In his book Serial Killers: They Kill to Live (2005), Rodney Castleden includes such figures as William the Conqueror, Henry VIII, Joseph Stalin, Ho Chi Mihn and Saddam Hussein among the more consensually accepted figures of the serial killer ‘canon’, such as Jack the Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, Jeffery Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy. Examples Of Mission Oriented Serial Killers - lasopawei. Mission oriented serial killers claim that they are d. The racial demographics regarding serial killers are often subject of debate. Low-average intelligence. A sample of 174 IQs of serial killers had a median IQ of 93. Only serial killers who use bombs have. Mission-oriented killers typically justify their acts as 'ridding the world' of a certain type of person perceived as undesirable, such as homosexuals, prostitutes, or people of different ethnicity or religion; however, they are generally not psychotic.Some see themselves as attempting to change society, often to cure a societal ill.
- Examples Of Mission Oriented Serial Killers Examples
- Missionary Killers
- Mission Oriented Serial Killer Definition
- List Of Mission Oriented Serial Killers
- Examples Of Mission Oriented Serial Killers Examples
Theterm “serial killer” really only came into existence in the 1970s. Since thattime, serial killers are no longer just individual people, but rather acomplete entity with their own subculture. It is indisputable that the media,in every sense of the word, glorifies serial killers. Through my research, Iwill prove that the media’s representation of serial killers is not alwaysaccurate. Furthermore, there is an underlying component to this representationthat exists almost entirely in the human tendency to question misrepresentationmanifests itself in the constant justification of the actions of these killers.That is, there must always be a reason why a man murders in our society, evenif there is no real or singular reason these actions can be attributed to. Toexplore this, four things must be taken into consideration: (1) what defines aserial killer, (2) the cultural fascination with serial killers, (3) serialkillers being misrepresented by the media and (4) the justification of thesekillers by creating a reason why society continually searches for a reason toexplain behavior.
Definition and Case Studies
Firstand foremost, serial murder is “The unlawful killing of two or more victims bythe same offender(s), in separate events,” as defined by attendants of theNational Center for the Analysis of Violent Crimes’ Serial Killer Symposium(Morton). The exact qualifications of serial murder have been modifiedthroughout the years, but this is the most recent and most accepted definitionaccording to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Morton). Serial killers canthen be further grouped into the organized and disorganized persuasions. Anorganized killer is one that has a distinct and meticulous plan, kills quicklyand efficiently, and does not typically mutilate or overkill the body. Adisorganized killer is one that has little planning for the crime, tends to bemore violent, and often mutilates or dismembers the body (Aggarwall, Bhullar,& Sharma p. 22). These killers can also be further divided into visionary,mission-oriented, hedonistic, control-oriented or predatory (Simons p. 348).The visionary killer hears voices telling him to kill (Simons p. 348). Themission-oriented killer kills to eradicate an unwanted group of people (Simonsp. 349). The hedonistic killer receives sexual release from the act of killing(Simons p. 349). Control-oriented killers dwell on the power of controlling andending lives (Simons p. 351). Finally, predatory killers think of killing as ahunting game and recreational activity (Simons p. 351).
Forthe purposes of this research, it is also necessary to understand the nature ofJack the Ripper, David Berkowitz, and Dennis Rader. A short description of eachkiller is provided. These 3 killers were highlighted in the episode of CriminalMinds titled “Zoe’s Reprise” that provided the inspiration and laid theinspiration for this investigation, which will be used for further research. Totruly understand the reality of serial killers, these brief case studies willbe extremely useful.
In1888 in Whitechapel, England there were 6 murders determined to be committed bythe same perpetrator based on the analysis of modus operandi and signature(Brown, Keppel, Weis, & Welch p. 1). These 6 women were prostitutes ages24-25 and were killed between the hours of midnight and 6:00am (Brown, Keppel,Weis, & Welch p. 19). The cause of death was strangulation althoughpost-mortem mutilation, evisceration, and organ removal were also present(Brown, Keppel, Weis, & Welch p. 20). The killer was never found (Brown,Keppel, Weis, & Welch p. 20).
For 13months, beginning in July 1976, David Berkowitz, also known as the Son of Sam,was causing chaos in New York City. Berkowitz shot a total of 6 people whilethey were in their cars with a .44 caliber gun (Newton p. 14). He alsotaunted police by sending letters. He also claimed that his neighbor’s dog waspossessed and commanded him to kill (Newton p.15).
