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TRENDS & ISSUES in crime and criminal justice

No. 346 September 2007

An examination of serial in

Jenny Mouzos and David West

Building on earlier research undertaken at Institute of (Pinto & Wilson 1990), the current research explores the serial murder phenomenon in Australia using data collected as part of the Institute’s National Monitoring Program (NHMP). Results show that between July 1989 and June 2006, there were 11 groupings of serial identified in the NHMP, committed by 13 known serial murder offenders, with a total of 52 known victims. This represents one percent of the total number of in Australia over a 17 year period. The paper reports on the characteristics of offenders and victims, including the offenders’ modus operandi. The analysis found that the profile of serial murder in Australia is similar to that found in international research. In at least two of the groups of serial murders the victims had been reported as missing ISSN 0817-8542 to police. It is important to note that the paper reports on known homicides. The paper suggests ISBN 978 1 921185 55 7 that further research on the profile of long term missing persons and serial murder victims should be undertaken as well as exploring offenders who commit multiple murders on separate occasions, to identify what prevented them (apart from law enforcement intervention) from committing GPO Box 2944 additional murders. ACT 2601 Toni Makkai Australia Director Tel: 02 6260 9272 Despite public fascination with, and interest in, the serial murder phenomenon, little research on Fax: 02 6260 9293 this topic has been undertaken in Australia. High profile cases such as the in and in serve to heighten the public’s For a complete list and awareness, and perhaps overstate the threat, of serial murder in Australia. This contributes to the full text of the papers a lack of understanding of serial murder, especially regarding the offender profile and the likelihood in the Trends & issues in of victimisation. Building on earlier research by Pinto and Wilson (1990), this study aims to examine crime and criminal justice the circumstances and characteristics of serial murders that have occurred in Australia since the series, visit the AIC website inception of the NHMP in July 1989. at: http://www.aic.gov.au

Definition of serial murder Disclaimer: There is a lack of consensus among academics and practitioners in the definition of serial murder. This research paper does not Disagreement centres on the number of victims, the presence/absence of a sexual element, and the necessarily reflect the policy position of the Australian common characteristics of victims (Egger 1998; 1984; Holmes & DeBurger 1998; Dietz, Hazelwood Government. & Warren 1990; Myers et al. 1993; Cantor et al. 2000; Fox & Levin 2005). In order to include all types Project no. 001 of serial killers, a broad definition of serial murder is used in the current research. In accordance with Ethics approval no. PO29 the crime classification manual developed by the FBI, serial murders are those that involve three Dataset no. 0001, 0002, 0003 or more separate events (Douglas et al. 1992), and most importantly, are repetitive sequential homicides of any nature. Frequently, serial murders involve a similarity of subject or purpose AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY

(for example, the choice of victims, • male serial killers are more likely to Characteristics of victims methods of killings, or the killer’s use strangulation, stabbing, ligature While the victims of serial killers are motivation; Aki 2003: 6). weapons, hands or feet (beating), diverse, a usually selects cause injury to victim’s head and a ‘type of victim’ (Ressler, Burgess & Review of the literature genitalia (anus), bind victims and Douglas 1988). Victims of serial killers sexually assault victims (Kraemer, Characteristics of serial killers have been noted to share common Lord & Heilbrun 2004: 336) characteristics such as age, appearance, Serial murder has been described as • female serial killers are relatively occupation, hairstyle, lifestyle and race. deliberate, premeditated, and sexually uncommon – an overseas study Overseas research indicates victims predatory in nature, with a lack of of 200 serial killers found 12 to are usually young, vulnerable Caucasian interpersonal conflict and provocation 17 percent were women (Hickey women (Kraemer, Lord & Heilbrun 2004). (Kraemer, Lord & Heilbrun 2004: 338). & Holmes 1991) The characteristics of serial killers – their Serial killers also tend to target other • female serial killers were motivated by behaviour, actions and motivation – are vulnerable victims such as children, the a need for financial security, revenge, diverse, intricate and include cross- elderly, the homeless, prostitutes or enjoyment, and sexual stimulation cultural variations (Folino 2000: 740). mentally retarded persons (Kraemer, (Hickey & Holmes1991; Riedel 1998) Lord & Heilbrun 2004: 330). Victim When a motive is ascribed to the killing in • female serial killers who act alone are serial murder it is usually characterised as selection tends to be based on easiest more likely to use poison as a method access for the serial killers (Aki 2003: 20). either sexual or psychological gratification of killing (Kelleher & Kelleher 1998) (Egger 1998). Sex is used by the serial Male serial killers generally tend to target • serial killers usually premeditate their killer to achieve power and control over prostitutes, women, or young boys or crimes, frequently fantasising and their victim, as opposed to sex being an girls as victims, usually strangers. Female planning with detail, including the end in itself (Egger 1998). In a study of serial killers generally target victims whom specific victim (Ressler, Burgess 494 known serial killers across the United & Douglas 1988) they know and with whom they have States, almost two-thirds were motivated shared some kind of relationship, with • serial killers are likely to use similar by the thrill of power or sexual sadism more than 70 percent targeting family event locations (but different physical (Fox & Levin 2005). members or persons who are dependent locations) for their crimes, move the on them (for example, patients; Fox International research has found a body from one location to another & Levin 2005). Female serial killers number of common characteristics and dispose of the body in remote commonly commit or among serial killers and their murders: locations (Kraemer, Lord & Heilbrun (Aki 2003), usually natural-appearing • serial murder is predominantly 2004). committed by white/Caucasian deaths (for example, poisoned infants). Studies of the backgrounds of serial males of moderate to high intelligence It has been suggested that victims are killers have found possible links between (Aki 2003; Kraemer, Lord & Heilbrun most likely spatially biased toward the serial murder and childhood animal 2004; Fox & Levin 2005; Rule 1986 serial killer’s home centre. Serial killers cruelty (Wright & Hensley 2003; Jenkins cited in Holmes & DeBurger 1998) 1988); persistent bedwetting; arson in general target locations they know • serial killers are usually aged in their (Douglas & Olshaker 1999); prior sexual best, concentrating on potential victims mid-twenties with a mean age of 30, offending (Francis & Soothill 2000); within their immediate environments and the typical age range between 25 and childhood neglect and social and and surrounding areas (Brantingham and 40 years (Aki 2003: 17; Kraemer, psychological deprivation (Riedel 1998; & Brantingham 1981; Godwin & Lord & Heilbrun 2004; Godwin 1999) Wright & Hensley 2003; Power 1996; Canter 1997). • serial killings are usually intra-racial Jenkins 1988). However, it has been (Hazelwood & Douglas 1980; argued there is an ‘overemphasis on Types of serial killers Hickey 2006) environmental or biological determinism’ While forensic techniques and, in recent • serial killers are more likely to act as a means of diffusing the responsibility times, behavioural evidence analysis alone (Kraemer, Lord & Heilbrun 2004) of serial killers for their crimes (Fox & assist in establishing the differing types of • serial killers most commonly use Levin 2005: 113). serial killers (see Turvey 2002), there are strangulation or beating as a means sociological, psychological, cultural, and of killing (Kraemer, Lord & Heilbrun 2004)

