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• ~ORCEMENT rBI BULLETIN

AUGUST 1985. VOLUME 54. NUMBER 8

EDITOR'S NOTE This special Contents issue of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin reports the results of research on sexual homicide crime 2 scenes and patterns of criminal PROJECT STAFF: RESEARCH TEAM behavior. It is the work of. The Men Who Murdered Albert Belanger, B.A., Computer Programmer, Boston University, Boston, MA 7 Ralph B. D'Agostino, Ph.D., PROJECT INVESTIGATORS The Split Reality of Murder Department of Mathematics, Boston Robert K. Ressler, M.S. , University, Boston, MA Supervisory Special Agent, FBI HollyJean Chaplick, M.A., 12 Academy, Behavioral Science Unit, Research Assistant, Health Classifying Sexual Director of the Research and Services Research, Department of Homicide Crime Scenes Development Program, Quantico, Health and Hospitals, Boston, MA VA Marieanne l. Clark, M.S. , Editor, Ann W. Burgess, R.N., D.N.Sc., Health Services Research, 18 van Ameringen Professor Department of Health and Crime Scene and Profile Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Hospitals, Boston, MA Characteristics of University of Pennsylvania, Carol R. Hartman, R.N., D.N.Sc., Organized and Philadelphia, PA; and Associate Associate Professor and Disorganized Murderers Director of Nursing Research, Coordinator of the Graduate Department of Health and Program in Psychiatric Mental Hospitals, Boston, MA Health Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 28 PROJECT STAFF: FB I ACADEMY Interviewing Techniques Caroline Montan, B.A., Research Roger l. Depue, Unit Chief, Assistant, Health Services for Sexual Homicide John E. Douglas, Robert R. Research, Department of Health Investigation Hazelwood, and Kenneth V. and Hospitals, Boston, MA Lanning, Supervisory Special Karen Woelfel, Research Agents, and Cindy Lent, Research Assistant, Health Services 32 Assistant, Behavioral Science Unit, Research, Department of Health Wanted by the FBI FBI Academy, Quantico, VA and Hospitals, Boston, MA

Federal Bureau of Investigation Published by the OHice of United States Department of Justice Congressional and Public AHairs, Washington, DC 20535 William M. Baker, Assistant Dtrector

William H. Webster, Director Editor- Thomas J. Deakin Assistant Editor-Kathryn E. Sulewski Art Director-Kevin J. Mulholland The Attorney General has determined that the publication of this periodical is necessary in the Writer/ Editor-Karen McCarron transaction of the public business required by law Production Manager- Jeffrey L. Summers of the Department of Justice. Use of funds for Reprints- Regena E. Archey printing this periodical has been approved by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget through June 6. 1988.

ISSN 0014- 5688 US PS 383-3 10 Director's Message

The concept of a National Center for the The National Center for the Analysis of Analysis of Violent Crime was developed a year Violent Crime will be an important tool in solving ago; this special issue of the FBI Law these perplexing crimes that are committed by Enforcement Bulletin presents the first reportage these mobile criminals in our society. We owe the of results to the law enforcement community of Center's existence to the tremendous cooperation the extensive research undertaken by the Center. of officials like Pierce Brooks, former chief of police One of the first tasks of the Center was to of three different cities, and longtime homicide collect a data base on serial murders. We believe investigator, who supervised the establishment of that this is one area where a nationwide approach the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program would best serve the needs of local authorities (VI-CAP)-one element of the Center-and the because many of these murderers are highly material support of other Department of Justice mobile in their violent criminal activities. The agencies: The Office of Justice Programs, the assistance rendered by the Behavioral Science National Institute of Justice, and the Office of Unit of our Training Division in developing profiles Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. in unsolved homicide cases has been recognized In the latest development at the Center, we by local authorities across the country. It is now are now training local officers selected for an integral part of the Center. specialization in profiling and VI-CAP matters so Your cooperation is sought in this that each can work on these difficult cases with a undertaking by the Center, since without it we local FBI.Agent, also specially trained. As we could not build the reliable data base needed to develop the data base on these crimes of analyze the serial murders, rapes, arsons, and violence, teams working at the Center will report other crimes we have targeted. This research their progress to the whole law enforcement project has two specific objectives: (1) To develop community in various ways, including in the pages statistical models (and companion computer of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. software) to discriminate between patterns of homicide crime scenes, and (2) to identify patterns of behavioral and personality traits that correlate with the evidence found at the crime scene. William H. Webster Director August 1, 1985 Chapter 1

Statistics from the FBI's Uniform To address this problem, law en• spective. It includes an initial appraisal Crime Reports document the alarming forcement is studying techniques to of a profiling process and interviews number of victims of sexually violent aid in apprehending serial offenders. of incarcerated murderers conducted crimes. -One of the disturbing patterns These techniques require an indepth by FBI Special Agents. The interviews inherent in these statistics is that of knowledge of the criminal personality, contain specific questions answered the serial or repetitive criminal. Law an area that, until recently, was re• from compiled sources plus lengthy, enforcement officials have questioned searched primarily by forensic clini• open-ended interviews with the mur• whether a small percentage of crimi• cians who interviewed criminals from derers themselves. A subsample of 36 nals may be responsible for a large a psychological framework or by crimi• sexual murderers was selected for number of crimes, that is, a core nologists who studied crime trends analysis to develop further information group of habitual serious and violent and statistics. Missing from the data for profiling these murders. Here, we offenders. This has been documented base were critical aspects relevant to present what we learned about these in one study on juvenile delinquents, 1 law enforcement investigation. Re• 36 men. It is important to recognize and other studies have reported simi• searchers have now begun to study that we are making general state• lar results, 2 with average estimates of the criminal from law enforcement ments about these offenders. Not all from 6 to 8 percent of delinquents perspectives, with a shift in focus to statements are true for al/ offenders, comprising the core of the delinquen• the investigative process of crime although they may be true for most of cy problem. scene inquiry and victimology. the 36 men or for most of the offend• Our research is the first study of ers from whom we obtained data. Re• sexual homicide and crime scene pat• sponses were not available from all terns from a law enforcement per• offenders for all questions.

2 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______• "Law enforcement officials have questioned whether a small percentage of criminals may be responsible for a large number of crimes. . . ."

Background Characteristics the child perceives the family mem• Over'40 percent of the men lived out• Although their birth years ranged bers and their interaction with him and side the family home before age 18 in from 1904 to 1958, most of the 36 of• with each other. For children growing places such as foster homes, State fenders (all male) grew up in the up, the quality of their attachments to homes, detention centers, or mental 1940's and 1950's. They were pre• parents and other members of the hospitals. Twenty-five of the men for dominantly white and were usually family is important in how these chil• whom data were available had histo• eldest sons (first or second born), dren become adults and relate to, and ries of early psychiatric difficulties, which gave them a distinct advantage, value, other members of society. Es• thereby minimizing their opportunity to given the dominant-male attitudes in sentially, these early life attachments establish positive relationships within the country at that time. (sometimes called bonding) translate the family. In addition, the families Most of these men, as adults, into a map of how the child will per• had minimal attachment to a commu• had pleasant general appearances, ceive situations outside of the family. nity, reducing the child's opportunities suggesting that as boys they were not Because of this, we were especially to develop positive, stable relation• unattractive. Their heights and interested in specific factors within ships outside the family that might weights were within the norms, and family relationships that best show the compensate for family instability. few had distinguishing handicaps or offenders' levels of attachment to As stated earlier, both parents physical defects to set them apart in a people. were present in over half (20) of the group of boys or men. The majority of The family histories of these men cases, with the father being absent in the men were of average or above-av• revealed that multiple problems exist• 10 cases, the mother being absent in erage intelligence, with one-third ed in the family structure. Half of the 3 cases, and both parents being having superior intelligence. offenders' families had members with absent in 2 cases. However, of impor• The majority initially began life in criminal histories; over half of the fam• tance is that in 17 cases, the biologi• two-parent homes, and half of the ilies had psychiatric problems. This cal father left home before the boy mothers were homemakers. Although suggests insufficient contact between reached 12 years of age. This ab• the majority of fathers worked at un• some family members and the offend• sence was due to a variety of rea• skilled jobs, they were steadily em• er as a child, as well as the possibility sons, including separation and di• ployed; only five men reported the of inadequate patterns of relating. vorce. It :s not surprising, then, that family living at substandard economic Nearly 70 percent of the families had the dominant parent of the offender levels. histories of alcohol abuse, one-third of during the rearing phase of his life Thus, poverty was not a significant the families had histories of drug was the mother (for 21 cases). Only factor in the socioeconomic status of abuse, and sexual problems among nine offenders said the father was the families; mothers were in the home; family members were either present dominant parent, and two said both fathers were earning stable incomes; or suspected in almost half of the re• parents shared the parenting roles. the subjects were intelligent, white, ported cases. Thus, it is unlikely that Perhaps the most interesting fact eldest sons. With such positive per• most of the offenders experienced a revealed was that most offenders said sonal characteristics and social fac• good quality of life or positive interac• they did not have a satisfactory rela• tors, the question is: What went tions with family members. tionship with their father, and their re• wrong? Is there any evidence of what When examining the patterns de• lationship with their mother was highly may have turned these men into sex• scribed by the murderers regarding ambivalent in emotional quality. Six• ually oriented murderers? their own families, one is impressed teen of the men reported cold or un• by the high degree of instability in caring relationships with their moth• Family Background homelife and by the poor quality of at• ers, and 26 reported such relation• It is often argued that the struc• tachment among family members. ships with their fathers. ture and quality of family interaction is Only one-third of the men reported Twenty of the offenders had no an important factor in the develop• growing up in one location. The ma• older brothers and 17 had no older ment of a child, especially in the way jority (17) said they experienced occa• sisters. In terms of having a strong sional instability, and six reported role model during formative years, chronic instability or frequent moving.

