Category: Murder

Serial Killers: Nature VS Nurture

Nature vs. Nurture, the most common question evolved around serial killers. Who could possibly be nurtured into being a serial killer. It obviously has to be someone who is born that way, just born evil. As much as I would like to agree this is a highly false statement. Serial killers are shaped through childhood events which trauma majority of the time. Statistically 65% of the time. Even the other 35% of serial killers that weren’t affected through childhood still has something that led them to killing. Genetically the human brain cannot be wired to go out and kill people as its natural state. There’s no link in any DNA that says somebody will be a killer. Although there is a gene that creates a social distance in a person’s brain when they are born that makes them socially awkward. With that being said being socially awkward doesn’t make you a killer. Therefore to this day no one can prove that a gene is what makes a killer. Strongest correlation right now with serial killers and what makes them act this way is their past life. With no gene being given, there is a predisposition that still lives within a person. This predisposition is what people look at to see if a person will be socially intact or not. Serial killers are typically people who don’t really get along with anyone they mostly stay to themselves, don’t really talk, and have some sort of fascination world. Parents can’t spot if their kid will be a killer, But they can’t see if their child will be socially talkative. Growing up, parents are the closest people who can see all the differences in the child. All the mood changes, all the talking habits, all the living habits, and everything else about it. The most linked trait between all serial killers, is that they do not fit in with society. Most stand out in an awkward way. 73% of serial killers are known to be disorganized killers. Disorganized killers, are highly impulsive and have few friends. If the serial killer is an organized killer, they are usually known to be socially adequate, may have a wife or children, and they sit and plan out their crimes. These are the people who don’t grow up with bad childhoods and just become a serial killer.

Differences on this topic usually come from the police and forensic scientists, due to the programmed mind they have of justice. They believe killers and other criminals who are doing injustice are born that way. Infact, naysayers will also just be biased people who aren’t able to see how a past life/ childhood can ruin someone’s life and cause them to harm others as a way of relief. Now this isn’t right at all, to do harm to people but they aren’t born to do it that way. It’s the years of trauma, physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse all of that and more. Within a certain time frame serial killers explode like a bomb. overtime they just tick and tick and something could soon set them off. Some people do harm to themselves, some do harm to others, and some take it as far as serial killers. In L.R Allen’s article “Child Development and Early Learing” he says “Most serial killers suffered child abuse. Neglect and child abuse not only impaired child self-esteem, they also interfere with his or her ability to function in society, succeed academically, and form healthy relationships with people” (Allen 4) when a typical American looks at a serial killer, the first thought is, well this person is evil and should go to jail. They may also think he will never fit in with the world, this is due to the isolation away from everybody else. As Allen said, they cannot form healthy relationships or be able to normally function in society. They just don’t fit in, usually. They love to isolate them self and ponder on their own dogs. They don’t really leave the house they are usually one to themselves this is due to the idea that their family isn’t even with them so nobody else would be. The abuse growing up as well plays a big role as well. Serial killers either abuse things growing up to take out anger usually starting with small animals. From killing, to doing dissections on them. This is the most known first sign of a mentally distraught mind. A lot of serial killers kill their own pet or animal for a sense of relief from pain. Almost like a drug. J. Anderson writer of the article “ge isis of a serial killer, he touches on the topic of serial killers, killing animals, saying, “Almost all serial killers admit that they started by acting out their fantasies on small animals before they moved to humans and that animal torture brought them a great source of pleasure. Given that most serial killers are from dysfunctional families, such pathological and abnormal behavior may be ignored. For example, Jeffrey Dahmer‘s father had no qualms that his son performed animal dissections on a daily basis.” (Anderson 5) Serial killers just come from a screwed up childhood. They are not made not by a creator, or anyone, but they made up by events.

Arguing that these people are made and not born, is not me saying, all serial killers come from a horrible childhood. There a some in fact that didn’t have any bad events at all. “America’s first serial killer is considered to be Dr. H.H. holmes who confessed to 27 murders in the late 1890s. He claimed that he cannot help the fact that he was “a murderer, no more than a poet who couldn’t help just wanting to sing.” (56 serial killer statements)? These serial killers have no explanation as to why they did what they did. They just started doing it. They still weren’t born, there is always a cause to an effect. These people aren’t to be looked over. Most of these killers who are unexplained, come from very good childhood and family but still have complications with mom. This is typically the male side but females usually complicate problems with dad. “Jeffrey Dahmer has an apparently normal upbringing, yet became one of the most horrible sex murdered in popular culture. His father wrote a book which searches for explanations.” (Anderson 3) Although we sit here and look at the background, trauma still plays affect. Head trauma, physical pain, fights, being punched in the head, can still screw with a person’s mind, turning them evil. Shirly Lynn Scott in her serial killer article, “Nearly 70% of serial killers received extensive head injuries as children or adolescents which, for many researchers, suggests a link between such injuries and serial murder. Some researchers believe that the prefrontal cortex (the area involved in planning and judgment) does not function properly in psychopaths.” (Scott 5) The purpose of this quote is to fill in the unanswered questions of killers who had no bad background history. There were simply people who just turned into killers.

Stepping away from plain serial killers, serial rapists are typically charming people, they are seen as people pleasers, and this makes them highly persuasive. Their charm and making women feel secure is what lowers the men for their plan to carry out, these are the types of serial killers they usually grow up with no bad childhood. They typically just grow up with sexual fantasies. These people are psychopathy. They block out the filming of remorse and do not feel emotions like a “normal” person. This is a mental illness. The symptoms of a psychopath usually our lack of empathy which they are unable to connect with other people. They like interest in connecting with other people if they are bad at it they block out the feeling of remorse and do not feel emotions like a “normal“ person. This is a mental illness. The symptoms of a psychopath usually are lack of empathy, which they are able to connect with other people. They lack interest in connecting with other people, if they are bad at it. They lack remorse and This is big because this is what makes killing easy for these kind of people. They honestly don’t know what they are doing is wrong, well they don’t feel bad about it. They just keep doing it because it doesn’t affect them in anyway but, make them feel better. Almost like a drug. These are the people with the unanswered questions, about what made them start. Another major symptom of psychopathy is deception and manipulation, which are apparent in the case of John Wayne Gacy. Gacy used different methods of luring in his young male victims. One of the ways he would attract his victims was by going around the northern Chicago suburbs, posing as a cop. Gacy purchased a black 1978 Delta, with a searchlight on the side, and would tell the victims walking the streets that they needed to get in the car with him. He then handcuffed his prey and would take them back to his house. Another tactic Gacy used was the handcuff trick. He would tell his victims that they were toy handcuffs, but in actuality were not, and would challenge the victims to try and take them off. Inevitably they couldn’t, and when that happened Gacy would take them back to his house, where he proceeded to rape and murder them. Gacy mastered the art of deception to get what he wanted and to commit various acts of murder. Killers use tactics that help them Kill. They are people who are born this way, they are triggered from society and set off. The mind and it’s ways, are a power that many look right over their heads.

Psyche Of Sexual Serial Killers

Serial killers are traditionally known as people who have committed a series of two or more murders usually driven by a psychological force. Individual killers often have their own ‘trademark’ pattern of killing that consists of similar actions taken upon each victim. These actions essentially result in moral evilness within these individuals and the reasons as to why these killers withhold this evil and others do not is unknown. Most people are not capable of committing these types of heinous crimes because of their psychological roots have embedded these morals in their psyche since early development. The few that are capable of committing these crimes intentionally inflict harm upon innocent victims because their psychological patterns were disrupted during their childhood development, but there are also other valid theories regarding loneliness and mental disorders. This yields the question as to why some people grow up to become serial killers and others grow up to be innocent citizens.

The term ‘evil’ is not used by some psychology researchers specifically because it is not scientific. Others do not use the term because it can be linked to religious connotations. Though, if the term is separated from its religious meaning and ‘evil’ is defined in the context of psychoanalysis, evil consists of the premeditative destructive aggression and pain inflicted upon individuals (Knight).

In an article written by psychologist Zelda G. Knight, serial killers that are sexually motivated, such as Ted Bundy, typically are diagnosed with some type of mental disorder, commonly schizophrenia, narcissistic disorder, or paranoia. Sexually motivated serial killers fantasize about their actions before acting them out upon their victims with similar levels of aggression and brutality as fantasized. However, not all people who have sexual fantasies become serial killers which suggests that there is an underlying psychological link to evil that only some individuals withhold (Knight).

However, there is a correlation between serial killers and issues within their child development. For example, Theodore Robert Bundy was delivered at a home for single mothers in Vermont, where his mother debated putting him up for adoption, though his father did not approve. His mother moved in with her parents who were also Bundy’s grandparents. This led to him believe that his grandparents were his actual parents. Growing up, Bundy had thought that his mother was actually his sister, causing a cascade of social and developmental issues underlying his psyche. He also grew up without a father figure (Dobson).

Bundy’s grandparents wanted him to think that they were his parents to avoid the social embarrassment of his real mother having a child at a young age without a consistent father figure. Though, Bundy’s grandfather was known to be incredibly violent and his grandmother was known as being very obedient (Dobson). These patterns are also present in the way that Bundy enacted his killings. He killed his victims to make them not be able to give verbal consent to sexual activities therefore forcing them to be obedient. This allowed for Bundy to have complete control in his violent sexual encounters. Though his grandfather did not commit these kinds of vile actions, the pattern of violence and obedience are consistent between Bundy and his victims.

Also, the issue with thinking his grandmother was his real mother led to discrepancies within Bundy’s Oedipus complex. This term is used to describe the sexual attraction of a child to the parent of the opposite sex. This is seen within almost all male and female children around the ages of three six years old and is a normal feeling to have at that age. Though, around this time in Bundy’s psychosexual development, he believed that his mom was his sister. In this stage of development, children are focused on developing a sense of self as well as learning emotions such as affection and sympathy (James). Because Bundy experienced trauma in his relationship with his mother during this time, his development of these traits and characteristics may have been interrupted.

In Ted Bundy’s final interview by psychologist Dr. James Dobson, Bundy admitted that the “most damaging kinds of pornography are those that involve violence and sexual violence.” As a young teenager, he came across pornography books that exposed him to these kinds of violence and “brings out a behavior that is too terrible to describe.” Though this kind of pornography were not the cause his vile actions and murders, they did most likely contribute to the molding of his thought processes behind his actions and also crystallized his sexual entity to result in a violent nature of crime.

To support the idea that these actions stem from barriers in child development, serial killer Jeffery Dahmer also experienced childhood trauma. Dahmer’s parents were divorced in 1978. Though, the issue stems mostly from his confusion about his sexual identity. Records show that Dahmer admitted to his probation officer that he was homosexual. While in high school, he would fantasize about raping men that he saw, which gives reason to believe that this is why all of his victims were men (Imrie). Similar to Ted Bundy, Dahmer also craved domination over his victims. These fantasies soon overcame him and turned into real actions only three weeks after his high school graduation.

Dahmer’s confusion about his sexual identity made him feel guilty about who he was and this confusion led to complications in the development of his psychosexual self. Ted Bundy also experienced this same type of stunt in psychosexual development and his Oedipus complex when finding out his sister was actually his mother. They both also experienced vivid sexual fantasies that became reality as they both got older. Bundy and Dahmer led their victims to believe they were innocent before inflicting brutal pain on them. Essentially, these two serial killers are not as different as some think and their actions stem from the same type of childhood development.

Both of these serial killers experienced sexual gratification in mutilating their victims to their point where they become unrecognizable. These actions coincide with a psychological disorder called sexual sadism disorder. Jerrod Brown, a Forensic Behavioral Health specialist defines this disorder as an obsession with inflicting pain and fear on non-consenting individuals for sexual gratification. In the 1970s and even today, there had been little to no research and it is commonly misunderstood by even most health professionals (Brown).