DennisRader, more commonly known as Bind, Torture, Kill Killer, is the finalimportant killer to take note of for these purposes. Rader began killing in thewinter of 1974 in Wichita, Kansas and would not be captured until 2005(Mariotte p. 207). He killed 10 people in these 31 years and he did so by tyingup his victims with rope, strangling them, often putting a plastic bag overtheir heads, and either raping or masturbating over the victims (Mariotte p.208). Like Berkowitz, Rader also taunted the police through letters. Jack theRipper, Son of Sam and BTK all gave themselves their respective nicknames.
These three killers all fit the definition provided bythe FBI. Furthermore, these killers are some of the most prolific andwell-known serial murderers. Through their actions and characteristics, theyepitomize what the modern day serial killer has become.
Fascination
Section one of thisanalysis has provided the technical and historical foundation for the remainderof the research. It is crucial that the facts be understood before moving forward.The next aspect to consider is the public’s fascination with serial killers andtheir crimes. Proof of this exists in the fact that there is an entire marketcalled murderabilia. The website titled Serial Killer Calendar: Murder,Madness, and Merchandise is a perfect example of this platform. This websitesells videos, interview transcripts, articles, letters, documents, and artworkall having to do with serial killers. The fact of the matter is a site likethis only exists because people are willing to buy this merchandise. Themission statement for the company states: “Although the magazine takes thissubject very seriously and in no way attempts to glorify the crimes describedin it, it also provides a unique collection of rare treats,” (Gilks). Thecaptivation is real. The use of the word “treats” is sickening, but ifrationalized it makes sense. For some individuals, these rare finds are indeedtreats, which speaks volumes of the extreme fascination with human evil.
Thisfascination is something that is mentioned in many different locales. Serialkillers are described as a sort of “catchphrase” that is becoming ever morecommon in all forms of media from books and movies to news coverage (Aggarwal,Bhullar, & Sharma p.21). Recently, Dennis Rader agreed tocorrespondence with Katherine Ramsland to write a novel about his life saying,“ I can never replace their loved ones, the books or movies is the only way tohelp them,” (Dodd). Again, serial killers are greatly influencing popularculture, as further evidenced by the fact that this article appeared in Peoplemagazine in 2014. It is expected that this book will do very well oncepublished and it would not be written if people were not interested.
Notonly does popular culture lend itself to evidence of this fascination, thereare also commentaries on this very fascination on popular culture platforms aswell. Dr. Scott Bonn is a renowned psychologist who also touched on this topicin his interview on Huffington Post Live on Halloween 2014. He called theserial killer media industry “popcorn entertainment” (Camilleri). He alsodescribed the appeal of the serial by comparing it to a spectrum of humannature. The serial killer represents the very, very edge of the spectrumbecause the things these killers do are the absolute worst things that can everbe down, especially to a fellow person (Camilleri). This makes serial killersparticularly entertaining because they represent and embody the absoluteextreme, which is something the rest of us cannot understand. As Dr. Bonn putsit in the web show interview, “There is a compelling nature to things that arerare, exotic, and deadly,” (Camilleri).
Professionalssuch as Dr. Bonn have acknowledged the fascination with serial killers, buteven Hollywood has recognized the peculiar obsession. Hollywood has contributedto this fascination and simultaneously embraced it as a common plot point. Inan episode of Criminal Minds by the name of “Zoe’s Reprise” AgentRossi’s books are somewhat responsible for the murders that occur, as thekiller is a huge fan of his work (Davis). After the killer is apprehended, hetells Rossi, “You can come interview me for one of your books if you want,”(Davis). This fictional example provides some evidence that not only are serialkillers a huge part of American’s fascination with the lethal, they also mightbe driven by a twisted quest for fame. Jack the Ripper, Son of Sam and BTK allgave themselves their respective nicknames. This is another support for theidea that killers might be partially driven by fame. The fact that thesekillers named themselves and reached out to law enforcement shows that theywere not content to fly under the radar. Recognition was desired on some level.
