Student Writer - University of Oklahoma



Student Writer

Judy Reynolds, Instuctor

English 1213

December 8, 1998

Serial Killing in America

Serial killers are becoming a growing menace to American society. In order to help prevent these types of murderers from continuing to increase, there needs to be a better understanding of the causes and mental workings of this type of violent personality. In order for local law officials to use psychological profiles to aid in the killers capture, first it is important to understand what a serial killer is. The most popular conception held by the public is that of a psychopathic butcher of multiple victims. True, but to the experts, a serial killer is defined as any murderer who commits more than one random slaying with a "cooling off period and involving sadistic, sexual violence" (Schechter, Everitt 69). FBI agent and instructor Robert Ressler coined the term serial killer in the early 1980's, and in doing so, he made a distinction between mass murderers and serial killers. Since Ressler, anyone who kills repeatedly out of calculation is a mass murderer, while anyone who kills out of some compulsion is a serial killer. The serial murder syndrome is not a new idea, it has been occurring throughout history. Probably the first example of a serial killer is the infamous "Jack the Ripper", who began his gruesome killing spree in August of 1888 (Lane and Gregg 210). In all he killed five prostitutes, and his identity has never been known.

The problem is that the incidence of serial killers was once rare, but in the last two decades, the number of serial killings has significantly increased in American society (Wilson and Wilson 12). The FBI has reported that there are an estimated thirty to fifty active serial killers in the U.S. at any one time (Methvin 38). Scientists have conflicting ideas about the cause for this increase. Some think that it is due to weaknesses in society, that society has become too free, or that not as many people suffer from poverty. Wilson and Wilson address the view of the reduction of poverty rates as a cause when they say, "murder for sex was almost unheard of because when you are hungry and tired, sex takes second place. It is therefore inevitable that, as society becomes more affluent, sex crimes will increase" (Wilson and Wilson 2). This increase has led to the development of numerous theories that attempt to explain what the driving forces are behind the making of a serial killer. Different factors such as childhood abuse, and the role of society and the media can be attributed to the development of the serial killer's mind. The most popular belief is that childhood physical, sexual, and psychological abuse plays a major role in the development of a serial killer, so this is the belief that needs to be addressed first.

Most serial killers do not have memories of playing with friends on the playground or having slumber parties, but of enduring severe and routine beatings, molestation and rape. In addition to physical trauma, they are subjected to psychological abuse that cripples their emotional growth. According to FBI findings, "42 percent of serial killers have suffered severe physical abuse as children, 43 percent were sexually molested, and a full 74 percent were subjected to ongoing psychological torture" (Schechter, Everitt 293). According to a Chicago psychiatrist named Dr. Helen Morrison, who conducts interviews with serial killers, the psychological development of serial killers has stopped during infancy. "As an infant", she says, "the future serial murderer cannot develop the ability to differentiate himself into a separate, distinct personality. He cannot distinguish himself from others; he cannot distinguish a human being from say, a chair, or any other inanimate object" (Methvin 41). It is a fair comparison when a serial killer is compared to a two year old playing with a toy. The two-year-old will break or take the toy apart in order to see what is on the inside and also because it is fun. Serial killers act in the same way, they love to take things apart. To them a human being is nothing more than, "a breakable object-something to be taken apart for their pleasure" (Schechter, Everitt 48). Serial killers do realize and understand that they are inflicting pain on their victims, but instead of this realization hindering their actions, it only adds to the killer's pleasure.

Being subjected to vicious upbringings contributes to their violent tendencies and emotional confusion. Because of the appalling upbringings of most serial killers, they become adults full of hate and self-loathing which leads to murderous emotions. This type of childhood can also cause sadistic thoughts, chaotic sexual behavior, and even gender confusion (Methvin 40). As a child, Henry Lee Lucas, one of America's most infamous serial killers, was forced to watch his prostitute mother have sex with her tricks while dressed up in little girl's clothing (Schechter, Everitt 293). Lucas has said, "I hated all my life. I hated everybody. When I first grew up and can remember, I was dressed as a girl by mother. And I stayed that way for two or three years. And after that I was treated like what I call the dog of the family. I was beaten. I was made to do things that no human bein' would want to do" (Schechter, Everitt 294). Henry grew up to murder his mother and countless others. He was picked up on a weapons charge that ended his murder spree, but not before at least 81 people had to die.

