If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. " r:- .' 134597-· U.S. Department of Justice 134.599 National Institute of Justice This document has been reproduced exactly as received from the person or organization originating it. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Institute of Justice. Permission to reproduce this copyrighted material has been granted by FBI Law Enforcenent Bulletin to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permis­ sion of the copyright owner. - "• o o February 1992 ACQUUUTIONS r Volume 61 Number 2 Law Enforcement Bulletin 1, Features 1 Violent Crime Scene Analysi7: Modus Operandi, Signature, and Staging By John E. Douglas and Corinne Munn \ '3 'i- ~C1 '1 The Criminal Sexual Sadist 12 By Robert R. Hazelwood, Park Elliott Dietz, and Janet Warren \:3 *" St::t '8 22 Constitutional Constraints on the Use of Force \ 3'\- S'tq By John C. Hall Departments 10 Book Review 11 Focus 20 VI CAP Alert 32 1991 Book Review Index United States Department of Justice Editor-Stephen D. Gladis, D.A.Ed. Federal Bureau of Investigation Managing Editor-Kathryn E. Sulewski Washington, DC 20535 Art Dlrector-John E. Ott Assistant Editors-Alice S. Cole William S. Sessions, Director Karen F. McCarron Contributors' opinions and statements Production Manager-Andrew DiRosa should not be considered as an StaffAssistant-Darlene.l. Butler endorsement for any policy, program, or service by the FBI. The FBI Law /Enforcement Bulletin (lSSN-0014-5688) is published monthly by The Attornev General has determined that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 10th and Cover: By improving their ability to analyze the publication of this periodical is necessary Pennsylvania Avenue. N.W., Washington, violent crime scenes, investigators will be in the transaction of the public business D.C. 20535. Second-Class postage paid at better equipped to apprehend the offender, required by law of the Department of Justice. Washington, D.C., and additional mailing See article p. 1. Front and back cover Use of funds for printing this periodical has offices. Postmaster: Send address changes photogrGl.phs copyright Frank Siteman been approved by the Director of the Office to FBI Law /Enforcement Bulletin, Federal Studios. of Management and Budget. Bureau of Investigation, Washington, D.C. 20535. ISSN 0014-5688 USPS 383-310 & Violent Crime Scene Analysis Modus Operandi, Signature, and Staging By JOHN E. DOUGLAS, Ed.D. and CORINNE MUNN ost crime scenes tell a story. And like most sto­ M ries, crime scenes have characters, a plot, a beginning, a middle, and hopefully, a conclu­ sion. However, in contrast to au­ thors who lead their readers to a predetermined ending, the final dis­ position of a crime scene depends on the investigators assigned to the case. The investigators' abilities to analyze the crime scene and to deter­ mine the who, what, how, and why govern how the crime scene story unfolds. To ensure a satisfactory ending, that is, the apprehension and pros­ ecution of the violent crime of­ fender, investigators must realize that the outcome depends on their insight into the dynamics of human behavior. Speech patterns, writing styles, verbal and nonverbal ges­ tures, and other traits and patterns give shape to human behavior. These individual characteristics work in concert to cause each person to act, react, function, or perform in terns enables investigators to dis­ This article addresses each of these a unique and specific way. This in­ cover much about the offender. It maniFestations in order to demon­ dividualistic behavior usually re­ also provides a means by which in­ strate the importance of analyzing mains consistent, regardless of the vestigators can distinguish between a crime scene in terms of human activity being performed. different offenders committing the behavior. Since the commission of a vio­ same types of offense. lent crime involves all the dynamics There are three possible mani­ MODUS OPERANDI of "normal" human behavior, festations of offender behavior at a In 1989, Nathaniel Code, Jr., learning to recognize crime scene crime scene-modus operandi, per­ a Shreveport, Louisiana, man, manifestations of behavioral pat- sonation or signature, and staging. was convicted of murder. The jury February 1992 / 1 As shown, the burglar refined his breaking-and-entering tech­ niques to lower the risk of apprehen­ sion and to increase profits. This demonstrates that the M.O. is a learned behavior that is dynamic and malleable. Developed over time, the M.a. continuously evolves as offenders gain experi­ ence and confidence. Incarceration usually impacts on the future M.O.s of offenders, Special Agent Douglas Ms. Munn especially career criminals. Offend­ Special