______August 1985/3 "It appears that the childhood physical and sexual abuse experienced by these offenders was manifested in their preference for fantasy life." these men lacked an older sibling Individual Development child away from reality and into his who might make up for parental defi- When looking at individual devel- own private world of violence where ciencies. Instead, they had to com- opment of the offenders, two factors the child can exert control. The con- pete with younger siblings in an emo- stand out­the dominance of a fanta- trol of the fantasy becomes crucial tionally deficient environment. sy life and a history of personal first to the child and later to the man. Compounding the offenders' limit- abuse. These are not fantasies of escape to ed opportunities for positive attach- Many of the murderers were able something better, as one often sees ments were their perceptions of pa- to describe the importance of a fanta- in children recovering from sexual as- rental discipline. Frequently, the men sy life in their early development. saults and abusive treatment. These reported discipline as unfair, hostile, These fantasies were primarily violent men did not overcompensate for the inconsistent, and abusive. These men and sadistic in nature. Twenty offend- stimulation and aggression by idyllic believed they were not dealt with fairly ers had rape fantasies before age 18, thinking or creative interests. Rather, by adults throughout their formative and seven of these men acted out their energies were funneled into fan- years. these fantasies within a year of be- tasies of aggression and mastery over This quote from a serial murderer coming consciously aware of them. other people, suggesting a projected illustrates these beliefs: There was evidence of abuse in repetition of their own abuse and "See, if I had my way, you guys the childhood histories of these men. identification with the aggressor. As would never have grown up or Physical abuse (13/31), psychological one murderer stated, "Nobody both- become FBI agents. I wanted the abuse (23/31), and childhood sexual ered to find out what my problem was whole world to kick off when I was abuse (12/31) were noted. and nobody knew about the fantasy about 9 or 10. I didn't want my When the offenders were asked world." family to break up; I loved them to rank their sexual interests, the high- both. There was a lot of fighting est ranking activity was pornography Performance and that had me crying watching it (81 percent), followed by compulsive Examination of performance be- at night. They divorced. I've got two masturbation (79 percent), fetishism havior of these murderers revealed sisters and my mother treated me (72 percent), and voyeurism (71 per- another paradox. Despite intelligence like a third daughter telling me what cent). It is interesting to note the and potential in many areas, perform- a rotten father I have. I'm supposed seemingly solitary pattern of these ance in academics, employment, to be identifying with my dad and I sexual expressions. sexual relationships, and military serv- never did. I got an older sister that It appears that the childhood ice was often poor. In all of these beats up on me a lot­five years physical and sexual abuse experi- areas, performance did not match po- older. I got a younger sister that lies enced by these offenders was mani- tential. on both of us and gets us punished. fested in their preference for fantasy Although these men had the intel- I had the instinct to feel like I'm life. In addition, when questioned ligence to perform well in school, aca- getting a rotten deaL" about the murders themselves and demic failure was seen in their having The data have suggested that their preparations for the murders, the to repeat elementary grades. The ma- most of the 36 murderers, while grow- men identified the importance of fan- jority did not finish high school. In ad- ing up, had weak attachments to tasy to the rapes and murders. After dition, school failure was frequently j family members. They felt uninvolved the first murder, the men found them- mentioned by the men, suggesting I with their fathers, ambivalent toward selves deeply preoccupied and some- that they related this early failure to their mothers, and little attachment to times stimulated by their memories of their sense of inadequacy. j younger siblings. The parents were the act, all of which contributed to The men also had the intelligence preoccupied with their own problems fantasies for subsequent murders. needed to perform skilled jobs; how- of substance abuse, criminality, or ab- One begins to understand how an ever, most offenders had poor work errant sexual behavior and were often early pattern used to cope with an un- histories in unskilled jobs, and only 20 1 arguing. It appears that while parents satisfactory family life might turn a percent had ever held steady jobs. offered little guidance, they were role About half of the offenders en- models for deviant patterns. tered the military. Only 4 of the 14

4 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______who were in military service received function, the history of abuse, the Autoerotic Preference honorable discharges, and 1 of the 4 dominance of fantasy, the preference The men reported few attach• had a criminal history in the service. for solo sex, and the performance fail• ments to persons outside of the Two men received general dis• ure of these men, the data suggest family. Rather, they admitted to an charges, three were dishonorably dis• the emergence of certain attitudes. autoerotic preference (masturbation) charged, three had undesirable dis• that combined with fantasies of ag• Devaluation of People charges, and two received medical gression and the realities of the abuse discharges. The men in the study experi• they were concurrently experiencing. The sexual performance of the enced low social attachment, felt de• Their visual interests (pornography, offenders was generally at an auto• tached from family members as well fetishism, and voyeurism) reinforced erotic (solo sexual activity) level. Al• as from peers, and did not experience the sex and aggression. though 20 men were able to state an the bonding through which people de• age of first consenting sex to orgasm, velop sensitivity toward other people. Fantasy is Reality they did not report an extensive, peer• The murderers frequently described The offenders' active participation related sexual history. The ages of themselves as loners or as feeling dif• in the social world is limited, and their first consenting sexual experience ferent from others their age. The re• efforts at performing and fitting in are ranged from 11 to 25. Of the 16 who sultant attitudes include beliefs that frustrated. Their need for a sense of did not report an age, it was clear to do not consider or are insensitive to adequacy and mastery of life is noted the interviewers that many never ex• the needs of others. Essentially, the in their development of private worlds perienced consenting "normal" sex. offenders do not value relationships• where fantasy and delusions predomi• There was an obvious preference for they are self-centered. nate. This retreat triggers the thoughts autoerotic activity. that dictate criminal behavior. The interviews with the offenders World Viewed as Unjust revealed many expressions of low The men perceived discipline in Deviant Behaviors self-esteem prior to the murders. the home, school failures, and other The data suggest that the deviant Many offenders felt a sense of failure inadequate performance as part of an behaviors of rape, mutilation, torture, beginning at a young age. Again, we unjust and unfair world. Their resultant and murder have some roots in both can speculate on the importance of belief is that other people are respon• the offenders' background characteris• fantasy life. It appears that what com• sible for their fates. tics and their attitudes and beliefs. pensates for poor performance is the (See fig. 1.) The deviant behavior fantasy, in which the variables can be Authority and Life Viewed as identified at the crime scene provides controlled. Inconsistent some clues for understanding the type These men view authority and life of criminal personality responsible for Resultant Attitudes and Beliefs as inconsistent, unpredictable, and the crime. unstable. As a result, the offenders do In reviewing background charac• not value or trust authority. Rape teristics for the offenders as a group, Rape is sexually deviant behavior a pattern emerges as we look at Obsession with Dominance through that exhibits absolute disregard for the issues critical to sexual homicide. Al• Aggression worth and value of an individual. Rape though the personal strengths of the The intense desire to be strong, fantasies range from having power murderers (high intelligence, good ap• powerful, and in control becomes an and control over a victim to more vio• pearance, average socioeconomic obsession to dominate through ag• lent sadistic fantasies. Those who family status, oldest son or first! gression. This desire results from the rape before killing are seeking to second born) are usually positive at• way the offenders responded to the tributes for success, something abuse in their families. It was subse• occurs which causes a negative out• quently manifested in their fantasies come for these men. From the per• and later in their acts. ceived quality of family structure and

______August1985 / 5 Figure 1

General Characteristics, Resultant Attitudes and Beliefs, and Deviant Behaviors of 36 Sexual Murderers BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS Family Background Individual Development Performance Detachment Dominance of fantasy School failure Criminality History of personal abuse dominate others, regardless of the Sporadic work record Substance abuse Unskilled employment consequences; those who sexually Psychiatric problems assault after death (necrophilia) need Poor military record Sexual problems Solo sex the absence of life to have total domi• Inconsistent discipline nation without fear of resistance and/ or rejection. In both cases, there is a high amount of sexual dysfunction, most frequently ejaculatory failure. RESULTANT ATTITUDES AND DEVIANT BEHAVIORS This inadequacy is projected onto the BELIEFS Rape victim and may playa part in the es• Devaluation of victim and society Mutilation calation to murder. World viewed as unjust Torture Mutilation and Torture Authority/life viewed as inconsistent Murder Autoerotic preference The act of mutilation may be Obsession with dominance through predicated on a primary fantasy aggression (sadism) or on a secondary fantasy Fantasy as reality (e.g., disposing of the body). A mutila• tion fantasy includes symbolic pat• terns to the cuttings and markings on lizing of the fantasy makes them real. of low social attachment, physical, a body or the amputation of the Acting out the fantasy links the fanta• emotional, and/or sexual abuse, and sexual parts of the body. This is in sy with reality, and the fantasy be• a dominance of a violent, sexualized contrast to the practical aspect of dis• comes reality. The offender believes fantasy life sets into motion the atti• secting a body for disposal or trans• he can now control reality. tudes and beliefs that trigger the devi• portation purposes. ant behavior of rape, mutilation, tor• Torturing a victim is part of a sa• Conclusion ture, and murder. One of the major re• distic fantasy. Such fantasies include What, then, can we glean from an lationship deficiencies for these mur• some type of stimulus enhancing an analysis of background information derers is in their interaction with men, autoerotic condition and include slic• and interviews with 36 sexual murder• perhaps stemming from the absent, ing, cutting, burning, pulling out hairs ers? Although any speculations are cold, and unavailable father. or body parts, and biting. general in nature and will not apply to An understanding of some of the every sexual killer, our sample indi• dynamics behind sexually deviant be• Murder cates that child/adolescent energies havior provides law enforcement offi• Murder is the ultimate expression were funneled into fantasies rather cials some insight into the suspects of dominance. The offender's aggres• than into goal-directed learning be• they are trying to identify and appre• sion is self-generated from his own havior. Excessive involvement in solo hend. FBI fantasies, not from any societal model sex, noted through the frequency of of strength or power. His idea of mas• masturbation and the preference for tering other people emerges through visual isolated sexual experiences, Footnotes 1 M.E. Wolfgang. A.M. Figlio, and T. Sellin. his violence and aggression. For such as fetishes and voyeurism, may Delinquency In a Birth Cohort (Chicago: The UniverSIty of these murderers, sexual interest is have a link with the offender's domi• ChICago Press, 1972). 2 R.M. Figlio and P.E. Tracy, " Chronic Recidivism in linked with violence and exploitation nant fantasy world, A high interest in the 1968 Birth Cohort," unpublished manuscript, rather than gentleness or pleasure. pornography detracts from engaging Washington, DC, NIJJDP, 1983; D.M. Hamparian, R. Schuster, S. Dinitz, and J.P. Conrad, The Violent Few Murder fantasies range from con• in reality and relationships and further (Lexington, MA: D.C. Healih & Co., 1978); L.W. Shannon, "A Longitudinal Study of Delinquency and Crime," in scious deliberate planning to a spon• reinforces the fantasy. Excitement lies Ouantdative Studies In Criminology, ed. C. Wellford taneous outburst of rage. Although within the offender, not in his relation• (Beverly Hills: Sage Publications, 1978). the offender's fantasy life develops ships with other people. his predatory activities, the first actua• The roots of the murderer's ac• tions appear to stem from their back• ground experiences. The combination

6 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______Chapter a The Split Reality of Murder . . to many serial killers, . . . fantasies of murder are as real as their acts of murder."

