Serial killers are some of the most deadly criminals to walk among us. They are murderers who commit a series of murders, killing a number of people over a course of time. There are many elements that encompass the life of a serial killer, and it is important that they be made known. *** add more but don’t be too specific, you can’t state all of your points in the intro
Serial killers have many psychological urges and most of them are due to mental illness. A person’s childhood plays a big part in the making of a serial killer. Vulnerability to mental illnesses and trauma that create killers starts as early as infancy, because it is one of the most significant stages in the development of a human. Serial killers often have a history of being antisocial throughout infancy and early adolescence. Psychiatrist Dorothy Lewis of New York University stated that a murderer is made through a combination of childhood abuse, neurological disturbances, and psychiatric illness.
Certain behaviors exhibited during childhood could be an early warning sign of serial killers, such as: bed-wetting, arson, harming small animals, head injury, uncontrollable aggression, witnessing extreme violence, history of family psychiatric disorders and fantasies. Although it is common for young children to wet the bed, it really becomes a concern when it happens at least three consecutive months after age five. The child might become frustrated or even humiliated by the constant bed-wetting. Arson is a behavioral trait that could be connected to violent tendencies later in a child life. A child who starts fire is demonstrating that you could have a murderer on your hands as the child is looking to destroy anything they can get their hands on. The setting of a fire or fires is linked to a combination of emotions, including power, excitement, and revenge.
A young child who pulls on a dog’s tail or yanks at the cat’s whiskers, although it can be concerning, is not showing the signs of a serial killer. They are mainly acting out of curiosity. The mistreatment of animals, however, includes repeated violence without remorse, and is linked to troubled children who later become serious offenders in their adult lives. Sixty percent of children who have suffered previous abuse have turned to mistreating animals (Merryweather, 2018).
There are many other signs that can be seen throughout childhood. A study found that the majority of serial killers had suffered from head injuries when they were children. Uncontrollable aggression is one of the first signs of psychopathy in adolescence. The Institute of Psychiatry said that about five percent of children have a severe level of antisocial behavior which later develops into psychopathy. Children who witness extreme violence can be desensitized in the long run. People who are affected can adopt the perception that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems. There are five psychiatric disorders are believed to have genetic links: autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, clinical depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Several notorious serial killers have a history of mental illness within their family. Albert Fish came from a family with severe mental illness. His uncle suffered from mania, his two siblings were incarcerated in mental institutions and his mother suffered from hallucinations. A fantasy can relieve fear and anxiety. Children who have suffered from abuse, neglect or trauma are more likely to fantasize to “get away” from what is happening in the present time. A fantasy will play like it is on a loop, which the child will happily return to for their own satisfaction. much like a serial killer’s after they have killed a victim.
There have been studies in which people say that everyone is born with the “pyscho” gene, but it is controversial. Although it may not seem like serial killers, psychopaths and sociopaths have differences, they each have their own definition. Mass murderers and serial killers have many similarities, but the differences are the most important. A psychopath is a person who suffers from a chronic mental disorder and has violent social behavior. The definition of a sociopath is a person who has a personality disorder and manifests in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior. A key difference between a psychopath and a sociopath is whether he or she has a conscience- the little voice that is inside us that lets us know when we are doing something wrong (Tompkins, 2015). A person who is a psychopath does not have a conscience. For example, if he or she lies to you in an effort to steal your money, they will not go through any moral dilemmas, though they may pretend to. They may observe others and act the way they do, so he or she is not “found out”. Typically, a sociopath will have a conscience, but it is weak. He or she may know that taking your money is wrong, and they might feel some guilt or remorse, but it will not stop their behavior. Clearly they both lack empathy: the ability to stand in someone else’s shoes and understand how they feel. A psychopath has less regard for others. Someone with this particular personality type sees others as objects they can use for his or her own benefit. Of course, not all psychopaths are killers and not all killers are psychopaths. You do not have to be diagnosed a psychopath to be a killer, although that is not saying you should be.
Do not be fooled when people say that mass shooters are the same as serial killers. A serial killer is defined as a person who murders three or more people in a period of time. For a serial killer, the murders must be separate events, which are mainly driven by a psychological thrill or pleasure. Serial killers lack empathy and guilt most often become egocentric individuals; these particular characteristics classify certain serial killers as psychopaths. Mass murderers, dissimilar to serial killers, kill a large quantity of people, typically at the same time in a single location. Many times, mass murderers end with death either by self-infliction or by law enforcement. Most of the time, the motives of mass murderers are less obvious than those of serial killers. Mass murderers tend to be paranoid with acute behavioral or social disorders. Like most serial killers, mass murderers also have psychopathic tendencies, such as being cruel, manipulative, and uncompassionate. Most often serial killers and mass murderers display the same characteristics such as, manipulation and lack of empathy. The difference between the two is the timing and the amount of murders.
There are four main types of serial killers based off of the type of crime a person commits.