These types of sadistic murderers receive so much media attention because humans have a natural tendency to withhold fascination in rarities. In the 1990s, there were only twenty-nine films surrounded by the idea of sexual killers. Now, there are over two hundred-seventy (James). In recent years, two Netflix films about Ted Bundy alone have become popular amongst the public. Both Bundy and Dahmer could be described as “intelligent, manipulative, methodical, and sadistic individuals who attack their victims during their daily activities” (James).

Though there are direct links between stunts in psychosexual development and these two serial killers, a counterargument suggests that their actions instead stem from the connection between sadism and loneliness (Martens). The loneliness one feels result in feelings of powerlessness and self-loathing which then lead to the sexual fantasies that both Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer experienced. This day dreaming stems from lack of social contact during their daily routines. When a child does not experience the social aspects of development, they make up for it by fantasizing in their heads. As a child gets older, these fantasies become less innocent. They begin to be based on sexual occurrences and then develop into full blown sexual dominance fantasies. These in turn fuel the minds of sexual serial killers and influence their abusive actions towards their victims (Murray). Both Bundy and Dahmer experienced this progression in their own fantasies, though the difference being that Bundy’s victims were women and Dahmer’s were men.

The evidence for this theory is proven in an article from the Journal of Sexual Aggression. Three different scientific studies were analyzed that dealt with loneliness and sexual aggression. All three of these studies were compared and it was found that loneliness and anger are much more prevalent in sexual killers than sexual aggressors. Though these findings only establish a correlation, not a causation (Stefanska), it still provides another theory as to why the psyche of sexual serial killers differ from other humans.

Lastly, a more recent theory introduced about what makes a serial killer suggests that sexual killers perform these actions because they have untreated mental disorders. Mental health disorders that are commonly associated with sexual killers and rape offenders include schizophrenia, hypomania, alcohol abuse, and personality disorder (Sarkar). Dahmer specifically suffered from personality disorder, necrophilia, and yet it was never diagnosed or treated and he was considered to be biologically sane during his trial (Palermo). Psychopathy specialist Hervey Cleckley officially diagnosed Bundy as a psychopath, which according to the University of Kentucky is a ‘social predator who charms, manipulates and ruthlessly plows their way through life, completely lacking in conscience and feeling for others” (Piercy). Psychopathy falls under the category of personality disorders, thus meaning that Bundy and Dahmer both suffered from similar mental disorders.

Though theories are known to commonly contradict each other, the reasons behind what makes a serial killer has no definitive answer. It is not a question of which theory is correct, but instead the question of how these three theories work together to create a serial killer and which factor may influence the psyche of these killers more than others. Both Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer show similarities in all three of these categories which gives substantial evidence that all three theories are things that make sexual killers different from the rest of the population.

Issues in psychosexual development, loneliness, and mental disorders all contribute to creating sexual killers, but how much of each factor influences them most? It is different in each individual killer. As any answer regarding psychology, the answer is not finite like it is in subjects related to math and chemistry. There are many different variables that need to be accounted for. Though these theories are the top factors that make a serial killer, there are so many other factors within individual killers that make them different from one another. These specific factors discussed in the research are consistent between Bundy, Dahmer, and so many other killers, but not all people that suffer from these factors become sexual killers.

The simplest way to define the difference between sexual killers and innocent citizens is remorse. Though it may not be based on scientific research done by psychologists or criminologists, I have noticed throughout my own research a common theme among all of the serial and sexual killers. I have concluded that these criminals simply do not feel remorse for their actions and this is what makes them different from others. Most people in society could never fathom the idea of themselves or anyone they know killing someone, but these killer’s psychodynamics are wired to not feel remorse for their actions. Both Bundy and Dahmer never felt bad for their actions. Bundy did not even admit his crimes until just days before he died and argued on his own behalf that he was innocent for months during his trial. These killers are capable of committing these crimes because they are incapable of feeling remorse.

After being arrested, Bundy told investigators, “I don’t feel guilty for anything. I feel sorry for people who feel guilt” (Goodreads). This quote proves the lack of empathy and lack of remorse for his actions. Dahmer once said before he was killed in prison, “I’ve always wondered myself why I don’t feel more remorse” (Berry-Dee pg. 148). These two quotes are very similar and prove that both struggled to feel guilt or remorse for their actions. Essentially, psychosexual development, the effects of loneliness, and mental disorders all work in tandem to create a person incapable of feeling remorse. This then leads to murderous and sexual actions that are repeated over and over because there is no psychological force driving them to suspend their actions, thus creating an evil sexual killer.

Works Cited

1. Brown, Jerrod. “Sexual Sadism Disorder: An Introduction for Mental Health Professionals.” Concordia University, St. Paul Online, 4 June 2019, online.csp.edu/blog/forensic-scholars-today/sexual-sadism-disorder.
2. Bundy, Theodore Robert. “Ted Bundy Quotes (Author of The Only Living Witness).” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/5620376.Ted_Bundy.
3. “Cannibal Serial Killers: Profiles of Depraved Flesh-Eating Murderers.” Cannibal Serial Killers: Profiles of Depraved Flesh-Eating Murderers, by Christopher Berry-Dee and Victoria Redstall, Ulysses Press, 2011, pp. 148.
4. Dobson, James. “The Childhood of a Serial Killer.” Youtube, commentary by Theodore Bundy, 27 October, 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=256&v=DP- xaOjCIm0.
5. Imrie, Robert. “Police Records Show Dahmer’s Family Didn’t Report Alleged Abuse of Son.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 1 Aug. 1991, https://apnews.com/7fc3146faf2561a8e7d91ff337615953.
6. James, Jonathan, and Jean Proulx. “A Psychological and Developmental Profile of Sexual Murderers: A Systematic Review.” Aggression & Violent Behavior, vol. 19, no. 5, Sept. 2014, pp. 592–607. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.avb.2014.08.003.
7. Knight, Zelda G. “Sexually Motivated Serial Killers and the Psychology of Aggression and ‘Evil’ within a Contemporary Psychoanalytical Perspective.” Journal of Sexual Aggression, vol. 13, no. 1, Mar. 2007, pp. 21–35. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/13552600701365597.
8. Knight, Zelda G. “Some Thoughts on the Psychological Roots of the Behavior of Serial Killers as Narcissists: An Object Relations Perspective.” Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, vol. 34, no. 10, Dec. 2006, pp. 1189–1206. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2224/sbp.2006.34.10.1189.
9. Martens, Willem H. J. “Sadism Linked to Loneliness: Psychodynamic Dimensions of the Sadistic Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer.” Psychoanalytic Review, vol. 98, no. 4, Aug. 2011, pp. 493–514. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1521/prev.2011.98.4.493.
10. Murray, Jennifer L. “The Role of Sexual, Sadistic, and Misogynistic Fantasy in Mass and Serial Killing.” Deviant Behavior, vol. 38, no. 7, July 2017, pp. 735–743. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/01639625.2016.1197669.
11. Palermo, Mark T., and Stefan Bogaerts. “The Dangers of Posthumous Diagnoses and the Unintended Consequences of Facile Associations: Jeffrey Dahmer and Autism Spectrum Disorders.” International Journal of Offender Therapy & Comparative Criminology, vol. 59, no. 14, Dec. 2015, pp. 1564–1579. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1177/0306624X14550642.
12. Piercy, Lindsey. “UK Researcher Unravels Serial Killer Ted Bundy’s Mental Health.” UKNow, 4 June 2019, http://uknow.uky.edu/research/uk-researcher-unravels-serial-killer-ted- bundys-mental-health.
13. Sarkar, Jaydip. “Mental health assessment of rape offenders.” Indian journal of psychiatry vol. 55, no. 3, (2013): 235-43. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.117137
14. [bookmark: OLE_LINK1][bookmark: OLE_LINK2]
15. Stefanska, E. B., et al. “A Systematic Review of the Literature Comparing Male Non-Serial Sexual Killers and Sexual Aggressors: Examining Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Characteristics of These Groups.” Journal of Sexual Aggression, vol. 22, no. 3, Nov. 2016, pp. 323–341. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/13552600.2015.1126657.

The Typology And Patterns Of Serial Killers

Introduction: The Complexity of Serial Killers

Homicide is the act of one human killing another. A homicide requires only a volitional act by another person that results in death, and thus a homicide may result from accidental, reckless, or negligent acts even if there is no intent to cause harm. Where as a serial murderer is defined as any offenders, male or female that kill over time, have a minimum of 3 to 4 victims. Usually there is a pattern in their killing that can be associated with the types of victims selected or the method or motives for the killing. In addition, serial murderers include those men and women who operate within the confines of a city or state or even travel through several states to seek out victims (Hickey 35). Holmes and DeBurger condensed serial killers typologies into four different groups: visionary, mission, hedonistic, and power control (Hickey 38). When it comes to the Federal Bureau of Investigators, they have two different typologies on serial killers, organized serial killers and disorganized which helps them identify the killer (Hickey 41). Lastly, Hickey grouped serial killers typologies into three different categories: traveling, local, and place-specific to help identify the patterns in their killings (Hickey 42).

Israel Keyes: A Unique Case Study

Israel Keyes is not your ordinary serial killer his “profile” was all over the place making it extremely difficult for investigators to track him down and account for all of his victims. According to Holmes and DeBurger serial killer typologies, Keys was a mix between a hedonistic killer and a power/control killer. Hedonistic killers are thrill seekers who get satisfaction from murdering; they kill because it gives them pleasure, also known as lust killers. On the other hand, a power/control killer does not kill for sexual reasons, they kill because the pleasure comes from the ability of the killer to exert power and control over the victim. Power/control killers enjoy forcing the victim to beg for mercy. Keyes was a mixture of these two typologies because some of his victims were raped multiple times then killed, while others were simply killed for pure pleasure.

Another reason why Keyes is not your ordinary serial killer was because according to the FBI profiling typologies a serial killer has to be either organized or disorganized but technically he was not either. Organized serial killers are also known as “lust murderers” by the FBI, they get this name because the crime scene is well organized and the killer takes great time and preparation to select his victims and carry out the offense. Organized serial killers tend to do things such as return to the crime scene, volunteer information, enjoy contact with the police, expects to be interrogated, and moves the body or exposes the body for more reaction. They did not see any of these traits with Keyes, he was the total opposite in fact. He did not return to the crime scene, interact with the police, or move the body for more reaction, but what Keyes once did was volunteer information to the police for money. He called the boyfriend of one of his victims, Samantha Koenig, telling him to go to Concert Lake Park and get the envelope off the billboard if they wanted to see her again. Inside of the envelope contained a picture of Samantha along with a ransom note demanding that $50,000 be deposited into her account. That was the one and only time Keyes did such a thing to qualify his as an “organized” serial killer.

Organized vs. Disorganized: Where Keyes Fits In

Disorganized serial killers may or may not know their victims, exhibit sudden and extreme violence on their victims, commit crime based on opportunity rather than stalking or trolling and, the crime scene is disorganized. These “traits” were not seen in Keyes as well, but the only qualifying “trait” would be the fact that he did not know any of his victims and got them based off opportunity rather than stalking and trolling his victims. There are so many split differences in what an organized and disorganized killer is and then there is Israel Keyes. His “traits” and how he went about things would qualify him as an organized or disorganized killer. For example, Keyes had a high birth-order status (2nd out of 10) but did not have social skills, these two traits would contradict the organized/disorganized profile of serial killers. Another one would be the fact that Keyes did not have a sloppy crime scene, but he also did not prepare his crime scene in advance. Lastly, according to Hickey, serial killers had to fit into three different typologies, this is the only category where Keyes truly fits in only one category, with him being a traveling serial killer. Traveling serial killers travel all over the country covering thousands of miles each year, being one who murders in several different states and jurisdictions. Keyes often traveled for work making it a lot easier for him to kill without any speculation from his wife, spreading his victims all across the nation. Which is another reason it was difficult for investigators to make a connection or construct a profile of Keyes considering he did things such used rental cars.

