Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
Critical Incident Response Group
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Editor
Robert J. Morton
Supervisory Special Agent
Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Co-Editor
Mark A. Hilts
Unit Chief
Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Contributors
Leonard G. Johns
Unit Chief
Behavioral Analysis Unit-3
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Timothy G. Keel
Major Case Specialist
Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Steven F. Malkiewicz
Supervisory Special Agent
Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
James J. McNamara
Supervisory Special Agent
Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Kirk R. Mellecker
Major Case Specialist (Retired)
Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mary Ellen O’Toole
Supervisory Special Agent
Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
David T. Resch
Unit Chief
Behavioral Analysis Unit-1
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mark Safarik
Supervisory Special Agent (Retired)
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Armin A. Showalter
Supervisory Special Agent
Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Rhonda L. Trahern
Supervisory Special Agent
Behavioral Analysis Unit-2
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives
Table of Contents
Message from the Director
Acknowledgments
Foreword
National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
I. Introduction
II. Definition of Serial Murder
III. Causality and the Serial Murderer
IV. Psychopathy and Serial Murder
V. Motivations and Types of Serial Murder:
The Symposium Model
VI. Investigative Issues and Best Practices
VII. Forensic Issues in Serial Murder Cases
VIII. Prosecution of Serial Murder Cases
IX. Media Issues in Serial Murder Investigations
X. Issues Regarding Talking Heads in the Media
Epilogue
Appendix A: Symposium Agenda
Appendix B: Serial Murder Symposium Working
Group
Appendix C: Symposium Attendees
Message from Director Mueller
Every day, law enforcement officers across America are called to respond
to murders. Each homicide case is tragic, but there are few cases more
heartrending and more difficult to understand than serial murder.
For years, law enforcement investigators, academics, mental health experts,
and the media have studied serial murder, from Jack the Ripper in the late
1800s to the sniper killings in 2002, and from the “Zodiac Killer” in
California to the “BTK Killer” in Kansas. These diverse groups
have long attempted to understand the complex issues related to serial murder
investigations. Until the Serial Murder Symposium, however, there had been
few attempts to reach a consensus on some of these issues.
This monograph presents the findings and collective wisdom of a multidisciplinary
group of experts, who brought their individual experience and insights to
the same table. Our hope is that it will give you new ideas and new resources
as you continue your important work.
The FBI is committed to contributing to the understanding of these horrific
acts. The FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime stands
ready to assist our state, local, and international partners. We believe
the best way to combat any threat — be it terrorism, gang violence,
or serial murder — is to combine our knowledge and resources with those
of our partners, and to work as a team. I am grateful for the partnerships
that helped spur this symposium, and for the partnerships that were formed
as a result.
I deeply appreciate the work that went into this publication. I would like
to thank all those who participated for their willingness to share their
dedication, time and expertise. I believe it will be invaluable to our collective
ability to understand, respond to, and hopefully prevent, serial murder.
Robert S. Mueller, III
Acknowledgments
The NCAVC would like to gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the following
individuals, without whose efforts the Symposium and this monograph would not
have been possible:
• The members of the Serial Murder Symposium Working Group, for their
assistance in planning the Symposium. The names of these individuals are listed
in Appendix B.
• The Symposium attendees, for their generous sharing of time and expertise
in the area of serial murder. The names of these individuals are listed in
Appendix C.
• Pamela Hairfield and Wilma Wulchak, Management and Program Analysts,
FBI, NCAVC, for their skill, dedication, and perseverance in successfully handling
the countless administrative tasks associated with the Symposium.
•
Cristie Dobson, Management and Program Assistant, FBI, NCAVC, for her talent
and time spent copyediting this document and for her work on the cover art.
• Assistant Director Michael J. Wolf (retired) and Executive Assistant
Director J. Stephen Tidwell for their support of this project and for their
willingness to dedicate the resources necessary for its successful completion.
Foreword
The topic of serial murder occupies a unique niche within the criminal justice
community. In addition to the significant investigative challenges they bring
to law enforcement, serial murder cases attract an over-abundance of attention
from the media, mental health experts, academia, and the general public. While
there has been significant, independent work conducted by a variety of experts
to identify and analyze the many issues related to serial murder, there have
been few efforts to reach a consensus between law enforcement and other experts,
regarding these matters.
In an effort to bridge the gap between the many views of issues related to
serial murder, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hosted a multi-disciplinary
Symposium in San Antonio, Texas, on August 29, 2005 through September 2, 2005.
The goal of the Symposium was to bring together a group of respected experts
on serial murder from a variety of fields and specialties, to identify the
commonalities of knowledge regarding serial murder.
A total of 135 subject matter experts attended the five-day event. These individuals
included law enforcement officials who have successfully investigated and apprehended
serial killers; mental health, academic, and other experts who have studied
serial killers and shared their expertise through education and publication;
officers of the court, who have judged, prosecuted, and defended serial killers;
and members of the media, who inform and educate the public when serial killers
strike. The attendees also reflected the international nature of the serial
murder problem, as there were attendees from ten different countries on five
continents.
The agenda encompassed a variety of topics related to serial murder including
common myths, definitions, typologies, pathology and causality, forensics,
the role of the media, prosecution issues, investigative task force organization,
and major case management issues. Each day included panel discussions, case
presentations, and discussion groups addressing a range of topics related
to serial murder.
This monograph is a culmination of the input and discussion of the attendees
on the major issues related to serial murder. The contents are based upon the
notes taken during the presentations, panel discussions, and break-out group
sessions. The goal in publishing this monograph is to outline the consensus
views from a variety of disciplines on the causality, motivations, and characteristics
of serial murderers, which will enable the criminal justice community to generate
a more effective response in the identification, investigation, and adjudication
of these cases.
National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
The National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) is a component
of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG), located at the
FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The primary mission of the NCAVC is to provide
behaviorally-based, operational support to federal, state, local, and international
law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation of unusual or repetitive
violent crimes, communicated threats, terrorism, and other matters of interest
to law enforcement.
The NCAVC is comprised of four units: Behavioral Analysis Unit-1 (Counterterrorism/Threat
Assessment), Behavioral Analysis Unit-2 (Crimes Against Adults), Behavioral
Analysis Unit-3 (Crimes Against Children), and the Violent Criminal Apprehension
Program (ViCAP).
NCAVC staff members conduct detailed analyses of crimes from behavioral, forensic,
and investigative perspectives. The goal of this analysis process is to provide
law enforcement agencies with a better understanding of the motivations and
behaviors of offenders. The analysis is a tool that provides investigators
with descriptive and behavioral characteristics of the most probable offender
and advice regarding investigative techniques to help identify the offender.
The NCAVC also conducts research into violent crime from a law enforcement
perspective. NCAVC research is designed to gain insight into criminal thought
processes, motivations, and behaviors. Research findings are refined into innovative,
investigative techniques that improve law enforcement’s effectiveness
against violent criminals and are shared with law enforcement and other disciplines
through publications, presentations, and training.
The Serial Murder Symposium was conceived, planned, and coordinated by the
staff of the Behavioral Analysis Unit-2 (BAU-2). The resources of BAU-2 are
focused on serial, mass, and other murders; sexual assaults; kidnappings; and
other criminal acts targeting adult victims. BAU-2 staff members have developed
significant expertise on the subject of serial murder and regularly provide
operational assistance, conduct research, and provide training on issues related
to serial murder.
I. Introduction
Serial murder is neither a new phenomenon, nor is it uniquely American. Dating
back to ancient times, serial murderers have been chronicled around the world.
In 19th century Europe, Dr. Richard von Krafft-Ebing conducted some of the
first documented research on violent, sexual offenders and the crimes they
committed. Best known for his 1886 textbook Psychopathia Sexualis, Dr. Kraft-Ebing
described numerous case studies of sexual homicide, serial murder, and other
areas of sexual proclivity.
Serial murder is a relatively rare event, estimated to comprise less than
one percent of all murders committed in any given year. However, there is a
macabre interest in the topic that far exceeds its scope and has generated
countless articles, books, and movies. This broad-based public fascination
began in the late 1880s, after a series of unsolved prostitute murders occurred
in the Whitechapel area of London. These murders were committed by an unknown
individual who named himself “Jack the Ripper” and sent letters
to the police claiming to be the killer.
Dear Boss
I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet.
I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right
track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores
and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last
job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now. I
love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny
little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle
over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use
it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha. ha. The next job I do I shall clip the
ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn’t
you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight.
My knife’s so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I
get a chance. Good luck.
Yours truly
Jack the Ripper
These murders and the nom de guerre “Jack the Ripper” have become
synonymous with serial murder. This case spawned many legends concerning serial
murder and the killers who commit it. In the 1970s and 1980s serial murder
cases such as the Green River Killer, Ted Bundy, and BTK sparked a renewed
public interest in serial murder, which blossomed in the 1990s after the release
of films such as Silence of the Lambs.
Much of the general public’s knowledge concerning serial murder is a
product of Hollywood productions. Story lines are created to heighten the interest
of audiences, rather than to accurately portray serial murder. By focusing
on the atrocities inflicted on victims by “deranged” offenders,
the public is captivated by the criminals and their crimes. This only lends
more confusion to the true dynamics of serial murder.
Law enforcement professionals are subject to the same misinformation from
a different source: the use of anecdotal information. Professionals involved
in serial murder cases, such as investigators, prosecutors, and pathologists
may have limited exposure to serial murder. Their experience may be based upon
a single murder series, and the factors in that case are extrapolated to other
serial murders. As a result, certain stereotypes and misconceptions take root
regarding the nature of serial murder and the characteristics of serial killers.
A growing trend that compounds the fallacies surrounding serial murder is
the talking heads phenomenon. Given creditability by the media, these self-proclaimed
authorities profess to have an expertise in serial murder. They appear frequently
on television and in the print media and speculate on the motive for the murders
and the characteristics of the possible offender, without being privy to the
facts of the investigation. Unfortunately, inappropriate comments may perpetuate
misperceptions concerning serial murder and impair law enforcement’s
investigative efforts. It was decided by a majority of the attendees to issue
a formal statement of position regarding the media’s use of these types
of individuals. (The position statement is included in Section X of this monograph.)
The relative rarity of serial murder combined with inaccurate, anecdotal information
and fictional portrayals of serial killers has resulted in the following common
myths and misconceptions regarding serial murder:
Myth: Serial killers are all dysfunctional loners.
The majority of serial killers are not reclusive, social misfits who live
alone. They are not monsters and may not appear strange. Many serial killers
hide in plain sight within their communities. Serial murderers often have families
and homes, are gainfully employed, and appear to be normal members of the community.
Because many serial murderers can blend in so effortlessly, they are oftentimes
overlooked by law enforcement and the public.