Representation in the Media
Perhapsthe most detrimental effect of serial killers in the media is the fact thatthey are continuously misrepresented. the way that they are represented. Thereis a discrepancy between the facts and the fascination. Due to the fact thatsociety is so fascinated by serial killers, it would be logical for the factsto be very well known. Yet, the majority of exposure comes from televisionshows and the representation does not always line up with the reality, which inturn makes our fascination one of misinformation.
In Dr.Bonn’s discussion, he makes it very clear that there are many misconceptionsabout serial killers. Most of these killers are of average intelligence; theyare not evil geniuses. They also do not typically want to be captured by thepolice (Camilleri). The fact that all three murderous men discussed in sectionone (Jack the Ripper, Berkowitz, and Rader) taunted the police contributes tothe myth. Another common myth surrounding serial killers is that they killrandomly (seen with Jack the Ripper and Berkowitz), but yet again this is notalways the case. The majority of the time, a serial killer will have some ideaof whom they will murder before the murder occurs. Attacks are rarelycompletely opportunistic (Haggerty & Ellerbrok p. 7).
Areview on Criminal Minds in the New York Times titled “On theCase, a Crack Team of Tic-Ridden F.B.I. Agents” actually providesevidence as to how killers are misrepresented as well: “As the popular culturefascination with serial killers has grown, audiences have learned to pick uptelltale signs: friendlessness, shiftiness, and cruelty to animals at a youngage” (2005). Yet, the truth of the matter is that these telltale signs are notseen in every killer. It is known that these killers are not always themonsters that we imagine; rather they can be any neighbor or any man (or woman)walking down the street (Simons p. 345).
Specificstudies on this misrepresentation have been conducted, proving that this is areal problem. A study performed by Sarah Scott McCready at the University ofNorth Texas as her Master’s Thesis focuses on the discrepancies in statisticsbetween fictional and real serial killers. Her findings perfectly illustratethe fact that the media undoubtedly misrepresents killers. She performed acontent analysis of the 50 most popular serial killer movies and compared themto statistics on real serial killers. She found that in movies, 98% of serialkillers are white, but in reality 73% are white (which is proportional to therace demographics of the United States) (McCready p. 71). It was found that 74%of killers in movies are male; in reality 83% are male (McCready p. 71). Infilm, 10% killed only females and 74% victimized both genders, in reality, 35%killed only females and only 42% killed both genders (McCready p. 74). Aparticularly interesting statistic about method of killing shows that 70% ofkillers in movies killed by stabbing while in reality only 32% use stabbing astheir primary means of murder (McCready p.76). 44% of killers in film killedbecause of a mental disorder, but the real population of serial murder only has4% attributed to mental disease. McCready’s findings provide statistics thatshow the discrepancy clearly show that there is a huge discrepancy between themass media representations of serial killers and the reality of serial killers.This is detrimental to society because the vast majority of knowledge on thesubject is obtained from movies and television shows, which means that themajority of people are (at least slightly) misinformed.
TedBundy himself also addressed this issue in his final interview before beingexecuted by lethal injection in 1999. He describes to psychologist James Dobsonthat his childhood was good, his family was loving and religious, and he shouldhave had everything going for him. He states, “I wasn’t a pervert in the sensethat people look at someone and say, ‘I know there’s something wrong with him.’I was a normal person,” (Dobson). It is true that the overwhelming majority ofserial killers are highly functioning individuals that blend into everydaysociety. The myth that all serial killers are scary monsters in the darkness issimply not true, and Bundy, a prolific serial killer himself, makes this clear.
The Search for a Reason
Clearlyserial killers are hugely popular in this day in age and they are undoubtedlymisrepresented. There is a lot of evidence to support the idea that societylikes to attribute these actions to some influence. There is a consistent needto determine the causation and there are endless examples displaying this need.The same Dr. Bonn as above was also interviewed for a CBS News articlepublished in October 2014. In this article, he states that the appeal of serialkillers is that they make people “question human nature”. This questioningleads people to wonder, “How can someone do this? Am I capable of suchdarkness? (Slifer). Not only are people fascinated by serial killers, they wantto know why so that hopefully they can avoid the same evil fate. In this samearticle, Katherine Ramsland (the same woman who is currently corresponding withDennis Rader to create a BTK novel) states something very similar. Human beingsare desperate to know “what makes a person like this? (Slifer).