" Murder is very real. It's not what is important, this article presents cal to the subsequent apprehension something you see in a movie. You thoughts and beliefs articulated by the of a suspect. have to do all the practical things of murderers themselves. First, we dis• The 36 murderers in our study, surviving," 1 cuss the structure of conscious mo• replying to this fundamental question Murder is, indeed, very real. Yet tives for murder, the killer's long• of what triggered their first murders, to many serial killers, their fantasies of standing fantasy of violence and revealed that as a group, they were murder are as real as their acts of murder. Second, we look at what hap• aware of their longstanding involve• murder. To them, their existence is pens when the fantasy of murder is ment and preference for a very active split into two realities: The social reali• played out through its various phases. fantasy life and they were devoted to ty of the " normal" world where people By presenting our interpretation of the violent sexual fantasies. Most of these do not murder, and the psychological fantasy's importance to the serial fantasies, prior to the first murder, fo• vitality of the fantasy that is the impe• killer, we hope to suggest perspec• cused on killing, while fantasies that tus for the killer to commit his hei• tives for law enforcement on the in• evolved after the first murder often fo• nous crime. It is a split reality because vestigation of sexual homicide. cused on perfecting various phases of the fantasy life is such a preoccupa• the murder. The following illustrates tion. It becomE;ls an additional reality, Motive and Fantasy an early fantasy of one of the serial distinguishable from the "other" reali• How does the motive for a murderers that developed following ty of the day-to-day social world. murder evolve, and what triggers the the move of his bedroom to a win• Interviews with 36 convicted murderer to act? Many murders dowless basement room. This fantasy sexual murderers have provided in• puzzle law enforcement because they sights into their attitudes, beliefs, and appear to lack the "usual" motives, justifications for their crimes. In order such as robbery or revenge. Motives, to interpret the murderer'S sense of however, need to be determined, since understanding the motive is criti•

______A~ust1005/7 " .. . many offenders reported a history of sadistic behavior toward animals, such as killing, maiming, and threatening small animals ...." seemed to introduce him in a more The man would state he remembered the fantasy. What these 36 men re- conscious way to a fantasy life which having vague thoughts or was able to vealed in terms of their first murder occupied much of his life: remember some parts of his thinking was that something happened exter- " I was eight years old, having but did not have this awareness clear- nally to them that moved them to act nightmares, that's when I went off ly structured in his mind. This re- out this fantasy. into the morbid fantasy and that's sponse in subjects led to our belief The key person in the fantasy- when the death trip started. The that much of the motive and intent in the one doing the killing, maiming, or devil was sharing my bedroom with the form of fantasies are vague and torturing­is the perpetrator himself. me, he was living in the furnace. loosely formulated until the murderers Sometimes, perpetrators fantasize The furnace was there battling actually kill. With the reality of the self­victimization, such as ordering away in the corner with an eerie murder, the fantasy feeds off itself their own evisceration, but · most vic- glow in the middle of the night." and becomes more structured. As timize others in their fantasies. Their more murders are committed, the This man later in the interview de- actions are mentally rehearsed and phases of the murders become more are accompanied by emotion. The scribed a conscious awareness of his organized. fantasy life is varied and has many dy- motive to kill: Although we discuss the "first" " I knew long before I started killing namics that are idiosyncratic to the murder, many offenders reported a murderer. that I was going to be killing, that it history of sadistic behavior toward ani- A variety of factors can trigger was going to end up like that. The mals, such as killing, maiming, and the offender to act on his fantasy, in- fantasies were too strong. They threatening small animals (cats, birds, cluding certain interactions between were going on for too long and fish). In one case, the murderer, as a the murderer and the victim. The fol- were too elaborate." young boy, had acquired the nick- lowing case illustrates the murderer's Following the first murder, the fantasy name " Doc," apparently from his recall of the triggering event of the becomes reality that requires a fondness for slitting open the stom- victim trying to escape, but not of the change in the structure of the fantasy achs of cats and observing how far murder: in order to repeat the crime. The they could run before they died. Subject- "We were upstairs and I same murderer tells of this fantasy One murderer connected his mur- was taking my clothes off. That's development: derous acts to dismembering his sis- when she started back downstairs. "It was almost like a black comedy ter's doll heads. " I used to do my sis- As a matter of fact, that's the only of errors, the first killings, two ter's dolls that way when I was a kid time I hit her. I caught her at the people, it was terrible because I . . . just yanked the head off her stairs." made three fatal errors in the first Barbie dolls." Although this offender Agent: "What happened?" 24 hours. I should have been was able to note the connection to his Subject· She wanted to know why I busted . . . I saw how loose I was early violent fantasies, many offend- hit her. I just told her to be quiet. . and I tightened it up and when it ers were not able to make this link. She was complaining about what happened again and again I got We are not discussing in this arti- time she would get home and she tighter and tighter and there weren't cle any motives based on childhood said her parents would worry. She any more slips." experiences. Instead, we are referring consented to sex . . . then I Motivation operates on many to· a level of motivation that later in remembered nothing else except levels. We are referring here to the the life of the offender serves as a waking up and her dead in the conscious or preconscious awareness basis for or triggers the murder. bed." of the murderers, the structure of their It is at this later level of motiva- Some murderers were aware of fantasies, and the resultant act of tion that the offender's fantasy life re- their fantasy to rape and their motive murder. We use the term "precon- flects itself in his social behavior­the to kill. The fantasy of one juvenile scious" since many of the interviews line between fantasy and reality blurs. who was caught after his first rape de- with the murderers reveal this level. The offender may become isolated or picted total control over women. He socially aloof rather than acting on the fantasy. This social isolation perhaps helps in inhibiting his desire to act on

8 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______j was infuriated at the female judge when chasti zed by a teacher or boss, Fantasies provide a sense of who sentenced him to a residential fa• these offenders talk to themselves control to the offender. For the serial cility, and he continued to rape when about it-" If I ever got that son of a murderer, they become obsessions. on leave from the facility. The rape bitch I'd rip him apart; I'd smash him Efforts are made to improve the fanta• fantasy escalated to include murder up." One offender, after performing sy's weak areas, and once this is ac• when there was a threat to this power poorly in the service and being intimi• complished, the offender moves to and control, i.e., his detection. One dated by his sergeant, went a.w.o.1. gain access to a victim. The symbolic rape victim was killed because she on a drinking binge. While out on the figure in the fantasy is replaced with a showed some assertiveness by run• street, he beat a drunk to death after real person in reality. ning away, even though she had said the man grabbed at him. The offender she wouldn't tell. The murderer re• felt justified in his actions and was un• Phases of a Murder vealed his fantasy for total control aware of the intensity of his rage or The fantasy underlying a sexually when he said, "When I think she is the impact of his blows. He then beat oriented murder drives the offender's going to tell, I know I have to kill her." to death a second man. Finally, he actions through various phases of that He raped and murdered four more vic• abducted a female acquaintance. murder. The act of murder has at tims. When he awoke the next morning, her least four major phases, including: 1) Some of the murderers in our dead body was beside him with a Antecedent behavior, which includes study did not report fantasies in a broomstick impaled in her vagina with the motives and planning or thinking conscious way. Instead, they often such force that it had penetrated her about the murder; 2) the murder itself, described states of dysphoria, such as lungs. Although he believes he killed including gaining access to the victim they were not feeling well , they were her, he has no recollection of the inci• and carrying out the crime; 3) disposal depressed, or they had been drinking. dent. He even helped the police look of the body; and 4) postcrime behav• These descriptions often revealed an for her. ior, including reaction to the discovery underlying stress that may have been Most people are aware of their of the body. based in their fantasy. The following is fantasy life in terms of making pic• an example: tures and carrying on dialog. When Phase 1: Antecedent Behavior Subject: "It was the same as with people report hearing voices, it is Murder is a behavioral act. Moti• the other one. I had been drinking most often an hallucination. It is often vations for this behavior include either at the bar. I don't even remember described as either a voice from the a conscious fantasy, plan, directive, or leaving. I don't know what made me outside or as someone transmitting reason to kill ' or a triggering environ• kill her. I don't even know why I thoughts into their mind. Something is mental cue that activates an uncon• raped her. I had a good looking wife in their heads of which they are con• scious fantasy for murder. Murderers at home. I saw her get into her car sciously aware but they believe it is in who operate primarily on a conscious and I walked up and got in the car the control of someone else and that motivational level usually remember with her, yelled at her, took her they are the passive victim. their thoughts prior to the murder. down there where I raped her. I The fantasy of the serial murderer One of the murderers in our study de• kept telling her I didn't want to hurt is a separate, distinct reality. It is vi• scribed his entangled fantasy and per• her but I just started choking her." brant and vital, distinguishable from versions and said, " I had a compul• We suspect that these offenders the "other" reality of the social world. sion during the day and hoped it were preoccupied with a kind of inter• The offender believes he can move would settle down-hoped I could nal dialog that sustained anger, dis• from one reality to the other, that wipe it out drinking." It did not settle content, irritability, or depression. ideas generated in fantasy are viable. down, and he acted out the fantasy Drinking or drugs are attempts at No fantasy thought is ever seen as and murdered after leaving the bar. moderating the internal stress, yet the abnormal. For example, one murder• Murderers who are triggered into fantasy continues. These offenders er's fantasy involved an exceptionally action by an environmental cue often are unaware of how much internal good sexual experience, and when state that they cannot remember their dialog they experience. For example, the woman's behavior did not match the fantasy, he became enraged and killed her.