Coupled with their brutal childhoods, there are also societal influences that contribute to a serial killer's behavior. The impact that society has on a serial killer's life goes hand in hand with the role that the media plays. Even though society is disgusted by the actions of serial killers, we find ourselves intrigued by them at the same time. Serial killers thrive and are excited by the attention given to them by television, newspapers, and other forms of media. Serial killers have a lust for notoriety and fame. This lust doesn't necessarily cause them to murder but it motivates them to kill in larger numbers. There have been serial killers that when they are caught they are angered that the actual number of people they have murdered is thought to be lower than the number really is.

Take for instance David Berkowitz, better known to the public as Son of Sam. He was excited and motivated by the attention given to him by the media. He was known to write letters to the local newspapers saying that he was too clever to be caught and propagating his own fame and glory. We gave him the attention that he needed and people continued to die. He probably wouldn't have stopped on his own, "but our interest drove him to kill more than he may have" (Fuell). Anthropologist Elliot Leyton points out yearning for success as a factor that perpetuates serial killers. As Leyton describes them, serial killers are often people whose lives are mostly unsuccessful, so they seek to become famous by killing viciously (Rohr 204). One of the main ways the public has knowledge of the actions of serial killers is through the media.

In today's society, we have become unhappily familiar with the names and actions of serial killers. The publicity of serial murderers has contributed to the rise of serial murderers by encouraging imitation. Shervert Frazier, who has served as president of the American Psychiatric Association, has noted that when the murder of 27 youths in a homosexual murder series was made public in 1974, there was an outbreak of homosexual assaults nationwide (Methvin 37). Frazier has been quoted as saying, while addressing this phenomenon, "That means there are a lot of people abroad with the same ideas who generally keep control; but the person who has inhibitions against acting out his urges finds it easier to break through his controls when he sees somebody has gotten away with 27 murders" (Methvin 37).

The movie industry is a very influential medium and has been making money off the exploits of serial killers for years. "People have always been intrigued by the kind of homicidal maniacs we now call serial killers, and every time a new mass medium has been invented, it's been used to gratify this primal fascination" (Schechter, Everitt 185). There have been movies depicting serial murder since the 1920's. The number of movies in 1920 was just two and the number has been rising ever since. There has been a dramatic increase in the last ten years, from the 1980's to the 1990's, the number has more than doubled from 23 to 54 and is climbing. The industry will only push what the public will accept and buy. So obviously, the public is interested in what serial killers are capable of; but at the same time, they are calling these products of our society monstrous or evil. Most people have heard of Silence of the Lambs, Seven, or Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, but not everyone knows that the characters in these movies are based on past killers and actual events. Loosely based on the life of Henry Lee Lucas, Henry:

Portrait of a Serial Killer, in my opinion, is one of the most disturbing and at the same time interesting cinematic experiences you will have.

Opponents to the view that serial killers are a product of a traumatic childhood disagree largely because it makes the killers out to be victims. Most people would rather not accept any view that sympathizes with the killer. "Crime resides within the person and is 'caused' by the way he thinks, not by his environment" (Samenow xiv). Stanton Samenow, a noted criminologist has said that instead of seeing criminals as victims, we need to see them as, "victimizers who had freely chosen their way of life" (Samenow xiv). Opponents are also quick to point out that having an abusive childhood is not sufficient explanation because it is not exclusive to this result. That is, not all children who grow up in seriously dysfunctional households become adults who kill without conscience (Schechter, Everitt 293). To put it simply, criminals cause crimes not inadequate parents, television, drugs, or schools (Samenow 6).

Although the opponents are correct when they point out that not all abused children grow into sadistic murderers, most abused children do, however, become troubled adults in one way or another. It has been shown that abusive childhoods never teach some serial killers how to "bond or trust", therefore they suffer from Antisocial Personality Disorder and can kill without remorse (Rohr 196). Charles Manson addressed the role society and the media can play when he said: "I'm pleased when some fool writes me and offers to 'off some pigs' for me. I've had girls come visit me with their babies. and say, 'Charlie, I'm raising my baby in your image.' What is it that keeps sending me these kids and followers? It's your world out there that does it. Hell, they don't know me. They only know what your world has projected and won't let go of” (Rohr 206).