Thrill Seekers, Visionary Serial Killers, Power and Control, or Mission-Oriented
Thrill seekers are serial killers who find outsmarting their victims and the law a sort of amusement. They enjoy getting all kinds of attention from the media and love to be pursued by law enforcement officers. When law enforcement is determining which type a killer is, it is obvious when a killer is a thrill seeker. Thrill seekers send messages to others and they keep detailed records of their victims. This extensive record keeping also categorizes these killers as organized. The pleasure-seekers use weapons and/or rape their victims before killing them. After that, they hide the victim’s corpse and move on to their next victim.
Mission-oriented serial killers feel that they are doing society a favor by ridding it of certain people such as, the homeless or prostitutes. They feel that society could do without the certain types of people. Generally, mission-oriented killers are not psychotic. They see themselves as trying to change society, in a sense they are. They are categorized as organized, as they always have a controlled crime scene. Since these killers always go after specific victims, it makes it easier to track them down. Visionary serial killers are generally people who occasionally suffer from psychotic breaks from society. They sometimes believe that they are another person or are urged by higher entities such as God or the Devil. In fact, the two most common subcategories for visionary serial killers are Demon-Mandated and God-Mandated. An example of this type of killer is David Berkowitz. He claimed that a demon transmitted orders to him through a neighbor’s dog that told him to kill. These types of killers are easy to track down because they are more unorganized than other killers. Power and Control serial killers enjoy seeing their victim’s terror, suffering and, screaming. These killers tend to be extremely organized and usually have a history of childhood abuse, which left them feeling powerless and inadequate as adults. To these serial killers, sexually abusing their victims is simply a form of dominance.
Serial killers may keep mementos of their victims to reminisce their kill. Robert Keppel, an American detective, placed these collections into two categories: souvenirs and trophies. Souvenirs are personal items which allow the killer to enjoy their memories of a certain victim. These can be things such as jewelry, body parts, and other items pertaining to the victim. Trophies are objects that serial killers can make into a shrine, forming a collection of particular items from their past crimes.
How does a serial killer like Ted Bundy or Jack the Ripper become “famous” in today’s culture? It has to do with a serial killer’s gruesome actions. The killers are labeled with the word evil, which is one of the best words to describe them as. Media exposure has made some killers quite the celebrities and it is probably not the best thing for certain types of people, as they might think of the killer they saw in the newspaper as their role-model. News media is a powerful and important set of actors in the social construction of evil and public monsters. Most stories of serial killers are exaggerated, and you can blame the news media? The stories are only exaggerated because the reporters want more people to watch, listen or read their news article. It is all about the fame. The public’s concern and anxiety heighten through journalistic exaggeration and, as a result, socially constructed monsters are demonized in the minds of the public audience.
The most prominent stereotype is that all serial killers are men. Statistics show that over ninety percent of serial killers are men, but there can be women who are serial killers, though it is extremely rare. One source states that at least fifteen percent of serial killers are female (Bonn, 2015). The motivations of female killers are much different than male serial killers. Female serial killers are more likely than males to kill for comfort, financial profit or even revenge. Female comfort or gain killers are more than likely involved in theft, fraud, or embezzlement prior to becoming serial killers due to their interest in material things. Most of the time, female serial killers murder for money or other profit, some kill for the attention and sympathy they receive following the death of someone they “cared” for. It is not uncommon for a female comfort or gain killer to be employed as a caretaker in a nursing home. Female killers are very effective in their effort to kill and they usually use quieter and less messy methods to kill. The most common methods females use are shooting, stabbing, suffocation and drowning. Females usually go after young children or elderly, which are easier for them to control.
Aileen Wuornos is referred to (although not entirely factual) as America’s first female serial killer. She admitted to killing seven men in the early 1990s. Wuornos robbed all of her victims before she shot them to death and stole their vehicles. Wuornos was born February 29, 1956, in Rochester, Michigan. She came from a home that was troubled; her father was imprisoned for child molestation, her mother abandoned her at a young age, and she was raised by her abusive grandparents. At the age of eleven, Wuornos began trading sexual favors for money, beer and cigarettes. By the age of fourteen, she gave birth to her only child and was eventually kicked out her home. In the early 1980s, after her brother passed away from cancer, Wuornos moved to Florida to work as a prostitute. She was frequently getting herself in trouble with the law for being a prostitute and for other crimes. In 1986, Wuornos met Tyria Moore at a bar in Daytona Beach, Florida, and they began a romantic relationship that ended before Wuornos’ final arrest in 1991. Together, the two stole items at Florida pawnshops. During the murder investigations, Volusia County police discovered items that belonged to Richard Mallory at a local pawnshop, with the receipt showing Wuornos’ fingerprint. Police also traced other items that were stolen from Mallory to Wuornos. By 1990 Tyria had become extremely suspicious-if not fully aware-of Wuornos’ actions/activities. Moore then moved to Pennsylvania to be with her family. When Wuornos was arrested with an outstanding warrant at a biker bar in Harbor Oaks, Florida, police tracked Moore down and used her to elicit a confession from Wuornos. After Wuornos’ court case she was found guilty, and was sentenced to death.
