From Right to Left it Had No End: Irresistible

The FBI’s initial project on serial murder began in 1978. The impetus for the project was to conduct personal interviews with serial murderers about their crimes in order to find out how they were successful at avoiding capture. The primary purpose of the serial murder project was to use interviews with convicted killers as a basis for constructing future classifications, which then could be used to aid police investigations. A series of interviews with 36 incarcerated offenders, of whom 25 were defined as serial murderers. 

 

Prior to the interviews, data sources on each offender and his crimes were obtained by reviewing crime scene photos, physical evidence, court transcripts, victim reports, autopsy reports, prison records, and psychiatric reports. However, no detailed analysis of this material has ever been presented. Instead, a simple dichotomy was claimed to emerge from the project by which offenders were classified either as organized or disorganized. The assignment of the offenders to either the organized or disorganized category was based on the appearance of the victims’ attire or nudity, exposure of victims’ sexual parts, insertion of foreign objects in body cavities, or evidence of sexual intercourse.

 

The FBI posits in the literature that the organized and disorganized scheme was developed to classify a sub-group of serial murderers, that is, sex-related murders, where motive was often lacking. This also can be interpreted that where the murderer is emotional and no organization can be deciphered from his actions at the crime scene, there is no motive. Because of the apparent lack of motive, FBI profilers decided to look for evidence of planning, irrationality, or some form of discord at the crime scene to determine whether the offender was organized or disorganized. The organized and disorganized typology is then used to classify the murderer’s personality, depending on the category of the crime scene. There are weaknesses in the organized and disorganized dichotomy. For example, there is no explanation in the literature of the differences between the organized and disorganized serial murderer. Rather the organized and disorganized dichotomy seems to describe the different levels of aggression in serial murderers, although no literature source acknowledges this. The differences in organized and disorganized crime scenes are usually explained in the form of a psycho-dynamic drive; the dynamic drives are: 1) revenge, and 2) sadistic.

 

The differences between the two types appear to originate from several traditional theories of aggression and personality disorders. For example, it is alleged that the organized offender has the ability to maintain some control over his aggressive behavior, while the disorganized offender is unable to maintain control. There is, however, a third type, the mixed offender, which is rarely discussed in the literature. The mixed type was added to accommodate offenders who did not fit into either the organized or disorganized category.

 

 

According to the FBI classification, the organized (nonsocial) serial murderers are generally assumed to be cunning, and spend vast amounts of time planning murders, whether consciously or not, and this behavior is reflected at their crime scenes. The organized serial murderer is described as one who is positively anti-social but often more gregarious, quite normal on the outside, maintaining normal relationships. He will be more forensically aware, mobile, creative, adaptive; he often has a certain preferred type of victim. Although victims’ bodies are normally concealed, he will tease the police by leaving some bodies open to view. The FBI posit that the organized type serial murderer is out to shock and offend the community and taunt the police because he feels so much more powerful than them.

 

In the FBI study, imprisoned serial murderers classified as organized were assumed to have had an angry frame of mind at the time of the murder, but their behavior was calm and relaxed during the commission of the crime. The organized crime scene is described as having a “semblance of order existing prior to, during, and after the murder. It is suggested that the murder is planned, and the offender is likely to used a con or ploy to lure his victims to their deaths. For example, the individual may strike up a conversation or pseudo-relationship with his victims. For organized killers, who consciously plan their murders, selection of the victim is believed to be a first step in acting out their fantasy; victims are thought to be chosen because of their symbolic similarity to someone in the killer’s life or because of meanings the offender assigned to particular actions, such as hitch hiking. However, the FBI provides no empirical research supporting its theory that serial murderers target specific victims for psychological reasons. 

