Serial Killer

The Zodiac Killer, John Wayne Gacy, The BTK Killer, Ted Bundy Ed Gein, and Jeffrey Dahmer­. The names and aliases of these killers are engraved into the shared consciousness of Americans. Many of those who have been captured appeared average -- good-looking, successful, active members of the community -- until their crimes were exposed. This kind of killer doesn't just "go crazy" one day and kill a large number of people. They don't just kill out of greed or jealousy. So what makes a person not only murder, but murder multiple people over periods of days, weeks and years? There's a special name for these types of murderers: serial killers. Often, serial killers derive from broken homes and have been abused or neglected as a child. Many theorists point to the troubled childhoods of serial killers as a possible reason for their actions. In this essay the cause and effect of serial killers will be explored

            One of the most studied parts of serial murder is “why?” Various theories have been proposed as possible explanations, however “unraveling the making of a serial killer is like aligning a Rubik's cube” [Vronsky]. One theory focuses on the neglect and abuse that many serial killers experience as children. The FBI conducted a study, which included interviews with various serial killers. They found “similar patterns of severe childhood neglect” [Ressler & Shachtman]. During a child's growth, it is crucial that he or she learns about love, trust, empathy and the basic rules about of how to interact with other human beings. If the child does not develop these traits during that period, it may not be possible for him or her to learn them later in life.

            Serial killers were regularly physically or sexually abused as children or witnessed the abuse of family members. This pattern of neglect and abuse, some researchers say, leads serial killers to grow up without a sense of anyone other than themselves. These motives also influence other deficiencies to arise, such as, “insanity” and brain injury. For some people, the only way to explain serial murder is to say that serial killers are "insan­e." According to the U.S. Code, "at the time of the commission of the acts constituting the offense, the defendant, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his acts. Mental disease or defect does not otherwise constitute a defense" [U.S. Code].

            When arguing "not guilty by reason of insanity" the serial killer must prove that they did not understand right from wrong at the time that he or she performed the crime. It’s difficult to prove that they really did not comprehend that their actions would result in the fatality of the victims. John Douglas, long-term head of the FBI's Investigative Support Unit, believes that serial killers "don't have a problem understanding what death means, and that they have the power to kill" [JohnDouglas.com]. With this system that is why only two serial killers have successfully pled insanity.

            Some researchers speculate that serial killers have brain damage or other biological irregularity that add to their actions. Injure to regions like the frontal lobe, the hypothalamus and the limbic system can contribute to excessive aggression, loss of control, loss of judgment and violence. Henry Lee Lucas, who was convicted of 11 murders, was shown to have severe brain damage in these areas, most likely the result of childhood abuse, malnutrition and alcoholism. Arthur Shawcross, another 11-time serial killer, was found to have had several brain injuries, including two skull fractures. While serving time in prison, he suffered from headaches and repeatedly blacked out. Bobby Joe Long, convicted of nine murders, at one point said, "After I'm dead, they're going to open up my head and find that just like we've been saying a part of my brain is black and dry and dead" [Scott].

            The results of becoming a serial killer are quite obvious, including but not limited to: serial murders, copycat killers, and national terror. It is common to find serial killers with a disturbed childhood and psychological deformities, therefore those are the causes of their actions.

Bibliography

·         Douglas, John. "Violent Predators Hide Behind the Insanity Defense But They Know the Difference Between Right and Wrong." John Douglas: Mind Hunter. http://www.johndouglasmindhunter.com/articles/030201.php

·         Douglas, John. "Linking Cases Together: Following a Killer's Signature." John Douglas: Mind Hunter. http://www.johndouglasmindhunter.com/articles/030210.php

·         "Green River Killer avoids death in plea deal." CNN.com, November 5, 2003. http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/11/05/green.river.killings/index.html?iref=n...

·         Holmes, Ronald M. and Stephen T. "Profiling Violent Crimes." Sage Publications, 2002.

·         "Murder - Crime in the United States 2004." FBI. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/offenses_reported/violent_crime/murder.html

·         O'Connor, Tom. "Serial Killer Typology." MegaLinks in Criminal Justice. January 23, 2006. http://faculty.ncwc.edu/TOConnor/428/428lect06.htm

·         Ressler, Robert K. and Tom Schactman. "Whoever Fights Monsters." St. Martin's Press, 1993.

·         Rhodes, Richard. "Why They Kill." Knopf, 1999

·         Scott, Shirley Lynn. "What Makes Serial Killers Tick?" The Crime Library. http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/tick/victims_1.html

·         U.S. Code. Title 18. Part 1, Chapter 1, Section 17 - Insanity Defense. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000017----0...

·         U.S. Code. Title 28. Part II, Chapter 33, Section 540B - Investigation of Serial Killings. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode28/usc_sec_28_00000540---B0...

·         ViCAP: FBI Investigative Programs Critical Incident Response Group. http://www.fbi.gov/hq/isd/cirg/ncavc.htm#vicap

·         Vronsky, Peter. "Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters." Berkley Books, 2004.