• Robert Yates killed seventeen prostitutes in the Spokane, Washington
area, during the 1990s. He was married with five children, lived in a middle
class neighborhood, and was a decorated U.S. Army National Guard helicopter
pilot. During the time period of the murders, Yates routinely patronized prostitutes,
and several of his victims knew each other. Yates buried one of his victims
in his yard, beneath his bedroom window. Yates was eventually arrested and
pled guilty to thirteen of the murders.
• The Green River Killer, Gary Ridgeway, confessed to killing 48 women
over a twenty-year time period in the Seattle, Washington area. He had been
married three times and was still married at the time of his arrest. He was
employed as a truck painter for thirty-two years. He attended church regularly,
read the Bible at home and at work, and talked about religion with co-workers.
Ridgeway also frequently picked up prostitutes and had sex with them throughout
the time period in which he was killing.
• The BTK killer, Dennis Rader, killed ten victims in and around Wichita,
Kansas. He sent sixteen written communications to the news media over a thirty-year
period, taunting the police and the public. He was married with two children,
was a Boy Scout leader, served honorably in the U.S. Air Force, was employed
as a local government official, and was president of his church.
Myth: Serial killers are all white males.
Contrary to popular belief, serial killers span all racial groups. There
are white, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian serial killers. The racial
diversification of serial killers generally mirrors that of the overall U.S.
population.
• Charles Ng, a native of Hong Kong, China, killed numerous victims
in Northern California, in concert with Robert Lake.
• Derrick Todd Lee, an African-American, killed at least six women in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
• Coral Eugene Watts, an African-American, killed five victims in Michigan,
fled the state to avoid detection, and murdered another 12 victims in Texas,
before being apprehended.
• Rafael Resendez-Ramirez, a native of Mexico, murdered nine people
in Kentucky, Texas, and Illinois, before turning himself in.
• Rory Conde, a Colombian native, was responsible for six prostitute
homicides in the Miami, Florida area.
Myth: Serial killers are only motivated by sex.
All serial murders are not sexually-based. There are many other motivations
for serial murders including anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking.
• In the Washington, D.C. area serial sniper case, John Allen Muhammad,
a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, and Lee Boyd Malvo killed primarily for
anger and thrill motivations. They were able to terrorize the greater Washington,
D.C. metro area for three weeks, shooting 13 victims, killing 10 of them. They
communicated with the police by leaving notes, and they attempted to extort
money to stop the shootings. They are suspected in a number of other shootings
in seven other states.
• Dr. Michael Swango, a former U.S. Marine, ambulance worker, and physician,
was a health care employee. He was convicted of only four murders in New York
and Ohio, although he is suspected of having poisoned and killed 35 to 50 people
throughout the United States and on the continent of Africa. Swango’s
motivation for the killings was intrinsic and never fully identified. Interestingly,
Swango kept a scrap book filled with newspaper and magazine clippings about
natural disasters, in which many people were killed.
• Paul Reid killed at least seven people during fast food restaurant
robberies in Tennessee. After gaining control of the victims, he either stabbed
or shot them. The motivation for the murders was primarily witness elimination.
Reid’s purpose in committing the robberies was financial gain, and some
of the ill-gotten gains were used to purchase a car.
Myth: All serial murderers travel and operate interstate.
Most serial killers have very defined geographic areas of operation. They
conduct their killings within comfort zones that are often defined by an anchor
point (e.g. place of residence, employment, or residence of a relative). Serial
murderers will, at times, spiral their activities outside of their comfort
zone, when their confidence has grown through experience or to avoid detection.
Very few serial murderers travel interstate to kill.
The few serial killers who do travel interstate to kill fall into a few categories:
• Itinerant individuals who move from place to place.
•
Homeless individuals who are transients.
•
Individuals whose employment lends itself to interstate or transnational travel,
such as truck drivers or those in military service.
The difference between these types of offenders and other serial murderers
is the nature of their traveling lifestyle, which provides them with many zones
of comfort in which to operate.
Myth: Serial killers cannot stop killing.
It has been widely believed that once serial killers start killing, they cannot
stop. There are, however, some serial killers who stop murdering altogether
before being caught. In these instances, there are events or circumstances
in offenders’ lives that inhibit them from pursuing more victims. These
can include increased participation in family activities, sexual substitution,
and other diversions.
• BTK killer, Dennis Rader, murdered ten victims from 1974 to 1991.
He did not kill any other victims prior to being captured in 2005. During interviews
conducted by law enforcement, Rader admitted to engaging in auto-erotic activities
as a substitute for his killings.
• Jeffrey Gorton killed his first victim in 1986 and his next victim
in 1991. He did not kill another victim and was captured in 2002. Gorton engaged
in cross-dressing and masturbatory activities, as well as consensual sex with
his wife in the interim.
Myth: All Serial killers are insane or are evil geniuses.
Another myth that exists is that serial killers have either a debilitating
mental condition, or they are extremely clever and intelligent.
As a group, serial killers suffer from a variety of personality disorders,
including psychopathy, anti-social personality, and others. Most, however,
are not adjudicated as insane under the law.
The media has created a number of fictional serial killer “geniuses”,
who outsmart law enforcement at every turn. Like other populations, however,
serial killers range in intelligence from borderline to above average levels.
Myth: Serial killers want to get caught.
Offenders committing a crime for the first time are inexperienced. They gain
experience and confidence with each new offense, eventually succeeding with
few mistakes or problems.
While most serial killers plan their offenses more thoroughly than other criminals,
the learning curve is still very steep. They must select, target, approach,
control, and dispose of their victims. The logistics involved in committing
a murder and disposing of the body can become very complex, especially when
there are multiple sites involved.
As serial killers continue to offend without being captured, they can become
empowered, feeling they will never be identified. As the series continues,
the killers may begin to take shortcuts when committing their crimes. This
often causes the killers to take more chances, leading to identification by
law enforcement. It is not that serial killers want to get caught; they feel
that they can’t get caught.
II. Definition of Serial Murder
In the past thirty years, multiple definitions of serial murder have been
used by law enforcement, clinicians, academia, and researchers. While these
definitions do share several common themes, they differ on specific requirements,
such as the number of murders involved, the types of motivation, and the temporal
aspects of the murders. To address these discrepancies, attendees at the Serial
Murder Symposium examined the variations in order to develop a single definition
for serial murder.
Previous definitions of serial murder specified a certain number of murders,
varying from two to ten victims. This quantitative requirement distinguished
a serial murder from other categories of murder (i.e. single, double, or triple
murder).
Most of the definitions also required a period of time between the murders.
This break-in-time was necessary to distinguish between a mass murder and a
serial murder. Serial murder required a temporal separation between the different
murders, which was described as: separate occasions, cooling-off period, and
emotional cooling-off period.
Generally, mass murder was described as a number of murders (four or more)
occurring during the same incident, with no distinctive time period between
the murders. These events typically involved a single location, where the killer
murdered a number of victims in an ongoing incident (e.g. the 1984 San Ysidro
McDonalds incident in San Diego, California; the 1991 Luby’s Restaurant
massacre in Killeen, Texas; and the 2007 Virginia Tech murders in Blacksburg,
Virginia).
There has been at least one attempt to formalize a definition of serial murder
through legislation. In 1998, a federal law was passed by the United States
Congress, titled: Protection of Children from Sexual Predator Act of 1998 (Title
18, United States Code, Chapter 51, and Section 1111). This law includes a
definition of serial killings:
The term ‘serial killings’ means a series of three or more
killings, not less than one of which was committed within the United States,
having common
characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes
were committed by the same actor or actors.
Although the federal law provides a definition of serial murder, it is limited
in its application. The purpose of this definition was to set forth criteria
establishing when the FBI could assist local law enforcement agencies with
their investigation of serial murder cases. It was not intended to be a generic
definition for serial murder.
The Symposium attendees reviewed the previous definitions and extensively
discussed the pros and cons of the numerous variations. The consensus of the
Symposium attendees was to create a simple but broad definition, designed for
use primarily by law enforcement.
One discussion topic focused on the determination of the number of murders
that constituted a serial murder. Academicians and researchers were interested
in establishing a specific number of murders, to allow clear inclusion criteria
for their research on serial killers. However, since the definition was to
be utilized by law enforcement, a lower number of victims would allow law enforcement
more flexibility in committing resources to a potential serial murder investigation.
Motivation was another central element discussed in various definitions; however,
attendees felt motivation did not belong in a general definition, as it would
make the definition overly complex.
The validity of spree murder as a separate category was discussed at great
length. The general definition of spree murder is two or more murders committed
by an offender or offenders, without a cooling-off period. According to the
definition, the lack of a cooling-off period marks the difference between a
spree murder and a serial murder. Central to the discussion was the definitional
problems relating to the concept of a cooling-off period. Because it creates
arbitrary guidelines, the confusion surrounding this concept led the majority
of attendees to advocate disregarding the use of spree murder as a separate
category. The designation does not provide any real benefit for use by law
enforcement.
The different discussion groups at the Symposium agreed on a number of similar
factors to be included in a definition. These included:
• one or more offenders
•
two or more murdered victims
•
incidents should be occurring in separate events, at different times
•
the time period between murders separates serial murder from mass murder
In combining the various ideas put forth at the Symposium, the following definition
was crafted:
Serial Murder: The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s),
in separate events.
III. Causality and the Serial Murderer
Following the arrest of a serial killer, the question is always asked: How
did this person become a serial murderer? The answer lies in the development
of the individual from birth to adulthood. Specifically, the behavior a person
displays is influenced by life experiences, as well as certain biological factors.
Serial murderers, like all human beings, are the product of their heredity,
their upbringing, and the choices they make throughout development. Causality,
as it relates to the development of serial murderers, was discussed at length
by the Symposium attendees.
Causality can be defined as a complex process based on biological, social,
and environmental factors. In addition to these factors, individuals have the
ability to choose to engage in certain behaviors. The collective outcome of
all of these influences separates individual behavior from generic human behavior.
Since it is not possible to identify all of the factors that influence normal
human behavior, it similarly is not possible to identify all of the factors
that influence an individual to become a serial murderer.
Human beings are in a constant state of development from the moment of conception
until death. Behavior is affected by stimulation received and processed by
the central nervous system. Neurobiologists believe that our nervous systems
are environmentally sensitive, thereby allowing individual nervous systems
to be shaped throughout a lifetime.
The development of social coping mechanisms begins early in life and continues
to progress as children learn to interact, negotiate, and compromise with their
peers. In some individuals the failure to develop adequate coping mechanisms
results in violent behavior.
Neglect and abuse in childhood have been shown to contribute to an increased
risk of future violence. Substance abuse can and does lead to increased aggression
and violence. There are documented cases of people who suffered severe head
injuries and ultimately become violent, even when there was no prior history
of violence.