I ______August 1985/9 t "Sexual homicide is an act of control, dominance, and performance that is representative of an underlying fantasy embedded with violence, sexuality, and death." precrime behavior, although they can offender feels unfairly treated, and The power of the fantasy during recall how they murdered. They state this sets into motion the justification the murder is illustrated by one fetish they found themselves in a compro• to kill. As one murderer said, " I burglar. He killed his victims only mising situation, and they reacted with couldn't perform sometimes. Some• when he was interrupted, but not be• explosive rage. ("She was screaming body made fun of me and I blew my cause he was afraid of being identi• and I strangled her." ) These killers stack." fied. He was acting out an intense usually described a spontaneous Killing the victim moves the of• fantasy, and the unexpected interrup• murder. The vagueness of the crime fender to another level of the fantasy. tion made him furious. He acted on continued with subsequent murders; At this point, the reality of murder this rage and felt justified in the however, the men are aware that they comes into play. The victim may not murder. will kill again. die the way the offender planned. The offender might have to use more vio• Phase 3: Disposing of the Body Phase 2: Committing the Murder lence, he may feel more frightened After committing the murder, the Selecting a victim begins the than anticipated, or he might be star• offender must decide what to do with acting-out level for the murderer with tled by the fact he feels excited. the body. If this confrontation with re• a conscious fantasy. The offender Some murderers are exhilarated• ality has not been anticipated, the may have a list of criteria for choosing they broke the rules, they killed. Some murderer may give himself up to the a victim, and many murderers are will kill again, while others will, in authorities. As one murderer said, " It known to seek out the right victim. A horror over what they did, turn them• blew my mind killing those people. I delay before killing the victim often selves in to the police. wasn't ready for that. The fantasies implies conscious planning and re• During this phase, murderers are were there but I couldn't handle the hearsing of the fantasy. In these also confronted with the reality of a death trip and dead bodies. I freaked cases, the murderer often held an dead body. There is no such thing as out and gave myself up." elaborate fantasy, laced with violence, killing with impunity-there is always It is unclear why some murderers aggression, torture, and sexuality, some response. Some murderers re• just leave the body, while others use which also included the fate of the spond by covering the body, washing elaborate methods of disposing of the victim. the wounds, or otherwise caring for body. One offender who described his The history and circumstances of the body, a response that exhibits re• internal dialog as he confronted the the victim are often important to the morse or concern for the victim. body of his first murder victim said, " I offender's fantasy. The victim may be Some murderers hide or bury the got a dead body on my hands. People symbolic of someone in the offender's body, raising some questions about see me come in here. How am I going history, as in one case where all the their motives. One reason for hiding to pack this out? Am I gonna put it in young women killed were symbolic of or burying the body is to keep the a double bag or sheet and carry it out the offender's sister for whom he har• secret and maintain control. Other mur• of here? I figured the smaller the bored great jealousy. Certain actions derers openly display the corpse in a better. I chopped it up . . . stuffed of the victim may also trigger the fan• public area, hoping the display will some in the refrigerator . . . dumped tasy. One murderer, who selected his shock and offend society. guts in vacant lots .. . throwing victims through hitchhiking, said, "She Some murderers need to believe pieces here and there what ever was playing up the role, the big beau• that they will not show any concern came out of the bag first . . . I was tiful smile and getting in the car which for the victim. The actual murder goes scared." was kind of tragic but she had adver• beyond their fantasies of that killing. In a second case, the murderer tised to get blown away." One murderer described his height• described a planned dismembering of For the murderer without a con• ened excitement when driving his car the body after killing the victim in a scious fantasy, a certain person or sit• with the dead bodies in the trunk. car. He then carried the body in a uation may, for example, cue in a There is confirmation and reinforce• strong belief of an unjust world. The ment of the fantasy and pleasure or triumph in the power of the kill. These killers may torture and then kill, or kill and then mutilate the body.

10 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______bag, up two flights of stairs to the The importance of postcrime to the worst of the fantasies that I apartment he shared with his mother, events to the overall fantasy is illus- have." passing two persons coming down the trated by one case in which the of- Interviews with sexual murderers stairs. He said, "It took meticulous fender worked as a hospital ambu- provided information about their fanta- work . . . about four hours . . . dis- lance driver. He kidnaped his victims sies which, in turn, provide us with a membering it, getting rid of the blood, from the parking lot of a restaurant partial answer to murders that appear the gore, completely cleaning the and took them to another location, to be motiveless. These crimes are bathroom. " where he raped and murdered them. committed, in part, as a result of the Some murderers became in- He then anonymously telephoned the acting out of a psychological fantasy. volved with the body through sexually police to report seeing a body, re- These fantasies are extremely violent sadistic acts. This may be part of the turned to the hospital to receive the and range from rape to mutilation or old fantasy or development of a new ambulance call, and then drove the torture and murder. Fantasies are an one. While the offender who "freaked ambulance with the body back to the important part of the offender's basic out" and gave himself up was ' in hospital. In essence, he orchestrated personality and move beyond normal prison, he spent an enormous amount a scene that he had rehearsed nu- sexual, consenting, pleasure­based of psychic energy rehearsing and merous times in his mind. daydreams to aggressive, sadistic, mastering the body disposal phase. and destructive thoughts. These fan- After his release, he murdered eight Conclusion tasies become so vivid that they pro- more women. He stated, "I got rid of Sexual homicide is an act of vide the impetus for the offender to that icky feeling of messing with the control, dominance, and performance act them out with victims of opportunity. dead. Only one guy that gets more that is representative of an underlying It is important for law enforce- casual around a body than me . . . a fantasy embedded with violence, sex- ment officers to be aware of the exist- mortician or a pathologist. But some uality, and death. Yet, for some killers, ence of these fantasies and of the of my fantasies were so bizarre that it one act of murder fulfills their fantasy, types of individuals who have them. would turn the stomach of a patholo- while others feel compelled to contin- While the crime, and therefore the gist." ue killing. fantasy, may appear to be bizarre to Some murderers, while in prison, law enforcement, it is essential to re- Phase 4: Postcrime Behavior attempt to determine how they failed alize that these fantasies play an im- During this phase, the murderer's in the murder in order to be success- portant part in the offender's basic fantasy becomes reality, providing a ful the next time. Their need to repeat personality. Therefore, as law en- sense of purpose for the offender. the act of murder is connected with forcement officers become sensitive The authorities are looking for him so their sense of control. to this phenomenon and seek out he now focuses his energies on not Other murderers live in fear of re- clues which imply the presence of getting caught and perhaps even into peating the crime; their compulsion to fantasy, they will aid in profiling and improving his methods for the next kill is bewildering to them. They don't apprehending the offender. murder. want to get caught, yet at the same rBI An important aspect of the post- time they are hoping they will be crime behavior is the discovery of the caught. Several murderers wrote Footnote body. This discovery is sometimes in- " stop me" statements in notes to Serial murderer convicted of killing 10 people. cluded in the fantasy, and the murder- police or on the wall at the murder er may try to maintain his level of ex- scene, while others turned themselves citement. He may telephone or write in to police. Yet, the fantasies contin- to the police, or he may be in a crowd ued. One killer stated, "It is a at the scene when the body is discov- development . . . getting tired of a ered. The murderer may even confess certain level of fantasy and then going to the crime in order to accompany even farther and even more bizarre. police to the location of the body. Year after year [the development con- tinued] and finally it got off in such deep ends that I'm still not exposed

______August 1985 I 11 12 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______Chapter 3

Cls$$ifting Sexual Homicide Crime Scene$ Interrater Reliability

The unsolved homicide presents style characteristics, arrest history, lo• of correctly classifying the crime a major challenge to law enforcement cation of residence in relation to the and the crime scene, we needed to officers. These unsolved cases, which scene, and certain character traits. establish the reproducibility of these often include a sex­related compo• The Agents responsible for pre• classifications. This article reports our nent, usually have no apparent paring the offender profiles have investigation of the Agents' ability to motive. The victim has been sexually found it useful to classify the type of reproduce independently each other's abused, and the nature of the killing crime and the organizational structure classifications. This ability to replicate indicates behavior patterns that reflect of the crime scene. The crime is clas• decisions is called interrater reliability. sexual deviation, specific character sified as sex-related, nonsexual, or traits, and perhaps even psychopa• unknown. Evidence of a sexual com• Study Design thology. Also referred to as lust mur• ponent anywhere within the crime Six BSU Special Agents with ders, ' these murders often include scene justifies the sex-related classifi• varying levels of experience in profil• severe beating and multiple stabbing cation. The organizational structure of ing participated in the reliability inves• of the victim, body mutilation (such as the crime scene is determined by evi• tigation. Data from 64 murder scenes, removal of sexual organs), and sexua• dence of the amount of planning and covering a variety of circumstances lized positioning of the body after premeditation by the offender, as well both sexual and nonsexual, were se• death. as of the offender's control over the lected for the study. For each crime The FBI 's Behavioral Science victim. For example, a weapon taken scene selected, one of the participat• Unit (BSU) has been involved since to a crime scene and carried away ing Agents was thoroughly familiar 1972 in assisting city, county, and suggests planning, as contrasted with with the case. This Agent presented a State law enforcement agencies in a weapon used and left at the crime short description of the crime scene their investigations of unsolved mur• scene, suggesting opportunity and and showed crime scene photos. ders by preparing profiles of the un• spontaneity. The presentation was restricted identified offenders, after extensive In sex-related crimes, the struc• solely to information immediately examination of the crime scene data, ture of the crime scene provides in• available at the crime scene; no infor• victim characteristics, and autopsy re• sight into the offender's patterns of mation from laboratory tests or later ports. This profile may include the behavior. For example, a well-orga• investigation was divulged. This re• perpetrator's age, race, sex, socioeco• nized crime scene indicates an of• striction allowed the other Agents to nomic and marital status, intellectual fender with a conscious plan of action focus on immediate data. Other de• and educational level, occupation, life• after the murder to avoid detection tails of the investigation, if discussed and apprehension. by the presenter, might have influ• Currently, the BSU is systematical• enced the Agents in forming their ly studying their profiling procedures through scientific and statistical analy• ses. Because of the importance

______August 1985 I 13 "In sex-related crimes, the structure of the crime sc~ne " provides insight into the offender's patterns of behavior.

opinions. Therefore, we decided to escape attempts. Apparently, the Figure 1 have the Agents make judgments victims were totally surprised. based on minimal unbiased data. We Because of these facts, it was Homicide Classification By theorized that if there was good difficult to establish a motive. Presenters agreement among the presenter and Question: Were there any Type Num­ Per- the other Agents, then the agreement fingerprints or footprints found? ber cent would become even better if more de- Answer.' There were fingerprints tailed information was available. Thus, and footprints found at the scene, Sexual ...... 46 71 .9 the most stringent test of interrater re- but they were not necessarily Nonsexual ...... 8 12.5 liability would be based on the mini- foreign to the people who had Unknown ...... 10 15.6 mal data presentation. normal access to the house. There After the presentation, the Agents were no suspicious fingerprints, Total ...... 64 100.0 were allowed to ask questions about footprints, etc. the crime scene data in order to Question: Did the weapon belong at remove any misunderstandings gener- the scene? Case B: A female was found behind ated from the presentation. The com- Answer.' The weapon was not found a group of trees about 100 yards bined presentation and question and at the scene. from a main road of a major city. answer period took about 10 minutes. At this point, the Agents were asked Her clothes had been carefully The following is an example: to make a determination of both the type removed, a stick has been inserted Case A: This case involves an of crime and the structure of the crime into her vagina, her breasts had elderly couple found shot to death scene. been amputated, and her head had in their rural farmhouse. The woman been beaten so severely that her was shot with a .410­gauge shotgun DATA ANALYSIS face was obliterated. A bloody rock in the back of the head, apparently Type of Crime was lying to the right of the head. Evidence of sperm was found on as she was typing a letter. She died After a presentation similar to the the victim's dress and body. Her immediately. When the elderly above, each Agent was asked to clas- pantyhose had been removed gentleman came home, he also was sify independently the crime. Although carefully, and her clothing was not shot with a .410­gauge shotgun by the presenter had additional informa- torn. a person who lay in wait. Neither tion available to him, he also classi- body was moved or molested. fied the crime solely on the basis of Nonsexual Homicide There was no indication of any what he believed the crime scene in- Cases judged nonsexual in nature manipulation of the bodies after the formation indicated. The breakdown initial gunshot, and nothing was have no evidence supporting a sexual of the 64 murders by type, as given component. Case C illustrates this taken from the home. There was no by the presenters, is listed in figure 1. sign of forced entry and no type of murder. evidence of defense wounds or Sexual Homicide Case C: A priest was found dead in a confessional booth. The There are various observations investigation indicated that he was and evidence that point to a crime probably talking to someone on the being classified as sex­related, includ- other side of the booth who came ing the body's attire or lack of cloth- around, opened the door, and ing; exposure of the victim's sexual stabbed him. There were multiple parts (such as breasts or genitals); stab wounds in the victim's chest sexual positioning of the body; sexual area, and the murder weapon was injury; evidence of sexual activity on, not left at the scene. in, or near the body; and evidence of substitute sexual activity or sadistic fantasy. Case B is an example of a sexual homicide.