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biological explanations for the motivations • Mission-oriented – concentrates on • identify the characteristics of serial of serial killers (Egger 1998). the actual killing and its outcome. murder offenders, including their They see it as their duty to eliminate modus operandi, signature and A common classification of serial killers individuals they consider unworthy antecedent behaviour is the organised–disorganised typology, or undesirable, such as prostitutes, where personality characteristics of serial • identify the characteristics of the from society. killers are determined from crime scene victims of serial murder to develop information (Ressler, Burgess & Douglas • Hedonistic – divided into two sub- a profile 1988). Criminal behaviour is analysed in categories of lust killer and thrill killer. • compare serial murder with homicide terms of the level of organisation in the The central focus for the lust killer is in general. perpetration of the crime, such as sex; before, during or after the killing. For the thrill killer, the act of killing planning, isolation of the victim, control Data sources of the victim, manner of killing, disposal is simply for enjoyment, pleasure The research used homicide data of the body, post-mortem mutilation, or excitement. compiled by the AIC’s NHMP as the concealment, escape, timing and victim • Power/control – motives are the primary data source. These data were selection (Pakhomou 2004: 228). pleasures received from complete supplemented with information from state control and dominance over the One study of serial killers applied another and territory law enforcement agencies. victim. The killer feels important and dichotomy for historical depth: habitual– powerful. Prolonging the act ensures In brief, the NHMP has collected dedicated, where perpetrators were greater gratification (Holmes & information on all homicides known analysed on a scale of their criminal DeBurger 1998). to police across Australia since 1 July versatility. Serial killers who committed 1989. Information is collected on the three or fewer types of offences (burglary, Over the years the original typology circumstances and characteristics of robbery, drug offences, sexual offences developed by Ressler and colleagues homicide incidents (location, number etc), were considered to be dedicated (1988) of serial killers has been divided of offenders, etc), victims and offenders offenders (in terms of their dedication and sub-divided – killers are categorised (sociodemographic characteristics, illicit to specific crimes of murder), while as organised, disorganised, assertive, drug/ involvement), and the offenders who committed six or more reassuring, commuters, marauders, relationship between the victim and types of offences were characterised missionaries, hunters – each with their offender. For a review of serial murder as habitual offenders (Pakhomou 2004: particular features (Warwick 2006: 566). in Australia prior to 1989 see Pinto 228). The study found that the majority In sum, previous overseas research & Wilson (1990) and Kidd (2006). were organised and dedicated. In the (predominantly undertaken in the US) disorganised and mixed groups, equal suggests serial killers are mostly white numbers were dedicated and habitual Findings males in their 20s or 30s, of above (Pakhomou 2004). Additionally, a average intelligence, who usually Incidence ‘prototypical serial killer’ is not only commit intra-racial murders of strangers Between July 1989 and June 2006, organised in the criminal activity, but (Pakhomou 2004: 219). It also suggests 5,743 homicide offenders killed 5,617 highly specialised in terms of sexual that most serial homicides are sexual victims in a total of 5,226 homicide offences as well (Pakhomou 2004:229). in nature (Ressler, Burgess & Douglas incidents in Australia. During this period, As an extension of the organised– 1988). One of the questions in the current 11 groupings of serial murders were disorganised construct, another common research is whether these patterns hold identified in the NHMP (see Table 1). typology categorising four major types of for Australian serial killers. The total victim count (where known) serial killers was developed. It attempts per serial murder grouping ranged from a minimum of three (as per definition) (perhaps too simplistically) to assign an Serial murder in Australia either/or status to serial killers based to a maximum of 12. Purpose of current research on a socio-emotional and psychological These serial murders involved 13 known This research examines the assessment (Holmes & DeBurger 1998). killers (excluding the Claremont killings in characteristics of serial killers, their The classified types are: WA – while these murders are unsolved, murders and victims. Specifically, the • Visionary – driven to kill by voices or it is suspected that a sole offender was purposes of the research are to: visions, either from God and angels responsible, based on the similar modus or demons and the devil. • identify the incidence of serial murder operandi in each case). All but one in Australia since 1989 grouping of serial murders were

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committed by an offender acting alone, victims was 31.5 years. In terms of racial that they had suffered multiple stab and 12 of the 13 identified serial killers appearance of the victims, the majority wounds. In three series of serial killings were male. Where information was were Caucasian (where information was involving predominantly elderly victims, known, the majority of the serial known). There was only one Asian serial the victims were strangled to death with murderers were unemployed when murderer. The serial murders were a ligature. In two series of serial killings, apprehended by police. predominantly intra-racial. the offenders used a firearm or the pretence of firearm to overpower their A number of commonalities were noted victims and demand obedience (Table 1). Victims among the victims, indicating that serial The total number of known victims is killers may have specifically targeted While overseas research suggests 52 (including the three Claremont murder them. In accord with the findings of that serial murder is predominantly victims), with serial murder accounting for previous international research, perpetrated by persons not known less than one percent of all homicides vulnerable groups such as the very to the victims, in the case of serial in Australia. It is possible that the victim young, the elderly, and disabled murder in Australia, 25 victims did not count may be greater due to as yet pensioners were targeted, as were know their attacker (stranger homicides) unidentified connections between persons in easily accessible locations, while 24 victims knew their attacker, murders. such as hitchhikers. either intimately or as an acquaintance. The majority of serial murder victims in In several series of serial killings, the Australia were female (n=33; 63%), which victims were abducted from an outdoor Sexual element is in contrast to the general pattern of location and either killed at that location Much research has found a sexual homicide where males outnumber or taken elsewhere and killed. Victims element to be common in the murders females as victims (see Mouzos & who were killed in a residential location committed by serial killers. Based on Houliaras 2006). The youngest victim usually knew the offender. the information available in the NHMP was aged three weeks and the oldest case files, there is sufficient evidence In most cases, the victims were killed was 92 years. The average age of to suggest that six out of the 11 series with a knife, and it was common to find of serial killings involved a sexual element.