Symposium attendees agreed that there is no single identifiable cause
or factor that leads to the development of a serial killer. Rather, there
are a multitude
of factors that contribute to their development. The most significant factor
is the serial killer’s personal decision in choosing to pursue their
crimes.
There were several additional observations made by the attendees regarding
causality:
• Predisposition to serial killing, much like other violent offenses,
is biological, social, and psychological in nature, and it is not limited to
any specific characteristic or trait.
• The development of a serial killer involves a combination of these
factors, which exist together in a rare confluence in certain individuals.
They have the appropriate biological predisposition, molded by their psychological
makeup, which is present at a critical time in their social development.
• There are no specific combinations of traits or characteristics shown
to differentiate serial
killers from other violent offenders.
• There is no generic template for a serial killer.
• Serial killers are driven by their own unique motives or reasons.
• Serial killers are not limited to any specific demographic group,
such as their sex,
age, race, or religion.
• The majority of serial killers who are sexually motivated erotized
violence during development. For them, violence and sexual gratification are
inexplicably intertwined
in their psyche.
• More research is needed to identify specific pathways of development
that produce serial killers.
IV. Psychopathy and Serial Murder
Attendees at the Serial Murder Symposium agreed that there is no generic profile
of a serial murderer. Serial killers differ in many ways, including their motivations
for killing and their behavior at the crime scene. However, attendees did identify
certain traits common to some serial murderers, including sensation seeking,
a lack of remorse or guilt, impulsivity, the need for control, and predatory
behavior. These traits and behaviors are consistent with the psychopathic personality
disorder. Attendees felt it was very important for law enforcement and other
professionals in the criminal justice system to understand psychopathy and
its relationship to serial murder.
Psychopathy is a personality disorder manifested in people who use a mixture
of charm, manipulation, intimidation, and occasionally violence to control
others, in order to satisfy their own selfish needs. Although the concept of
psychopathy has been known for centuries, Dr. Robert Hare led the modern research
effort to develop a series of assessment tools, to evaluate the personality
traits and behaviors attributable to psychopaths.
Dr. Hare and his associates developed the Psychopathy Check List Revised
(PCL-R) and its derivatives, which provide a clinical assessment of the degree of psychopathy
an individual possesses. These instruments measure the distinct cluster of
personality traits and socially-deviant behaviors of an individual, which fall
into four factors: interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and anti-social.
The interpersonal traits include glibness, superficial charm, a grandiose
sense of self-worth, pathological lying, and the manipulation of others. The
affective traits include a lack of remorse and/or guilt, shallow affect, a
lack of empathy, and failure to accept responsibility. The lifestyle behaviors
include stimulation-seeking behavior, impulsivity, irresponsibility, parasitic
orientation, and a lack of realistic life goals. The anti-social behaviors
include poor behavioral controls, early childhood behavior problems, juvenile
delinquency, revocation of conditional release, and criminal versatility. The
combination of these individual personality traits, interpersonal styles, and
socially deviant lifestyles are the framework of psychopathy and can manifest
themselves differently in individual psychopaths.
Research has demonstrated that in those offenders who are psychopathic, scores
vary, ranging from a high degree of psychopathy to some measure of psychopathy.
However, not all violent offenders are psychopaths and not all psychopaths
are violent offenders. If violent offenders are psychopathic, they are able
to assault, rape, and murder without concern for legal, moral, or social consequences.
This allows them to do what they want, whenever they want.
The relationship between psychopathy and serial killers is particularly interesting.
All psychopaths do not become serial murderers. Rather, serial murderers may
possess some or many of the traits consistent with psychopathy. Psychopaths
who commit serial murder do not value human life and are extremely callous
in their interactions with their victims. This is particularly evident in sexually
motivated serial killers who repeatedly target, stalk, assault, and kill without
a sense of remorse. However, psychopathy alone does not explain the motivations
of a serial killer.
Understanding psychopathy becomes particularly critical to law enforcement
during a serial murder investigation and upon the arrest of a psychopathic
serial killer. The crime scene behavior of psychopaths is likely to be distinct
from other offenders. This distinct behavior can assist law enforcement in
linking serial cases.
Psychopaths are not sensitive to altruistic interview themes, such as sympathy
for their victims or remorse/guilt over their crimes. They do possess certain
personality traits that can be exploited, particularly their inherent narcissism,
selfishness, and vanity. Specific themes in past successful interviews of psychopathic
serial killers focused on praising their intelligence, cleverness, and skill
in evading capture.
Attendees recognized that more research is needed concerning the links between
serial murder and psychopathy, in order to understand the frequency and degree
of psychopathy among serial murderers. This may assist law enforcement in understanding
and identifying serial murderers.
V. Motivations and Types of Serial Murder: The Symposium Model
Over the past twenty years, law enforcement and experts from a number of varying
disciplines have attempted to identify specific motivations for serial murderers
and to apply those motivations to different typologies developed for classifying
serial murderers. These range from simple, definitive models to complex, multiple-category
typologies that are laden with inclusion requirements. Most typologies are
too cumbersome to be utilized by law enforcement during an active serial murder
investigation, and they may not be helpful in identifying an offender.
The attendees at the Symposium discussed the issues surrounding motivation
and the use of typologies to categorize varying types of serial murder. Identifying
motivations in the investigation of a crime is a standard procedure for law
enforcement. Typically, motivation provides police with the means to narrow
the potential suspect pool.
The same logical steps are taken when investigating homicide cases. As most
homicides are committed by someone known to the victim, police focus on the
relationships closest to the victim. This is a successful strategy for most
murder investigations. The majority of serial murderers, however, are not acquainted
with or involved in a consensual relationship with their victims.
For the most part, serial murder involves strangers with no visible relationship
between the offender and the victim. This distinguishes a serial murder investigation
as a more nebulous undertaking than that of other crimes. Since the investigations
generally lack an obvious connection between the offender and the victim, investigators
instead attempt to discern the motivations behind the murders, as a way to
narrow their investigative focus.
Serial murder crime scenes can have bizarre features that may cloud the identification
of a motive. The behavior of a serial murderer at crime scenes may evolve throughout
the series of crimes and manifest different interactions between an offender
and a victim. It is also extremely difficult to identify a single motivation
when there is more than one offender involved in the series.
The attendees at the Symposium made the following observations:
• Motive generally may be difficult to determine in a serial murder
investigation.
• A serial murderer may have multiple motives for committing his crimes.
• A serial murderer’s motives may evolve both within a single
murder as well throughout the murder series.
• The classification of motivations should be limited to observable
behavior at the crime scene.
• Even if a motive can be identified, it may not be helpful in identifying
a serial murderer.
• Utilizing investigative resources to discern the motive instead of
identifying the offender may derail the investigation.
• Investigators should not necessarily equate a serial murderer’s
motivation with the level of injury.
• Regardless of the motive, serial murderers commit their crimes because
they want to. The exception to this would be those few killers suffering from
a severe mental illness.
To assist law enforcement in narrowing the pool of suspects, attendees at
the Symposium suggested that broad, non-inclusive categories of motivations
be utilized as guidelines for investigation. The following categories listed
below represent general categories and are not intended to be a complete measure
of serial offenders or their motivation:
• Anger is a motivation in which an offender displays rage or hostility
towards a certain subgroup of the population or with society as a whole.
• Criminal Enterprise is a motivation in which the offender benefits
in status or monetary compensation by committing murder that is drug, gang,
or organized crime related.
• Financial gain is a motivation in which the offender benefits monetarily
from killing. Examples of these types of crimes are “black widow” killings,
robbery homicides, or multiple killings involving insurance or welfare fraud.
• Ideology is a motivation to commit murders in order to further the
goals and ideas of a specific individual or group. Examples of these include
terrorist groups or an individual(s) who attacks a specific racial, gender,
or ethnic group.
• Power/thrill is a motivation in which the offender feels empowered
and/or excited when he kills his victims.
• Psychosis is a situation in which the offender is suffering from a
severe mental illness and is killing because of that illness. This may include
auditory and/or visual hallucinations and paranoid, grandiose, or bizarre delusions.
• Sexually-based is a motivation driven by the sexual needs/desires
of the offender. There may or may not be overt sexual contact reflected in
the crime scene.
An offender selects a victim, regardless of the category, based upon availability,
vulnerability, and desirability. Availability is explained as the lifestyle
of the victim or circumstances in which the victim is involved, that allow
the offender access to the victim. Vulnerability is defined as the degree to
which the victim is susceptible to attack by the offender. Desirability is
described as the appeal of the victim to the offender. Desirability involves
numerous factors based upon the motivation of the offender and may include
factors dealing with the race, gender, ethnic background, age of the victim,
or other specific preferences the offender determines.
VI. Investigative Issues and Best Practices
Attendees at the Symposium identified successful investigative practices for
solving serial murder cases. These factors were central to the discussions:
• Identification of a Serial Murder Series
•
Leadership
•
Task Force Organization
•
Resource Augmentation
•
Communication
•
Data Management
•
Analytical Tools
•
Medical Examiners/Coroners
•
Administrative Issues
•
Training
•
Officer Assistance Programs
Identification
Symposium participants listed the initial identification of a homicide series
as the primary investigative challenge. Historically, the first indication
that a serial murderer was at work was when two or more cases were linked by
forensic or behavioral evidence.
Identifying a homicide series is easier in rapidly-developing, high profile
cases involving low risk victims. These cases are reported to law enforcement
upon discovery of the crimes and draw immediate media attention.
In contrast, identifying a series involving high risk victims in multiple
jurisdictions is much more difficult. This is primarily due to the high risk
lifestyle and transitory nature of the victims. Additionally, the lack of communication
between law enforcement agencies and differing records management systems impede
the linkage of cases to a common offender.
Attendees stressed the importance of law enforcement networking with other
investigative agencies and cited the National Law Enforcement Teletype System
(NLETS) messages, ViCAP Alerts, and the Law Enforcement Online (LEO) website
as alternative mechanisms for sharing information to help determine other linked
cases. The use of the FBI’s NCAVC, both the Behavioral Analysis Units
and the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, in linking potential cases was
also encouraged.
Leadership
High profile investigations present a multitude of leadership challenges for
law enforcement, from investigators to police executives. Law enforcement personnel
may face external pressures from political entities, victims’ families,
and the media. Collectively, strong management throughout the chain of command
must continually reinforce the supreme goal of the investigation: To arrest
and prosecute the offender.
Attendees at the Symposium agreed that in successful serial murder investigations,
the roles of both investigators and supervisors were clearly delineated. The
investigative function is the primary mission, and all other activities are
in support of that mission.