Thereare many common causes to which these actions are blamed, but the most commonreasoning surrounds nature and nurture. Arthur Lurigio, a psychology professorat Loyola University in Chicago, describes the duality of nature and nurture.He believes that there are most likely genetic factors that contributed to themaking of a serial killer, yet he attests that there is a trigger factor inchildhood (Slifer). He states that some childhood experience, abuse or neglectwill scar the child for life, leading them to murder later on (Slifer). Dr.Bonn also states similar things in the interview on Huffington Post Live. Hebelieves that there must be a combination of both nature and nurture, butpsychopathic people do have a predisposition to this condition (Camilleri).
Thetruth of the matter is, however, that there might not always be a reason why.Like Ted Bundy, a well-nurtured child can turn bad. Yet, sometimes awell-nurtured child can turn bad, as seen in Ted Bundy. In his final interview,Bundy spends about 10 minutes discussing how violent pornography ruined him.For Bundy, it isn’t nature or nurture but he still attributes his actions to anoutside influence. and This is further seen in Dennis Rader’s interview withDateline NBC. Edie Magnus, the reporter performing the interview, prefaces with“no one knows for sure why Rader had to kill…he dismisses each victim as aproject.” Rader then goes on to say, “I think I was possessed by demons, I wasdropped on my head as a kid…I can’t stop. It controls me.” Even the killersthemselves try to diagnose a reason for their actions.
Yet,Still, some killers reject this idea. The killer from “Zoe’s Reprise” ends hischaracter’s journey with a very powerful line that inspired these ideas andthis research. He says to Agent Rossi, “The one thing you always ask is the onething I don’t understand: why? I have no idea why. I see a guy walking down thestreet with a stupid look on his face and I want to bash him over the head witha bottle. To me, that’s normal. It’s weird to me that no one else feels thatway. It’s all I think about. I can’t stop,” (Davis). This excellent piece ofdialogue begs the questions: is there always a why and can we ever truly figureout the reason?
Conclusion
Serialkillers are a continuously expanding part of society and this is largely inpart due to the media. Shows like Criminal Minds have made serialkillers insanely popular. They have brought fictional killers to the forefrontbut they have also made the names of real killers better known. An example ofthis can be seen in the episode “Zoe’s Reprise” that mentions Jack the Ripper,David Berkowitz, and Dennis Rader, among others. The problem with this not onlylies in the glorification that stems from society’s natural curiositysurrounding scary and forbidden things, but also with the usually inaccurateinformation presented. This misrepresentation is a huge detriment to societybecause it provides insufficient knowledge. One component of informationconstantly provided with serial killers is motive. “Why did they do it?” issuch a vital question that everyone wants answered. In most cases, some answercan be found. Humans have an unending desire to understand the peculiar andthis remains true for serial killers. Furthermore, a problem of justifying theactions of killers arises from this misrepresentation. It is common to believethat all killers must have had a terrible childhood, a mental disorder, atragic life event, et cetera. Yet, this is not always the case. Sometimes thereis no singular reason behind a serial killer’s actions. These reasons arealways included, however, because the lack of explanation is too scary tohandle. Not having a reason to blame the actions upon means that anyone issusceptible to the lifestyle of a killer. If there is no cause to excuse thebehavior, the behavior can manifest itself anywhere with anyone and thisthought is simply too scary to handle. This fear, above all other motivators,is why we try to understand the criminal mind.
Toexplore these ideas through my own work, I will observe, survey, and interview.First, I will have 5 undergraduate students view the episode of CriminalMinds “Zoe’s Reprise”. I will record their body language, attentiveness,and verbal comments. It is necessary to show this episode because it deals withglorification of serial killers and it also poses the question of “why?” at theend of the episode. Next, I will survey 30 people on their knowledge of thistopic by asking where they first heard of serial killers and if they recognizethe true names and nicknames of the killers mentioned in “Zoe’s Reprise” (DavidBerkowitz/Son of Sam, Jack the Ripper, Dennis Rader/BTK, the Mad Butcher ofKingsbury Run, and Altemio Sanchez/the Bike Path Killer). I will also ask abouttheir feelings towards misrepresentation and justification. Finally, for myprimary research, I will interview Professor Katie Dingeman-Cerda (specialty incriminology) and Professor Jessica Mardock (specialty in criminal justice). Iwill mainly ask these professors about their opinions on misrepresentation andthe justification of serial killers in order to hear a professional opinion onthe theory I have developed. I will also be corresponding with professionalcrime writer and journalist, Gina Barton and asking her similar questions.
