Criminal Psychology

Criminal Psychology

Multiple Murderers • Multiple murderers are people who have killed more than one victim. • multiple killers are classified into three basic categories – • mass murderers • spree killers • Serial killers

Mass Murderers • kills four or more people at one location during one continuous period of time, whether it is a few minutes or over a period of days. • Make no attempt to hide • Often die by suicide or police after incident

Three Types of Mass Murderers: • Family annihilators • Paramilitary/political enthusiasts • Revenge/Disgruntled workers

Family Annihilators • In 2007, A man in LAYTONSVILLE, Md., shot and killed his ex-wife, their three children (12 y/o boy, 10 y/o girl, 6 y/o boy) and himself after winning custody of the kids in a divorce. • Ronald Lee Simmons: the father of his daughter's son, killed fourteen members of his family on Christmas in 1987 when his wife threatened to divorce him.

Paramilitary/Political Murderer • Adolf Hitler blamed & killed the Jews for Germany's problems • The terrorists who attacked the World Trade Center perceive the victims as violating the terrorists' political or religious goals. • Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, because they were angry at the federal government over the Waco, raid against the Branch Davidians

Revenge/Disgruntled Worker • David Burke, a fired airline employee, followed his boss onto a plane in 1987, shot him, and caused the plane to crash, killing forty-three people. • Pat Sherrill, fearing that he might be fired from his postal job, killed fourteen coworkers and wounded six others in 1986. • In 1999, Mark Barton, a day trader, killed his family and entered two brokerage firms, slaying nine and wounding twelve after losing a great deal of money .

Another type of revenge mass murder: School Shootings In 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 classmates, 1 teacher, and wounded 24 others at Columbine High School before shooting themselves. In 1998, Kip Kinkel, 15, killed 2 classmates and wounded 25 others at Thurston HS (Oregon) after killing his two parents in their home.

Spree Killers • kill two or more victims, but are in more than one location. • the spree is considered a single event, because there is no "cooling off" period between the murders.

Example of Spree Killer: George Banks • In George Banks, a prison guard, went hunting for his loved ones in various locations at 2 am. The following were killed in the spree: • three girlfriends • his five children (ages 1 – 11) • two neighbors who were trying to flee • A former girlfriend & their 5-year-old son • his Former girlfriend’s mother • His former girlfriend’s 7-year-old nephew • Two brothers of the former Girlfriend (survived)

Serial Killers • murder three or more victims, but each is killed on separate occasions • usually select their victims • cooling off periods between murders • plan their crimes carefully

Serial Killers • Most serial killers will fall into a pattern, either of modus operandi, location, victim type, motive, etc. • The patterns of activities often allow police to apprehend the killer. • Serial killers are often described as ‘normal’, ‘very chatty’ and ‘a good neighbor’.

Serial Killers Typical serial Killers are: • Predominantly male • White • Within their twenties or thirties • Middle class • Kill within their ethnic group

Types of serial killers (patterns)Organized • Characteristics: Socially competent, intelligent , a planner, generally targets strangers, someone who uses restraints, Sexually assaults their victims and uses a vehicle. • Typical behaviors: living with a partner, follows the crime in the media, plans the killing, the victim’s body is hidden, evidence is often absent, may return to the crime scene and anticipates police questioning. • Very difficult to catch

Example of organized killers • Ted Bundy: fake cast on arm, gained sympathy and then beat victims with a metal post • Harold Shipman: a physician who killed over 250 elderly patients by making it look like death from natural causes

Types of serial killers (patterns)Disorganized • Characteristics: socially immature, may know his victims, kills spontaneously, often sexually inhibited, harsh childhood discipline. • Typical behaviors: lives alone, knows victim, sloppy crime scene, evidence present, shows no interest in the media, and does not change lifestyle as a result of the killing. • Easier to catch than the organized killer

Examples of disorganized killers • Ed Gein: collected parts and displayed them around the house. He got the parts both from women that he killed and from exhumed graves • David Berkowitz: stabbed or shot couples sitting in their cars, and then ran away

Types of Serial Killer (motives) • Visionary type: “visions” or “voices” guide their actions • Mission-orientated type – want to remove a certain group from society • Hedonistic type - derive pleasure or gain from the killing • Power/ control-orientated type - enjoy controlling their victims with some sexual satisfaction

Risk Assessment:How are criminals ‘made’? • Genetics/DNA/chromosomes • Environmental factors • Biochemistry • Family traits • Economic circumstances • Neurological damage A combination of these factors can be devastating

How Criminals are madeEnvironmental Henry Lee Lucas’ mother beat him with a broom handle for years, dressed him as a girl, and made him watch her have sex with men who later beat him.

Crime Prevention • Criminal psychology is used to predict, identify, find, and convict criminals • Criminal profiling is the primary tool

What is Criminal Profiling? Study and prediction of criminal behavior used to indicate: • How the criminal thinks • Motivation for crime • Modus operandi • Signature

Elements of a criminal profile • Probable AGE, sex, and race • Probable residence and living arrangements • Intelligence level • Probable occupation • Probable marital status • Psychosexual maturity • Probable type/condition of vehicle • Probable motivating factors • Probable arrest record • Provocating factors to incite the suspect • Recommended interrogation techniques

Modus Operandi and Signature • Modus operandi (MO): the method commonly used by the criminal • Victim/location selection, means of attack, use of weapon, planning, means of transport • Valuables taken • Evidence left behind • Bundy: approach victim in daylight, gain their trust, lure them to his car, and hit them in the head with a crowbar, disposal in one specific dump site.

Ritual and Signature • Signature: what the criminal does beyond the crime; the acting out of a fantasy • Wound patterns, sex acts, means of control, rituals, talk, staging the body • Souvenirs taken • Evidence destroyed • Bundy: Post-mortem rape, applying make-up to corpse, decapitation, photo keepsakes, cremating body parts to prevent capture

MO vs. Signature • MO can change or evolve over time as criminal becomes more experienced • Signature is the ‘calling card’ or Trademark • Signature points to personality traits, hang-ups, and compulsions • Signatures do not change, but may worsen over time

Steps in Profiling a Case 1. Determine the physical, behavioral and demographics of the unknown offender 2. Identify post-offense behavior of the offender and strategies for apprehension 3. Develop interview strategies once the offender is apprehended 4. Determine the signature of the offender 5. Determine where evidence can be located

Criminal Psychology