In serial murder cases, the actual investigation should be directed by competent,
homicide investigators, who have the experience to direct and focus the investigative
process. Law enforcement administrators should not run the investigation but
rather ensure that the investigators have the resources to do their job. Supervisors
should also act as buffers between investigators and the other levels of command.
There are several other strategies law enforcement executives may consider
while preparing for these intense investigations:
• Completing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between different law
enforcement agencies, in order to obtain mutual support agreements and commitment
of manpower, resources, and overtime.
• Identifying all resources that may be needed during the investigation
and maintaining detailed lists of available resources.
• Establishing good working relationships with other departments prior
to the crisis, through networking, scheduled meetings, and joint training.
• Providing training opportunities in the latest techniques and methods
of homicide investigation.
Additional observations regarding leadership in task force operations include:
• Communication on administrative issues should be restricted to management
personnel of the various agencies, so as not to distract investigators.
• The intense pressure in high profile investigations may at times decrease
logical decision making. Tunnel vision and impulsivity should be avoided.
• Law enforcement administration in each of the participating law enforcement
agencies should present a unified front by agreeing to a written investigative
strategy that outlines the investigative goals, the roles of the agencies,
and establishes a clear and concise chain of command.
• Command staff should focus on providing and managing the resources
investigators need to solve the case, rather than directing the investigation.
A major problem identified by attendees at the Symposium was the issue of micro-management.
When a supervisor attempts to personally direct every action in an investigation,
rather than allowing investigators to perform their jobs independently, they
exacerbate problems in these high profile investigations.
• While law enforcement attracts positive individuals with strong personalities,
management should encourage all involved personnel to leave their “egos” at
the door. This ensures that personality differences among investigators do
not become a distraction to the investigation. Investigators who lack the ability
to collaborate with colleagues can hinder the investigation and should not
be assigned to investigative teams.
Task Force Organization
Once a serial murder series has been identified, it is important for the involved
law enforcement agencies to work together. There are a number of operational
and investigative issues critical to the successful establishment of an investigative
task force.
Initially, a lead agency for the task force should be designated and will
assume the primary investigative role. The choice of a lead agency is based
upon a number of factors including the number and viability of the cases, available
resources, and investigative experience. Once established, all law enforcement
agencies involved in the investigation should have representation in the task
force. Any outlying agencies should also be included, even if they do not have
an identified case in the investigation.
An effective and reliable investigative model identifies a lead investigator
and co-investigator, who, regardless of rank, are given complete control of
the investigation. These investigators review all incoming information, collate
the information, and assign leads. If the flow of incoming information becomes
unmanageable due to an excessive influx of investigative tips, the lead investigators
can delegate this responsibility to an experienced investigator, who will act
as a lead control officer. Administrators must look beyond the traditional
method of assigning the next available investigators regardless of skill or
assigning investigators who have no desire to be involved in a major case.
Consequently, law enforcement administrators must assign the most qualified
investigator(s) to lead the current case.
The lead investigator(s) must have the experience, dedication, and tenacity
to direct all aspects of the investigation. They should also, with management’s
support, have the ability to select a cadre of investigators and support personnel
and assign such personnel as the investigation dictates. In serial murder investigations,
the lead investigators must handle all crime scene activities and related leads,
as each incident may be interwoven. It is the responsibility of the lead investigators
or the lead control investigator to ensure relevant information is distributed
to the entire task force.
At the onset of the task force, the lead investigators should immediately
implement a preplanned task force model. Common to most models is the need
to establish an information management system to track tips and leads in the
case. This computer system should account for the idiosyncrasies of the investigation
while being flexible enough to handle any contingency. All personnel should
be familiar with its operation, and it should be pre-tested to insure viability
in investigative conditions.
Primary to the investigation is sufficient manpower to successfully investigate
and prosecute the case. The overwhelming consensus from the attendees is that
the assignment of excessive numbers of personnel to the investigation may be
counterproductive. A small group of experienced homicide investigators, under
the direction of the lead investigator(s), is far more effective than a large
number of less experienced investigators or investigators who are experienced
in different areas of criminal activity. Additional personnel may be brought
in for specific tasks as necessary.
There should be a bifurcation of responsibility between the administration
of the case and the investigation of the case. The task of running the investigation
is the responsibility of the lead investigator. The administration provides
all of the necessary support, including procurement of equipment, funding,
and manpower. As an example, task force administrators must obtain authority
for priority requests for services, from the forensic laboratory and other
service providers. The lead investigator(s) and the administrators of the task
force must have a close, cooperative working relationship, while maintaining
their own areas of responsibility.
Assignment of liaison personnel in serial homicide cases is highly recommended.
The highest priority is the families of the victims, who will be supportive
of the investigative efforts, when they believe the investigators are competent
and all available resources are being used to identify and arrest the offender.
An investigator with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills should
be assigned to maintain constant contact with the families, keeping them apprised
of the progress of the investigation and any pending press releases.
Liaison must also be maintained with the numerous support entities both inside
and outside the task force including the prosecutor’s office, the forensic
laboratory, the medical examiner’s office, and surrounding law enforcement
agencies. Additionally, a list of available experts in specific forensic and
related fields should be compiled and liaison established for use in the investigation.
As long as the flow of information is manageable, one individual can be assigned
to multiple liaison duties.
Resource Augmentation
As the investigation continues, the manpower requirements of the task force
will increase for various reasons, including increasing the number of investigators
and support staff. Restraint must be practiced by task force administrators
to avoid the use of excess personnel. As previously discussed, the use of fewer
personnel may be more effective. The lead investigator is in the best position
to recognize when additional personnel are needed. The administrator’s
responsibility is to provide the authority for the permanent or temporary reassignment
of the requested number of personnel to the task force.
If additional personnel are needed to expand the task force, the reassignment
should be for the duration of the task force, to insure continuity of investigative
information. However, for short term needs such as a specific neighborhood
canvass or road block canvass, personnel can be reassigned temporarily to complete
the specific task and then be returned to their normal duties.
In either event, the arrival of new personnel should be preplanned and a detailed
case briefing provided. This briefing should include an explanation of their
specific assignment, their work hours, details of the investigation as it applies
to their assignment, expected standards for report completion, and a complete
list of contact numbers. Additionally, personnel should be cautioned about
discussing case sensitive information with anyone outside of authorized law
enforcement personnel.
Arbitrary rotation of personnel should be avoided, as it negatively affects
the continuity of the investigation. Rotation of personnel should only occur
if requested by the investigator, or there are officer assistance issues. If
the task force is disbanded and later reinstated, the original investigators
should be utilized.
Communications
Attendees stressed the importance of disseminating information to the investigators
engaged in a serial murder investigation through the following:
• Daily briefings are essential for investigators, especially when there
are different work shifts. Periodic summary briefings are also necessary for
managers and patrol officers. These can be accomplished via e-mails or at roll
call and should be conducted by investigative personnel.
• Communication on the operational level is paramount, especially in
task force investigations and when serial murder cases involve multiple states.
As all information must be shared seamlessly, teleconferences may not sufficiently
allow for the flow of information. Face-to-face case briefings are suggested.
• Submitting ViCAP reports on solved and unsolved murders, attempted
murders, and sexual assaults for inclusion in the ViCAP database is strongly
recommended and may facilitate the linkage of unknown related cases for law
enforcement agencies.
Data Management
A common problem in serial investigations occurs when data is not entered
into the electronic database in a timely manner. Useful leads are lost when
investigators are overloaded with information. The following suggestions were
provided regarding data management issues:
• In order to avoid time lags, reports should be written as soon as
the investigative lead is completed. If reports are not finished before the
end of the investigator’s shift, the lead investigator(s) may not have
time to review those reports. This will lead to a back-log of reports, containing
pertinent and timely investigative information.
• Sufficient time should be allocated during work shifts to complete
reports.
• Information should be obtained, documented, and distributed in a standardized
manner, to maintain consistency among different agencies. Ideally, reports
should be computer generated to ease the communication issues.
• Systems similar to the FBI’s Rapid Start computerized case management
system should be utilized, to effectively organize and collate lead information.
Computerized systems promote the analysis of a tremendous amount of data. There
should be sufficient personnel committed to ensure that data is recorded into
the system, in a timely manner.
• A murder book or series of murder books should be created and maintained.
Murder books contain all of the pertinent investigative information and are
traditionally in paper format but can also be developed electronically.
• All rough notes should be maintained and entered into evidence.
• Reports should be distributed to all participating law enforcement
agencies and the prosecutor’s office.
Analytical Tools
The wide range of analytical resources available to law enforcement agencies
is typically under-utilized at the onset of a serial murder investigation.
Due to the voluminous amount of information characteristic of high profile
investigations, critical lead information may be lost. The implementation of
a tested and reliable case management system, as previously discussed, coupled
with competent analytical staff, is imperative in serial murder investigations.
Crime analysts offer critical support to the investigation by developing timelines
on victims and suspects, compiling matrices to highlight similar case elements,
and providing general analytical support. Analysts should be assigned to the
initial investigation group, so information can be sorted, compared, and charted
to provide timely lead information.
It is recommended that a review team of experienced investigators be formed
to assist the lead investigator(s) in filtering through the information gathered
by analysts. The team should consist of two to four investigators from within
the involved agencies, as well as the crime analysts. The team must remain
intact throughout the investigation, to maintain the case integrity.
Many agencies are not supported by an actual crime analysis unit or do not
employ experienced analysts. In such cases, the agency should contact their
neighboring jurisdictions or the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis
of Violent Crime for assistance.
Symposium attendees also discussed the importance of the behavioral aspects
of the investigation and recommended the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit
be utilized for the multitude of services it provides to include crime scene
analysis, offender profiles, case linkage analysis, interview strategies, and
prosecution strategy. The case consultations can be conducted at the BAU office
in Quantico, Virginia, or a team of BAU staff members can respond to the respective
agency, to personally view the crime scenes and discuss the behavioral issues
with the pertinent task force members.
Medical Examiners/Coroners
A thorough autopsy and the subsequent collection of evidence are critical
in serial murder investigations. Medical examiners and coroners operate according
to their different state mandates and vary as to the thoroughness of their
investigations. Consistent procedures to collect, record, and retrieve case
information are important in linking cases in other jurisdictions.
The following recommendations were made concerning medical examiners in serial
murder investigations:
• Medical examiners should share information on autopsies in potentially
related cases. Joint meetings with investigators can provide additional background
information on these cases.
• A single medical examiner should be utilized in serial cases occurring
within the same jurisdiction.
• Once a series has been identified that involves several jurisdictions,
the various medical examiner offices may consider performing joint autopsy
procedures to ensure continuity in evidence collection.
• Investigators should also ensure submissions of all unidentified victims
to the FBI Laboratory’s National Missing Persons DNA database.