The Modus Operandi of Israel Keyes

Israel Keyes spent a decade traveling the country, robbing banks, kidnapping, and murdering along the whole way. His signature was “kill kits” that were predisposed in certain areas in particular states he visited frequently, inside of the “kill kit” there was duct tape, guns, rope, chemicals used to start decomposition of a body, and money. The only reason he went so long without getting caught was because of the fact he was able to delay gratification and his urge to kill. Israel Keyes was the 2nd out of 10 children born in Richmond, Utah, in 1978. He along with his siblings were homeschooled. His family moved to the Aladdin Road area, north of Colville, Washington, where they became neighbors and friends with the family of Chevie Kehoe who was convicted of three 1996 murders. Keyes introduced himself to crime at a very young age, he would go into the woods sometimes alone sometimes with peers, get a cat, tie it a tree, then proceed to shoot it.

Keyes served in the U.S. Army from 1998 through 2001 at Fort Lewis, Fort Hood, and in Egypt. While at Fort Lewis, Keyes served on a mortar team in the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. According to his military records, Keyes entered the Army in Albany, New York, on July 9, 1998, and was discharged from Fort Lewis on July 8, 2001, at the rank of specialist. Records indicated Keyes was awarded the following decorations and awards: Army Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Infantryman Badge, and Air Assault Badge. Former Army friends of Keyes have noted his quiet demeanor and that he typically kept to himself. On weekends, he was reported to drink heavily, consuming entire bottles of his favorite drink, Wild Turkey bourbon. He was also heavily into the music group Insane Clown Posse and had several large posters hanging in his barracks room. In 2007, Keyes started a construction business in Alaska, Keyes Construction working as a handyman, contractor, and construction worker.

According to Keyes, his usual routine would be to fly to some areas of the country, rent a vehicle, and sometimes drive hundreds of miles to find victims. He would set up and bury murder kits somewhere in the targeted area – stashing items like shovels, plastic bags, money, weapons, ammunition and bottles of Drano, to help dispose of the bodies. His murder kits have been found in Alaska and New York, but he admitted to having others in Washington, Wyoming, Texas and possibly Arizona. He would look for victims in remote areas like parks, campgrounds, walking trials, or boating areas. If he was targeting a home he looked for a house with an attached garage, no car in the driveway, no children or dogs. After committing the murder, he would leave the geographic area immediately. In February 2012, Keyes broke his rules and made two mistakes. First, he kidnapped and killed someone in his hometown, which he had never done before. Secondly, he let his rental car be photographed by an ATM camera while using a victim’s debit card. On Feb. 2, 2012, Keyes kidnapped 18-year-old Samantha Koenig, a barista at one of the many coffee stands around Anchorage. He was planning to wait for her boyfriend to pick her up and kidnap both of them, but for some reason decided against it and just grabbed Samantha. Koenig’s abduction was caught on video, and a massive search for her was conducted by authorities, friends, and family for weeks, but she was killed shortly after she was abducted. He took her to a shed at his Anchorage home, sexually assaulted her and strangled her to death. He then immediately left the area and went on a two-week cruise, leaving her body in the shed. When he returned, he dismembered her body and dumped it in Matanuska Lake north of Anchorage. About a month later, Keyes used Koenig’s debit card to get money from an ATM in Texas. The camera in the ATM captured a picture of the rental car Keyes was driving, linking him to the card and the murder. He was arrested in Lufkin, Texas on March 16, 2012. Keyes was originally extradited back from Texas to Anchorage on credit card fraud charges.

The Downfall and Capture of Israel Keyes

On April 2, 2012, searchers found Koenig’s body in the lake. On April 18, an Anchorage grand jury indicted Keyes for the kidnapping and murder of Samantha Koenig. While awaiting trial in the Anchorage jail, Keyes was interviewed for more than 40 hours by Anchorage police detective Jeff Bell and FBI Special Agent Jolene Goeden. Although he was not completely forthcoming with many details, he began to confess to some of the murders he committed over the past 11 years with certain stipulations. The stipulations consisted of things such as an american, peanut butter snicker and a cigar every single time he interviewed with investigators in exchange for minor details of his crimes. When the details began to get more graphic his stipulations increased and he began to push for the death penalty. Since Alaska was not a death penalty state investigators were unable to fulfill that stipulation, but continue to push for information saying,”the more you give us the easier it will be to present this to the judge for him to grant an execution,” (Watts 01:20:03). When Keyes proceeded to give up the locations of bodies and the names of his unknown victims he increased his stipulation and asked for his name to be kept out of the media for the sake of his family. The investigators failed to keep Keyes name out of the media, and when Keyes got word of this he began to hold back and no longer give investigators information. After this happened, investigators put their best foot forward presenting evidence they found to Keyes, but he did not like this and began to break down. On Dec. 2, 2012, Israel Keyes was found dead in his Anchorage jail cell. He had cut his wrists and strangled himself with a rolled-up bedsheet. Under his body was a blood-soaked, four-page letter written on yellow legal pad paper in both pencil and ink. Investigators could not make out the writing on Keyes suicide note until the letter was enhanced at the FBI lab.​ An analysis of the enhanced letter concluded that it contained no evidence or clues, but was merely an Ode to Murder, written by a serial killer who loved to kill.

Keyes admitted to admiring other serial killers such as Ted Bundy, he also said that he learned a lot by reading books written by criminal profilers in the Bureau. He read John Douglas’ Mindhunter first, as a teenager, when he suddenly realized he wasn’t alone. He also read Dark Dreams by Roy Hazelwood, who wrote in great detail about lust-driven serial killers. Keyes took notes from that book as well, although he admitted to studying the tactics of other serial killers, and he enjoyed watching movies about killers, but he was careful to point out to investigators that he used his own ideas, not those of other famous killers. It is clear that Keyes was very different from our “average” serial killer, he did not have a type like other known serial killers such as Ted Bundy who went after young white women who had long straight hair parted down the middle. Nor did Keyes have a target such as Kieran Kelly, who went after the homeless community. Israel Keyes went after anyone no matter the age, race, or gender. He began his career crimal career with bankrobbories then progressed to rape, then murder. As stated before, investigators were unable to put Keyes into any typologies that help investigators find the offenders making Keyes so unique.

Conclusion: The Unpredictability of Serial Killers

All in all, Israel Keyes was such a unique serial killer that his uniqueness kept him from getting caught. Due to him having no true motive, type, or kill pattern, even investigators could not get an accurate profile. Although Keyes did not truly plan his murders, he planted kill kilts all over the country so when he was ready to kill again the kill kits were at hand. Unlike most serial killers Keyes killed far from home, he used rental cars, and chose his victims at random ultimately making him least likely to be a suspect. We could assume that after Keyes read John Douglas’ Mindhunter as a teenager, and realizing he wasn’t alone is what drove him to begin killing, but that is something the world may never know.

Sources

1. Hickey, E. W. (2016). Serial murderers and their victims(7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. (2018, October 20). Retrieved November 8, 2019, from https://www.nbc.com/method-of-a-serial-killer/video/method-of-a-serial-killer/3818152.
2. Investigators say an Alaska man who confessed to killing eight people across the country had researched Ted Bundy and other serial killers and enjoyed watching suspense crime movies. (2012). Retrieved from https://video-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.shsu.edu/details/1_1jtma9ad?q=israel keyes&deviceId=3ff47409-6016-4acb-957e-f2f549a96718R&lang=en&minDate=&maxDate=
3. Pemment, J. (2013, January 2). The Making and the Breaking of the Serial Killer. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/blame-the-amygdala/201301/the-making-and-the-breaking-the-serial-killer.
4. Hunter, J. T. (2016). Devil in the darkness: the true story of serial killer Israel Keyes. Unites States of America: RJ Parker Publishing Inc.

Blood Rage: Are Serial Killers A Product Of Their Environment?

Introduction to Serial Killers

What is a serial killer? A serial killer is someone who kills without a clear motive, but they have a behavioral pattern. When you think of serial killers you think of someone who has had an abusive parent, who have been sexually abused or physically. Did you know that some are born with a type of rage or curiosity that may make them into the monster they become? Dennis Rader also known as the BTK killer he had a normal child he was in boy scouts he volunteered with his local churches’ youth group. Even though his childhood was normal he mentions that he started having fantasies about bondage and control at a young age he went on to kill many women. So, what makes a serial killer? A serial killer is someone who kills three or more people. Age, race, and gender have no bounds when it comes to the monsters that are out there. Serial killers are be put in four different categories the first being medical they are also known as angels of death or angels of mercy; these killers normally target those who are in their care. They are normally in the medical field; they are anything from nurses to doctors. They can work in the mental hospitals or normal hospitals. Everyone in their care are targets no matter the age race or gender. They normally believe that they are helping their victims from a life full of misery and pain. Next is the organized killers, they are the most difficult to identify and capture. usually highly intelligent and well organized, they seem to be the most normal on the outside hiding their true intent under a sweet smile and nice personality. They must have every detail of their crimes perfect before they can kill. They often must stalk their victims for days even weeks to makes sure they are the right fit for their dark desires’. Then you have disorganized killers these individuals rarely plan out the deaths of their victims in any way. Normally their victims are victims of chance. This type of serial killer strikes when the desire takes over. They often take no steps to cover up their crimes they are often not in one place for very long leaving a trail of death as they go. They are often not close to friends or family. They often use the voices told me to do it or that they are working for Satan.

Case Study: Aileen Wuornos – The Unorganized Killer

A good example of an unorganized killer would be Aileen Wuornos, she is one of the most well-known woman serial killers. She was born on February 29, 1956, since her father was in prison and her mother abandoned her and her brother, they both went to live with their grandparents. Little did they know her grandfather would sexually abuse her while she lived with them. Wuornos would later state that she had a sexual relationship with her older brother. Her childhood was not easy, being sexually abused by her grandfather and kicked out as a teenager she turned to other means to survived, having to turn to making a living as a sex worker on Florida highways. Ever thought she was away from her grandfather and brother the sexual abuse would not stop; she recounts moments she would wake up from being drugged while a man is raping her with a tire iron. During her time of killing Wuornos killed seven men, her killing spree started in late 1989 and ending 1990. Even though she killed seven men she was only convicted for the murder of Richard Mallory. Richard Mallory was a clearwater electronics shop owner she had shot him several time. Even though he was killed on December 1st his body wouldn’t be found until December 13th he was found. Each of her victims were killed by gunshot the nature of the crimes where very gruesome and seem to give off a type of rage. On January 27th, 1992 a jury found Wuornos guilty of first-degree murder for the Mallory case and received the death penalty. Wuornos would claim that the men she killed was in self-defense they were going to either to kill her or rape her. She would later retract her claims. Wuornos was sent to death by lethal injection on the morning of October 9, 2002.