14 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______

L­______August 1985 I 15 "This study demonstrated that there is reliability in the classification of crime types and scenes by BSU Agents."

Unknown Homicide Case D: This case involved a series tion. There may be two or more of- When it is not obvious whether a of homicides in which the victims, fenders involved in the homicide, or crime is sex­related, the homicide is who were found in rivers, had the offender may begin the crime in classified as unknown. For example, a automotive parts tied to their an organized manner before his plan- skeleton buried or abandoned may bodies. The female victims were all ning deteriorates as unanticipated not provide useful evidence, and a grossly mutilated (removal of events occur. Inconsistencies are partially decomposed body may give breasts and feet, pelvic damage). noted in the behavior of the offender. confused indications, expecially if the The victims had been reported as Although the organized or disorga- body has been mauled by an animal. missing during the course of a day; nized classifications fit many cases, one never retumed after shopping. not all crime scenes fit into one of Structure of the Crime Scene There were indications that they these categories. In addition, crime After the classification of crime had been kept for several days scenes may display varying degrees type, each Agent was asked to classi- before being thrown into the river. of organization and disorganization. It fy independently the structure of the The murderer would have needed a is in these instances that the mixed crime scene as organized, disorga- car to transport them from where category is useful. nized, mixed, or unknown. The pre- they were last seen alive to where Case F: A 21­year­old woman's senter also classified the crime their bodies were discovered. body, partially hidden from view, scenes based on what he believed was found at a garbage dump. The Disorganized Crime Scene the scene alone indicated. The distri- body had stab wounds in the vagina bution of the 64 murder scenes, as The disorganized crime scene in- and groin, and the victim's throat given by the presenters, is shown in dicates spontaneity and a more fren- had been slashed. In addition, her figure 2. zied assault. The scene itself is most nipples had been amputated and likely the location of encounter. her face severely beaten. Her hair Case E' A 16­year­old girl was last Figure 2 had been cut and was found seen leaving to ride her horse in a Crime Scene Classification By hanging from a nearby tree branch. favorite riding area. Police were Presenters Test results indicated the victim had notified when she was several been sexually assaulted and Crime Num­ Per­ hours late in returning home. A murdered shortly after leaving her Scene Type ber cent search team found the girl's body job. Investigation revealed two one­half mile from the farm where brothers were involved in the she lived. Her body was face up, Organized ...... 31 48.4 murder, one of whom the victim spread­eagled, jeans and Disorganized .. 21 32.8 was living with at the time of her underpants pulled down to the Mixed ...... 9 14.1 death. ankles, a hooded sweatshirt draped Unknown ...... 3 4.7 across the left breast, her bra was Unknown Crime Scenes Total ...... 64 100.0 pulled below both breasts, and The unknown scene pertains to another item of clothing was draped those cases that cannot be classified across her neck. A 10­inch vertical based on immediate crime scene Organized Crime Scene cut was present at the base of her data. For example, a decomposed, The organized crime scene indi- neck; another cut was just below buried body probably would not pro- cates planning and premeditation on her right jaw. Blunt­force wounds vide enough information upon which a the part of the offender. For example, were present on her head. It was classification could be based. the crime may be committed in a se- determined at the crime scene that cluded or isolated area selected by she had been raped, but probably the murderer, or the victim may be after death. killed in one location and transported to another. Mixed Crime Scene The mixed crime scene has. signs of both organization and disorganiza-

16 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______Figure 3 Agreement of Agents' Homicide Type Classifications With Presenter's Classification

Percent Agent Cases Classified Case Agreed Agreement

1 62 48 77.4 The interrater reliability study 2 40 35 87.5 evaluated the agreement of Agents in 3 55 45 81 .8 classifying homicide by the type of 4 30 23 76.7 crime and by the structure of the 5 27 25 92.6 crime scene. In particular, the classifi• cation of crime scenes as organized has proven to be useful in profiling of• RESULTS ganized, disorganized, mixed, un• known) that could be used for com• fenders in unsolved and motiveless Type of Crime murders. Not all participating Agents were parison with the presenter's classifica• tion. Of these, 163 (74.1 percent) This study demonstrated that available to classify each of the 64 agreed with the presenter. (See fig. 4.) there is reliability in the classification homicide types (sexual, nonsexual, or of crime types and scenes by BSU The agreement rate between any unknown). In total, the 6 Agents made Agents. Given only minimal informa• two Agents ranged from 45 percent to 285 classifications, 64 of which were tion about the crime, agreements of 89 percent. The agreement rates of made by the Agent presenting the Agents with respect to crime types Agents with the presenter and with case. Thus, there were 221 classifica• was high (at least 77 percent). Agree• each other varied substantially. This tions that couid be used for compari• ment of Agents with respect to classi• appears due mainly to variation in ex• son with the presenter's classifica• fying the crime scene, while not as perience and involvement with the tions. Of these, 180 classifications high as the crime-type agreement, ap• process of classifying crime scenes. (81.4 percent) agreed with the pre• peared to be related to Agent experi• The agreement rates among the three senter's classification. ence and involvement in the classifi• Agents routinely involved with this Of the 6 Agents, 1 Agent made cation process. For experienced and process ranged from 62 percent to 80 57 (89 percent) of the presentations. active Agents, who were given only percent. Given the minimal data sup• Because the percentage of his pres• minimal information about the crime plied by the presenter, these agree• entations was so large, comparing his scene, agreement rates ranged from ment rates must be considered good. classifications with the presenter's 62 percent to 80 percent. More infor• However, classification in any field is would not be informative. The agree• mation would certainly have improved a skill learned and reinforced by con• ment rate for the other five Agents the agreement rates. and the number of cases they classi• tinuous involvement. In the medical I'BI fied are shown in figure 3. Given the field, for example, the diagnosis of a minimal amount of information sup• patient's medical condition is similarly Footnote learned and reinforced through contin• Robert R. Hazelwood and John Douglas " The Lust plied by the presenter, these agree• Murderer." FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,' April 1980, ment rates are high. uous involvement. p. 6. When the classifications of each Agent were compared with those of any other Agent, the agreement rate Figure 4 ranged from 77 percent to 100 per• Agreement of Agents' Crime Scene l cent. Again, these are high agreement Classifications with Presenter's rates. Classification Structure of Crime Scene Agent Cases Classified Cases Agreed Percent There were 220 classifications of Agreement the structure of the crime scene (or- 1 62 48 77.4 2 40 28 70.0 3 55 42 76.4 4 29 15 51.7 5 27 23 85.2

August 1985 / 17 Chapter 4 Crime Scene Intl Prolile Ch'l'lcferigficg ofOrglnizetllntl Digorglnizetl Murtlererg ". . . there were significant differences in the crime scenes of organized and disorganized offenders. . . ."

When requested by a law en• forcement agency to assist in a vio• lent crime investigation, the Agents at the Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) of the FBI Academy provide a behavior• ally based suspect profile. Using infor• mation received from law enforcement about the crime and crime scene, the Agents have developed a technique for classifying murderers into one of two categories-organized or disorga• nized, a classification method evolving from years of experience and knowl• edge. In the service of advancing the art of profiling, the Agents were anx• ious to know if this classification system could be scientifically tested. This article describes the research study and statistical tests performed by a health services research staff on data collected. j Objectives of the Study Thirty-six convicted sexual mur• derers were interviewed by FBI Agents for a study on sexual homicide The major objectives of this study Crime scene ofan organized offender investigated were to test, using statistical inferen• by Pierce Brooks in 1958 while a homicide detec• crime scenes and patterns of criminal tive sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Depart• behavior. These study subjects repre• tial procedures, whether there are sig• ment. sented 25 serial murderers (the nificant behavioral differences at the murder of separate victims, with time crime scenes between crimes commit• breaks between victims ranging from ted by organized and disorganized 2 days to weeks or months) and 11 murderers and to identify variables sexual murderers who had committed that may be useful in profiling orga- either a single homicide, double homi• cide, or spree murder.

18 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______"Victims of serial murderers have been noted to share common characteristics." nized and disorganized murderers. In Table 1 order for the study to achieve its ob• jectives, the Agents first had to classi• Profile Characteristics of Organized and Disorganized Murders fy the 36 murderers into the organized or disorganized group, the breakdown ORGANIZED DISORGANIZED being 24 organized murderers and 12 Average to above-average intelligence Below-average intelligence disorganized murderers. Socially competent Socially inadequate Unskilled work Results of Analyses Skilled work preferred Sexually competent Sexually incompetent The study determined that there High birth order status Low birth order status were significant differences in the Father's work stable Father's work unstable crime scenes of organized and disor• Inconsistent childhood discipline Harsh discipline as child ganized offenders, and that certain Controlled mood during crime Anxious mood during crime background differences were also Use of alcohol with crime Minimal use of alcohol found between them. There were four Precipitating situational stress Minimal situational stress aspects of the crime where dif• Living with partner Living alone ferences between organized and dis• Mobility with car in good condition Lives/works neal crime scene organized murderers were analyzed: Follows crime in news media Minimal interest in news media (1) The murderer's action during the May change jobs or leave town Significant behavior change (drug/ offense, (2) victim characteristics, alcohol abuse, religiosity, etc.) (3) use of vehicles in the crime, and (4) types of evidence left at the crime scene. Table 1 provides the profile Organized Offender: Profile age la, he often works at occupations characteristics that achieved levels of Characteristics below his abilities, yet prefers a skilled significance between the organized Organized offenders have a high occupation. His work history is also and disorganized murderers, while birth order, often being the first born sporadic. table 2 shows the crime scene char• son in a family. The father's work his• Precipitating situational stress, acteristics for the two groups. tory is generally stable, and parental such as problems with finances, mar• discipline is perceived as inconsistent. riages, employment, and relationships Although the organized offender with females, is often present prior to has an average or better than aver- the murder. The organized offender is socially adept and is usually living with Table 2 a partner. The organized offender may Crime Scene Differences Between Organized report an angry frame of mind at the and Disorganized Murderers time of the murder or state he was ORGANIZED DISORGANIZED depressed. However, while committing the crime, he admits being calm and Planned offense Spontaneous offense relaxed. Alcohol may have been con• Victim a targeted stranger Victim/location known sumed prior to the crime. Personalizes victim Depersonalizes victim The organized offender is likely to Controlled conversation Minimal conversation have a car that is in good condition. Crime scene reflects overall control Crime scene random and sloppy Evidence of continued fantasy is Demands submissive victim Sudden violence to victim present in terms of taking remem• Restraints used Minimal use of restraints brances of the victim or crime scene. Aggressive acts prior to death Sexual acts after death Newspaper clippings of the crimes are Body hidden Body left in view Weapon/evidence absent Evidence/weapon often present Transports victim or body Body left at death scene