• Investigators should also ensure the entry of unidentified remains
recovered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and ViCAP.
Administrative Issues
Law enforcement agencies should review their current administrative policies
relating to maintenance and storage of unsolved homicide case materials. Top
priority should be given to these cases by extending the storage time limit
and may include the following:
• Mirror the FBI’s NCAVC 50-year minimum mandate to keep copies
of all unsolved cases.
• Retain records of unsolved homicide cases and the accompanying evidence
until the case is closed.
• Records should be electronically converted.
• Evidence storage should be available for long term storage of forensic
evidence in murder cases.
• Submit cases to the FBI’s ViCAP database, which maintains case
information indefinitely.
Resources and Finances
It is essential that an investigative agency have the resources available
in order to establish the initial setup for a task force, both from financial
and logistic perspectives. There should be a contingency plan in place to handle
the resource issues in a major investigation. Buildings, office space, computers,
phones, vehicles, food, and other necessities should be considered in the plan.
Utilizing non-law enforcement agencies, such as the fire department for use
of their high-tech equipment, may also be included in the plan. It was recommended
that agencies develop emergency response plans and establish MOU’s at
the local, state, and national level.
Training
Training continues to be an issue for all law enforcement departments. Complex
homicide investigations, especially those involving serial murder cases, depend
upon the experience and abilities of investigators to effectively conduct the
investigation. With the retirement of many experienced homicide investigators,
newer investigators need training and exposure to a wide range of investigative
techniques. Attendees also suggested the utilization of standardized training
for homicide investigators, crime analysts, and medical examiners.
Officer Assistance Programs
The brutality of the crime scenes; the senseless, repetitive acts inflicted
on the victims; and a sense of helplessness in failing to catch the offender
are all factors that may impact the emotional well-being of investigators involved
in a serial murder case. Burnout, stress, and hopelessness are just some of
the feelings that may affect members of the investigative team.
To combat these issues, attendees suggested the following:
• Regular debriefings.
• Access to critical incident counselors.
• Mental health evaluations upon request.
• Adequate time off for investigators.
NOTE: The majority of attendees agreed there should be a published, general
guide to serial murder investigations, building upon the Multi-Agency Investigative
Team Manual (MAIT) and addressing specific issues such as cooperative investigative
models; investigative methods; case linkage; crime scene techniques; MOUs;
training for police, medical examiners, and crime analysts; the role of regional
intelligence centers; the integration of BAU and ViCAP; and the role of federal
law enforcement.
VII. Forensic Issues in Serial Murder Cases
The forensic sciences have played a key role in criminal investigations for
many years. Recently, there has been increased attention on the forensic sciences
by law enforcement, prosecutors, and the general public. Particularly in high
profile cases, intense media coverage concerning evidence issues and the work
of crime laboratories has served to heighten this interest.
In the past two decades, there have been tremendous technological advances
in the laboratory testing of forensic samples. There have also been a number
of improvements in the identification and collection of evidence at the crime
scene, through innovative processing and evidence collection methods. Together,
these advances allow for a greater probability of successful recovery and analysis
of evidence than was previously possible. There is also growing recognition
by criminal justice professionals of the wider scope of forensic techniques
and available tests.
The field of forensic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis and the legislation
that allows DNA testing on a broader number of offenders has made some of the
more remarkable advances. DNA testing now allows much smaller samples of biological
material to be analyzed and the results to be more discriminating. DNA testing
of forensic crime scene samples can now be compared against a database of known
offenders and other unsolved crimes.
Forensic laboratories have developed advanced analytical techniques through
the use of computer technology. Systems such as the Combined DNA Index System
(CODIS), various Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS), and the
National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (NIBIN), were identified
by the symposium as beneficial to serial murder investigations, by providing
links between previously unrelated cases.
CODIS is a national automated DNA information processing and telecommunications
system that was developed to link biological evidence (DNA) in criminal cases,
between various jurisdictions around the United States. Samples in CODIS include
DNA profiles obtained from persons convicted of designated crimes, DNA profiles
obtained from crime scenes, DNA profiles from unidentified human remains, and
DNA from voluntary samples taken from families of missing persons.
The CODIS data bank of these samples is comprised of three different indices
or levels: the National DNA Index System (NDIS), the State DNA Index System
(SDIS), and the Local DNA Index System (LDIS).
What is important for law enforcement to understand is that the information
contained at the LDIS and SDIS levels may not automatically be sent to, or
searched against, the NDIS level. There are different legislation requirements
for inclusion into NDIS, than to LDIS or SDIS, and not all LDIS and SDIS profiles
are sent to NDIS. Even when NDIS is queried, individual SDIS data banks may
not be queried. Therefore, when dealing with a serial murder case, investigators
need to contact their LDIS or SDIS level representatives to ensure that in
addition to the NDIS databank, samples are compared in the individual SDIS
data banks of each state that is of investigative interest. In cases where
there is only a partial DNA profile, a national “keyboard” search
can be requested through the NDIS custodian, CODIS Unit, FBI Laboratory.
AFIS is an electronic databank that compares unidentified latent and patent
fingerprints to the known fingerprint file. There have been a variety of local
AFIS systems in use since the 1980s. In 1999, the FBI’s Integrated Automated
Fingerprint Identification System, or IAFIS, became operational. IAFIS is designated
as the national repository of criminal histories, fingerprints, and photographs
of criminal subjects in the United States. It also contains fingerprints and
information on military and civilian federal employees. IAFIS provides positive
identification through comparisons of individuals based on the submission of
fingerprint data, through both ten-print fingerprint cards and latent fingerprints.
Some of the earlier AFIS systems were not compatible with the IAFIS system,
and as a result, those earlier latent fingerprints may not be included in IAFIS.
This becomes an issue in serial murder cases, when the offender committed offenses
prior to the inception of IAFIS, as latent fingerprints from those earlier
crimes will not be searchable. If there is a possibility the offender committed
early crimes, the early AFIS systems need to be queried independently. Consultation
with laboratory fingerprint experts may be necessary in order to establish
what AFIS systems exist, which are interoperable, and the protocols required
to query each system.
NIBIN is a national databank of both projectile and cartridge information.
NIBIN is the integration of two previous systems: the FBI’s Drugfire
cartridge case imaging system and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives’ (ATF) Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS).
NIBIN is an imaging system that allows both bullets and cartridges recovered
from a crime scene to be compared electronically against other bullets and
cartridges recovered from previous crime scenes, in an effort to link previously
unrelated cases. The system can search by geographic area or nationwide, depending
upon the course of the investigation. ATF is maintaining the new system in
over 75 locations, across the United States.
When conducting serial murder investigations, it is important for investigators
to promptly seek guidance from appropriate forensic database experts. Such
experts can provide information regarding what limitations exist and what additional
queries can be made of the systems, to obtain additional investigative information.
Another area in which forensic science can play an important role is in the
recovery and examination of trace evidence. Trace evidence is described as
small, often microscopic material. It commonly includes hair and fiber evidence
but may encompass almost any substance or material. Trace evidence may provide
important lead information pertaining to offender characteristics, vehicle
and tire descriptors, and environmental clues that relate to killing scenes
and modes of transportation used to move bodies.
A skilled trace evidence examiner can compare the trace evidence from all
of the victims in a serial murder case, in an effort to identify evidence common
to all of the victims. This trace evidence will reflect a “common environment” with
which all of the victims were in contact. This common environment will repeat
in objects in the serial offender’s world, such as his vehicles and/or
residence. This can demonstrate that all of the victims had contact with the
offender at the same location(s).
Attendees at the Serial Murder Symposium universally acknowledged that serial
murder cases present unique circumstances and concerns, particularly when multiple
investigative jurisdictions are involved. In serial murder cases, crime scenes
may occur in different law enforcement jurisdictions, each of whom may possess
varying resources and abilities to process crime scenes. In some cases, agencies
submit evidence to different laboratories, even though those agencies are located
adjacent to one another. These issues degrade the ability of law enforcement
to consistently collect evidence from a murder series. This may prevent identifying
a serial killer or forensically linking previously unrelated cases to a common
offender.
Attendees identified a number of forensic issues facing the law enforcement
community in serial murder investigations and made the following suggestions:
• Once a series is identified, the same crime scene personnel should
be utilized at related scenes to promote consistency in evidence identification
and collection. Search personnel should follow established sterilization procedures
to ensure there is no cross-contamination between the various crime scenes.
• Cross-contamination should be proactively prevented by using different
personnel to process crime scenes than those used to collect known sample evidence
from potential suspects.
• Documentation among the law enforcement agencies should be standardized
to ensure continuity between separate cases.
• Aerial photographs of every murder crime scene, as well as the accompanying
ancillary scenes, should be taken. Aerial photographs clearly depict the geography
of the area and demonstrate the physical relationships and the distances between
the crime scenes. They also identify potential routes of ingress and egress
to the area.
• The number of laboratories and experts involved in serial murder investigations
should be limited to properly certified facilities and personnel. Ideally,
all evidence should be examined by a single crime laboratory, and that lab
should utilize only one expert per discipline. If this is not possible, establish
lines of communication between laboratories to ensure the sharing of pertinent
information related to the investigation.
• Priority status for laboratory examinations should be obtained to
ensure a quick turn around on test results.
• When consulting with forensic scientists, investigators should prioritize
forensic examinations based upon their potential investigative value. In addition,
forensic scientists should be consulted frequently to identify alternative
sampling and/or testing that may lead to successful case resolution.
• Forensic testimony should be limited to what is needed for successful
prosecution. Utilization of charts, graphs, or other appropriate audiovisual
aides showing forensic linkages will clearly and succinctly convey the facts
of the cases.
• When necessary, investigators should seek independent, secondary reviews
of laboratory results. This may be somewhat problematic, since there are crime
laboratories that will not duplicate forensic examinations. However, exceptions
are sometimes made to this policy on a case-by-case basis.
Forensic evidence case vignette:
The case of serial child murderer Richard Mark Evonitz highlights the variety
of forensic testing that may be utilized to solve difficult cases. In 1996
and 1997, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, three young girls were abducted
from their residences, sexually assaulted, and killed. The first case occurred
on September 9, 1996, when Sophia Silva disappeared from the front porch of
her house. She was found in October of 1996, in a swamp, 16 miles from her
residence. A suspect was arrested and charged for her murder, based on a faulty
trace evidence examination conducted by a state laboratory.
On May 1, 1997, two sisters, Kristin and Kati Lisk, disappeared from their
residence after returning home from school. Their bodies were discovered five
days later in a river, 40 miles from their residence. After an examination
by an FBI Laboratory Examiner yielded trace evidence that positively linked
the Silva and Lisk homicides to a common environment, the suspect arrested
in the Silva case was subsequently released.