Works Cited
Aggarwal, K. K., D. S. Bhullar, and ManishaSharma. 'A Case Study of Serial Killers.' MedicoLegal 10.1 (2010): 21-23.
EBSCO. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Bonn, Scott A. 'Criminology Expert onWhy We Love Serial Killers.' Interview by RickyCamilleri. Huff Post Live.
Huffington Post, 31 Oct. 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2015.
Bundy, Theodore. 'Serial Killer TedBundy Final Interview Only Hourse Before Execution. Interview by James Dobson.
YouTube. N.p., 09 April. 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2015.
Davis, Jeff. 'Zoe's Reprise.'Criminal Minds. CBS. New York City, New York, 18 Feb. 2009. Television.
Dodd, Johnny. 'Serial Killer BTK Workingon a Book to 'Pay My Debt' to Victims' Families.' People. N.p., 09 Oct. 2014.Web.
Examples Of Mission Oriented Serial Killers Examples
24 Apr. 2015.
Haggerty, Kevin, and Ariane Ellerbrok.'The Social Study of Serial Killers.' Criminal Justice Matters 86.1 (2011): 6-7.Print.
Keppel, Robert D., Joseph G. Weis, KatherineM. Brown, and Kristen Welch. 'The Jack theRipper Murders: A ModusOperandi
and Signature Analysis of the 1888-1891 Whitechapel Murders.'Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling
1.21 (2005): n. pag.EBSCO. Web. 24 Apr. 2015.
Mariotte, Jeff. Criminal Minds: Sociopaths,Serial Killers, and Other Deviants. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons,2010. Print.
McCready, Sarah S., B.A. Serial Killing MythsVersus Reality: A Content Analysis of Serial Killer Movies Made Between1980
and 2001. Thesis. University of North Texas, 2002. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Newton, Michael. The Encyclopedia of SerialKillers. New York: Checkmark, 2000. Print.'On the Case, a Crack Team of Tic-
RiddenF.B.I. Agents.' Rev. of Criminal Minds. New York Times [New York City] 08Sept. 2005: n. pag. Web.
Rader, Dennis. 'Exclusive Interview withBTK Killer.' Interview by Edie Magnus. YouTube. Dateline NBC, 25 Oct. 2009.Web.
25 Apr. 2015.
Serial Killer Calendar: Murder, Madness, andMerchandise. Ed. James Gilks and Kris Saunders. The Mad Hatter DesignStudio,
n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
Simons, Cassandra L. 'AntisocialPersonality Disorder in Serial Killers: The Thrill of the Kill.'The Justice Professional14.4
(2001): 345-56. EBSCO. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
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Oct. 2014: n. pag. Print.
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Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives for Investigators. Ed. Robert J. Morton and MarkA. Hilts. N.p.: n.p., n.d. The Federal Bureau
of Investigation. The United States ofAmerica Government, July 2008. Web. 24 Apr. 2015.
A serial killer is usually defined as an individual that has murdered three or more peopleover a time period of more than a month, with a process known as a 'cooling off period' between the different murders. Their main motivation for killing is typically based on psychological gratification. Some sources disregard the 'three or more' criteria, and define the term as 'a series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but not always, by one offender acting alone' or, including the vital characteristics, a minimum of at least two murders.Often, a sexual element is involved in the killings, but the FBI states that motives for serial murder include 'anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking.' The murders may have been attempted or completed in a similar fashion and the victims may have had something in common, for example, occupation, race, appearance, sex, or age group.Serial killers are not the same as mass murderers , nor are they spree killers, who commit murders in two or more locations with virtually no break in between.
The racial demographics regarding serial killers are often subject of debate. In the United States, the majority of reported and investigated serial killers are white males, from a lower-to-middle-class background, usually in their late twenties to early thirties.However, there are African American, Asian, and Hispanic (of any race) serial killers as well, and, according to the FBI, based on percentages of the U.S. population, whites are not more likely than other races to be serial killers. Criminal profiler Pat Brown says 'serial killers are usually reported as white because the media typically focuses on 'All-American' white and pretty female victims who were the targets of white male offenders, that crimes among minority offenders in urban communities, where crime rates are higher, are under-investigated, and that minority serial killers likely exist at the same ratios as white serial killers for the population.' She believes that the 'serial killers are always white' myth might have become 'truth' in some research fields due to the over-reporting of white serial killers in the media.