If we can better understand what creates such a violent mind, then maybe we can

see into the killer's thought processes better and use this information for our benefit. Ted Bundy, which is the name of a serial killer that most will recognize, was executed for his crimes in Tallahassee, Florida. I was living in Tallahassee when Bundy was on Death Row and on the day he was put to death. It was a Tuesday morning, and it was unusually cold while waiting at the bus stop. I remember talking to my friends about the fact that today was the day that Ted Bundy was going to die, we were all excited about it. I think everyone in the community was, mainly because of the relief of knowing that the man that had instilled such fear in the community wasn't going to terrorize us anymore. During his time on Death Row, Bundy proved himself to be a cooperative prisoner. He was, "usually willing, indeed eager, to talk to as many police officers and psychiatrists as would listen to him" (Lane and Gregg 74-75). Over the years, he came to be regarded as something of an authority on the personality of the serial killer, and some of his insight found its way into the FBI Behavioral Science Unit's stock of profiling clues. The case of Ted Bundy is a good example of what needs to continue to occur if we are going to stand a chance in slowing down the current increase in the rate of serial murder.

Serial killers need to be researched more thoroughly by interviewing convicted killers while they are in the prison system so scientists can create psychological profiles of them. These profiles can and should be used to both understand and combat the growing menace of serial murderers in our country by local law enforcement professionals, attorneys, and teachers. Having research that includes first-hand information taken from stabilized serial killers will help psychologists better understand what creates such a mind and how their minds function. The killer's observations about their own behavior are invaluable because they offer scientists insight into the workings of minds that scientists could not understand on their own. This type of research has proven to be beneficial to scientists in the past in the cases of multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, and bi-polar disease (manic depression).

Having these thought processes could help professionals see a defined set of patterns to this behavior and help them to see if there are any predictors to detect this type of mind early. The purpose of defining a set of patterns and predictors is to help identify afflicted people at an early stage in their careers or lives and to create a psychological profile of such individuals. As our understanding of the serial killer syndrome is deepened, the profiles we create can be used as a diagnostic or prediction instrument that would identify individuals who might be at risk or whose backgrounds might require an extensive investigation or psychological evaluation. Profiling can assist in lowering the number of victims, take for instance the case of John Wayne Gacy, one of the more recognizable killers of our time. He had the bodies of thirty-three young boys in various stages of decomposition uncovered in and around his house. He had served ten years in an institution for various sex and violent offences against young men; and then was suspected in the disappearance of a young man during his crime spree. Even though the police had this information, they never conducted a psychological exam to see if Gacy fit into the serial killer profile. He has confessed to more killings than those thirty-three, but says that he lost count of exactly how many there were during his career. He has also stated that he knew what he was doing to these boys was wrong, but as with most serial killers, he could not control his actions of raping and killing them. The implementation of the use of profiles can lead to the early detection and capturing of these killers and as a result, save lives.

If the proposal of the creation and use of psychological profiles by local agencies is not implemented, then slow identification and capture will continue to occur in our country. Traditional methods of homicide investigation include gathering evidence, tracing the victim's identity, and interviewing friends and family members of the victim. Although this procedure works seven out often times in other types of homicide, it doesn't work so well in solving serial murder cases. The reason for this is that the serial murder does not behave like other killers, they are not driven by any apparent rational motive, other than maybe sex, and has no apparent connection to the victim. His/her motive for murder is not dependent on one particular situation or victim, therefore not identifiable, which helps him or her to elude detection. The benefits of skilled use of these patterns and profiles will be seen and felt by society because law enforcement officials who confront potential serial murderers will be better equipped to: investigate the crimes, protect potential victims, and apprehend killers before they have a chance to escape detection and leave the area (Morris 220-221). Because these common practices are not effective against the spread of serial murder, the FBI has felt it necessary to form the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit.

This unit profiles probable suspects in murder cases and creates a database of these profiles. Such a data base serves two purposes: it can help police find patterns to homicides they couldn't solve on their own, and it would alert them to serial killers who might be headed toward their jurisdiction. Agents of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit began visiting prisons in the late 1970s. They interviewed several dozen of America's most infamous killers in' "an effort to figure out what makes these monsters tick" (Schechter and Everitt 235). The agents found that serial murderers can be roughly divided into two categories. The organized type is a methodical killer who carefully plans his crimes, stalks his prey, brings along his weapon of choice, then, "once he has his victim in his power-engages in slow, sadistic murder" (Schechter and Everitt 235). By contrast, the disorganized killer tends to be subject to sudden, overwhelming impulses, chooses his victims spontaneously, then quickly overpowers and kills them with whatever weapons are at hand.