The investigation continued for an additional five years, until a girl was
abducted in South Carolina. The victim was able to escape, and she identified
Richard Mark Evonitz as her attacker. Evonitz fled South Carolina and was sighted
in Florida. After a high-speed chase with police, Evonitz committed suicide.
The investigation revealed that Evonitz had lived in Spotsylvania, in 1996
and 1997.
Forensic searches were conducted on Evonitz’s residence in South
Carolina, his former residence in Spotsylvania, Virginia, and his car. A
detailed trace
examination of the evidence from these searches and the evidence obtained from
the three victims revealed a number of hair and fiber matches, providing sufficient
evidence to tie Evonitz to the three murders.
The following trace examinations linked Evonitz to all three homicide victims:
• Fibers from a bath mat.
• Fibers from an afghan.
•
Fibers from two separate carpets in Evonitz’s former home in Virginia.
•
Carpet fibers from the trunk of Evonitz’s car.
• Head hair consistent with Evonitz.
A trace examination also linked fibers from a pair of fur-lined handcuffs
to the three homicide victims and the surviving victim.
The unique combination of different hair and fiber evidence yielded the “common
environment” to which all of the victims and the offender were exposed.
Latent fingerprints belonging to Kristin Lisk were located on the inside
of the trunk lid of Evonitz’s car, five years after the fact.
VIII. Prosecution of Serial Murder Cases
The recognition and investigation of a serial murder series is often perceived
as a separate and distinct process from the other primary goal in these complex
cases: the prosecution and conviction of the offender(s) responsible for the
homicides. It was a consensus of Symposium attendees that law enforcement and
prosecutors should work cooperatively as the investigative and prosecution
processes are inextricably linked. When police suspect that one or more homicides
may be the result of a serial killer, involving the prosecutor early on in
the investigation may alleviate significant problems during trial.
The experience of the Symposium attendees was that in successful prosecutions
of serial murder cases, the prosecutor’s office was involved and remained
accessible to law enforcement throughout the entire investigation and subsequent
arrest. The partnership continued during the trial and resulted in the successful
prosecution of the serial murderer.
The prosecutor can assist with critical decisions early in the investigation
that could potentially impact on court admissibility. Maintaining the integrity
of the legal process is a paramount consideration when dealing with court orders,
search warrants, Grand Jury testimony, subpoenas, evidence custody matters,
capital murder issues, and concerns related to the possible offender’s
competency and the voluntariness of confessions.
Prosecutors are also in the best position to evaluate the different murder
cases within the serial investigation for presentation in court. They can provide
important recommendations regarding the future use of evidence, forensic laboratory
work, witness reports, and suspect interviews during trial.
Case management and investigative decision making are still controlled and
managed by the law enforcement agencies. The prosecutor acts in an advisory
capacity. The responsibilities and duties of the prosecutor should be clarified
initially in the investigation to avoid potential confusion while the investigation
progresses.
In multi-jurisdictional cases, variations in evidentiary standards, search
warrant requirements, interview protocols, the quality of the evidence, and
the ability to prosecute for capital murder may dictate the appropriate venue
for prosecution. This consideration may take on greater significance when the
crimes occur in different states.
Expert witnesses often play a significant role in high profile serial murder
investigations, dealing with forensic and competency issues. In many investigations
and prosecutions, the task of linking the defendant to the victim and the homicide
scene(s) has been simplified because of physical, trace, and/or DNA evidence
located at the scene. Expert forensic witnesses are utilized to explain the
analysis and value of such evidence. Identifying and securing the services
of forensic psychologists and psychiatrists will be important when addressing
issues of competency, diminished capacity, and the insanity defense. Consideration
should also be given for other collateral expert witnesses, who may be utilized
to address issues outside of the customary topics, such as blood spatter.
Prosecution case vignette:
The Washington, D.C. Beltway sniper attacks serve as an excellent example
of multi-jurisdictional prosecutorial considerations. The Beltway serial sniper
attacks took place during three weeks of October 2002, in the Washington, D.C.
metropolitian area. Ten people were killed and three others critically injured,
in various locations throughout the metropolitan area. The killings actually
began the month prior to the D.C. rampage, with these offenders committing
a number of murders and robberies in several other states.
The D.C. area shootings began on October 2nd, with a series of five, fatal
shootings over a fifteen-hour period in Montgomery County, Maryland, a suburban
county north of Washington, D.C. The investigation was initially spearheaded
from Montgomery County, and as the number of shootings mutiplied, the task
force involved numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies
from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The two men responsible
for the homicides, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, were eventually
captured at an interstate rest area in Western Maryland.
It was ultimately decided that Fairfax County, Virginia, would have the first
opportunity to try one of the murders, despite the fact that Maryland had more
cases. It was felt that the case in Fairfax was the strongest case. The Fairfax
County homicide was the ninth in the Washington, D.C. area series and the third
homicide in Virginia. A conviction for murder was secured in this case against
Malvo, resulting in a life sentence.
Muhammad was tried next for Capital Murder in a case that occurred in Prince
William County, Virginia, which resulted in a death sentence. Malvo, pursuant
to a plea agreement, then plead guilty to one count of murder and one attempted
murder in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and was sentenced to life without
parole.
Prosecutors in Montgomery County, Maryland, subsequently tried and convicted
Muhammad on six counts of murder, and he was sentenced to six consecutive life
sentences, without the possibility of parole. Malvo plead guilty and testified
against Muhammad. During these trials, Malvo confessed to four other shootings
in California, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. It is unknown whether these or
several other jurisdictions, including Arizona, Georgia, Alabama, and Washington
State plan to prosecute Muhammad and Malvo.
IX. Media Issues in Serial Murder Investigations
Serial murder cases are inherently newsworthy. Some investigations last for
years. Many attract attention because of the type of victims involved, and
in others the serial killers themselves are media-attractive. Media attention
is exacerbated by the insatiable demands of the twenty-four-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week
news reporting industry. The constant news attention on the investigation inevitably
results in conflicts with law enforcement.
Often the relationship between law enforcement and the media is not a close
one. In some law enforcement agencies, there is a long history of distrust
and resentment underpinning this relationship. From the law enforcement perspective,
the media publishes unauthorized information from investigations, hypothesizes
on investigative progress, and uses talking heads to critique the investigative
efforts. From the media’s standpoint, law enforcement withholds too much
information and does not communicate adequately with the media. It is counterproductive
for law enforcement to sustain contentious relationships with the media, while
attempting to develop an overall strategy for a successful serial murder investigation.
The only party who benefits from this negative relationship is the serial murderer,
who may continue to avoid detection. A respectful, cooperative relationship
between law enforcement and the media will serve the missions of both.
It becomes essential for law enforcement personnel involved in a serial murder
investigation to design and implement an effective media plan. The plan should
provide timely information on a regular basis, without compromising the investigative
endeavors. It is essential for media releases to be closely coordinated with
investigative strategies. This helps determine the best times to both educate
and solicit information from the public concerning certain aspects of the investigation.
Once a media plan is established, law enforcement can be more proactive than
reactive in its media strategy.
Symposium attendees provided a number of suggestions regarding media issues:
• Identify one spokesperson as the Public Information Officer (PIO),
to speak on behalf of the investigation. This person would, in conjunction
with other members of the investigative effort, prepare releases, make statements,
and update the media on behalf of all involved jurisdictions, including forensic
laboratories and medical examiners’ offices. To eliminate confusion and
controversy, MOUs should include an agreement regarding the designation of
a single PIO in multi-jurisdictional, serial murder investigations.
• The role of the PIO is extremely demanding and time consuming, and
they should not be assigned any additional investigative responsibilities.
In addition, the PIO should have limited access to sensitive case facts. This
will help minimize the possibility of critical information being inadvertently
released to the media.
• The PIO must be aware that any verbal comments they make to augment
information in the written press release can negate the strategy of the written
press release. Any verbal comments made in conjunction with written press releases
should be coordinated and rehearsed with the lead investigator(s), prior to
the release.
•
Press releases can be designed around several purposes: to announce a development
in the case; to provide public safety information; to educate the public;
to solicit information from the community; to provide behavioral information
about the offender; to correct misinformation about the case; or to encourage
someone who may know the offender to come forward.
• Press releases should always have very specific objectives. New releases
should be reviewed by lead investigators and management, prior to dissemination.
Investigators should consult with proven behavioral experts experienced in
serial murder cases, before releasing any behavioral-based offender information.
• Press releases regarding the investigative effort should always have
a positive tone. The PIO should continually remind the community that every
available resource is being utilized in the investigation. A release can also
include statements that discuss the impact of the case on the community, including
the nature and scope of the threat to potential victims and the steps being
taken by law enforcement to educate the community.
• Inaccurate information distributed by the media regarding a serial
murder investigation should be identified and addressed by law enforcement
as soon as possible. Such information may include statements made by talking
heads solicited by the media. This may require daily monitoring of news broadcasts
and print media by investigators, to identify the incorrect statements or misinformation.
• Contact should be made as soon as possible with media outlets to have
erroneous information corrected or retracted. If the media outlet will not
address the issue, corrective press releases should be quickly disseminated,
either verbally or in written form. Regular meetings with owners and managers
of media outlets during the course of a serial murder investigation may help
alleviate these issues.
• In high profile serial murder cases, the media may attempt to interact
with members of the victims’ families. Victims’ families suffer
emotionally from their loss and may interact with the media in ways that could
negatively impact the case. A victim’s family’s goals and objectives
may not correspond with those of law enforcement. This can be exacerbated when
the investigation continues for a long period of time without conclusion. Establishing
liaison with each of the victims’ families is the simplest way to counteract
this. As was discussed previously in the investigative section, a single law
enforcement officer should act as a liaison for each of the victims’ families.
Aside from the traditional liaison role, the officer also educates the family
as to the tenacious demands for information by the media and the potential
negative consequences that unauthorized releases of information bring to the
investigation.
• Law enforcement should be creative in considering non-traditional
methods of disseminating information to the public. This is particularly important
if the media is editing information disseminated by law enforcement. One suggestion
is to create an investigation web page that is updated regularly and provides
the public with unedited versions of press releases, regular updates on the
status of the investigation, and other information designed to appropriately
inform the public.
• Law enforcement should anticipate the inevitable public reaction resulting
from an announcement that the investigation involves a serial killer. Either
the media will link the cases and proclaim a serial murderer is operating,
or investigators will proactively release the information. The investigative
team should be prepared for either situation. If the media makes the announcement,
it is important for law enforcement to respond quickly, so they do not appear
unprepared or defensive. If law enforcement plans on making the announcement,
the release should be timed to gain an investigative advantage.
• There have been several serial killers who actively communicated with
the police or the media. In these cases, investigators should consult with
behavioral experts to assist with a proactive media strategy.
