Criminal Profiling Part Two

Written by Katherine Steck-Flynn

Wednesday, 28 October 2009 15:51 -

This part two of a series dealing with criminal profiling and serial murder. This is a vast and ever
changing field of forensic science. In this issue I hope to introduce you to the beginning of the
FBI's profiling system and how it is used to catch killers. Next month issue will be an
examination of some famous cases which will illustrate how these methods apply to real life
situations.

In 1972 the BSU (Behavioral Science Unit) of the FBI was formed. Special agents Teten and
Mullany continued to lecture on profiling techniques. Due to the extremely heavy caseload
under which they were working several new instructors where added to the unit. New members
included Robert Ressler, Roy Hazelwood and Dick Ault.  Several years later John Douglas
would also be added to the team (Innes, 2002)

In 1973 a young girl was abducted and killed while on a camping trip with her family in Montana.
The FBI was able to provide a profile of the killer. They also predicted that the killer would try
and contact the girl's parents. One year after the girl's death her mother received a call from a
man claiming to have taken the girl to Europe. The Mother of the girl acted toward the caller
with compassion and forgiveness. This caused the caller to break down and cry. Unfortunately
the recording of the conversation the mother had made was not enough for a search warrant of
the main suspect's home.

The FBI profiler, special agent Mullany, arranged for a meeting between the suspect and the
parents of the girl hoping to unnerve the suspect. Although the suspect remained calm at the
meeting a second phone call to the girl's parents was received shortly after the meeting. This
time the mother recognized the suspect's voice and called him by name. Her identification of his
voice led to a search warrant and subsequent recover of her daughter's remains and the
remains of another missing woman (Innes, 2002) (Ressler, 1985). Gradually the profilers at the
FBI where gaining success with their profiling methods.

In 1978 the city of Sacramento experienced the most bizarre and gruesome set of murders
since Jack the Ripper himself. A young man known for his bizarre behavior who had been
recently released from a psychiatric care facility strolled through a residential neighborhood
looking for a victim. He entered a home where he found a young pregnant woman. When the
woman's husband arrived home he found his wife dead. She had been horribly mutilated by
being disemboweled and some of her body parts were missing. There was evidence at the
scene that the killer had used an empty yogurt cup to drink some of the woman's blood (Innes,
2002)(Ressler, 1985).

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Criminal Profiling Part Two

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Robert Ressler provided a preliminary profile of the killer. The following is his preliminary profile:

"White male aged 25-27, thin, undernourished appearance. Residence will be extremely
slovenly and unkempt and evidence of the crime will be found at the residence. History of
mental illness and will have been involved in the use of drugs. Will be a loner who does not
associate with either females or males and will probably spend a great deal of time in his own
home where he lives alone. Unemployed. Possibly receives some sort of disability money. If
residing with anyone it will be with his parents however, this is unlikely. No prior military record,
High school or College drop out. Probably suffering from one or more forms of paranoid
psychosis" Ressler also thought that if the killer owned a car it would be a wreck. He also
thought the killer walked to and from the crime scene and had been recently released from
psychiatric care.

Shortly after the first profile was completed a 38 year old woman, her 6 year old son and a 51
year old male family friend where found dead all shot with a 22 caliber gun. The woman had
been mutilated. Her intestines had been removed and the evidence that the killer tried to
remove one of her eyes. A large amount of semen was found in her rectum. There was
evidence that the killer had used a cup to collect blood from the abdomen. There was evidence
that the killer had defecated in the house. The 20 month old nephew of the deceased woman,
who she had been babysitting, was missing. The killer had escaped in the woman's car which
was subsequently found nearby.

Ressler then added to the original profile saying that the killer lived alone with in a half mile of
the crime scene. He also said that the killer had probably started out committing burglaries
where fetish items where taken. These burglaries would have occurred in the same
neighborhood as the murders. The items taken would have been things like women's
undergarments and shoes.

In a desperate search for the missing baby police began to interview people in the areas around
the crime scene and the recovered vehicle. They where fortunate to find a woman who had
seen a man she had gone to school with. He had been disheveled with blood on his shirt and
was extremely thin.

