    • Organized Killer:

      • Takes time to follow and prepare for their victim.

      • Leaves little evidence and often hides or sets up the body for others to find.

    • Disorganized Killer:

      • Kills in a blitz, overwhelming their victim.

      • Acts randomly and messily, usually leaving the body where the attack occurred.

Page 6: Organized vs. Disorganized Killers

  • Organized Killer:

    • Examples include:

      • Ted Bundy

      • John Wayne Gacy

      • Joel Rifkin

      • Dennis Rader

      • Jack The Ripper

  • Disorganized Killer:

    • Examples include:

      • Richard Chase

      • Herbert Mullin

      • Jeffrey Dahmer

Page 7: Motivation for Killers

  • Visionary:

    • Experiences psychotic breaks with reality; believes compelled by supernatural entities.

  • Mission Oriented:

    • Driven to rid the world of certain people (e.g., groups based on sexuality, religion, etc.); typically does not exhibit psychosis.

  • Power Oriented:

    • Seeks to exert power over victims.

  • Hedonistic:

    • Gains thrill and pleasure from killing; can be further divided into:

      • Lust

      • Thrill

      • Comfort (profit)

Page 8: Examples of Motivations

  • Visionary Killers:

    • David Berkowitz, Herbert Mullin.

  • Mission Oriented Killers:

    • Joseph Franklin, Jia Jianhu.

  • Power Oriented Killers:

    • Ted Bundy, Ed Kemper.

  • Hedonistic Killers:

    • Kenneth Bianchi, Angelo Bianchi, Jeffrey Dahmer.

    • L. Robert Hansen, H.H. Holmes.

Page 9: General Serial Killer Profile

  • Common Traits:

    • Physical ailments and disabilities.

    • Absence of love and nurturing relationships.

    • Unstable home environment.

  • Macdonald Triad Indicators:

    • Bed Wetting

    • Fire Starting

    • Animal Torture

    • Head Injuries

Page 10: Serial Killer Profile Demographics

  • Average Age:

    • 27.9 years old.

  • Males:

    • Average age at first kill: 27.5.

      • Youngest: 9 (Robert Dale Segee).

      • Oldest: 72 (Ray Copeland).

  • Females:

    • Average age at first kill: 31.0.

      • Youngest: 11 (Mary Flora Bell).

      • Oldest: 66 (Faye Copeland).

Page 11: General Profile by Race

  • Racial Demographics in the U.S.:

    • U.S.: White - 52.1%

    • U.S. & International combined: 56.2%

Page 12: Trends by Decade

  • Notable decrease or increase patterns in serial killers over decades (content not provided).

Page 13: Why is Serial Killing Decreasing in the U.S.?

  • Technological Advancements:

    • Insurance fraud is harder to execute.

    • Multi-victim killings in healthcare settings are harder to conceal.

  • Longer Prison Sentences:

    • Keeps potential serial killers in prison longer.

  • Enhanced Law Enforcement Efforts:

    • Quicker identification of single murder cases (e.g., via DNA).

    • Focus on terrorism can detract from tracking serial murders.

Page 14: Fewer Targets: Societal Changes

  • Changes in Behaviors:

    • Hitchhiking:

      • Reduced incidents related to hitchhiking and offering rides.

    • Disabled Motorists:

      • Changes in assistance offerings; less likelihood of accepting suspicious offers.

    • Free-Range Kid Behavior:

      • Less children walking alone, riding bikes, or engaging in unsupervised play outdoors.

Page 15: International Trends by Decade

  • Comparative statistics of serial killing across countries through the decades (content not provided).

Page 16: Jack the Ripper

  • Significance of the Case:

    • First case highlighting a pattern of targeting women of a specific type.

    • No clear motive beyond sexual gratification; included severe mutilation.

    • The taking of organs as trophies and taunting communications directed towards investigators.

    • No one was ever charged with the crime.

Page 17: Jeffrey Dahmer

  • Background:

    • Numerous arrests for assault; seemingly devoted parents and happy upbringing.

    • Confirmed at least 18 victims, with many more suspected; early fascination with death.

    • Notable for necrophilia, cannibalism, and self-identified "experimental neurosurgeon."

    • Known for being a calculated and remorseless killer.

Page 18: John Wayne Gacy

  • Background:

    • Stern and abusive father; successful businessman.

    • Killed at least 33 young males; buried 28 victims beneath his home.

    • Denied guilt until sentenced to death; known as the "Killer Clown."

    • Executed by lethal injection in 1994.

Page 19: Ted Bundy

  • Background:

    • Intelligent and educated; early behaviors included peeping and shoplifting.

    • Targeted mainly young women with specific hair types; often stabbed, assaulted, and tortured.

    • Confessed to 23 murders but suspected to be closer to 100; known for leaving a bite mark, aiding in his conviction.

    • Executed in Florida's electric chair in 1989.