Case Study: Dennis Rader – The Organized Killer

An organized killer a great example of an organized killer would be Dennis Rader, he had a pretty decent childhood he was in boy scouts and even volunteered for his local youth group. Dennis Rader is also known as the BTK killer. Because of his childhood and how well behaved he was it was easy for him to hide the fact that he was strangling and killing stranded animals. On January 15th, 1974 Rader killed for the first time he strangled to death a family of four in their home, two parents Joseph and Julie and two of their children. I would like to leave their names out for the respect of the family. He also left semen at the scene, this would later set a signature of how he becomes sexually aroused and receives sexual pleasure from his killings, but unfortunately it would only take him only three months before his would strike again. He has stalked a young woman before attacking her on April 4th, 1974 he broke into the apartment of a young woman named Kathryn Bright he stabbed and strangled her when she returned home, he had also shot her brother twice, but fortunately he would survive. In October of that year Rader would place a letter in a public library book in that he takes responsibility for killing the Oteros. This letter was given to the cops in the letter he wrote “It’s so hard to control myself you probably call me a psychotic with a sexual perversion hang-up” he also warned that he would strike again within the letter he would also give himself the name B.T.K killer, B.T.K would stand for bind, torture, kill. He would go on to kill 8 more women. He would later take long break in 1991 to focused on family and work life. Rader would throw off investigators with this thirteen year break, But in 2004 he would resurface, Rader went local media out and authorities several letters filled with items related to his crimes including pictures, a word puzzle and an outlie for the “B.T.K story. Throughout his killing spree Rader sent taunting letters to police and newspapers describing the details of his crimes. Rader was arrested on February 25th,2005 later changed with 10 counts of first-degree murder. The motive for his killing is known as being a sexual sadist

Case Study: Charles Cullen – The Angel of Death

Lastly you have your angels of death, angels of mercy, or your medical killers, the most well-known would be Charles Cullen’s he was born February 22nd, 1960, Cullen confessed that he killed up to 40 patients during the course of his 16-year career as a nurse in New Jersey. Cullen was the youngest of eight, he would lose his father when he was only 7 months old. Cullen’s had described his childhood as being miserable he constantly bullied by his sister’s boyfriends and his schoolmates. His first of many attempts to suicide he was as young as nine to drink chemicals from a chemistry set. Cullen’s would lose his mother during his junior year of high school. He would recall her death as being devastating. Cullen’s first confessed to murders that occurred at St Barnaba’s. His first murder would happen on June 11th,1988 he administered a lethal overdose of intravenous medication to a patient. He would later admit to killing several other patients including an AIDS patient who died after being given an overdose of insulin. Cullen’s would leave St. Barnabas in January 1992 when the hospital authorities began investigating who had contaminated iv bags. One month after leaving cunning took another job at Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg. While there he murdered three elderly women by giving them overdoses of the heart medication digoxin. His last victim said that a sneaky male nurse had injected her as she was sleeping. her family and healthcare providers at the hospital dismissed her comments as unfounded. In March 1993 Cullen stared stalking woman. Cullen claimed to have killed 40 people during his career and worked for 10 different nursing homes and hospitals. To prevent people from caught on to him killing his and other patients. When authority’s and his coworkers would start to question the death around him, he would quit and find a job at a different nursing home or hospital. What was his motive for killing Cullen stated he administered overdoses to patients in order to spare them from coding, He had told the detectives that he couldn’t bear to witness or hear about the attempts at saving his victims lives. Even when investigators told Cullen that he may have caused more pain and suffering to Cullen’s appeared to not realize that he was more focused on sparing them from coding. Cullen was able to move from facility to facility undetected because of lack of requirements to report suspicious behavior by medical workers.

Nature vs. Nurture: Are Serial Killers a Product of Their Environment?

Are serial killers a product of their environment? I would have to say no they are not their childhood has no baring’s on if they are going to be a killer or not. Look around you or in your neighborhood you next door neighbor could be one of the worse killers ever. If you ask John Wayne Gracey’s neighbors before he was caught if you thought, he was a killer they would say no. Even the most normal looking people can hold a rage in them that is killer. Some stalk their victims and plan out every detail down to how they are going to lure their victims. Look at Ted Bundy, Dennis Rider and Jeffery Dahmer they all had pleasant childhood and they are three of well-known serial killers, but they are also the most disturbed serial killers out there. So, no serial killers are not a product of their environment. The ones who did have a nice childhood are more organized and harder to find. If you look at the killing of Ted Bundy, Dennis Rader and, Jeffery Dahmer they have every detail thought out they have a ritual that they must follow. In some cases, they stalk their victims When you find someone, who has had a difficult childhood they are more disorganized. If you look at the victims of Aileen Wuornos, Richard Ramirez and Mary Bell you can tell they were disorganized killers. All their victims were victims of opportunity not planed out at all they left evidence behind, so they were easily ID being caught that is different. Also, their victims show more rage in their killing than someone who has a better childhood. So, no environment means nothing when it comes to a serial killer, but it does mean the differences in an organized killer and a disorganized killer and the number of victims and the amount of rage that is behind the killing for the victim.

References

1. “Crime Museum,” https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/types-of-serial-killers/
2. “Aileen Wuornos.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 10 Sept. 2019, https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/aileen-wuornos.
3. “Dennis Rader.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 22 Aug. 2019, https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/dennis-rader.
4. Siegel, Larry Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning. p. 353. ISBN 1-133-71052-2
5. Bauer, Craig P. Secret History: The Story of Cryptology. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-4665-6186-1.
6. Hickey, Eric W. (2012). Serial Murderers and Their Victims. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning. p. 254. ISBN 1-285-40168-9.
7. ‘Killer nurse gets 11 life sentences’. Graeber, Charles (2013). The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder. New York, NY: Twelve. pp. 6–7. ISBN 1455574139.
8. Pérez-Peña, Richard; Kalinowski, David; George, Jason. “DEATH ON THE NIGHT SHIFT: 16 Years, Dozens of Bodies; Through Gaps in System, Nurse Left Trail of Grief’. The New York Times.

The Features Of Zodiac Serial Killer

A serial killer is somebody who could be a best friend, a coworker, and often times a parent. How can somebody go out and kill people? Many serial killers can go out and know who they want to kill. In many instances nobody knows a person is a serial killer, until they start committing murderous crimes. The Zodiac killer is a criminal who is targeting people and it seems to always be with a gun and not another weapon. In spite of being accused of murdering 37 people, people are not quite sure if the Zodiac killer killed them, or if somebody else helped him commit these murders, since his identity is not known. Between the film, and the actual investigation the information was accurate except for some differences.

In the 1960s-1970s there were many murders that had taken place during this time period. This murderer had no name and started sending letters to investigators, and news reporters, and many more people. The guy then soon to tell people his name was the Zodiac killer and people wanted to find out his actual name. He was accused of murdering 37 people, but the police department reported that there had been 5 deaths, and seven total attacks (Montaldo). On December 20th 1968, there had been a couple named Betty, and David they had been currently parked in an area that was isolated and they were just talking at the time and soon they realized that there was a car that was following them, which caused them to freak out (Montaldo). The guy in the black car then drove off and came back and killed these couples in their car at 11:15 on Lake Herman road. The detectives started to look into this unusual massacre that had taken place, and found that the guy was sick and he shot these two people with a gun really close to their face. Betty had been completely dead, although David was not all the way dead when the police had come, David ended up surviving, and Betty went to the hospital and ended up dying (Butterfield). Based on Betty and David’s murder, Researchers had found that these two teens were considered a target. They could never figure out why they could have been a target (Butterfield).

On July 4th 1969, there was another couple named Darlene, and Michael they had been parked by a golf course and they saw some man walking up behind them at midnight and figured oh, it’s a police officer. Often times police officers have flashlights and many people got blinded by how bright the light is. The Zodiac killer then started thinking about how he can include a flashlight on his gun so he would not have to hold the gun and the flashlight. The Zodiac killer had a 9mm gun and started firing at Darlene, and David as they were crying out for help (Butterfield). Soon after this happened people noticed they were in danger and immediately called for help. Why did the Zodiac killer kill people? The Zodiac killer killed people because he wanted to be famous and wanted everything to go in the newspaper. He wanted all of the attention and wanted to be remembered for everything he did, and wanted people to know about it. The Zodiac killer was known for his codes and he wanted people to crack them, but many people could not crack them until a high school teacher on August 8th cracked the 408-symbol cipher and her husband. According to the letter of the Zodiac killer:

I LIKE KILLING PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH FUN IT IS MORE FUN THAN KILLING WILD GAME IN THE FORREST BECAUSE MAN IS THE MOST DANGEROUE ANAMAL OF ALL TO KILL SOMETHING GIVES ME THE MOST THRILLING EXPERENCE IT IS EVEN BETTER THAN GETTING YOUR ROCKS OFF WITH A GIRL THE BEST PART OF IT IS THAE WHEN I DIE I WILL BE REBORN IN PARADICE AND THEI HAVE KILLED WILL BECOME MY SLAVES I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY NAME BECAUSE YOU WILL TRY TO SLOI DOWN OR ATOP MY COLLECTIOG OF SLAVES FOR MY AFTERLIFE. (Montaldo)

Police investigators, and detectives, and a cartoonist were trying to figure out the Zodiac killers name, and it really upset them when none of the codes included his name. They had to do more and more research every day to figure out who this guy was. There had been a fourth attack on October 11th, and Paul Stine was the victim and was a taxi cab driver and shot him while taking his car keys, and his wallet (Montaldo). The Zodiac killer was always using a gun to shoot his victims, and had taken peoples car keys, and their wallets with every victim he has murdered (Montaldo). When Stine got murdered the Zodiac killer had sent the Chronicles a letter stating that policemen have stopped him and they were questioning him. The Zodiac killer did not like that and threatened them that he will get a bomb ready and let it off on a school bus full of children (Montaldo).

The Zodiac killer does take credit for his victims, but no one knows who he is so in that case he can not be stopped. During these cases there had been several other murders but he murdered so many people it is hard to write about all of them. Detectives and a cartoonist were still investigating and trying to find clues. Some clues they have found include fingerprints, footprints, and the victim had hair and blood on her fingernails (Montaldo). The Zodiac killer kept on sending letters after sending letters and in December there had been a letter carved into a desk and they had the same handwriting as the Zodiac killer stated Sherwood. Based on these killings people then began to give up on who the killer was because the Zodiac killer ended up leaving and he never communicated with any letters after four years (Montaldo). During this horrendous tragedy the Zodiac killer was never solved and the police thought they found out who the killer was, but it came out that the guy they thought it was, he was not the killer.

The Zodiac killer was a unique individual, he created his own symbol used to taunt investigators after his first murder. The Zodiac killers’ symbol was a circle with a plus sign and that is what made him the Zodiac killer. Many people thought the killer was Arthur Leigh Allen but he had a hand-written test and he got released from it because it did not match the Zodiac killers handwriting. The Zodiac killer had based his sign off of a watch which Fossil owns currently to this day.

There was little or no doubt that the Zodiac killer was a narcissist and wanted to show his superiority to the world. He loved getting all of the attention and he had a disorder called paraphiliac disorder which means he had a disorder of sexual, and difficulties in behaviors. On November 17th, 1989, the NYPD’s 17th precinct began receiving letters that they were starting to date and the letters that they have received had a title called The Zodiac. It seemed like one murder had taken place, and then other murders happened hours after the murder. People tried getting as much evidence as possible to figure out who the Zodiac killer was, and where the letters were coming from (ArntField, pg. 99).

Based on the film of the Zodiac killer, the film started out as a car following this couple named Darlene, and David and David noticed that the car was at a food restaurant and followed them to their isolated destination. They thought it was very weird that the car was following them and Darlene did not realize the guy had been following them, but David noticed. The guy in the black car drove away and then he came back and when he came back he walked up with a flashlight blinding Darlene and David and shot them in the head. Darlene was shot multiple times, and David had called 911 and he was sitting by the tire on the ground (Zodiac, Fincher).

The Zodiac then started sending letters to investigators, and police investigators with a code for them to solve. Many people did not understand what was going on or how to solve this mystery. A high school teacher and her husband had solved this code and told the police what the letters had said. There was a cartoonist that tried solving the Zodiac mystery for a long time, and he was determined to solve this mystery and never had given up. Many people that he worked with made fun of him because he was a boy scout, but he was proud to be a boy scout and a great researcher. The Zodiac killer wanted to kill children on a bus when they came bouncing out of the bus one by one. The killer was taped and he told them he did not want people knowing his disguise and how he kills. He said I have not left any finger prints behind, and he wears transparent fingertips which is two coats of airplane cement coated on his fingertips stated the Zodiac killer. The Zodiac killer stated that people should have holes in their heads. During the film this mystery had been out on newspapers, and televisions, and everybody knew about this serial killer. While investigators were trying to solve this terrible mystery, people started going to the police station to say they were the Zodiac killer and many people wanted to be arrested for these murders. They knew these people were not the Zodiac killers because people had been saying false evidence that did not go along with the evidence the Zodiac killer had been doing (Zodiac).