Missionary Killers
Other typical characteristics of serial killers include:
- Low-average intelligence. A sample of 174 IQs of serial killers had a median IQ of 93. Only serial killers who use bombs have IQs significantly above the population mean.
- Often, they have trouble staying employed and tend to work in menial jobs.The FBI, however, states, 'Serial murderers often seem normal; have families and/or a steady job.'Other sources state they often come from unstable families.
- As children, they are often abandoned by their fathers and raised by domineering mothers.
- Their families often have criminal, psychiatric and/or alcoholic histories.
- They were often abused — emotionally, physically and/or sexually — by a family member.
- They may have high rates of suicide attempts.
- From an early age, many are intensely interested in voyeurism, fetishism, and sadomasochistic pornography. Fetishism, partialism, and necrophilia, are paraphilias which involve a strong tendency to experience the object of erotic interest almost as if it were a physical representation of the symbolized body. Individuals engage in paraphilias which are organized along a continuum; participating in varying levels of fantasy perhaps by focusing on body parts (partialism), symbolic objects which serve as physical extensions of the body (fetishism), or the anatomical physicality of the human body; specifically regarding its inner parts and sexual organs (one example being necrophilia).
- A disproportionate number exhibit one, two, or all three of the MacDonald triad of predictors of psychopathy:
- Many are fascinated with fire setting
- They are involved in sadistic activity; especially in children who have not reached sexual maturity, this activity may take the form of torturing animals
- More than 60 percent wet their beds beyond the age of 12. However, recent authorities question or deny the statistical significance of this figure.
Motives
The motives of serial killers are generally placed into four categories: visionary, mission-oriented, hedonistic and power or control; however, the motives of any given killer may display considerable overlap among these categories
Mission Oriented Serial Killer Definition
Visionary
Visionary serial killers suffer from psychotic breaks with reality, sometimes believing they are another person or are compelled to murder by entities such as the Devil or God. The two most common subgroups are 'demon mandated' and 'God mandated.'
Mission-oriented
Mission-oriented killers typically justify their acts as 'ridding the world' of a certain type of person perceived as undesirable, such as homosexuals, prostitutes, or people of different ethnicity or religion; however, they are generally not psychotic.Some see themselves as attempting to change society, often to cure a societal ill.
Hedonistic
This type of serial killer seeks thrills and derives pleasure from killing, seeing people as expendable means to this goal. Forensic psychologists have identified three subtypes of the hedonistic killer: 'lust', 'thrill' and 'comfort'.
Lust
Sex is the primary motive of lust killers, whether or not the victims are dead, and fantasy plays a large role in their killings. Their sexual gratification depends on the amount of torture and mutilation they perform on their victims. They usually use weapons that require close contact with the victims, such as knives or hands. As lust killers continue with their murders, the time between killings decreases or the required level of stimulation increases, sometimes both.
List Of Mission Oriented Serial Killers
Thrill
The primary motive of a thrill killer is to induce pain or terror in their victims, which provides stimulation and excitement for the killer. They seek the adrenaline rush provided by hunting and killing victims. Thrill killers murder only for the kill; usually the attack is not prolonged, and there is no sexual aspect. Usually the victims are strangers, although the killer may have followed them for a period of time. Thrill killers can abstain from killing for long periods of time and become more successful at killing as they refine their murder methods. Many attempt to commit the perfect crime and believe they will not be caught.
Comfort (profit)
Material gain and a comfortable lifestyle are the primary motives of comfort killers. Usually, the victims are family members and close acquaintances. After a murder, a comfort killer will usually wait for a period of time before killing again to allow any suspicions by family or authorities to subside. They often use poison, most notably arsenic to kill their victims. Female serial killers are often comfort killers, although not all comfort killers are female.
Power/control
Examples Of Mission Oriented Serial Killers Examples
The main objective for this type of serial killer is to gain and exert power over their victim. Such killers are sometimes abused as children, leaving them with feelings of powerlessness and inadequacy as adults. Many power- or control-motivated killers sexually abusetheir victims, but they differ from hedonistic killers in that rape is not motivated by lust but as simply another form of dominating the victim.