The police staked out the man's house and when he emerged carrying a box of bloody rags he

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Criminal Profiling Part Two

Written by Katherine Steck-Flynn

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was arrested.

Two months after the killer's arrest the baby was found in a cardboard box in a nearby church
parking lot. The baby had been decapitated and the head lay under the torso. The car keys of
the 51 year old male victim were found in the box with the baby.

The killer's vehicle was a dozen years old and filthy inside. The floor was covered in food
wrappers and cans. A pair of bloody boots and a butcher's knife was also in the vehicle. His
residence was covered in blood including the dishes and cups. Inside the refrigerator there were
body parts. Three food processors, all with blood in them, were found in the kitchen. A container
with brain matter in it was also in the refrigerator.

Robert Ressler's profile of the killer had turned out to be extremely accurate. The accuracy of
the profile helped the police narrow down their search and eventually to capture the right
person.

The killer was in his early twenties. He had a long history of mental illness and had recently
been released from institutional psychiatric care. He was a heavy drug user. His parents had
failed to recognize the seriousness of his behavior and had continually bailed him out. He had
killed and disemboweled animals starting in early childhood.

It was this case which made Robert Ressler decide that he wanted to interview the killers
themselves in an attempt to delve into how there minds work.

Joined by John Douglas they interviewed seven of the countries most notorious serial killers.
These interviews were originally unauthorized by the F.B.I. and both men faced a disciplinary
hearing. Eventually they were granted permission to continue the interviews and a research
project was developed which utilized interviews with family members, doctors, caseworkers and
the killers themselves.

By 1980 the rate of unsolved homicide had more than doubled in the U.S. compared to the
1950's. The F.B.I. estimated that at any given time there were 35 or more serial killers operating

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in the U.S. (Innes,2003).

In Canada statistics were not available until the mid nineties when a new tracking system called
ViCLAS was developed based on the American VICAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension
Program). By 1997 ViCLAS had been in place for several years and it was apparent that a large
number of serial offenders were committing offenses in Canada.

Statistics regarding sexual homicide are somewhat unreliable for several reasons. First, the
crime may be reported as a homicide but not as a sexual assault. Second, the investigators not
recognize the sexual nature of what seems to be an ordinary murder. Third, those who are
responsible for assessing an offender may not report that the crime was sexual in nature.
Finally, investigators may not recognize evidence as sexual if it is unconventional (Burgess,
Hartman et. al. 1986).

In 1980 a task force on violent crime was formed in the U.S. to try to develop solution to the rise
in violent crime. The 35 or so serial killers operating in the U.S. were leaving 5000 victims a
year in their wake. The task force needed to develop a system of tracking patterns of offences
across the various states. By tracking the details of the crimes and creating a system of
classification patterns could be more easily identified. Eventually the VICAP system was
proposed and research began. The ViCAP reporting form is a series of 182 questions which are
filled out by the investigating officer in cases of violent crime. Its purpose is to allow
classification of the type and nature of a crime.

The project was approved and became incorporated with the Behavioral Science Unit at
Quantico. Robert Ressler and the other profilers would oversee the program. It became known
as the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime.

Classification of the Crime

One of the things the American(VICAP) and Canadian (ViCLAS) reporting systems are
designed to do is to provide enough detailed information so that the crime can be classified. The
first basic division is to categorize the homicide as either sexual or non-sexual or unknown.
Classifying a homicide as sexual is not as easily done as one might assume. There are often
elements to a sexual homicide which to the average person would not seem to be sexual in
nature. Dismemberment and decapitation are not behaviors which one thinks of as sexual. To
the serial killer who exhibits these behaviors that is exactly what they are. One killer of young
female college students, who's intelligence impressed both Robert Ressler and John Douglas

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Criminal Profiling Part Two

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during interviews, commented on how he really "got off' on the popping sound that occurred
when he removed(forcefully) his victims heads from their bodies(Ressler,1986).