During the film they had found some evidence they thought was for certain and they had to call in Arthur Leigh in for some questions. They asked Arthur Leigh some questions, and a question they asked him was what was he knife in your car with blood all over it? Arthur replied that he killed a chicken and ate it for dinner. They asked if he was ambidextrous and he replied that his teachers tried making him write with both hands but he could never do that. Leigh had stated that he wanted to kill school children, and he paused for a second and then said it was horrible and it was a horrible thing to say. Leigh had been fired for touching his students and he never responded to that question. A police investigator saw that he had a Zodiac watch on his wrist and asked Arthur if he could see his watch and said his mother gave the watch to him for Christmas (Zodiac).

The cartoonist Robert Graysmith then began to try to solve the mystery and his wife had to take her kids because she did not feel safe at her house. The Zodiac killer started calling the cartoonist and he hung up every time and continued to research the mystery. The Zodiac killer had been calling his house once a week and the wife did not like that. He thought the killer was Rick Marshal and his hand writing was the closest to the Zodiacs handwriting. He then found a girl named Linda and visited her in the jail and asked her some questions like what is the painting party? Linda replied with a story about how Dalene had lots of boys around and used to bring her presents from Tijuana and Darlene told Linda he had killed somebody before. The guy showed up at the party in a suit and sat alone all night long. Darlene had been very scared of this man so she told Linda to stay away from him. Linda said he had a short nickname and his name was Leigh. He had files on files and Roberts wife gave him some information and told him to finish the case. Robert had never finished the case, although he did make a book about it hoping somebody would figure out the case (Zodiac).

Seven- and one-half years later this guy was at the airport and some victims wanted to meet with this guy that wanted to solve this mystery. He had some photos laid out and asked the guy to point to who the guy was that he saw. The guy pointed to somebody with a round face and said that on a scale from one to ten the guy he pointed to was an eight and he rated the guy an eight out of ten of how sure he was (Zodiac).

The film of the Zodiac, and what actually happened is accurate there are a few differences but they were pretty close to the same. During the film of Zodiac some differences include a black car did not follow Darlene and David and he just came to the isolated spot and shot them. The cartoonist Robert was not mentioned in the actual mystery. Those two differences were the only two things that were different than what actually happened. All of the quotes from the article was mentioned in the film as well they did not hold anything back and wanted to make it accurate (Zodiac).

There had been a third Zodiac and he ended up killing a young girl that was 9 years old and she had been stabbed to death. The killer was strong and he could just strangle somebody. The Zodiac said he loved killing people because he enjoyed doing it and he said he liked killing people more than hunting wild animals. In Japan they were shaken because they did not want anything to do with the Zodiac killer, and that when he said school children make nice targets they felt really scared and did not want him to come and hurt their kids. There had been a police officer raided a boy’s home and found evidence such as horror videos, and a knife, and a book about the San Francisco killings and he also had sacred experiments so he can start practicing his killings (Graysmith, pg. 384-387).

The two themes of history are serial killers, and the Civil rights because serial killers are a huge part of life and it still happens to this day. Choosing the civil rights is another theme because during the Zodiac movie the right to justice is used in the film and they are trying to figure out who the Zodiac killer was. The upbringing would be that the police had left much evidence that the mystery should have been solved, but they gave up and quit trying to solve who the killer was. If they did not leave back so much evidence they would have found the killer. This helps me what is happening in the movie because they were finding tons of evidence to figure out who the killer was, and the film ends in how they never found the killer. The film does not show who the Zodiac killer and no one ever figures out who the killer was. The director made these changes because they wanted people to do some research to figure out who can solve the mystery. They never figured out who the killer was and they probably will never figure it out. They feel like they need to make it anonymous.

Many people have wondered who the Zodiac killer was, but the mystery has never been solved. Many people that you think may not be a serial killer ends up being somebody you are close to like a friend, a family member, or even somebody you may have encountered with at any time during anybody’s lifetime. Some serial killers are developed through a tragedy in their early lives that cause them to kill or hurt other people. Many people will often wonder what happens with the Zodiac killer and wonder if he is still on the loose.

Social And Psychological Factors That Influence Serial Killers

While research suggests that psychological factors may provide the necessary prerequisites for psychopathic tendencies, social factors, such as family life and upbringing, are also essential contributors to shaping the minds of disturbed individuals. According to Hestie Barnard Gerber, psychological abuse from parents, such as excessive humiliation and discipline, works to desensitize children, causing them to “grow up devoid of empathy for others” (Gerber, 2013). This is interesting as it connects to the stereotypical characteristic of killers being remorseless and cold, which allows them to fulfill horrific acts.

Gerber also points out that exposure to violent sexual events and punishments, for example, witnessing sexual violence between parents or being punished for masturbation, usually leads to isolation and the fabrication of “violent fantasies that continue into adulthood” (Gerber, 2013). These recurring horrid fantasies generally revolve around violation and control, consuming their thoughts and ultimately compelling them to commit murders. In connection to this, Jeffrey Dahmer would dissect dead animals and even decapitated his own dog, as a way of fulfilling his gruesome fantasies of control. According to Bowie State University, exposure to alcohol and substance abuse has also been known to impact serial killers, as it could lead to many disorders and behavioral problems (Bowie State University, 2018).

This connects to Jeffrey Dahmer, as he struggled with drinking as a teenager and soon became an alcoholic, which resulted in the removal from his college and discharge from the army. For serial killers, the prevalence of physical abuse was 36%; sexual abuse was 26%; and psychological abuse was 50% (Mitchell & Aamodt, 2005); psychological abuse during the upbring was found to lead to torturing the victim, physical abuse was found to relate to careless acts after the the murder was committed, such as leaving the body at the scene of the crime, and sexual abuse was found to lead to overkill and necrophiliac tendencies.

All three types of abuse appear to relate to the rape/lust typology, which could explain many of the necrophiliac tendencies of famous serial killers, and could arguably be explained by the individual’s need to feel in control. This can relate to both Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy- who were both bullied growing up and therefore isolated from the rest of their classmates. After analyzing the phenomenon of serial killing, another recurring event in the past life of a serial killer is isolation during childhood and teenage years; indeed, “most serial killers admitted that during their teenage years they avoided parties and social events” (Bonn, 2014).

Serial killers’ families tend to be nomadic, especially during childhood. As a consequence, the child can end up not having meaningful relationships and this often results in the incapacity of forging such relationships. Moreover, episodes of bullism occur frequently during the serial killer’s childhood, for this reason, the child develops anti-social tendencies. These anti-social tendencies are characterized by traits such as: failure to feel remorse or guilt, disregard for the right of others and laws, and a tendency to display violent behaviour. Jeffrey Dahmer’s family moved several times during their son’s childhood; this affected his personality, he became disengaged, tense and friendless.

The Psychology Of Serial Killer And His Actions

Serial killing is possibly the most sensationalized criminal phenomenon of our time due to its horrific nature and its rarity. The worldwide view of a serial killer is a Caucasian male, a wicked monster with a strange look, has dysfunctional associations, engages in torturing animals, or has been abused physically or sexually in childhood, thus kills to derive the missed satisfaction (Hodgkinson, Prins, and Stuart-Bennett 2). However, these notions of a serial killer are not validated since every serial killer has a different reason for killing multiple victims and that depends on his/her experiences and history. The complex behavior of serial killers, whether organized, disorganized, or mixed, can understood by looking at their motivational factors, which can be biological, psychological, or cognitive.

While documented acts of serial killing date back to at least the early Roman Empire, societal awareness of serial homicides escalated steadily since the 1960s, with press coverage of notorious cases such as Charles Manson, Albert DeSalvo, and Edward Gein. Furthermore, songs like The Ripper by Judas Priest, movies like The Perfume, and television shows like The Fall indicate a pervasive enthrallment with serial killers (Sharma 5).

Although few people are killers, the world has a general fascination with serial killing. The first ever-documented serial killer was reported in the first century CE. It involved someone from Rome known as Locusta, who gained popularity after poisoning Emperor Claudia, his son Britannicus, as well as the other six unspecified victims (Sharma 1). Another notable case of serial killing is Gilles de Rais, a French army’s leader, Joan of Arc’s companion-in-arms, and serial killer, famous for murdering a large group of people in 14th and 15th centuries (about 100 children). In the United States, various cases of serial killings have been documented from the 1800s, with H.H. Holmes being one of the most popular and first in the US. It was confirmed that he murdered a minimum of twelve individuals in the 1990s comprising of children, women, and men, although he mentioned that he had killed over twenty-five people (Sharma 5). A more recent serial killing case in the US is that of William Devin Howell, an accused serial killer who confessed to having killed seven victims in 2003 in Connecticut. This is a recent photo of William Devin Howell.

Definition

Through the years, the serial killer definition has continued to evolve. In 1957, Reinhardt created the ‘chain killers’ phrase and defined them as individuals who would murder people living behind a ‘chain’ of fatalities. The first person to coin the ‘serial killer’ term was Robert Ressler from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Serial killers are individuals who kill more than three individuals (Sharma 6). It has also been defined as individuals who kill people serially (kill one person after another).

The FBI provided a serial killing definition in 1998 to include more than murders committed independently, and between them, there is a cooling-off period (Sharma 6). In 2005, the US FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit-2 held the Serial Murder Symposium, whereby serial killing was described as the same offender slaying a minimum of two victims unlawfully, in separate events.

Serial killing is different from multiple homicide cases. Mass killing is whereby one or more offenders kill four or more individuals in a single event, which can go for a few minutes or even hours (Hodgkinson, Prins, and Stuart-Bennett 4). For instance, George Hennard opened fire in October 1991 in Killen, Texas, at Luby’s cafeteria, which killed 23 victims before killing himself. This is classified as mass murder since the incidence happened in a single event, but numerous individuals were killed. Spree killing entails slaying a minimum of three targets within the same occasion but is separate scenes. This can be exemplified by Florida’s case where William Cruise killed six people at different locations and with no resting period between the killings in Palm Bay.

Five elements have been proposed to differentiate serial killing from other forms of multiple murders. They include the person’s act of killing victims in years or months while acting independently in most instances. The absence of a previously existing relationship between the victims and the offender characterizes it (Cummins, Foley, and King 72). Mostly, the killings are not founded on crimes of passion or victim precipitation, and their communication does not explicitly perpetuate the crime. Lastly, serial murder cases are not driven my any financial gain.

Some researchers have enabled the common stereotype of serial killers being 20 or 30- year-old white males. Significant literature on serial killing has concentrated on mostly White males disregarding the Asian, African American, Hispanic, and female serial murderers. However, when Aileen Carol Wuornos was arrested in 1991, the media broke into a frenzy which highlighted the notion of female serial killers. Statistics indicate that females represent approximately 12 to 15 percent of serial killers that have been caught (Sharma 8). A study was done in 2005 also invalidated the stereotype that serial killers are white by showing that 22 percent were African Americans.

Typologies of Serial Killer

Researchers have established a myriad of etiological typologies and theories to define the features of a serial killer. Through the years, social scientists, mental health professionals, law enforcement officials, and criminologists have tried to include different measures for the serial killer’s underlying motivations (Cummins, Foley, and King 70). Categorizing serial killers into these typologies assists in gaining details to help the law enforcement agencies further to profile, investigate, and ultimately apprehend the ferocious serial killers. Some of the typologies of serial killers include:

Organized and Disorganized killers

At FBI Training Academy at Quantico, special agents created a system intended to classify serial slayers as either disorganized or organized using the evidence found at the crime scene. According to the proposed system, with the crime scene’s classification as organized or disorganized, the behavior and characteristics of the offender can be identified (Hodgkinson, Prins, and Stuart-Bennett 6).

The Organized Killer

Based on this design, organized serial killers have a very systematic life that is also replicated in their method of committing crimes. Ideally, they can kill after going through some form of a trigger from an intimate relationship, employment, or financial challenges. As claimed in the model, these offenders would possibly have skilled employment, be socially proficient, and be between average to high intelligence levels (Hodgkinson, Prins, and Stuart-Bennett 6).

Organized offenders premeditate offenses, bring weapons for committing murder, and clear the murder scene afterward. The crime scene for organized offenders is very controlled since they are socially skilled and demonstrated good interpersonal interactions (Hodgkinson, Prins, and Stuart-Bennett 7). As such, they can communicate very well with their targets before the violence. Moreover, most of the organized offenders lead a normal life sometimes with a partner, not sexually starved, in a stable and controlled mood, and follow reports of their crimes.