The organized offender is seen as one who usually remembers his thoughts prior to each murder and improves on his planning with each subsequent killing. The offenders’ planning and control over their victims are noted by the use of restraints, for example, ropes, chains, handcuffs, belts, or clothing. The offender is most likely to bring a weapon to the crime scene and take it with him when he leaves. The organized serial murderer is also forensically aware, and rarely leaves incriminating evidence behind. The FBI suggests that the organized serial murderer is more likely to rape and torture victims prior to death, while the disorganized types are more likely to mutilate and perform post-mortem sexual acts. The revenge (nonsocial) drive explanation for repetitive murder is that it is the offender’s unconscious effort to discharge aggressive drives toward another person who represents a significant other from past life experience. The act supposedly originates from the Oedipal trauma of a seductive or rejecting mother and a punitive or absent father. The ego’s defenses cannot prevent the action, but can direct it towards an alternative object, the victim. 

The rationale of the revenge formulation is that the relationship between a child’s parents sets the pattern not only for sexual and aggressive behavior, but for general standards of expressing and prohibiting all sorts of behavior. The drawback to the aggressive revenge drive theory is it assumes that conflicts invariably express themselves in Oedipal language. This may be true for some serial murderers, for example, David Berkowitz, Son of Sam, who shot couples in their cars apparently as stand-ins for the biological parents who had abandoned him. 

The revenge focus for serial murder may have some validity, however, the Oedipal theory neither explains why some serial murderers need to seek revenge repeatedly, nor why convicted killers do not necessarily demonstrate weakened defenses in other aspects of their lives. It seems reasonable to conclude that an individual who is so tortured by Oedipal thoughts that he acts them out is going to reveal similar behavior in other areas of his life. Clearly, the revenge focus seems too broad an explanation for describing individual differences in serial murderers.

 

Acknowledgements:

www.aivd.nl    AIVD ©

Algemene Bestuursdienst – @Erik Akerboom ©

www.politie.nl  Politiekorpschef  @Janny Knol©

www.politie.nl WEB Politie - @Henk van Essen©

https://english.marechaussee.nl  Royal Netherlands Marechaussee    @Willem-Alexander King of the Netherlands©

PolitieAcademie - https://www.politieacademie.nl/en©

 Author: W.R. Łaskawiec ©

 

Bibliography:

 

1.    Criminal Investigations – Crime Scene Investigation.2000

2.    Forensic Science.2006

3.    Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation.2012

4.    Forensics Pathology.2001

5.    Pathology.2005

6.    Forensic DNA Technology (Lewis Publishers,New York, 1991).

7.    The Examination and Typing of Bloodstains in the Crime Laboratory (U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., 1971).

8.   „A Short History of the Polymerase Chain Reaction". PCR Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology.

9.    Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (3rd ed.). Cold Spring Harbor,N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.2001

10.   "Antibodies as Thermolabile Switches: High Temperature Triggering for the Polymerase Chain Reaction". Bio/Technology.1994

11.   Forensic Science Handbook, vol. III (Regents/Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1993).

12.   "Thermostable DNA Polymerases for a Wide Spectrum of Applications: Comparison of a Robust Hybrid TopoTaq to other enzymes". In Kieleczawa J. DNA Sequencing II: Optimizing Preparation and Cleanup. Jones and Bartlett. 2006

13.   Nielsen B, et al., Acute and adaptive responses in humans to exercise in a warm, humid environment, Eur J Physiol 1997

14.   Molnar GW, Survival of hypothermia by men immersed in the ocean. JAMA 1946

15.   Paton BC, Accidental hypothermia. Pharmacol Ther 1983

16.   Simpson K, Exposure to cold-starvation and neglect, in Simpson K (Ed): Modem Trends in Forensic Medicine. St Louis, MO, Mosby Co, 1953.