______August 1985/ 19 "Fantasy and ritual dominate with the organized offender... "

often found during searches of the victim as a prelude to the attack. Of• avoids leaving evidence behind and subject's residence, indicating the of• fenders may use impersonation as a often moves the body from the death fender followed the criminal investiga• method to gain access to a victim. scene. tion in the newspaper. The offender's demeanor is not usual• While sexual acts are part of the ly suspicious. He may be average or fantasy planning of the crime, murder Crime Scene above average in appearance, height, may not be a conscious motive until The initial observation at the and weight; he may be dressed in a there is a triggering cue. This is illus• crime scene of an organized offender business suit, uniform, or neat, casual trated by one murderer's following is that some semblance of order exist• attire. In the organized style of attack, statement: ed prior, during, and after the offense. aimed at gaining the confidence of "I had thought about killing her .. . This scene of methodical organization the victim, there is first the effort to saying what am I going to do when suggests a carefully planned crime use verbal means to capture the this is over. Am I going to let her go that is aimed at deterring detection. victim rather than physical force. The so she can call the cops and get Although t~e crime may be organized offender frequently uses his me busted again? So when she planned, the victim is frequently a or the victim's vehicle in the offense. took off running-that decided it in stranger and is targeted because he Rape, as well as murder, may be my mind that killing her was what I or she is in a particular location the planned crime. Murder is always a was going to do." staked out by the offender. In this possibility following rape; the assailant sense, the victim becomes a victim of threatens the victim's life and bran• Case Example of an Organized opportunity. Victims of serial murder• dishes a weapon. Sexual control is Offender ers have been noted to share continued past conversation to de• The following case : involves the common characteristics. The offender mands for specific types of reactions rapes and murders of five women by one often has a preference for a particular (fear, passivity) during the sexual as• juvenile offender: type of victim, and thus, may spend sault. When the victim's behavior Victim 1: A woman in her late considerable time searching for the stops being passive and compliant, 20's was found about 150 yards into a "right" victim. As one offender said: aggression may be increased by the wooded culvert area outside her "I'm a night person. Plenty of times offender. apartment. Her car was found in the that I went out looking, but never Control over the victim is also parking lot. came across nothing and just went noted in the use of restraints, such as Recreating the scene, police back home. I'd sit waiting, and as I a rope, chain, tape, belt, clothing, speculated that the victim was ap• was waiting, I was reliving all the chemical, handcuffs, gag, and blind• proached after she parked her car. It others." fold. The way weapons are used may was known she arrived home late at Common characteristics of vic• suggest a sadistic element in the of• night from work. She was found in a tims selected by an individual murder• fender's plan. The killing is eroticized, stream after being assaulted, er may include age, appearance, oc• as in torture where death comes in a drowned, and strangled. Her head cupation, hairstyle, or lifestyle. Target• slow, deliberate manner. The power had been held under water while she ed victims in this sample included ad• over another person's life is seen in was being strangled. There was no olescent male youths, hitchhiking col• one example in which a murderer de• evidence of severe beating to the lege coeds, nurses, women frequent• scribed tightening and loosening the body; although some defense wounds ing bars, women sitting in automobiles rope around the victim's neck as he were present, mutilation did not occur. with male companions, and solitary watched the victim slip in and out of a The only item taken from the women driving two-door cars. conscious state. victim was a ring of little value. The The organized offender is socially Fantasy and ritual dominate with victim was found partially clothed. Her adept and may engage in conversa• the organized offender; obsessive, shoes, found further down the trail, tion or a pseudo-relationship with the compulsive traits surface in the be• suggested the location of the sexual havior and/or crime scene patterns. The offender often brings a weapon with him to the crime, taking it with him upon departure. He carefully

20 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______assault. Footprints were present at Victim 5: The fifth victim, a Medical examination and crime this site; tire tracks were not. The woman in her mid-20's, was last seen scene assessment show rape prior to victim lived in a highrise building with at a party at 1:30 or 2:30 a.m. She left death, and death is sudden with mini• many apartments, parking lots, and the party with several people and was mal mutilation, again indicating the cars. later found dead in the same wooded well-planned crime by the organized Victim 2: A woman in her mid• culvert area as previous victims. She antisocial criminal. The victims are 20's was found fully dressed in a was found stabbed several times in "sized up" prior to the approach, and wooded area less than a quarter mile the chest and had been partially the killer knows they will not resist if from the location of the first victim. buried in the culvert. There was evi• he promises release after rape. He She was not near water. She had dence of sexual assault. has raped before the killing started, been stabbed to death repeatedly in Considering the dynamics and but some life trauma has triggered the the chest. Although there was evi• pattern of the aforementioned case, taking of the life of victim #1 . The of• dence of sexual assault, there was no the following crime scene assessment fender has had past problems w.ith overkill to the body, no mutilation. and subsequent criminal personality law enforcement, and once he has Again, the victim was coming home profiling would be possible. killed, he feels he must continue to kill late at night. Apparently she parked The offender selects victims who to avoid victims testifying against him. her car and was abducted prior to are returning home during the late He does not value the life of a victim reaching her apartment. evening or early morning hours. The over the chance that she may identify Victim 3: This victim was similar assaults generally take place near the him to the police. in physical appearance, age, and victims' homes, as they are walking In summary, the assailant in the manner killed to the second victim. from their parked cars. The offender five homicides is an organized, anti• There was evidence of" sexual assault; is watching the parking areas for social personality. He is a youthful underclothing in disarray suggested single women returning during these white male, has good intelligence, is she was re-dressed after death. A times. He takes the victims from the articulate and manipulative. He fits stocking was miSSing, although her apartment complex to wooded into the community and has lived shoes were on. areas close by for the assaults. He there for many years. He lives in Victim 4: Several months later, a chooses the time and place of as• close proximity to all victims. He similar crime occurred in the same sault. Since no scream or resistance preCipitates his crimes with alcohol general vicinity. A black woman, in her is evident, one must assume the as• and/ or drugs, possibly is first born in early 30's, was found dead. She usu• sailant carries a weapon and instructs his family, and is sexually competent. ally worked late and arrived home be• the victims to accompany him to the He probably has a girlfriend; yet had a tween 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. Her car was secluded area. This indicates a persua• recent problem with her prior to the also parked where she would have sive, articulate person who convinces first killing. Considering his age, he entered the apartment building. Al• them no harm will come to them if they would live with a single parent and though discovered further away than "do as he instructs." He would be would have no car since he selects the other victims, she was still not manipulative and have a history of anti• victims on foot, sometimes using their more than a half mile from where she social traits and behavior. He is youthful cars in the assault. He probably would lived. There was evidence of sexual and aggressive, probably macho. follow the media reports of the crime assault, and she too had been stran• Since he uses the same MO in and may be in a crowd of onlookers gled and drowned. The method and each assault, one must assume he when the police locate the bodies. location were similar to the first crime knows the territory well, both the trav• The police investigation in this scene and was consistent with the eled built-up areas and the surround• case of multiple rape-murder led to a work schedule of the victim. ing woods. He probably lives in the 17-year-old white male living very area, is youthful, and has grown up close to all victims who lived within a and played in the woods as a child. He is a long-term resident.

______August 1985/ 21 1­mile radius in a large city suburb. He gence or of low birth status in the ful of people and may have developed was bright, yet a marginal achiever in family. Also, harsh parental discipline a well-defined delusional system. He school, lived with his mother, and did is sometimes reported as a child. The acts impulsively under stress, finding not own a car. He was known as a father's work history is unstable, and a victim usually within his own geo• macho ladies' man and a "con artist" the disorganized offender seems to graphic area. among his peers. He used beer and mirror this pattern with his own incon• The disorganized offender is also marijuana to precipitate his offense sistent and poor work history. Typical• sexually incompetent, often never and selected victims in an area he ly, this offender is preoccupied with having achieved any level of sexual grew up in. He had a girlfriend he recurring obsessional and/or primitive intimacy with a peer. Although the of• called "his fiancee" who jilted him thoughts and is in a confused and dis• fenders in this sample claimed to be shortly before murder #1, when she tressed frame of mind at the time of heterosexual, there is a clear sugges• went away to college. He followed the the crime. tion that the disorganized offender is crime in the paper, and on one occa• The disorganized offender is so• ignorant of sex and often may have sion, watched the police investigator cially inadequate. Often, he has never sexual aversions. from his window. He had a lengthy ju• married, lives alone or with a parental venile record, including sexual assault figure, and lives in close proximity to and rape. the crime scene. This offender is fear• Crime Scene The overall imprint of the disorga• Disorganized Offender: Profile nized crime scene is that the crime is Characteristics committed suddenly and with no set The disorganized offender is plan of action for deterring detection. likely to be of below-average intelli•

22 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______Pictured below is a crime scene ofa disorganized offender who. as a result ofhis paranoid psychotic delusions. killed an entire family and left their bodies floating in the pool. His residence, pictured left. reflects his paranoid state of mind in that the plank bridge leading to the shack was drawn each night to protect him from his "enemies."