The Disorganized Killer

Their crime scene is mostly chaotic and depicts that little to no premeditation was done before committing the crime. The disorganization may involve leaving behind murder weapon, fingerprints, blood, or semen at the crime scene (Hodgkinson, Prins, and Stuart-Bennett 9). In most cases, disorganized offenders are socially incompetent, with intelligence below average. The disarrayed crime scene reflects the murderer’s incompetence to uphold social interactions and relationships. Since they lack healthy and intimate relationships, they are more like to engage in sadistic and sexual acts during the murders. Lastly, disorganized offenders stay alone, are incompetent sexually, are always in an anxious mood and do not follow their crimes in the media.

Mixed Killer

A mixed killer exhibits the characteristic of both a disorganized and organized killer. In most cases, mixed killings involve more than one offender, and even though they may have done some planning beforehand, some of the events remain unforeseen (Sharma 10). For instance, the victim may resist, or the offender may employ a different form of violence. The crime may get messier with the offender getting more violent and might also leave the victim’s body uncovered or do it poorly.

Other typologies

Besides the organized/disorganized topology, serial killers are classified based on their intrinsic motivations for committing the crimes and their presumed psychological reinforcement. These classifications include:

• Visionary Type: Believing in their psychotic symptoms, these offenders kill since they listen to their visual/auditory delusions and hallucinations (Sharma 11).
• Mission-oriented Type has formed the idea that their primary duty in the world is to eliminate certain populations like immigrants, prostitutes, and individuals of a particular gender, age group, or ethnicities.
• Hedonistic Type includes lust killers and thrill killers. For lust killers, they get some form of sexual fulfillment from their killings. Nonetheless, their killings are not always centered on typical sexual acts; they can obtain satisfaction from committing the murder itself (Sharma 11). On the other hand, thrill killers are inspired by the excitement that they experience during the killings. As such, their murders entail longer periods of sadism and torture.
• Power/Control-oriented type: These killers obtain satisfaction from applying their dominance, control, and power over their targets. Their key drive in nonsexual, but they always want to make the victims feel helpless, hence, putting them in control of the situation.

Serial Killing’s Etiological Theories

Theories about serial killing etiology can be categorized into two sets: psychosocial perspective and biological perspectives. For psychosocial perspectives, they concentrate on mental disorders, social learning related influences, and childhood trauma. On the other hand, biological perspectives entail genetic predispositions, brain defects, and other issues.

Biological Perspectives

One biological perspective on serial killing concentrated on brain malfunctions whereby brain dysfunction degree in serious criminals is at an increased level when compared to non-criminals. Minimal Brain Dysfunction (MBD) is a condition whereby one suddenly but sporadically gets into maladaptive behaviors like volatile rage, but also between the episodes, neural and kind states are integrated (Sharma 12). MBD may lead to cases involving aggressive behavior, abuse, suicide, and aimless homicide.

Some of the serial killers have some form of organic brain abnormalities or head injury. Serial killers act out due to these neurological dysfunctions that lead to seizures; they act out in the course of episodes of unmanageable brainwave action, further resulting in compulsive conduct (Sharma 13). Further findings have indicated that substantial head injury during prenatal years or childhood may lead to the prefrontal cortex that is deformed or dysfunction in serotonin or dopamine levels, which predisposes them to serial killing.

A complex link has also been established between serial killing and predisposing neurodevelopmental problems (like a head injury), and traumatic and stressful environmental occurrences (Sharma 14). Neurological problems do not cause serial killings singlehandedly. However, there is an association between neurodevelopment and environmental aspects like physical, psychological, and sexual abuse that leads to a person getting predisposed to growing into a serial killer.

A different biological perspective is a link between biochemical imbalances (non-neurochemical and neurological) and violence and criminality. For instance, a state like hypoglycemia that increases when sugar and blood levels reduce leading to unusual neurological functioning has been linked to violent and antisocial behavior (Sharma 14). Hostile behavior has also been connected to uneven male hormone levels, like testosterone levels.

Unlike an average person, serial murderers may be born with a bigger requirement for superior stimulation. As such, they become vulnerable to compulsive and addictive gratification-seeking actions. Together with a dysfunctional prefrontal cortex, it may lead to an increase in the need and control of pleasure-seeking behaviors. The need for stimulation exhibited in a serial killer increases by a rise in the rate of her or his killing over time, which is reflective of an addictive and compulsory behavioral pattern.

Some theorists have also looked into the association between serial killing and the offender’s genetic components. A study established that male adopted children whose biological fathers were offenders but adoptive fathers were not, exhibited an increased rate of criminality when compared to those with both non-criminal adoptive and biological fathers (Sharma 15). As such, it was determined that when environmental and genetic risk factors combine, they contribute towards an individual’s getting into criminal behavior.

Psychosocial Perspectives

Studies on how psychosocial factors cause serial killing to have a bearing in childhood experiences, especially, abandonment, loneliness, and abuse which predisposes individuals to serial killing (Williams 379). Studies have indicated that the existence of a father-figure in a child’s life reduces/prevents aggressive and violent behaviors in adulthood. Cummins, Foley, and King have also indicated that a significant percentage of serial killers have been rejected by a parent or another person that is very important in their lives (67).

Other psychosocial factors that have been associated with serial murder include humiliation, abandonment, early adoptions, and neglect in childhood. Unhealthy and unstable relationships may incapacitate one’s ability to form emotional attachment during childhood (Sharma 16). Psychological and physical abuse also contributes to one’s development into a serial killer.

Parent-child attachments affect violent behavior. People who established a fearful and insecure attachment method are more likely to develop attachments that are not secure in the future (Williams 379). This process would possibly result in difficulty when establishing associations and the establishment of loneliness in both adulthood and childhood. For most serial killers, loneliness has been established as a motivating factor.

The abandonment and abuse pattern may result in one developing a mental illness. Besides, the lack of ability among people with schizophrenia to recognize facial expressions that show emotions, affects social functioning, hence increasing the possibility of criminal behavior (Hodgkinson, Prins, and Stuart-Bennett 25). People with schizophrenia also experience delusions that can enable serial killing behavior. Other disorders linked to serial killing behavior include Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), Borderline Personality Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD).

Cognitive Rehearsal and the Role of Fantasies

Studies have also shown that unsettled stress emotions and perceiving the world through trauma lenses that one has experienced may make a child look for relief in fantasies centered on concepts of control and domination, resulting in sexual ferocity coming from aggressive and sexual imaginations (Sharma 18). Individuals long to act on obsessive whims of murder, victim control, and torture since they act as a coping mechanism (Williams 380). Once the fantasies no longer serve their needs, serial killers will want to actualize them.

Conclusion

Several of the deeply rooted views about the serial murders mostly perpetrated by law enforcement and ‘pop psychology’ are flawed. The selective narrative of serial killers being sexually motivated, male, white, or motiveless peoples who target strangers randomly is invalidated since many factors have a role in the development of serial murderers, and these stereotypes cloud the reasoning. No sole factor leads to serial killing because it is a product of numerous elements predisposing an individual to act unhealthily. Each serial killer has had different factors that influence their behavior. Some of the factors are interdependent and overlap. For instance, low self-esteem, stress/trauma, power/control, loneliness, and belonging seem to be interconnected in a manner that predisposes one to serial killing. The combination of biological and psychosocial factors influences how serial killers behave.

An Examination Of The Life Of A Serial Killer

Serial killers have gripped media and Hollywood for decades, becoming a subject of choice for many movies, tv shows, and documentaries. Infamous serial murderers and rapists such as Ted Bundy, Jeffery Dahmer, Charles Manson, Eileen Wuornos and many more have sparked the interest of many, and their crimes are so shocking evil that it defies society’s core values, destroying the social contract.

Their ruthless nature leaves many curious about their stories, their origins, and their motives. It is hard for people to comprehend what creates and manifests a being that is so sinister, and in turn makes them question the making of true evil. Serial killers are individuals suffering with exacerbated psychological disorders, abuse, and perceived injustice, which they combat through the violence of unimaginable extremes. They feel powerless and victimization gives them the power that they have long been craving, leading to an insatiable thirst to never feel powerless again and allowing them to

They tend to lack a moral compass including diminished empathy, which desensitizes them and allows them to commit atrocities towards their victims. A murderer is classified as a serial killer when they have three or more victims, usually strangers, and have a “cooling off” period of about 30 days between the killings, and most crave resistance form their victims as it allows them to feel the euphoria that comes from the act itself (Simon, 2015).

Male serial killers tend to differ from their female counterparts. Men are predisposed to criminal behavior at a higher rate compared to women. Men were found to be more likely to engage in mutilation and necrophilia after murders and tend to be sexually charged in their crimes (Simon 2015). They tend to have unaddressed issues with aggression and fall into the traps of violent behavior easier due to the lack of mental health resources available and used by them.

This aggression manifests itself in the barbaric and ritualistic manner in these murders. While male serial killers are more prominent and are most recognized, their female counterparts can be equally if not more dangerous. It is hard for society to view women in the sadistic role of a coldblooded killer that is almost addicted to feeling the power of taking lives. Research shows that women make up 16% of all serial killers and the disbelief in women’s capability for these sorts of murders leads to cold cases, going undetected longer, and even being acquitted of the crimes (Harrison et.

Female serial killers, while equally cold blooded, tend to have very focused mindset and only engage in murder instead of mutilation. It could be argued that due to their tendency to be less aggressive than men they are able to be less barbaric in their crimes. Being psychically weaker they are more likely to incapacitate their victims by drugging them or choosing weaker victims such as children and the elderly. Female serial killers are also more likely to be caretake due to this very reason (Harrison et.

They tend to get away without being noticed for a while because they keep their crimes well hidden by not mentioning their wrongdoings as a means of reliving the

To better understand these individuals, it is important to pay attention to their childhoods as the ideas of morality are deeply rooted in childhood experiences. Both male and female serial killers were reported to have suffered either physical, psychological, or sexual abuse as children, and tend to come from families that suffer with substance abuse.

Are Serial Killers Born Or Made? Research Paper

Have you ever stopped to think about what makes serial killers who they are? Do you ever wonder why they behave the way they do? Are they born or made that way? All of these questions frequently go unanswered due to the fact that there’s no logical scientific reasoning behind them. Numerous people around the world have their theories on serial killers but not all of those theories are true. A serial killer is a person who murders three or more people usually over a period that spans more than one month. I predict that in order to go along with these terrifying events, a serial killer must have been made rather than have been born that way. I believe that serial killers are made and not born due to the fact that most serial killers usually have bad childhood experiences which leads them to do irrational things. In my opinion, if it weren’t for these unfortunate childhood events that serial killers face, they wouldn’t turn out the way they do. Infancy is a significant stage for human development and if any little thing goes wrong, the humans behavior in the future will most likely be affected. “Adults who had been physically, sexually, and emotionally abused as children were three times more likely than were non abused adults to act violently as adults” (“Serial Killers Born”). This statement proves that past violence in childhood events can trigger something bigger within a human in the future. These events cause permanent damage in the killers brain so therefore, they commit these crimes because of what happened to them in the past.