17.   Fitzgerald FT, Hypoglycemia and accidental hypothermia in an alcoholic population. West J Med 1980

18.   Stoner HB et al., Metabolic aspects of hypothermia in the elderly. Clin Sci 1980

19.   MacGregor DC et al., The effects of ether, ethanol, propanol and butanol on tolerance to deep hypothermia. Dis Chest 1966

20.   Cooper KE, Hunter AR, and Keatinge WR, Accidental hypothermia. Int Anesthesia Clin 1964

21.   Keatinge WR. The effects of subcutaneous fat and of previous exposure to cold on the body temperature, peripheral blood flow and metabolic rate of men in cold water. J Physiol 1960

22.   Sloan REG and Keatinge WR, Cooling rates of young people swimming in cold water. J Appl Physiol 1973

23.   Keatinge WR, Role of cold and immersion accidents. In Adam JM (Ed) Hypothermia – Ashore and Afloat. 1981, Chapter 4, Aberdeen Univ. Press, GB.

24.   Keatinge WR and Evans M, The respiratory and cardiovascular responses to immersion in cold and warm water. QJ Exp Physiol 1961

25.   Keatinge WR and Nadel JA, Immediate respiratory response to sudden cooling of the skin. J Appl Physiol 1965

26.   Golden F. St C. and Hurvey GR, The “After Drop” and death after rescue from immersion in cold water. In Adam JM (Ed). Hypothermia – Ashore and Afloat, Chapter 5, Aberdeen Univ. Press, GB 1981.

27.   Burton AC and Bazett HC, Study of average temperature of tissue, of exchange of heat and vasomotor responses in man by means of bath coloremeter. Am J Physiol 1936

28.   Adam JM, Cold Weather: Its characteristics, dangers and assessment, In Adam JM (Ed).Hypothermia – Ashore and Afloat, Aberdeen Univ. Press, GB1981.

29.   Modell JH and Davis JH, Electrolyte changes in human drowning victims.Anesthesiology 1969

30.   Bolte RG, et al., The use of extracorporeal rewarming in a child submerged for 66 minutes. JAMA 1988

31.   Ornato JP, The resuscitation of near-drowning victims. JAMA 1986

32.   Conn AW and Barker CA: Fresh water drowning and near-drowning — An update.1984;

33.   Reh H, On the early postmortem course of “washerwoman’s skin at the fingertips.” Z Rechtsmed 1984

34.   Gonzales TA, Vance M, Helpern M, Legal Medicine and Toxicology. New York, Appleton-Century Co, 1937.

35.   Peabody AJ, Diatoms and drowning – A review, Med Sci Law 1980

36.   Foged N, Diatoms and drowning — Once more.Forens Sci Int 1983

37.   "Microscale chaotic advection enables robust convective DNA replication.". Analytical Chemistry. 2013

38.   Sourcebook in Forensic Serology, Immunology, and Biochemistry (U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Washington, D.C.,1983).

39.   C. A. Villee et al., Biology (Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphia, 2nd ed.,1989).

40.   Molecular Biology of the Gene (Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Menlo Park, CA, 4th ed., 1987).

41.   Molecular Evolutionary Genetics (Plenum Press, New York,1985).

42.   Human Physiology. An Integrate. 2016

43.   Dumas JL and Walker N, Bilateral scapular fractures secondary to electrical shock. Arch. Orthopaed & Trauma Surg, 1992; 111(5)

44.   Stueland DT, et al., Bilateral humeral fractures from electrically induced muscular spasm. J. of Emerg. Med. 1989

45.   Shaheen MA and Sabet NA, Bilateral simultaneous fracture of the femoral neck following electrical shock. Injury. 1984

46.   Rajam KH, et al., Fracture of vertebral bodies caused by accidental electric shock. J. Indian Med Assoc. 1976

47.   Wright RK, Broisz HG, and Shuman M, The investigation of electrical injuries and deaths. Presented at the meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Science, Reno, NV, February 2000

48. Broor SL, Kumar A, Chari ST, et al. 1989. Corrosive oesophageal strictures following acid ingestion: clinical profile and results of endoscopic dilatation.

49. Baud FJ, Barriot P, TOGS V, et al. 199 1. Elevated blood cyanide concentrations in victims of smoke inhalation.

50. Blackwell M, Robbins A. 1979. Arsine (arsenic hydride) poisoning in the workplace.