When local law officers are faced with a particularly savage and baffling crime, they can, as a last resort, submit a request to the FBI's Criminal Personality Profiling Program. If the Bureau decides to accept the case, a profiler will make a close study of all the facts he receives, then send back a highly detailed, multipage report containing his analysis of the "unsub" (police slang for unknown subjects) (Schechter and Everitt 235). To date, the Behavioral Science Unit has consulted on hundreds of unsolvable murder cases and has provided police with accurate profiles of the potential suspects. However, until the justice system is brought to the same level as the FBI and is made aware of the types of symptoms that show up early in a potential serial killer's life, "law enforcement will only be playing a never-ending game of catch-up with the problem instead of actually preventing it from spreading" (Norris 94). This game of catch-up has its consequences in the numbers of lives that are lost to serial killings.

Another reason for implementing the use of psychological profiles by law enforcement is that in the past serial killers have seemed to slip through the system we have. Hopefully the use of these profiles as diagnostic tools would create red flags onto the potential dangerousness in individuals without actually labeling anyone a criminal. One case that demonstrates how someone slipped through the system is the case of Henry Lee Lucas. Lucas was incarcerated in a state psychiatric hospital where he had been committed for killing his mother and where he was diagnosed as a psychopath, a sadist, and sexual deviant. Lucas almost pleaded with the hospital to keep him inside; he said he knew he was going to kill again. They released him anyway, "and on that same day he murdered a young woman within walking distance of the hospital gates" (Lane and Gregg 245-247). In all Henry Lee Lucas has confessed to more than 80 killings, but the number of Lucas's murders is unlikely ever to be known for sure. If his doctors had listened to him and had a profile of signs and characteristics of a serial killer at their disposal, Henry's killings could have been prevented. If a profile had been available the doctors might have seen that Lucas had an uncontrollable compulsion to kill and kept him incarcerated, instead eighty died unnecessarily.

The main opposition to this proposal of studying killers in prison is that people want them dead. This type of murder occurs so randomly that it creates a great fear in any community dealing with its effects because anyone is a potential victim. The general public is enraged by their vulnerability to the violence and the acts of violence themselves. The public's fear is worsened when information such as the conditions inside Jeffery Dahmar’s apartment is released. They want protection from criminals, and they want to see justice done in the courtroom. This justice is carried out in the form of capital punishment. Another opposing reason for the research not to even be conducted is the apprehension on the part of many professionals who fear being victimized by the killer.

Executing convicted serial killers faster and closing down their avenues of appeal will not work because most serial killers have a death wish to begin with. In other words, society's reactive attempts to deal with the problem will always fall short. So as long as we treat violence, and especially serial murder, with and eye-for-an-eye attitude of personal vengeance, "our body counts of victims of serial killers will expand exponentially with every passing decade" (Norris 6). There are too many violent serial murderers emerging too quickly and attacking too many victims for the criminal justice system to keep up. To address the fact that some professionals fear for their own safety there are statistics that consistently indicate that the risk of assault upon professionals and visitors is far greater in mental hospitals than it is in prisons.

There is not one root cause that can be pinpointed as the cause of serial murder. Instead of having a theory that focuses on one factor, it needs to consist of several factors. The main ones being upbringing, and societal and media influences. Serial killers are not freaks of nature, but they are adults who have internalized their traumatic upbringings, and are so full of murderous rage that sadistic killing is their only outlet. Because the number of serial killers and serial murder cases keeps increasing every year, it is clear that present methods of apprehension and punishment just aren't working. Society needs to aim towards preventing these types of crimes from happening in the first place. Serial killers are murderers in which the killer is being compelled by forces beyond his/her control, and unless those forces are understood, the current system will continue to fail and lives will continue to be lost to killers who cannot be found.

Works Cited*

"Fuel the Fire". . Serial articles/fuel.htm (25 October 1998). http : // Serial profiling/who~is.htm (25 October 1998).

Lane, Brian and Gregg, Wilfred. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. New York:

Headline, 1994.

Methvin, Eugene H.. "The Face of Evil." National Review 47.1(1995): 34-41. Norris, Joel. Serial Killers. New York: Doubleday, 1989.

Rohr, Janelle. Violence in America Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints Series. Los Angeles: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1990.

Samenow, Stanton. Inside the Criminal Mind. New York: Times Book, 1984.

Schechter, Harold and Everitt, David. A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. New York:

Pocket Books, 1997.

Wilson, Colin and Wilson, Damon. The Killers Among Us. New York: Warner, 1997.

* This page was not proofread before being put on the web.

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