Media Strategy Case vignette:
The BTK case is an example of how a proactive media strategy contributed
to the capture of a serial murderer. The BTK killer first emerged in 1974
and,
over time, killed a total of ten victims. From 1974 until 1988, BTK sent a
series of five communications to the media, citizens, and the police in which
he not only named himself BTK (Bind them, Torture them, and Kill them) but
also claimed credit for killing a number of the victims. He abruptly stopped
communicating in 1988. He re-emerged in 2004 by sending a new communication
to the media. The Wichita Police Department formed a task force with the Kansas
Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, and other agencies. The FBI’s BAU-2
was contacted and provided a proactive media strategy that was utilized throughout
the case. This strategy involved using the lieutenant in charge of the investigation
to provide written press releases at critical times, which resulted in 15 press
releases during the course of the investigation. BTK provided eleven communications
to police and the media during the eleven-month investigation. The last communication
BTK sent included a computer disk, containing information that eventually identified
Dennis Rader as BTK. During Rader’s interrogation, he commented positively
on the press releases and his perceived relationship with the investigative
lieutenant who issued the press statements.
X. Issues Regarding Talking Heads in the Media
The public’s interest in serial murder cases makes serial murder an
attractive storyline for the media. To further the public’s interest
in these cases, the media uses people who are willing to speak as experts on
the topic of serial murder and more specifically, individuals willing to comment
on the current, featured case. These commentators are commonly referred to
as talking heads, and it appears that there is no shortage of people willing
to do this.
Individuals utilized by the media to comment on serial murder cases include
both experts and pseudoexperts. Experts are identified as academicians, researchers,
retired law enforcement officials, mental health professionals, and retired
law enforcement profilers who have developed specific knowledge and experience
in serial murder investigations. Pseudoexperts are self-proclaimed profilers
and others who profess to have an expertise in serial murder, when, in fact,
their experience is limited or non-existent. The media will recruit talking
heads, whether true experts or pseudoexperts, to offer their opinions on current
cases, when they have no official role in the investigation and no access to
any of the intimate facts of the case.
When individuals appear in the media and discuss ongoing cases, they have
an enormous potential to negatively influence investigations and may even cause
irreversible damage. They often speculate on the motive for the murders and
the possible characteristics of the offender. Such statements can misinform
the public and may heighten fears in a community. They may contribute to mistrust
and a lack of confidence in law enforcement and, more importantly, may taint
potential jury pools. These statements may also impact the behavior of the
serial murderer, because it is unlikely that an offender discriminates between
a talking head and a law enforcement official actively involved in the case.
When offenders are challenged by statements or derogatory comments made in
the media, they may destroy evidence, or more tragically, react violently.
Attendees of the Symposium were asked to discuss this issue and offer written
comments. The following observations were made:
• Law enforcement is strongly encouraged to continue its release of
information to the public during an investigation, in order to alert the community
to a public safety issue or to solicit assistance in the identification and/or
capture of an offender.
• There is a difference between law enforcement agencies proactively
releasing information about an ongoing case and talking heads who comment on
a case in which they have no investigative information.
• Members of the media are encouraged to closely examine the credentials
of any experts whom they are considering utilizing, to ascertain if the qualifications
and experience level they claim is accurate.
• When an expert is retained by the media, having the expert’s
qualifications listed on a public website would offer the community the opportunity
to assess the expert’s authenticity and credibility.
• Responsible, retired law enforcement officers, clinicians, academicians,
and researchers who are asked to provide statements concerning ongoing cases
should refrain from doing so, unless requested by, or with the permission of,
the agency who has jurisdictional responsibility over the case.
• Individuals who have developed an expertise in a given field recognize
that before an opinion can be rendered, complete and accurate information must
be obtained and analyzed. Therefore, it is inappropriate, even for acknowledged
experts in serial murder, to offer opinions regarding a specific case based
solely upon incomplete and potentially inaccurate information available through
the media.
If responsible professionals are requested to provide statements about ongoing
cases, the following guidelines are suggested:
• Speak in general terms only.
•
Do not comment on the particulars of the current case.
•
Do not criticize the investigative efforts.
•
Do not misrepresent one’s credentials or experience.
•
Provide information to educate the public on the issues involved in serial
murder.
It was the opinion of the experts at the Symposium that it is not possible
to regulate or officially censor comments made by talking heads during serial
murder investigations. However, a policy statement issued by law enforcement
to the media would be appropriate, and below is an example of such a statement:
The media’s role in reporting the facts of a case is a major
public service. However, providing a forum for speculative commentary can
be counter-productive
and potentially dangerous. Public comments on an active investigation with
incomplete or incorrect information are merely speculation and can seriously
jeopardize an ongoing case and place citizens at great risk. Accordingly, we
respectfully request that restraint be exercised and comments withheld until
after an arrest has been made.
Epilogue
We would once again like to recognize the individuals who attended and participated
in the Serial Murder Symposium and thank them for their contributions. These
individuals are among the world’s most knowledgeable experts on serial
murder. Many have been involved for years in the study of serial murder, and
they have collectively published dozens of books and articles on a number of
diverse topics related to serial murder. Their publications are recommended
for anyone involved in investigating, prosecuting, or studying serial murder.
Due in a large part to the efforts of the professionals who attended the Symposium,
there has been significant progress over the past few years in understanding
serial killers and the crimes they commit. However, there is still much work
to be done. Continued research in the topic areas addressed in this monograph
is vital to advancing the knowledge on this important subject.
The men and women of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit 2 look forward
to continued partnerships in the collaborative efforts to better understand,
and subsequently generate a more effective investigative response, to the serial
killers that prey upon our citizens.
Appendix A
Symposium Agenda
San Antonio, Texas August 29 - September 2, 2005
Sponsored by the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime,
Behavioral Analysis Unit – 2, Crimes Against Adults
Monday, August 29, 2005
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
SSA Mark A. Hilts, Unit Chief, NCAVC, BAU-2
SSA Stephen E. Etter, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge
NCAVC
SA Robert J. Morton, NCAVC, BAU-2
8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Panel: Serial Murder Myths, Scope, Definitions,
and Typologies
Speakers: SSA Robert J. Morton – Myths and urban legends
Dr. Eric Hickey – Terms, definitions, typologies
Dr. Tom Petee – Previous studies
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Panel: Pathology/Causality
Moderator: Dr. Gregory Saathoff
Speakers: Dr. Debra Niehoff – Biological/Neurological perspective
Dr. Robert Hare – Psychopathy
Dr. Jay Corzine – Criminological perspective
Dr. Wade Myers – Developmental perspective
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Morning Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Panel: Evaluation of Known Offenders
Moderator: SSA James J. McNamara
Speakers: Judge Ann Keary
Dr. Park Dietz
Dr. Fred Berlin
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Case
Presentation: Green River Killings
Moderator: SSA Mary Ellen O’Toole
Det. Jon Mattsen
Det. Tom Jensen
Mr. Brian McDonald, Esq.
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Afternoon Break
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Breakout Session #1
5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Breakout Team Leader Meeting
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Panel: Media’s Influence in Serial Murder
Investigation
Moderator: SSA Mary Ellen O’Toole
Speakers: Dr. Stephen Gorelick
Ms. Mary Walsh
Chief Pat Englade (retired)
Dr. Eric Hickey
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Morning Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Panel: Forensics in Serial Murder Cases
Moderator: SSA Armin A. Showalter
Speakers: Dr. Tracey Corey
Dr. John “Jack” Kenney
Dr. Lee Goff
Dr. William Rodriguez
Dr. William Haglund
SSA Douglas Deedrick (retired)
UC Thomas F. Callaghan
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Case Presentation: Health Care Serial Murder
Moderator: MCS Timothy G. Keel
Speakers: Dr. Brian Donnelly
SAC Bruce Sackman VA OIG (retired)
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Afternoon Break
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Breakout Session #2
5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Breakout Team Leader Meeting
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker – J. Stephen Tidwell
Special Agent in Charge, Critical Incident Response Group
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Panel: Prosecution of Serial Murder Cases
Moderator: SSA Mark Safarik
Ms. Barbara Corey
Mr. Anthony Savage, Esq.
Mr. Stephen Kay, Esq.
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Morning Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Case Presentation: Ghana Serial Murder Case
Moderator: SSA Gerard F. Downes
Speakers: Deputy Commissioner David Assante-Apeatu
SSA Charles K. Dorsey
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Breakout Session #3
3:00 p.m. Early Dismissal (Breakout team leaders briefly meet)
5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Research Poster Session with Refreshments & Snacks
Thursday, September 1, 2005
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Panel: Task Force and Major Case Management Issues
Moderator: MCS Kirk R. Mellecker
Speakers: Chief Cal Walker – Long term investigations
Major Gary Terry – Problem recognition
Mr. Lloyd Sigler – Major case management
Mr. Ken Farnsworth - Multi-jurisdictional issues
Mr. Jim Bell – Lead control issues
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Morning Break
10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Case Presentation: Resendez Serial Murder
Moderator: SSA David T. Resch
Speakers: SSA Alan Brantley (retired)
Mr. Charles Rosenthal, Esq.
SA Mark Young (retired)
12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Case Presentation: Lewis Lent Serial Murder
Moderator: SSA Robert J. Morton
Speakers: SSA Gerard F. Downes
Captain Frank Pace
Sr. Investigator John Shultis
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Breakout Session #4
5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Breakout Team Leader Meeting
Friday, September 2, 2005
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Summary of Findings/Closing Remarks
9:00 a.m. Checkout and Travel Home
Appendix B
Serial Murder Symposium
Working Group
Dr. Kristen R. Beyer
Research Coordinator, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Alice E. Casey
Crime Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Maureen Christian
Professor of Psychology
Marymount University
Dr. Dewey Cornell
Professor
University of Virginia
Dr. Jay Corzine
Professor and Chair of
Sociology and Anthropology
University of Central Florida
Dr. Douglas Deedrick
Supervisory Special Agent
(Retired), FBI
Forensic Science Division
Metropolitan Police Dept.
Washington, DC
Gerard F. Downes
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Pamela J. Hairfield
Management & Program
Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Robert Hare
Professor of Psychology
Darkstone Research Group
University of British Columbia,
Canada
Dr. Eric Hickey
Professor, Dept. of Criminology
California State University, Fresno
Mark A. Hilts
Unit Chief of BAU-2, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Earl James
Captain (Retired)
Michigan State Police
International Forensic
Services, Inc.