Other sign of a sexual homicide having occurred are more obvious. The presence of saliva or
semen, positioning of the body, mutilation of the sexual organs and the removal of clothing or
jewelry are some but not all of the indicators that a sexual homicide has occurred. Another sign
is the consistent occurrence of similar details of the crime scene at different crime scenes. A
woolen sock found on a bedpost at three or four murder sites is an indication of ritual behavior
and may be sexual in nature.

Classification of the Crime Scene

There are several basic classifications of a crime scene. The crime scene can be classified as
either, organized, disorganized or mixed. As with any classification system there are
acceptations to every rule.

Organized crime scenes tend to be just that. The killer will often bring the tools he needs such
as a weapon or rope with him and carry them away after the murder. There is little evidence left
at the scene. There will be evidence that the killer kept the victim alive for a period of time
usually with the use of restraints. Aggressive behavior and sexual assault occur before the
victim is killed. The body will be removed and hidden to avoid detection.

Disorganized crime scenes are messy and random in appearance. The crimes are unplanned.
The weapons used are often from the crime scene. The victim and/or the location are familiar to
the killer. Little attempt will have been made to restrain the victim. The victim will have been
assaulted suddenly in a blitz style attack. The body and weapons will be left at the scene.

Classification of the Killer

Killers are classified as organized, disorganized or mixed.

The organized killer is of above average intelligence and is socially and sexually competent. His
father work history was stable but discipline from either parent was inconsistent. He tends to be
of high birth order. He usually is married or lives with partner. He will work at jobs below his skill
level and his work history will be sporadic. His crimes will have been triggered by stress. He has

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a vehicle in good condition. He uses alcohol. During his crimes his mood is controlled. He
follows the news media coverage of his crimes.

Disorganized killers tend to be of below average intelligence and work at unskilled labor if they
work at all. They are socially and sexually incompetent and tend to live alone. The father's work
history was unstable and the killer was harshly disciplined as a child. Does not use alcohol
during crime. Is of lower birth order. The killer lives or works near the crime scene. After the
crime there will be a significant change in his behavior. He does not follow news coverage of his
crimes.

Serial Sexual Homicide

These types of crimes are ones in which the motive is difficult to predict. These crimes also
appear outwardly to be random. Although the victim and the killer may not know each other the
choice of victim is rarely random for the killer. Motive in these types of offenses is really only
known to the killer and is usually based upon personal fantasies and desires. The victim is
chosen because he or she represents an opportunity to fulfill the needs and desires of the killer.
Victims are targeted because they possess a characteristic which satisfies part of the killer's
inner sexual fantasies (Ressler, 1985).

The availability and ease with which a killer can get access to a victim is a common factor in the
choice of victim. Prostitutes often become victims because of the ease with which a killer can
lure them into a vehicle. Victims for the most part are those who can be easily mentally or
physically overpowered such as children, young adults and women. Adult males are rarely
victims of sexual homicide.

A basic premise of profiling is that the way a person thinks affects the way they act. Therefore
when a crime scene is analyzed evidence of certain behaviors can indicate what type of person
committed that crime. The point of VICAP and ViCLAS is to record a crime scene and details
about the victim in enough detail that analysts can start to recognize patterns. If three victims
can be linked to one killer there is three times the amount of evidence both physical and
behavioral to work with.

Generating a Profile

A model for generating a profile consists of five main stages plus two additional stages where
new evidence incorporated and the profile is modified or confirmed.

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The first stage is where all of the crime scene evidence is taken into consideration. The profile
of the victim is incorporated as evidence. All of the forensic evidence such as autopsy reports
and lab results are considered. As well the preliminary police reports and crime scene
photographs are studied.

The second stage is one in which the type of crime, levels of risk victim and killer, the primary
intent and the location are studied.

In the third stage the crime is reconstructed. The type of crime is assessed. For example, is the
crime classified as organized or disorganized. Whether the scene was staged is also taken into
consideration. The level of control of the victim is assessed and possible motive is considered.

Once the first three stages are complete a profile of the killer can be generated. A profile will
include Age, sex, physical characteristics, pre and post offence behavior, habits and possible
location. Finally recommendations regarding the investigation will be made. These
recommendations can be things such publishing or otherwise broadcasting information about a
particular case or how best to interview a suspect when he is caught (Douglas, Ressler,
Burgess and Hartman, 1986).