Agent Douglas is Chief of the Investigative Support Unit at the FBI ers refine their M:.O.s as they learn Academy. Ms. Munn served as an Honors Intern at the FBI Academy. from the mistakes that lead to their arrests. The victim's response also sig­ nificantly influences the evolution of the M.O. If a rapist has problems determined that on three separate ting the crime, and victimology controlling a victim, he will modify occasions between 1984 and 1987, (characteristics of the victims) the M.O. to accommodate resist­ Code murdered a total of eight eliminate the connection to one ance. He may use duct tape, other people. The jury returned a guilty offender? ligatures, or a weapon on the victim. verdict, even though several dispari­ When attempting to link cases, Or, he may blitz the victim and im­ ties existed among the three crime the M.a. has great significance. A mediately incapacitate her. If such scenes. critical step in crime scene analysis measures are ineffective, he may For example, the offender is the resulting correlation that con­ resort to greater violence or he may gagged the first victim with a piece nects cases due to similarities in kill the victim. Thus, offenders con­ of matedal obtained at the crime M.a. But, what causes an offender tinually reshape their M.a. to meet scene, but brought duct tape to use to use a certainM.O.? What circum­ the demands of the crime. on the seven victims in the other two stances shape the M.a.? Is the M.a. In the case of Nathanial Code, incidents. Also, the killer stabbed static or dynamic? M.a. and victimology alone would and slashed the first victim, whereas Unfortunately, investigators have failed to link him to each of the the victims of the other two crimes make a serious error by placing too eight murders. But Code left more were also shot and showed signs of much significance on the M.O. than gags, duct tape, and bodies ligature strangulation. The victims when linking crimes. For example, a with gunshot wounds and slashed ranged in age from 8 years to 74 novice burglar shatters a locked throats at the crime scenes; he left years and included both sexes; how­ basement window to gain access to a his "calling card." Investigators ever, all were black And, the of­ house. Fearing that the sound of a found this "calling card" or signa­ fender took money from one crime window breaking will attract atten­ ture aspect at every crime scene, and scene, but not the other two. tion, he rushes in his search for valu­ thus, were able to link Code to the Considering the evidence found ables. Later, during subsequent offenses. at the three crime scenes, could one crimes, he brings tools to force open man be linked to all of the murders? locks, which will minimize the THE SIGNATURE ASPECT W ouldn' t such differences in modus noise. This allows him more time to The violent, repetitive offender operandi (M.a.), which is the commit the crimes and to obtain a often exhibits another element of offender's actions while commit- more profitable haul. criminal behavior during the 2 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ---___________________________ crime-the signature aspect or the offender who repeatedly en­ show the difference between a M.O. "calling card." This criminal con­ gages in a specific order of sexual and a signature aspect. duct is a unique and integral part of activity with different victims. A rapist enters a residence and the offender's behavior and goes The signature aspect remains a takes a woman and her husband cap­ beyond the actions needed to com­ constant and enduring part of each tive. The offender orders the hus­ mit the crime. offender. And, unlike the M.O., it band to lie face down on the floor Fantasies of offenders often never changes. However, signature and then places a cup and saucer on give birth to violent crime. As of­ aspects may evolve, such as in the his back. He tells the husband, "If I fenders brood and daydream, they case of a lust murderer who per- . hear the cup move or hit the floor, develop a need to express these vio­ forms greater postmortem mutila­ your wife dies." The offender then lent fantasies. When they are finally tion as he progresses from crime to takes the wife into the next room and acted out, some aspect of each crime crime. Elements of the original rapes her. demonstrates a unique, personal ex­ ritual become more fully d.eveloped. In another situation, a rapist en­ pression or ritual based on these In addition, the signature does not ters the house, orders the woman to fantasies. However, committing the always show up at every crime phone her husband, and tells her to crime does not satisfy the needs of use some ploy to get him to come offenders, and this insufficiency home.