Chapter 2: | Characterizations in Murder |
This is a limited free preview of this book. Please buy full access.
profile, crime scene behavior, crime scene forensic findings, and victim targeting were developed using a Douglas and Munn (1992) system-construct design and are presented in tables 10–13 representing those descriptive features as developed by Keppel and Walter (1999).
Table 10. Power-assertive rape-murder.
Category | Characteristics |
Offender profile:
Murder unplanned, a culmination of activity intended to control victim |
-Youthful to mid-20s
-School dropout (IQ < 100) -Social and masculinity insecure -Well-attended personal vehicle -Substance abuser (mild) -Unsuccessful interpersonal relationships -Criminal history (burglary, theft, robbery) -Mental health referral likely -Lives alone or with parents |
Crime scene |
-Zone of comfort: neighborhood, work location, leisure-time location, and travel routes to and from blitz attack; minor planning or opportunistic
-Attacks at one site, commits crime elsewhere, disposes of body -Chaotic crime scene; however, in a series, a learning curve will be noted |
Forensic findings |
-Hands on by offender
-Anal, oral, and vaginal sexual assaults -Body generally left nude and dumped or left at attack site -Blunt force trauma and/or sharp edged instrument trauma present on victim -Defensive wounds on victim -No postmortem mutilation -Antemortem rape |
Victim |
-Low-risk victim selection
-Known by offender or acquaintance -Pre-identified type for offender |