Table 1: Typology of serial murder in Australia, 1989–90 to 2005–06a Incident Gender of Number and year(s) offender Type gender of victims Modus operandi Motive 1992–99 4 males Power control 10 males; Victims all known by at least one offender; Financial gain and dislike towards obese orientated 2 females bodies of victims dismembered persons, homosexuals and paedophiles 1993 Male Mission oriented 3 females Waited for the victims on the street; told Hatred of women them he had a ‘gun’ which was a piece of aluminium piping; victims violently stabbed 1989–92 Male Power control 1 male; 6 females Picked up hitchhikers on the road; Power and control oriented overpowered them with a firearm; victims received multiple stab wounds 1998–99 Male Hedonistic 4 females Attacked on the street, overpowered Psycho-sexual and put in the boot of the car, throat slit 1998 Male Mission oriented/ 2 males; 1 female Disabled pensioners strangled to death Possible financial gain (money for drugs); power control viewed killing as an achievement 1997–2001 Male Power control 3 females Blitz, frenzied attack with a knife Psycho-sexual oriented from behind; multiple stab wounds 1989–90 Male Mission oriented 6 females Assaulted with claw hammer then Hatred of older women, financial gain strangled with own pantyhose 1974–90 Male Hedonistic 1 male; 3 females Strangulation, objects stuffed in mouth Psycho-sexual 1989, 1990, Female Visionary 2 males; 2 females Suffocation No apparent motive 1992, 1999 1996 Male Hedonistic 3 males Stabbing, shooting Gang related 1996–97 Unsolved Not known 3 females Abducted from the street within close Not known vicinity of each other a: One 1974 murder has been included in the counts as it occurred as part of a series of murders otherwise occurring in this period Source: AIC NHMP 1989–2006 [computer file]