The crime scene shows great disar• The offender uses a blitz style of ray. There is a spontaneous, symbol• attack for confronting the victim, who ic, unplanned quality to the crime is caught completely off guard. He scene. The victim may be known to either approaches the victim from the offender, but age and sex of the behind, unexpectedly overpowering victim do not necessarily matter. her, or he kills suddenly, as with a If the offender is selecting a gun. The attack is a violent surprise, victim by randomly knocking on doors occurring spontaneously and in a lo• in a neighborhood, the first person to cation where the victim is going about open a door becomes the victim. The his or her usual activities. offender kills instantly to have control; The offender depersonalizes the he cannot risk that the victim will get victim, targeting specific areas of the the upper hand. body for extreme brutality. Overkill or

______August 1985/23 " . . variables do exist that may be useful in a criminal profile and that do differentiate between organized and disorganized sexual murderers."

excessive assault to the face often is No attempt is made to conceal used in the first murder. The dog was an attempt to dehumanize the victim. the body. Fingerprints and footprints disemboweled. Such facial destruction may indicate may be found, and the police have a Murder 2: Four days after the first knowledge of the victim or that the great deal of evidence to use in their slaying, a woman, waiting for a male victim resembles or represents a investigation. Usually, the murder friend to pick her up for a day's outing person who has caused the offender weapon is one obtained at the scene with her neighbor, noticed the man's psychological distress. The offender and is left there, providing investiga• car had pulled into her neighbor's may wear a mask or gloves, use a tors with evidence. driveway. She telephoned to say she blindfold on the victim, or cover the would be right over; however, receiv• victim's face as he attacks. There is Case Example of a Disorganized ing no answer, she looked out her minimal verbal interaction except for Offender window again to note the man's car orders and threats. Restraints are not Murder 1: A husband returning was now gone. Becoming suspicious, necessary, as the victim is killed from work at 6:00 p.m. discovered his she went over to the house and dis• quickly. wife's body in the bedroom of their covered the bodies of her male friend, Any sexua11y sadistic acts, often in home. An autopsy revealed she had her female neighbor, and the neigh• the form of mutilation, are usually per• been murdered sometime in the morn• bor's child. A 22-month infant was formed after death. Offenders have at• ing after being confronted by the as• missing from the home; however, a tempted a variety of sexual acts, sailant as she went to empty the gar• bullet hole was found in the pillow of including ejaculating into an open stab bage outside. The victim was shot in the child's crib, along with what ap• wound in the victim's abdomen. Evi• the head four times, and thereafter, peared to be brain and skull matter. dence of urination, defecation, and mas• disemboweled with a knife obtained in This was also found in the half-filled turbation has been found on the victim's her home. Other than slash wounds bathtub, indicating the child had been clothing and in the home. Mutilation to to breasts and mutilation to internal killed and the body washed and re• the face, genitals, and breast, dis• reproductive organs, no evidence of moved from the scene. The female embowelment, amputation, and vampir• sexual assault or molestation was victim had been severely slashed and ism may also be noted on the body. found. The victim was first slashed in mutilated. She had been murdered in Disorganized offenders might the abdomen, and the assailant pulled the bedroom where she had been dis• keep the dead body. One murderer her intestines out of the body cavity. emboweled from breast bone to pelvic killed two women and kept their body The victim had what was later deter• area. Internal organs, including parts in his home for 8 years. He mined to be animal feces in her spleen, kidneys, and reproductive made masks from their heads and mouth. Garbage was strewn about the organs, had been removed and muti• drums and seat covers from their house. A yogurt cup was found, and lated. No attack was noted to external skins. Earlier, he had exhumed the indications were that the murderer genitals. The murderer had attempted bodies of eight elderly womerl from used the cup to collect blood from the to remove an eye and also had insert• their graves and performed similar victim, which he then drank. ed a knife into the anal canal, cutting mutilative acts. Crime 2: On the same date, a the victim severely in this area. Defi• The death scene and crime house burglary occurred within one• nite fingerprints with blood were found scene are usually the same in mur• quarter mile of the victim's residence. on the abdomen, shoulders, and legs ders committed by the disorganized of• Garbage was strewn throughout the of this victim. Additionally, a ring of fender, with the victim being left in the home. Evidence indicated the burglar blood was found on the floor, indicat• position in which she or he was killed. urinated on female clothing and also ing a bucket-type container was used If the offender has mutilated the body, defecated in the house. No one was to collect blood. it may be positioned in a special way home at the time. The following information was ex• that has significance to the offender. Crime 3: Two days later, the car• tracted from a profile developed by cass of a dog was found in the same the BSU: neighborhood. The dog had been shot Suspect description: White male in the head, and the bullet was deter• aged 25-27; thin, undernourished mined to have come from the gun

24 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______appearance; single, living alone in a Conclusion mal training, and have English-lan• location within 1 mile of the In summary, this research study guage interface with the users. Expert abandoned station wagon owned by of differences between organized and systems, currently used in many one of the victims. Residence will disorganized sexual murderers with fields, are continually being adapted be ex1remely slovenly and unkempt, regard to profile characteristics and as more knowledge is gained through and evidence of the crimes will be crime scene indicators provides an their use and application. As in these found at the residence. Suspect will important foundation for the investiga• other applications, expert systems will have a history of mental illness and tive technique of criminal profiling. By never replace skilled law enforcement use of drugs. Suspect will be an achieving the two study objectives, we representatives, but are a tool that is unemployed loner who does not have established that variables do continually being updated by the associate with either males or exist that may be useful in a criminal knowledge gained through use. FBI females and will probably spend a profile and that do differentiate be• great deal of time in his own tween organized and disorganized residence. If he resides with sexual murderers. It is important to be anyone, it will be with his parents. aware of the limitations of this study. However, this is unlikely. Subject We do not mean to imply that all un• will have no prior military history; solved cases can be profiled success• will be a high school or college fully. We wish to emphasize that this dropout; probably suffers from one study was exploratory and indicates or more forms of paranoid that we have identified significant vari• psychosis. ables in crime scene analysis. The police narrowed their search A second important step can now to a 1­mile radius of the stolen vehi• be taken-that is, performing test pro• cle, seeking a man of the suspect's files using previously identified varia• description. A 27-year-old white male, bles and comparing results with cases 5'11 " and weighing 149 pounds, was which have already been profiled by located in an apartment complex BSU Agents. These test profiles within the same block as the aban• would be the second phase for ad• doned car. The man was in posses• vancing the scientific study of the pro• sion of a gun that matched the filing process. murder weapon in the slayings. Also Further refinement of profile char• found in the apartment were numer• acteristics and deductive reasoning ous body parts thought to be animal used by "experts" will provide an ad• and possibly human. The man had vancement in the state of the art in previously been diagnosed as a para• building an " expert knowledge-based noid schizophrenic and had been system" for law enforcement. Expert committed to a mental facility after he knowledge-based systems are a was found sucking blood from a dead subset of the field of artificial intelli• bird. After he had been released, he gence and are derived by using was found in the desert bloodstained knowledge and reasoning patterns of and wearing a loincloth. He told police experts to create computer programs he was sacrificing to flying saucers. which emulate these experts. These He was released by police; however, systems are easy to use, require mini• later a child's body was found in the same vicinity. Evidence was found in his apartment indicating his obsession with blood, mutilation, and possible cannibalism of humans and animals.

______August 1985/ 25 Chapter 8

Interviewing Techniqueg fOf Homicide Inve9figafiong

This article discusses techniques that One goal of the study of sexual This article presents our experi• have been used in the interviews of homicide crime scenes and criminal ences in interviewing convicted serial persons who have already been behavior patterns was to explore how sexual murderers with the hope of convicted. Law enforcement officers murderers commit their crimes. An in• adding to law enforcement's knowl• should seek appropriate legal advice depth analysis of interviews with con• edge of interviewing techniques. Al• before using these techniques in victed murderers allowed us to re• though our interviews were conducted attempts to obtain judicially admissible trieve first-hand information about with murderers already convicted and confessions. their patterns of values and beliefs, incarcerated, we believe our observa• patterns of information storage, levels tions provide insight for interviewing of recall on the crimes, and admission suspects in order to identify a killer. of responsibility for the murders.

26 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______" . the interviewer needs to be thoroughly familiar with any pertinent existing information, including crime scene photographs, records, and files."

Terms of the Interview to re-establish communication when it The Murder Event-Memory Before beginning any interview, broke down. Rapport was frequently recall of details specific to the mur• the interviewer needs to be thoroughly gained when the investigator mirrored, ders varied among the offenders inter• familiar with any pertinent existing in• below the level of conscious aware• viewed. Those murderers who deliber• formation, including crime scene pho• ness, the subject's spoken and un• ately planned the murder through a tographs, records, and files. This in• spoken behavior. This included fantasy generally continued to remem• formation can be used not only to matching the words of the subject, ber details about certain aspects of draw conclusions but to establish a adopting aspects of his posture, and the murder. During one interview, the focused interest in the offender. By speaking in a similar tone and rate of Agents remarked that the subject showing interest, respect is conveyed speech. seemed to have almost total recall. to the suspect, an initial objective in The subject corrected the Agents: establishing rapport. Although it is Eliciting Information "Actually, that's overblown because often difficult in cases of violent and Once communication had been I really don't (remember everything). brutal crimes, this show of respect initiated and rapport established, the I have shabby memory on things I often allows the interviewer to get to questioning began. In our study, the don't want to remember, and things the point of the interview more quickly what/where/when sequencing and that are shocking or very vivid, I since less time will be spent by the descriptions of places where the don't forget. I trip on those for subject in evaluating the interviewer. crime events occurred were sought years. " To be successful, the interviewer first. Next, the interviewing Agents What the subject avoids or re• needs to convince the subject that the asked questions about how the victim fuses to talk about provides informa• interview can be beneficial for him or was chosen. Finally, questions about tion on areas where strong emotions her. In our study, some offenders ad• thoughts, feelings, and images were may exist. (In one case, the murderer mitted their crimes. In these situations posed. began the interview by stating he they found value in the interview, be• Questions were generally orga• would not discuss his family.) The lieving they were contributing to in• nized around four phases of the interviewer should concentrate on im• creased understanding or to clarify murder. These phases are: (1) The portant aspects of the event, such as other people's conclusions about precrime phase, (2) the murder event, how the suspect gained access to the them. Offenders who would not admit (3) the disposal of the body, and (4) victim, conversation and behavior in• to their crimes cooperated in order to the postcrime phase. volving the victim, transporting the point out why it was impossible for Precrime Phase-Conscious motive victim from one location to another, them to have committed the crimes. for the murder was often elicited by what the murderer did sexually before, Other offenders consented to the asking what triggered the murder. during, and after the victim's death, interviews in order to "teach" police Those murderers with conscious intent methods of torture, behaviors after how the crimes were committed and were able to describe this in detail. the victim's death (such as mutilation motivated. Those who refused inter• Those without conscious motive would or amputation), and thoughts and feel• views had reasons ranging from usually say they could not remember ing during these acts. advice of an attorney to their own why they killed, but they were able to Disposal of the Body-Our inter• psychotic states. describe their feelings prior to the mur• views with the murderers made clear der. Reconstructing the scene prior to the importance of a fantasy in dispos• The Communication Link the murder helped interviewing Agents ing the victim's body. Once the act was committed, the murderer had to Rapport was the key communica• determine the cues that moved the offender's murder fantasy into action. tion link in our interviews. Once estab• lished and recognized, it allowed the For example, offenders were asked to interviewer to lead the interview and describe their day prior to the murder and their thoughts and feelings before encountering the victim.