Generally, a serial killer is male and motivated by a variety of psychological urges, primarily power. About fifty percent of all male victims are driven by sexual fantasy in one form or another. Male serial killings are characterized by a desire for domination, control, humiliation and sexual violence. Most victims of male serial killers are unknown to their murderer, which would explain why they like to “hunt” for their victims. A percentage of male serial killers are known as visionary killers and they believe they are killing for a particular cause. For example, they believe that they are killing for God or the Devil. At a young age, male serial killers often start tormenting and killing animals. They may also become sexually aroused by dismembering and putting their hands inside animal carcasses. Serial killers do not just emerge overnight. It happens over a course of time. One-third or half of all male serial killers are psychopaths, unable to feel normal day-to-day emotions.
Kenneth McDuff, also known as The Broomstick Killer, is suspected of at least fourteen murders and served time on death row from 1969 to 1972, and again in the 1990s. He was born on March 21, 1946, in central Texas and had three siblings. McDuff was known to shoot his .22 rifle at living creatures and was frequently getting into fights with boys who were older than him. With these impulses, he was well known with the sheriff of his hometown. Before his murder convictions, he was convicted of twelve counts of burglary and an attempted burglary. Shortly after, he was sentenced to twelve four-year prison terms, served concurrently; however, he was paroled in December of 1965.
On the night of the first murders, McDuff and his friend Roy Green, were driving around central Texas when they were approached by two men and a woman; Robert Brand, his girlfriend Edna Louise, and his cousin Marcus Dunnam. McDuff and Green drove both of the cars to a remote area where both men were shot in the head. The woman on the other hand was not so lucky, she was raped by both McDuff and Green and then she was strangled to death with a broomstick. The day following the first murders, the radio announced the murder, Green felt guilty and turned himself in. In exchange for his testimony against McDuff, he was given a lesser sentence. McDuff went to trial and was sentenced to death for the murder of Robert Brand, Edna Louise and, Marcus Dunnam. In 1972 there was overcrowding in Texas prisons, causing many prisoners to leave and not finish their full sentences. As a result, McDuff was given parole in October 1989. Three days after his release, a suspected victim of McDuff was found killed. Even though, McDuff was released on parole he made no attempt to show that he reformed. He still made terrible decisions, such as making threats and trying to pick fights with others, and even public drunkenness and a DUI. He became addicted to crack cocaine and started to drink heavily. Eventually, he was arrested on November 18, 1998 and he was put to death by lethal injection in the Huntsville prison.
Why were there so many serial killers or killings in the seventies and eighties? The idea of being a serial killer used to be popular to people who wanted everyone to like them. In the seventies and eighties, the killers wanted people to at least believe that they were attractive or have the bad-boy appeal of murdering several people. The way the media portrayed certain situations made killers in the seventies and eighties bloodthirsty and made them want to keep killing. The police in the seventies and eighties didn’t have the technology that we have now. It was easier to kill in the seventies and eighties, but today it is harder because of all the new technology. Law enforcement was not as organized as it is now. It is safe to say that law enforcement in the seventies and eighties were not prepared for the wave of serial killers that “came into the country”. Now, law enforcement officers are more well-equipped and trained to handle these situations.
Is the death sentence the way to go or not? When considering how to punish serial killers, should the death sentence be the solution? The punishment of death is administered to someone who has convicted a capital crime. The death penalty is controversial, as some say we should have the death penalty and others say we should not. Some people say that God should judge the people and we should not have the death penalty. If we make a mistake and kill a person for no apparent reason, then are we a murderer? What happens when the mistake that we made is discovered and the person who we killed has been executed for a crime that they did not commit? What do we say to the person’s family? Do we stand by an apologetic tombstone over their grave? It all depends on the crime a person commits.
I feel that if a person is to murder another they should be put on death row without a question. If they are willing to kill another person and not take the blame then they are willing to give up their own life. However, if a person is to rob a bank and they are put onto death row, I feel that it is wrong of us to not give them a second chance to change. The death penalty involves medical doctors, who are sworn to preserve life, in the act of killing. If doctors are here to help us, then why are they off killing people who they “think” deserve death rather than a second chance? ****this paragraph is a little confusing. Defend one side before picking another
As demonstrated, serial killers are people who commit a series of murders over a period of time. They can come in all different styles, male or female. Their mental disabilities and psychological urges fostered in their childhoods push them to commit unspeakable crimes.
There are many similarities amongst criminals who commit murder, but the differences between them are very important and can play a big part in deciding how to punish their crimes. ***like the intro, add a bit more to wrap up but do not outwardly state your exact points or else it gets repetitive.