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This could include evidence that the described as both power/control oriented to examine ways in which the current victims were sexually assaulted, or of as well as mission oriented, as the knowledge base can be applied sexual overtones in the crime scene or offenders saw it as their duty to eliminate to practice, by informing police of the victims. In all but one of homosexuals and paedophiles from investigations in other areas, such these serial killings (one series remains society (Table 1). Two of the serial killers as missing persons. unsolved), the victims and offenders who committed mission oriented serial The fact that there was an almost equal were not known to each other. killings had a hatred for women. When split between stranger and non-stranger one of the serial killers was questioned by Five of the 13 serial killers had a history of victim–offender relationships is an police as to why he killed the women, his prior sexual offending, and one offender important finding. In the stranger response was ‘I just hate ‘em’. Another was described by the sentencing judge murders, the majority of victims were serial killer’s response in relation to his as a ‘sexual predator of the worst kind’. female, the crimes involved a sexual motive was ‘To me, I think of it as an element and the victims were abducted achievement, because I have achieved Antecedent behaviour from outdoor locations. absolutely nothing in my lifetime… to The antecedent behaviour of the murder and to get away with it was an In at least two of the series of serial serial killers was also examined. Where achievement… at the point of killing… murders examined in this study, the information was available, a history of I didn’t care’. victims had been reported missing to engaging in animal cruelty was found in police. A number of persons reported the backgrounds of three of the serial Comparison with homicide in general missing each year fit the criteria of being killers. Another three serial killers had female, young and able to be influenced Results of a comparison of serial murder experienced childhood , easily. Drugs and/or alcohol and mental with homicide in general indicate that and the only female serial killer’s mother impairment also feature in this group (see serial murder is quite different. A typical was murdered by her father when she James, Anderson & Putt forthcoming). homicide in Australia involves a male was two years old. While not considered While the exact number of missing aged in his 30s killing a male friend or antecedent behaviour, two serial killers persons who exhibit characteristics acquaintance with a knife in a residential were heroin users. similar to serial killer victims is unknown, location. The murder is usually the result it is worthwhile to compare the of an argument (Mouzos & Houliaras Typology of serial murder characteristics of serial murder victims 2006). In contrast, the current study with those persons reported missing. Table 1 outlines a typology of serial indicates that serial murder most This may enable the level of risk of murder in Australia based on that commonly involves vulnerable victims, missing persons becoming a victim of developed by Holmes and DeBurger usually multiple adult females killed by a serial murder to be gauged. Further (1998). These categories are not single male offender in a non-residential research is required to examine this, necessarily mutually exclusive, especially location with a knife or ligature and also to test the possibility of a link when a serial killer exhibits characteristics strangulation. A sexual element is not between the two, and whether the profile of two or more typologies. This is one of uncommon in these killings, and the of long-term missing persons compares the criticisms of the typology (see Canter offender is not intimately known to the with the profile of serial murder victims. & Wentink 2004), and is an indicator of victims. This profile of serial murder in the inherent weakness in trying to group Australia is similar to the profile depicted complex human behaviour into specific by international research. Conceptual limitations: categories which tend to overlap. definitional blindness One of the issues highlighted earlier is An attempt to group the 11 Australian Implication of the findings the definition of serial murder. There are serial murders suggests they are Research into under-studied areas serves several definitions of serial murder, with distributed equally across the categories to highlight gaps in knowledge and to variations based on the number of of power/control, mission and hedonistic test assumptions against facts. Over the victims. The insistence on a body count with three series falling in each of these 17 year period examined in this study, of three is problematic, in that it may be categories (see Table 1). The one series there were a total of 52 known victims seen as more of a counting exercise than involving the female offender was of serial killers in Australia, representing an indicator of a serial killer’s state of allocated to the visionary category. less than one percent of the total number mind or criminal intent. For example, A degree of overlap was found between of homicide victims. While the risk of a killer who murders two victims and the typologies. For example, the first becoming the victim of serial murder in is apprehended by police prior to series of serial murders could be Australia is relatively low, it is important committing additional murders, and

5 who exhibits the same or similar References Holmes RM & DeBurger JE 1998. Profiles in terror: the serial murderer, in Holmes RM & Holmes ST characteristics as one who kills five, Aki K 2003. Serial killers: a cross-cultural study (eds), Contemporary perspectives on serial murder. is also important to our understanding between Japan and the United States. Graduate Thousand Oaks: Sage: 5–16 thesis: California State University of this phenomenon. The adoption James M, Anderson J & Putt J forthcoming. Brantingham P & Brantingham P 1981. Missing persons in Australia: unravelling the puzzle. of a number or quota system is Environmental criminology. Beverly Hills CA: Sage Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology counterproductive to understanding Canter D & Wentink N 2004. An empirical test of Jenkins P 1988. Serial murder in and developing appropriate responses Holmes and Holmes’s serial murder typology. 1940–1985. 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Dr Jenny Mouzos is a senior research General editor, Trends & issues The AIC is a statutory body with a analyst and Manager of the Crime in crime and criminal justice series: Board of Management comprising Monitoring Program at the AIC. David Dr Toni Makkai, Director, Australian, state and territory West is the Intelligence Coordinator in Australian Institute of Criminology, government representatives, charge of the New South Wales Police GPO Box 2944 Canberra ACT 2601 administered under the Criminology Homicide Squad Intelligence Unit. Note: Trends & issues in crime and Research Act 1971. criminal justice papers are peer reviewed. © Australian Institute of Criminology 2007