For starters, there have been studies done to prove that serial killers were in fact made and not born, some of which were successful and provided detailed evidence. The first study stated, “Part of the reason may be childhood abuse, which can create killers by causing physical damage to the brain. The pre-frontal cortex is especially vulnerable.” (“Are murders born or made?”). This indicates that due to previous violence, the brain becomes damaged and not as pure as it once was before. This childhood trauma can cause spoilage to the brain causing killers to think irrationally as well as commit unreasonable crimes. In order to find out who committed the murder, the investigators usually investigate the suspects past to see if they find any connections to the killers childhood and the recent killings. Most of the time they’ll find a connection which usually indicates that the suspect committed the killings because of past experiences. An example to that statement would be Aileen Wuornos. She was sexually abused by her grandfather who raised her after her parents abandoned her. Aileen killed men whom she believed were sexually assaulting her. This makes a pattern because if her parents wouldn’t have abandoned her then that sexual abuse would have never occurred. She wouldn’t have had any reason to kill those men if it weren’t for the traumatic past that her grandfather brought upon her. “By the age of 11, Wuornos began engaging in sexual activities in school in exchange for cigarettes, drugs, and food. She had also engaged in sexual activities with her brother. Wuornos claimed that her alcoholic grandfather had sexually assaulted and beaten her when she was a child.” (“Aileen Wuornos Wikipedia’). Not only was she sexually abused, but she went through other things as well. The more things she went through as a child, the more likely it was for her to commit these killings without remorse because she believed that she needed to stand up for herself against those men. If it weren’t for these past sexual experiences, she would have never killed those men because she wouldn’t have had a reason to kill them. She would have looked at men differently and she wouldn’t have acted on such a violent rage.

In addition, these murderers are usually classified as psychopaths. Psychopaths lack empathy and guilt which is why they don’t feel remorse after they commit crimes. Some serial killers often follow a set of rules that they create to make themselves feel more in power and organized. They can appear normal to other people because they hide behind a mask and don’t show their true selves. Serial killers were made and not born because if they had gone through joyful childhood events then they wouldn’t have a need to kill. An example of this would be James Fallon who was a neuroscientist. He saw his own brain scan and it looked exactly like how a psychopaths would look like. It had low activity in self-control and empathy just like a killers. “He believes that he turned into a “pro-social psychopath” — someone who behaves within social norms but isn’t empathic — because his parents were devoted to him.” (“Are Killers Born or Made? Both”). This indicates that if his parents would have abused or neglected him in his childhood, his behavior would have turned out to be different than how he acts now. He states that he’s an aggressive competitive scientist but if his parents wouldn’t have been so loving with him then he would have turned into a killer because that’s just how his brain was set up. Fallon was close to becoming a killer but his experiences while growing up prevented that from happening due to the way his family raised him.

Various people tend to believe that serial killers were born that way and not made because they think that the month in which you were born in affects your life experience in the future. Some believe that most murderers were born in November due to the fact that many serial killers were born on that month. “Surprisingly, yes. Whether it’s the alignment of the stars or mere coincidence, November seems to have the right conditions for fostering serial killers.” (Smith). Adding onto that statement, there are other people who disagree because they analyzed that being a serial killer has to do with the month in which someone was born in. There are plenty of non-serial killers who were born in November it’s just a coincidence because the time you were born in can’t impact your life. Two people can be born on the same day and time but yet be completely different from one another. Childhood experiences are what makes up your future, not the month in which you were born in. Another theory that people conclude is that psychopaths lack empathy and compassion in their brain. “Psychopaths displayed significantly less activity in key areas of the brain including the amygdala.” (Mcdermott). They identified psychopaths to display less activity but what they didn’t notice was that the scientist I mentioned earlier, James Fallon, also found himself to have the same brain activity as a psychopath but yet he isn’t a murderer. This was due to the fact that he had a stable childhood and nothing triggered this brain activity to intensify. Overall, these theories don’t give actual evidence on how a serial killer could have been born rather than made. Lack of empathy doesn’t trigger serial killers to commit these crimes, it’s past childhood events that trigger something in their brain that makes them believe that what they’re doing should be done.

Moreover, another serial killer who committed crimes due to past events was Albert DeSalvo. He killed 13 women and later on confessed to what he had done. “DeSalvo had a tough upbringing. He was brought up with four siblings and his father was a wife-beating alcoholic.” (“Albert DeSalvo Biography”). This article expresses on how DeSalvo’s childhood must have had an impact to the crimes that he committed because since his childhood wasn’t well balanced, then his adulthood wasn’t either. The article also states how he became a delinquent and stayed in and out of prison due to violence which was all an uprising to what he then did in his adulthood. DeSalvo had a complex childhood and he experienced traumatic things at a very young age which is what triggered his violence and need to kill.

Another killer that proves that serial killers were created and not born that way was Andre Crawford. Crawford would only murder women and this was no coincidence because some believed that the reason why he murdered 11 women was because he didn’t have a good childhood relationship with his mom and hated her, so therefore, he would take his past anger towards his mom out on other women by killing them. “Fabian, a clinical psychologist hired by the defense to try to persuade jurors to spare Crawford the death penalty, said the defendant was neglected from a young age. He said Crawford told him he was sexually and physically abused in a foster home.” (Wallberg). Therefore, his problem was not only his mother neglecting him, but it was also sexual and physical contributions that were conflicting with his childhood and not letting him have the stable childhood that he needed in order for these killings to not have occurred.

On the other hand, several people think that serial killers were born the way they are because of DNA and biological connections. “Theories that base their understanding of human behavior on ‘nature,’ focus on characteristics that we are born with, like our genetic make-up, stable personality traits, and physical predispositions.” (Salvatore). This points out that DNA is what determines whether or not someone becomes a serial killer. Others may say otherwise because there have been studies done in order to prove that we aren’t born with specific characteristics, we develop our personality and characteristics with the experiences that we go through growing up as well as with how our parents raise us. Every single human would have turned out with a different personality than with what they have now if they were to be raised in a different way. It all depends on human experiences and what people face daily in their lives.

Experiences are what shapes people into becoming who they are and if they have traumatic past experiences then it’s more likely that they’ll do irrational things such as kill people. Some may argue and say that low self esteem causes these killings to occur but that has yet to be proven because anyone can have low self esteem; having low self esteem doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a killer. Many people try to perform scientific experiments to prove that killers were born that way but many of those experiences fail because there’s no proof that can indicate this to be true. There’s no real logic behind it which puts their theories on killers being born rather than being made below others. In reality, there will never be a specific fact as to why killers commit the crimes that they do because they all commit crimes for different reasons and many of them may not even have a reason at all for doing so besides the fact that they recall gruesome past memories.

In elaboration, there have been children with no signs of being a killer until a specific event happens and then all of the sudden they start to show those traits. For example, Jeffrey Dahmer had a normal childhood and showed no signs of a genetic abusive behavior until his family moved around multiple times and Dahmer was later found torturing animals which was just the start to what then turned into killings. “It appears that the breakdown of his parents’ marriage and their acrimonious divorce a few years later may have been the catalyst for turning these thoughts into actions.” (“Jeffrey Dahmer Biography”). If Dahmer wouldn’t have faced those specific events then he wouldn’t have became a serial killer. Those events triggered something within him that made him the way he is. Just like him, there are many other killers out there who face the same thing. This is why childhood contributes to a big part of your life, because if your childhood doesn’t work out smoothly, then chances are your future will have some bumpy roads or worse. Not everyone who has had a bad childhood turns into a serial killer because some get motivated to turn that bad childhood into something positive and look for a better future while others can’t handle what has happened to them so they then turn that angerinto violence. Another example on a serial killer who was made would be Ted Bundy. Bundy was fascinated by knives and peeking through other people’s windows at a young age but he didn’t act upon it so no one suspected anything. What triggered his killings was when his girlfriend broke up with him. She had everything he wanted which was money and class. Right after their break up, he began his killings due to the fact that he was devastated and heart broken. This event caused a wire to go off in his brain and trigger something that hadn’t been triggered before in his childhood but it was ready to come out since he did show little signs of being a psychopath. He would kill young women who looked like his ex girlfriend because he was trying to take his anger out and he believed that the best way of doing so was to murder women who looked like his ex.

In conclusion, serial killers are disguised as everyday human beings which frighten and terrify the world. I infer that serial killers were made and not born because there’s no real reasoning as to how they could have been born that way. There has to be some type of experience that they went through which caused them to become the way they are. I believe that people can be made into murderers by having disturbing experiences which causes them to act up and not behave like how a normal human would. Although they do seem like normal people because they tend to charm others, their thoughts and brain react differently than others. Most serial killers have gone through sexual abuse, physical abuse, parental neglect, parental alcohol problems, and much more which indicates that being exposed to this at such a young age can cause a child to grow up into being a murderer. Serial killers won’t think that what they’re doing is wrong because in their mind, they don’t comprehend from what is right or wrong. Since they grew up facing bad childhood experiences, they don’t find the acts that they’re doing wrong due to the fact that they don’t know the difference since they’ve always been exposed to erroneous things rather than to ethical experiences. Serial killers can’t be born that way because if a killer were to be born the way they are, then doctors would be able to help them sort out their issues and prevent them from killing. Murderers were created so therefore, no one can help them stop their killings because they have no empathy due to what happened to them in the past. The only way to stop a killer from killing would be to make sure they have a stable childhood without any interruptions. Although people find the topic on serial killers interesting, they often undertook the fact on why killers actually commit crimes the way they do. Overall, I conclude that serial killers must have been made because of their past experiences. How a person acts and thinks is based on personal experience and if people don’t have a good past background then chances are, they’ll most likely turn into a serial killer- they just need a little push to get their brain triggered into not knowing from what is right or wrong.

Works Cited

1. “Aileen Wuornos Wikipedia.” wikipedia.org. Web. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileen_Wuornos
2. “Albert DeSalvo Biography.” biography.com. 19 January 2016. Web. http://www.biography.com/people/albert-de-salvo-17169632
3. “Are murders born or made?” bbc.com. 9 March 2015. Web. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31714853
4. Ehrenfeld, Temma. “Are Killers Born Or Made? Both.” psychologytoday.com. 29 April 2015. Web. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/open-gently/201504/are-killers-born-or-made-both
5. “Jeffrey Dahmer Biography.” biography.com. web. http://www.biography.com/people/jeffrey-dahmer-9264755
6. Mcdermott, Kerry. “Is this proof serial killers are born not made?” dailymail.co.uk. 24 April 2013. Web. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2314130/The-proof-evil-killers-born-
7. Psychopaths-brains-lack-basic-wiring-triggers-empathy-compassion.html Salvatore, Tayler. “The creation of a serial killer: nature vs. nurture.” ugtimes.com. 20 April 2015. Web. http://ugtimes.com/2015/04/science/the-creation-of-a-serial-killer-nature-vs-nurture/
8. Smith, Andrea. “Serial Killers Born in November.” swordandscale.com. 4 April 2016. Web. “http://swordandscale.com/serial-killers-born-in-november/
9. Wallberg, Matthew. “Andre Crawford case: Serial killer developed a hatred of woman, jurors told.” articles.chicagotribune.com. 17 December 2009. Web. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-12-17/news/0912160902_1_serial-killer-jurors-hatred

Are Serial Killers Born Or Bred?

A serial killing, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is a series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but not always, by one offender acting alone. While there may be variations in the definition of serial killing, one must not forget how serial killers have been referenced in popular culture. Since the 1970s, with the help of law enforcement, media and entertainment agencies, these serial killers have been transformed into so-called ‘celebrity-monsters’. Instead of focusing on the formation of such monsters, the media and entertainment industries attempt to glorify their acts by making blockbuster movies, documentaries and television shows which captivate society and enhance their fascination with these monsters. Due to this, one of the oldest questions in criminology, about whether serial killers are a product of nature or nurture, still remains unanswered to this day. Although there are many studies focusing on the genetics and brain development of serial killers, because most research is inclined towards difficulties during infancy and early childhood being the main factor behind their actions, serial killers are more likely to be bred rather than born.

Exploring the Origins of Serial Killers: Nature vs. Nurture

Infancy, the period of babyhood, is considered as one of the most significant stages of human development. This is because it is crucial for the development of emotions which are essential for the formation of an adult’s personality. The foundation for the development of emotions such as remorse and affection is laid down during the first 12 months of life. Therefore, a child who does not receive adequate attention and physical touch during this time period is highly likely to develop personality disorders such as the Adopted Child Syndrome in the future. The aforementioned syndrome is used to describe a set of behaviours that have been used to explain complications occurring in bonding, attachment, lying, stealing, defiance of authority and acts of violence (Carlis).