Lansing, MI
Dr. John Jarvis
Criminologist, FBI
Training & Development Division
Tom Jensen
Detective
King County Sheriff’s Office
Kent, WA
Chris Johnson
Detective
Baton Rouge Police Department
Timothy G. Keel
Major Case Specialist, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Ken Landwehr
Lieutenant
Wichita Police Department
Dr. Wayne D. Lord
Unit Chief of BAU-3, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Steven F. Malkiewicz
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
James J. McNamara
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Kirk R. Mellecker
Major Case Specialist, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Robert J. Morton
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Wade Myers
Chief of Division &
Adolescent Psychiatry
University of South Florida
Dr. Mary Ellen O’Toole
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
David T. Resch
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Gregory B. Saathoff
Associate Professor of Research
University of Virginia
School of Medicine
Mark Safarik
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Louis Schlesinger
Professor of Forensic Psychology
John Jay College of
Criminal Justice
Armin A. Showalter
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Melissa Smrz
Section Chief, FBI
Laboratory Division
Vito Spano
Chief Investigator
New York State Attorney
General’s Office
Rhonda L. Trahern
Supervisory Special Agent, ATF
CIRG, NCAVC
Calvin Walker
Chief
Spokane Valley Police Department
Spokane Valley, WA
Dr. Michael Welner
Chairman
The Forensic Panel
New York, NY
Wilma B. Wulchak
Management & Program
Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Appendix C
Symposium Attendees
Ewa-Marie Aghede
Detective Inspector
National Criminal Intelligence
Service
Stockholm, Sweden
Larry G. Ankrom
Supervisory Special Agent
(Retired), FBI
David Asante-Apeatu
Deputy Commissioner
Ghana Police Service
Accra, Ghana
James O. Beasley, II
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Jim Bell
Former Detective
Salt Lake City Police Department
Salt Lake City, Utah
Dr. Fred S. Berlin
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry &
Behavioral Sciences
Johns Hopkins University
Daniel G. Bermingham
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Camille D. Bibles
Assistant United States Attorney
District of Arizona
Steven A. Bongardt
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Alan C. Brantley
Supervisory Special Agent
(Retired), FBI
John A. Brunell
Special Agent, FBI
Little Rock Field Office
Lesley A. Buckles
Crime Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Alexander Bukhanovskiy
Professor
Roston State Medical University
Roston-on-Don, Russia
Dr. Ann Burgess
Professor
Boston College of Nursing
Alice E. Casey
Crime Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Maureen Christian
Professor of Psychology
Marymount University
Dr. Peter I. Collins
Forensic Psychiatrist
Ontario Provincial Police
Orillia, Ontario,
Canada
Mary B. Collins-Morton
Special Agent, FBI
Washington Field Office
Barbara Corey
Attorney at Law
Tacoma, WA
Dr. Tracey Corey
Chief Medical Examiner
Office of Chief Medical Examiner
Louisville, KY
Dr. Jay Corzine
Professor & Chair of Sociology
& Anthropology
University of Central Florida
Mike Crooke
Chief
Cumberland Police Department
Cumberland, IN
Leslie D’Ambrosia
Special Agent
Florida Department of
Law Enforcement
Keith Davidson
Inspector
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Surrey, British Columbia,
Canada
Dr. Harold Deadman
Supervisory Special Agent
(Retired), FBI
Dr. Douglas Deedrick
Supervisory Special Agent
(Retired), FBI
Forensic Science Division
Metropolitan Police Department
Washington, DC
Dr. Park Dietz
Park Dietz & Associates, Inc.
Newport Beach, CA
William H. Donaldson
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Brian Donnelly
Special Agent, FBI
New Haven Field Office
Charles K. Dorsey
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Gerard F. Downes
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Steven A. Egger
Professor
University of Houston
at Clearlake
Pat Englade
Chief of Police (Retired)
Baton Rouge Police Department
Stephen E. Etter
Unit Chief of BAU-1, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Kenneth Farnsworth
Chief Investigator
Utah Attorney General’s Office
Dr. Adelle E. Forth
Professor of Psychology
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada
Dr. James Alan Fox
Professor
Northeastern University
Laurie R. Gibbs
Special Agent, FBI
Dallas Field Office
Dr. M. Lee Goff
Professor of Criminal Justice
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Paul Goodman
Investigator
Colorado Attorney General Office
Dr. Stephen Gorelick
Vice President for
Institutional Advancement
The CUNY Graduate Center
Adam Gregory
Behavioral Investigative Advisor
National Crime &
Operations Facility
Bramshill Hook, Hampshire,
United Kingdom
Dr. William Haglund
Director
International Forensic Program
Shoreline, WA
Pamela J. Hairfield
Management & Program
Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Robert Hare
Professor of Psychology
University of British Columbia
Darkstone Research Group
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Robert R. (Roy) Hazelwood
Supervisory Special Agent
(Retired), FBI
John J. Hess
Assistant Special Agent in
Charge, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Eric Hickey
Professor
Department of Criminology
California State University, Fresno
Mark A. Hilts
Unit Chief of BAU-2, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Tia A. Hoffer
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Alexander Horn
Kriminalhauptkommissar
OFA Bayern
Munich City Police Department
Munich, Germany
Dr. Lin Huff-Corzine
Professor
University of Central Florida
Kris Illingsworth
Detective Sergeant
New Wales Police Headquarters
Parramatta, New South Wales,
Australia
Rick Jackson
Detective
Los Angeles Police Department
Dr. Earl James
Captain (Retired), Michigan
State Police
International Forensic
Services, Inc.
Lansing, MI
Dr. John P. Jarvis
Criminologist, FBI
Training Division
Rick Jenkins
Captain, Division Commander
Virginia State Police
Culpeper, VA
Tom Jensen
Detective
King County Sheriff’s Office
Kent, WA
Leonard G. Johns
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Chris Johnson
Detective
Baton Rouge Police Department
Stephen Kay
Deputy District Attorney
Los Angeles County District
Attorney’s Office
The Honorable Ann Keary
Judge
Washington, DC Superior Court
Timothy G. Keel
Major Case Specialist, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. John Kenney
Forensic Odontologist
DuPage County Coroner’s Office
Park Ridge, IL
Robert H. Kosky, Jr.
Unit Chief of BAU-3, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Gretchen Witte Kraemer
Assistant Attorney General
State of Iowa
Dr. Gerard Labuschagne
Commander
South Africa Police Service
Pretoria, South Africa
Ken Landwehr
Lieutenant
Wichita Police Department
Jennifer A. Leonard
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
FBIHQ, Washington, DC
Marianna Leshinskie
Interpreter, FBI
New York Field Office
Dr. Jack Levin
Professor of Criminal Justice
Northeastern University
Robert G. Lowery, Jr.
Commander
Greater St. Louis Major
Case Squad
Dr. Carl Malmquist
Professor
University of Minnesota
Colonel Rick Malone, M.D.
Chief of Forensic Psychiatry
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
R. Stephen Mardigian
Supervisory Special Agent
(Retired), FBI
John Martin
Sergeant
Texas Rangers
San Antonio, Texas
Jon Mattsen
Detective
King County Sheriff’s Office
Kent, WA
Brian M. McDonald
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
King County
Seattle, WA
James J. McNamara
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Michael Medaris
Senior Policy Advisor
U.S. Department of Justice
Kirk R. Mellecker
Major Case Specialist, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. J. Reid Meloy
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
University of California,
San Diego
Frank Merriman
Lieutenant (Retired)
Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department,
Homicide Bureau
Thomas Monahan
Lieutenant
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police
Department
Paul Morrison
District Attorney
District Attorney’s Office
Olathe, KS
Robert J. Morton
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Wade Myers
Chief of Division of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry
University of South Florida
Mike Napier
Supervisory Special Agent
(Retired), FBI
Thomas M. Neer
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Debra Niehoff
Neurobiologist
Biotext
Newtown, PA
Dr. Mary Ellen O’Toole
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Frank Pace
Captain
New York State Police
Loudonville, NY
John Perry
Special Agent
Virginia State Police
Roanoke, VA
Dr. Tom Petee
Professor
Auburn University
Pat Postiglione
Sergeant
Nashville Metropolitan Police
Department
Patricia Prezioso
Assistant Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
Trenton, NJ
Mark W. Prothero
Attorney at Law
Hanis Greaney Law, PLLC
Kent, WA
Dr. John T. Rago
Professor of Law
Duquesne University
Lee Rainbow
Senior Behavioural
Investigative Advisor
National Crime &
Operations Faculty
Bramshill Hook, Hampshire,
United Kingdom
David T. Resch
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. D. Kim Rossmo
Department of Criminal Justice
Texas State University
Dr. Gregory B. Saathoff
Associate Professor of Research
University of Virginia,
School of Medicine
Bruce Sachman
Special Agent in Charge (Retired), OIG
Veteran’s Administration
New York, NY
Mark Safarik
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Gabreille Salfati
Professor
John Jay College of
Criminal Justice
Christina Schaub
Crime Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Carlo Schippers
Captain
Dutch National Police Agency
The Netherlands
Dr. Louis Schlesinger
Professor of Forensic Psychology
John Jay College of
Criminal Justice
Armin A. Showalter
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
John H. Shultis
Senior Investigator
New York State Police Latham, NY
Lloyd Sigler
Supervisory Special Agent
(Retired), FBI
Howard Smith
Sheriff
Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s
Office
Spotsylvania, VA
Melissa Smrz
Section Chief, FBI
Laboratory Division
Vito Spano
Chief Investigator
New York State Attorney
General’s Office
Faye Springer
Senior Criminalist
Sacramento County Forensic
Services Laboratory
Jayne M. Stairs
Crime Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Suzanne D. Stiltner
Crime Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Dr. Michael Stone
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Columbia University
Dirk Tarpley
Special Agent, FBI
Kansas City Field Office
Ron Thill
Investigator
San Diego County District
Attorney’s Office
Melissa L. Thomas
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Roger Thomson
Sergeant
Montgomery County Police
Department
Rockville, MD
Rhonda L. Trahern
Supervisory Special Agent, ATF
CIRG, NCAVC
Ronald Tunkel
Supervisory Special Agent, ATF
CIRG, NCAVC
James Van Allen
Detective Sergeant
Ontario Provincial Police
Orillia, Ontario
Eva von Vogelsang
Detective Inspector
National Criminal Intelligence
Department
Stockholm, Sweden
Calvin Walker
Chief
Spokane Valley Police Department
Spokane Valley, WA
Mary E. Walsh
Producer
CBS News
Washington, DC
Dr. Michael Welner
Chairman
The Forensic Panel
New York, NY
Arthur E. Westveer, Jr.
Assistant Professor
Virginia Commonwealth University
Jeannine Willie
Assistant Manager
California Department of Justice
Missing Persons DNA Program
Sacramento, CA
Glenn Woods
Superintendent
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Wilma B. Wulchak
Management and Program
Analyst, FBI
CIRG, NCAVC
Mark Young
Special Agent (Retired), FBI