______August 1985/ 27 "Because of the importance of fantasy to sexual homicide, information about a subject's fantasy can be valuable."

asked each offender what he did right after the murder (did he wash or change clothes, go out with friends, go to sleep, or eat); how he thought and felt about it; whether he dreamt about it; whether he returned to the crime scene, attended the funeral, read about the murder in the newspa• per; or talked to police. We were careful to include questions about the recovery of the body (did the offender assist police in the recovery, was he present when the body was recov• ered, and was his confession neces• sary for police to find the body).

Specific Techniques Because of the importance of fantasy to sexual homicide, informa• tion about a subject's fantasy can be valuable. However, people with a longstanding fantasy life may not talk about it easily. Often a low-key ap• proach is successful in encouraging the discussion of the fantasy. A fanta• sy is an elaborate thought with great preoccupation and emotion. The person keeps going back to the thoughts. The subject may only be aware of images, feelings, and inter• nal dialog at certain heightened times. One of the indications of the presence of a fantasy is the great amount of detail provided by a sub• ject, details that provide the best in• This sketch. and those that follow. were drawn by decide what to do with the body. At formation on how the subject oper• a convicted rapist who was interviewed as part of this phase, the murderer may first ates. For many of the murderers we the FBI's research program. He was asked to interviewed, their detailed planning draw: consciously realize the reality of his Himself at a younger age . .. act. Our questions concentrated on was their statement of superiority, what was done with the body, how control, and cleverness. The fantasy the offender left the scene, what (if usually provided a sense of power anything) was taken from the body or and control, as well as emotional the crime scene, and what thoughts stimulation. In some instances, the and feelings did the murderer experi• fantasy appeared to protect them ence during these various acts. from becoming totally disorganized or Pastcrime Phase-A series of be• psychotic. We discovered this, haviors occur after a murder. We through interviews, in their reports of becoming enraged when victims inter•

28 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______rupted their plans. These murderers were very sensitive to being called crazy or maniacal, as they associated those characteristics with carrying out acts in ways that are stupid, foolish, and not in control. The importance of terminology used in the interview was illustrated in one case: Agent: Do you think your fantasy life was out of control? Subject: I'm going to have to change your terminology, not because I'm banting words, but my fantasy world, no I don't think it was out of control, I think my world of realism was out of control. My perception of the real world was distorted. This exchange illustrated how the murderer felt in control of his fantasy and out of control in the real world. In contrast to murderers who consciously plan a crime through fan• tasy, our interviews revealed that some murderers acted more in re• sponse to external cues. Such people may not be able to relate why a par• ticular act happened. These murder• ers were concerned with particular acts at certain times; suddenly, they lost control. It is possible to talk about the existence of the fantasies without eliciting details of them and to obtain information about the serial murderer's blockage of certain memories: Agent: Did you have any unusual fantasies preoccupying you to any period of time or that you felt you were over-involved in?

... Himself now . ..

______August 1985 I 29 ------­ --•

.. . His family doing something together (In this case, the family is in a restaurant.) . . .

Subject: Well, I can't say if I have or when confronted with evidence. As ing in detail. Investigators detecting I don't. There are a lot of aspects one murderer told the interviewing this type of defense and bringing it to of this crime I can't give an answer, agents, "The police unwrapped the the offender's attention may be suc• cause I put up a mental block. I broom handle and that did it. " Several cessful. In one case, the murderer don't want to think of it. It makes of the murderers interviewed were claimed to have committed the mur• me do bad time. I'm doing a long unable to remember actually commit• ders because of instructions from a time and I just block it clear out. ting the murder, but agreed the evi• centuries-old dog. The Agents refused The murderer confirms the likelihooc. dence incriminated them. to accept this ploy. They pOinted out that the fantasies are there; however, One group of murderers inter• good naturedly that the murders had additional techniques, such as hypno• viewed did not admit to their crimes · been carefully planned and executed, sis or therapy, would be needed to even after their convictions for the which was a lot to expect from a dog. access the information. murders. When confronted with such The murderer finally accepted the individuals, the interviewer should at• "credit" for the crimes and discussed Continuum of Admission tempt to determine if the individual is them in detail with the interviewers. The offender generally took one lying (which implies conscious intent) Even when suspecting that a subject is of three positions regarding guilt-ad• or if the individual is denying (which lying or denying, the interviewer should mitting the crime, admitting lack of implies subconscious intent). try to maintain an atmosphere of mutual total recall, and not admitting the To the offender, lying to an inves• respect. crime. In our study, the majority of tigator provides a form of control. It There are reasons why a suspect murderers admitted their crimes. may detour the investigator and waste might deny a crime. The denial might Some of the murderers turned them• valuable time, as in situations in which serve to protect the subject from legal selves in to the police; others admit• incorrect names and addresses are action as well as from the psychologi• ted to the crime when they were ap• given. cal impact of admitting such a crime. prehended. Still others admitted guilt One way investigators identify lies One murderer interviewed denied any is on the basis of the amount of detail actual knowledge of committing the a subject provides. Fantasy worlds or crime. He stated that he was coerced, delusions are usually very detailed. forced to confess to the crimes, and However, when a subject tries to possibly drugged before entering a feign psychosis or delusion, his story plea of guilty. In the interview with the usually appears inconsistent and lack•

30 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______"One reason a murderer may not be able to admit the crime is that admission would destroy his premise of justification."

Agents, he had an elaborate answer We found that when someone Subject: Well, it could have been for each piece of evidence presented. outright denied they had murdered or that his [sexual] performance was He said friends had given him the 100 had anything to do with the crime, the inadequate. She might have thought pairs of high­heeled shoes in his use of an imaginary third person was it was. Or he might have thought it closet. He argued that photographs helpful. The Agents would go through was and she said something about found in his possession were not his, the details of the crime and ask the it. because he would not be such a subject why he thought this third This conversation illustrates that the sloppy photographer. He presented person would commit such an act. murderer was able to provide a extreme detail for each piece of evi• This technique projected responsibility reason (sexual inadequacy) for the dence brought against him to "prove" or guilt away from the subject and crime being committed and suggests why he could not have been the mur• onto someone else. Note this strategy that the intent to kill was triggered into derer. in the following interview by the action through an internal dialog proc• There also may be cases where Agents with a murderer: ess within the offender. the murderer justifies in his own mind Agent: Suppose we do it this way. the issue of admitting or denying guilt. Let's just divorce you from that Often someone who denies justi• The following statement from a serial situation. I'm sure you've thought fies his or her actions by blaming murderer illustrates this position: about it alot. Suppose it wasn't you someone else. In our study, for exam• Agent: Could the police have done involved and it was someone else. ple, a murderer justified his killing by anything for you in order to get a What, in your mind, would be the describing the victim as a "tramp." confession? reasons for someone doing One reason a murderer may not be Subject: Well, at first I didn't admit something like that? able to admit the crime is that admis• my guilt. I wouldn't admit to Subject: I'd say she either said or sion would destroy his premise of jus• anybody. But I didn't really deny did something extremely wrong. tification. either. Agent: Like what, for instance? Obtaining information from sus• pects is a critical technique for law enforcement. Well-developed skills in interviewing can provide important in• formation, which can be linked with crime scene data. Through the use of various interviewing techniques, the investigation can receive maximum benefit from the interview process. Interview techniques discussed in this article have given members of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit new in• sight for tapping into the fantasy sys• tems of these criminals and for effec• tively dealing with their defenses. fBI

- ______August 1985/ 31 RBYTHE I'BI

Pnc.tOQI'aon taken 1980

Lawrence William Fishman Description Caution Lawrence William Fishman, also Age ...... 34, born August Fishman is being sought in known as Larry Fishman, Lawrence 29,1951, connection with the murder and Fishman, and Lawrence W. Fishman Washington, DC. wounding of two members of his Height...... 5'11 " to 6'. family where the victims were Wanted for: Weight...... 160 to 180 allegedly shot with a 9 mm automatic Interstate Flight­Murder pounds. pistol. Fishman should be considered Build ...... Medium. armed and dangerous. The Crime: Hair...... Short curly brown. Fishman is wanted by the FBI in Eyes ...... Brown. Notify the FBI connection with the November 28, Complexion ...... Medium. Any person having information 1980, murder of his father and Race ...... White. which might assist in locating this wounding of his mother in Silver Nationality ...... American. fugitive is requested to notify Spring, MD, using a 9 mm automatic Occupations ...... Cab driver, public immediately the Director of the pistol. speaker, public Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. A Federal warrant was issued on health lobbyist, Department of Justice, Washington, January 5, 1981, at Baltimore, MD, editor, research DC 20535, or the Special Agent in charging Fishman with unlawful student, law clerk, Charge of the nearest FBI field office, interstate flight to avoid prosecution lawyer. the telephone number of which for the crime of murder. Social Security appears on the first page of most Number Used ...... 214­52­6075. local directories. Remarks ...... He wears glasses; has been Classification Data: NCIC Classification: Because of the time factor in treated for various AAAAAAAA12PMAAAAAA10 printing the FBI Law Enforcement mental disorders; Bulletin, there is the possibility that has been known Fingerprint Classification: this fugitive has already been to frequent 5 aA2a 12 apprehended. The nearest office of university facilities A2a the FBI will have current information and obtain 1.0.4967 on this fugitive 's status. lodging in YMCA residences or communal housing near universities. FBI No ...... 686 0~6 S5.

Left middle fingerprint

32 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ______Change of ~ORCEMENT Address rBI . Not an order form BUllETIN

Complete this form and return to: Name

Director Tille Federal Bureau of

Investigation Address Wash ington , D.C. 20535

Cily Slale Zip

Interesting Pattern

The interesting pattern presented serves to illustrate the minimum requirements for a whorl, namely, two deltas with a recurve in front of each. In the FBI 's Identification Division, this impression is classified as a plain whorl with a reference to a central• pocket, loop-type whorl. The tracing is meeting. u.s. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Second Class Mail Postage and Fees Paid Federal Bureau of Investigation ISSN 0014­5688

Washington, DC 20535

Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300 Address Correction Requested

The Bulletin Notes

Sgt. Gene Plambeck, of the Cody, WY, Police Department, after successfully handling a 3 a.m. SWAT call on Thanksgiving, 1984, on his way home at daylight responded to a call about a heart attack victim. Sergeant Plambeck, an emergency medical technician, revived the victim with another officer's help. The Bulletin joins the Cody Chief of Police in recognizing Sergeant Plambeck's service to his community.