Childhood Trauma and Its Impact on Future Serial Killers

Research shows that only a small percentage of adoptees suffer from this syndrome, particularly striking those adoptees whose families treat adoption as a secret and do not talk openly about it, resulting in the exhibition of rebellious and aggressive behaviour by the adoptees and if left untreated, it may lead to an extreme case of anti-social behaviour. Considering the belief that bonding for infants is necessary for personality development, it is no wonder that a common feature of serial killers is that they have been adopted. “The FBI estimates that of the 500 serial killers in the US, most are American born and adopted” (Carlis). “This is alarming because only 2-3% of the population (5-10 million people) is adopted” (Carlis). Some of the most notorious serial killers of our time such as David Berkowitz, Ted Bundy, Aileen Wuornos, Joel Rifkin and the Boston Strangler were all adoptees. David Berkowitz, a.k.a. ‘Son of Sam’, was born in 1953 and put up for adoption shortly after birth when his parents separated. As an only child, David made it clear to those around him that he had violent tendencies. He was caught thieving, destroying property, killing animals, and setting fires (“How David Berkowitz became ‘Son of Sam’ and terrorized late 1970s New York City”). As he grew older, he began to lament his lack of social life and his inability to get a girlfriend. From this, it can be concluded that he was a victim of the Adopted Child Syndrome and since he turned out to be one of the most notorious serial killers of our time, it can be said that problems during infancy do contribute to the formation of a serial killer.

Along with infancy, early childhood experiences are one of the keys to the formation of a serial killer. Such experiences range from being bullied in school to being abused physically or suffering trauma from accidents. Many serial killers suffered from problems during their childhood such as being overweight, having dyslexia and stuttering which led to them being bullied and isolated by their fellow peers. This not only created feelings of resentment and aggression but fostered aggressive fantasies which were further developed during the time spent in isolation. Such fantasies which revolve around the themes of domination and control act as a source of comfort for them and later stem into sexual violence.

The Role of Bullying and Abuse in Serial Killer Psychopathology

Obsessive fantasies which involve torturing, controlling and murdering a victim serves as an outlet for the person’s anger which has been fuelled by their past experiences of being bullied and abused. Murder fantasies, however, stem from interpersonal conflicts and are therefore viewed as a solution to those problems. Due to the power and lasting effects of these fantasies, the individual is forced to act on them. Moving on, a number of studies have reported mental and physical abuse to have lasting effects on the individual. 42% of convicted serial killers suffered from physical abuse as children and 74% suffered from psychological abuse (“The Psychology of a Serial Killer”). The case of Ivan Milat, Australia’s worst serial killer is a good example of this. His father, Stephan, a Croatian immigrant, was known to be very strict in terms of discipline as a result of which he beat his children mercilessly. “Once the Milat family’s neighbours reported the father mercilessly bludgeoning two of his sons who remained prone on the ground with a piece of wood” (Berry-Dee). Such cruelty not only created resentment and hatred for authority but fuelled Ivan’s aggression and love for violence which was later depicted through the brutal murders he carried out. Sexual abuse also seemed to be a prominent characteristic among serial killers as 35% witnessed sexual abuse and 43% were sexually abused themselves (“The Psychology of a Serial Killer”). This can be illustrated through the case of Aileen Wuornos. Aileen was raised by her grandparents as her mother abandoned her and her father was imprisoned. It was reported that from the age of 11 she began engaging in intimate activities in exchange for cigarettes and was regularly assaulted by her grandfather at home (Merryweather). When she turned towards prostitution to support herself financially, she ended up killing seven of her own clients whom she believed assaulted her. The trauma caused by her grandfather had forced her brain to initiate a self-defence mechanism when she was working her clients hence, resulting in the killings. Another form of physical trauma linked to serial killers is head trauma. Alexander Pichuskin, “The Chessboard Killer”, experienced a change in his personality when he fell backwards off a swing which then struck his forehead damaging his frontal cortex. Thus, he suffered from poor impulse regulation and uncontrollable aggression (Dunne).

Apart from infancy and early childhood, one can scrutinize the various serial killer typologies to analyse the reasons behind their formation. Researchers such as special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Training Academy at Quantico have developed models to classify serial killers into a plethora of etiological typologies in order to gain valuable information on how they are formed and to assist law enforcement agencies in profiling, investigating, and apprehending violent serial murders. One such model has been designed to categorise serial killers into organised and disorganised killers based on the details of the crime scene itself.

Classifying Serial Killers: Organized vs. Disorganized

Organised killers, according to the model, lead methodical lives and replicate this in the murders they carry out. They are known to be socially proficient, possess above-average intelligence and are employed in occupations that require skilled labour. They are likely to kill as a reaction to a stressful event such as the breakdown of an intimate relationship, employment problems and financial hardships. Since these killers are socially skilled and intelligent they are able to handle interpersonal interactions, gain control of the victims and leave little or no evidence at the crime scene which could be traced back to them with ease. One such example of an organised serial killer is Ted Bundy. Bundy was known to exploit his traits of being handsome and charismatic by winning the trust of his victims and society. It was reported that he would approach his victims in public places either feigning injury or disability or impersonating a person of authority before knocking them unconscious and taking them to secluded places where he would proceed to rape and kill them. Disorganised killers, on the other hand, are depicted as being more chaotic from the nature of their crime scenes. The presence of blood, semen and fingerprints at the crime scene illustrates the ‘disorganisation’ of these killers which stems from their social incompetence and their lack of ability to maintain relationships and interactions. This lack of healthy intimate relationships increases the chances of potential sexual and sadistic acts as a part of the murders (“The Development of Serial Killers: A Grounded Theory Study”). Additionally, Borgeson and Kuehnle highlighted that most disorganized offenders live alone, are sexually incompetent, don’t follow their crimes in the media, and are mostly in an anxious mood. To add to the organised/disorganised typology, there are others that have been suggested to make it easier to understand serial killers and the horrific crimes they commit. With the help of their underlying motivations and psychological reinforcers, they have been categorized into two different types: the visionary type, and the mission-oriented type. The visionary type offenders kill as a result of obeying the auditory and visual hallucinations or delusions they experience which are likely to occur from the abuse of hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine and psychedelics, and physical trauma such as head injuries resulting from accidents and physical abuse. The mission-oriented type killers, however, believe that it is their sole duty to eliminate certain populations from the world such as prostitutes, immigrants, people of specific ethnicities, age groups, gender and so on. Such a perspective is likely to be influenced by the nature of the media they consume and the thoughts and experiences they have been exposed to during their early childhood by their parents, teachers and fellow peers.

Biological Underpinnings: Hormonal and Neurological Factors in Serial Killing

Despite the great emphasis placed on difficulties during infancy and early childhood experienced by serial killers, it is necessary to acknowledge the biological perspective on the reasons behind their formation. It is said that genetics, in terms of hormonal imbalances and abnormal activity in the brain, plays an impactful role in the formation of serial killers. Abnormally high levels of testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, have been known to cause aggressive behaviour and uncontrollable sexual urges in men. Studies have shown that a greater percentage of male serial killers have extremely high levels of testosterone in their bodies compared to the average male (“Do All Serial Killers Have The Genetic Predisposition To Kill?”). Due to the intensity of these sexual urges, serial killers tend to seek sexual gratification in abnormal ways as depicted in their brutal and gruesome acts of murder. Dopamine, the hormone responsible for pleasure and motivation, is known to have abnormally low levels in the brains of many serial killers. This coupled with the lack of dopamine receptors in the brain results in serial killers needing a greater rush of the drug in their brain to feel the same level of satisfaction as a normal person would from doing ordinary acts. As a result, they may be motivated to carry out extreme acts such as murder, in order to get a dopamine “fix”, which they are otherwise deprived of. Killing indeed serves as a sport for them. The act of planning, stalking and capturing their victims provides them with a thrill and an adrenaline rush like no other while some are excited by the domination and control they exert on their victims (Brogaart). Besides hormonal imbalances, abnormal metabolic activity in the brain is also to blame for the formation of serial killers. A number of Positron Emission Topography (PET) scans conducted by researchers have shown that reduced metabolic activity was found especially in the orbital frontal cortex and the anterior cingulated cortex. “The reduced activity in these particular areas suggests a lack of control over the limbic system which leads to the generation of primal emotions such as anger and rage, an addiction to risk, a reduction in self-control, and poor problem-solving skills, all traits which predispose a person to violence” (Adams). Since the under-development of these areas of the brain are a result of genetics, one can definitely agree that serial killers are in some cases born. However, while it may be true that serial killers are subject to hormonal imbalances and under-developed brains which affects their neurological activity, it must be noted that correlation does not equal to causation. Just because they have hormonal imbalances it does not mean that these abnormalities directly translate into murderous intent. A child is never born with the innate desire to murder. Moreover, even if these abnormalities do exist and are strong enough to influence the nature of the energy in the individual, he or she still has the ability to choose a different path to channel this energy. The decision the individual then makes will be heavily influenced by the external environment he or she has been living in. Furthermore, there is a lack of research to draw a link between murders which were not sexually motivated and abnormal testosterone levels. Testosterone being a hormone experiences great fluctuations in its blood concentration levels. Thus, the only way to draw a correlation between the two would be to measure these levels at the time of the killing to have direct applicability to the serial killing or murder and such conclusive research would be impossible to conduct (Dimitropolous).

Concluding Thoughts on the Nature and Nurture of Serial Killers

To conclude, as most of the research is inclined towards serial killers being influenced heavily by the external environment they live in, serial killers are bred not born. The great emphasis on difficulties in the form of abandonment, bullying, abuse and accidents during infancy and early childhood shows how they are very significant in the formation of a serial killer. While hormonal imbalances, in terms of testosterone and dopamine levels, and abnormalities in different areas of the brain do have an impact on the individual, they are not significant enough to directly translate into the formation of a serial killer. Indeed, not everyone with these problems turns into a serial killer. It is said that genetics load the gun and that personal experiences pull the trigger.

References

1. “Adopted Child Syndrome.” Dr. Tracy L. Carlis, https://drtracylcarlis.com/adopted-children-syndrome/.
2. All That’s Interesting. “The ‘Son Of Sam’ Said A 6,000-Year-Old Demon Inside A Dog Forced Him To Kill, But The Truth Is Worse.” All That’s Interesting, All That’s Interesting, 16 Oct. 2019, https://allthatsinteresting.com/son-of-sam-david-berkowitz.
3. Berry-Dee. “Born Killers: Childhood secrets of the world’s deadliest serial killers”. King’s Road Publishing, 2009, Chapter 2.
4. Adams, Tim. “How to Spot a Murderer’s Brain.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 11 May 2013, https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/may/12/how-to-spot-a-murderers-brain.
5. “Do All Serial Killers Have a Genetic Predisposition to Kill?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-superhuman-mind/201803/do-all-serial-killers-have-genetic-predisposition-kill.
6. Dimitropoulos, Stav. “Why Do Some Serial Killers Stop Killing?” A&E, 21 Aug. 2018, https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/old-serial-killers-hormones-testosterone.
7. Merryweather, Cheish. “15 Serial Killers Who Had The Childhood From Hell.” TheTalko, TheTalko, 20 June 2017, https://www.thetalko.com/15-serial-killers-who-had-the-childhood-from-hell/.
8. The Term, http://web.lemoyne.edu/~Freemams/index_files/psych_serial.htm.
9. “Serial Killers / Murderers and Their Head Injuries as a Child.” Murder Mile Walks and True-Crime Podcast – One of the Best ‘Quirky, Curious and Unusual Things to Do in London’ This Weekend, https://www.murdermiletours.com/blog/serial-killers-murderers-and-their-head-injuries-as-a-child.
10. Barcella, Laura. “Is There a Connection Between Adoptees and Serial Killers?” A&E, 30 Oct. 2017, https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/is-there-a-connection-between-adoptees-and-serial-killers.
11. Sharma, Meher, ‘The Development of Serial Killers: A Grounded Theory Study’ (2018). Masters Theses. 3720. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/3720