Stage five is the culmination of the investigation which when all goes well leads to stage six
which is the arrest of a suspect (Douglas, Ressler, Burgess and Hartman, 1986).

Motive for Sexual Homicide

MacCulloch (1983) suggests that sadistic acts are driven by fantasy. This seems to make
sense. Certainly if a person did not fantasize about some act they would not do it. I have never
fantasized about jumping out of a perfectly good airplane and therefore will never skydive. For
the serial killer the fantasy is their life and the two realities become blurred. In fact, Burgess
(1986) suggests that for a serial killer their fantasy life is more real and more satisfying than
reality.

In a study by Burgess, Douglas, Ressler et. al. which began in 1978 and ran until 1985 thirty six
murderers where studied. Extensive research into their backgrounds and lengthy interviews with

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the killers where conducted. A large majority of the men interviewed reported having sexualized
aggressive fantasies for an early age. They also reported a high degree of compulsive
autoerotic behavior (82%), chronic isolation (71%) and chronic lying (71%). Many of the
subjects in the study reported early development of sexual fetishes such as the attraction to
women's underwear or high heeled shoes. Later they incorporated these items into a sadistic
fantasy which culminated in murder.

MacCulloch(1983) says that early fantasies of a sadistic/sexual nature can be observed in

certain behaviors in children Cruelty to animals and other children is thought to be a good
indicator of aggressive fantasies in children. Self mutilation and self inflicted pain are other
indicators of early fantasies involving pain.

Burgess (1986) suggests a motivational model for sexual homicide which consists of five parts.
The first is a social environment which is ineffective in preparing a child for social interaction.
Bonding is essential for healthy development of a child's of self worth and social confidence. If a
child is unable to develop bonds with caregivers he grows into an adult with no social
attachment. The approval of society no longer matters in the regulation of his behavior. Early
criminal behavior in these children may be ignored or excused by the ineffective caregiver.

Second, formative events such a physical/sexual abuse or the witnessing of extreme acts of
violence can cause the child to retreat into his own fantasy world. Developmental failure where
bonding is absent results in a child with inappropriate responses to praise and punishment.

Third is the situation where the child fails to develop essential social skills which allow social
interaction. This child relies increasingly on fantasy life than on reality. In the murderers studied
by Burgess et. al. (1986) all reported extremely high senses of isolation, preference for fantasy
and autoerotic activities, fetishes, rebellion, aggression and a sense of entitlement(Burgess,
Ressler, Douglas et.al., 1986).

In the murderers studied by Burgess et.al. (1986) repetitive patterns of thinking in areas related
to social skills. The murderers lacked the ability to develop socially leading to antisocial
behaviors. The patterns of thinking which are know as cognitive mapping were impaired in the
study group. In the category of cognitive mapping is a condition called neurohormonal
responses. This is a physiological response to violent fantasies which produce an opiate like
chemical in the brain. These chemicals produce a sense of stress relief, pleasure and well being
(Burgess et.al., 1986).

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Fourth, is how the actions of the child lead to further isolation. Common behaviors among the
murderers studied by Burgess et. al. (1986) were abuse of other children and animals, negative
play patterns, disregard for others, fire setting, stealing and destruction of property. These
behaviors compound the sense of isolation for the child. Without the necessary social and
behavioral skills to correct the causes of the isolation the child ceases to be influenced by social
disapproval.

Finally, the last stage in the motivational model is a feedback loop in which the killer's fantasies
are reinforced. The more refined the fantasies become the more of a sense of power and
control over the external environment the killer has. Eventually all or some of the factors mesh
to create a super hunter whose single source of pleasure is to inflict pain and death. They are
drive by their fantasies and desires to bring these fantasies to reality. By the time they are
entering the teenaged years their fantasies are ingrained in their psyche. Any adult would agree
that it would be impossible to change their sexual orientation. So it is with serial killers. They will
never change. Many have been incarcerated at least once before they learn how not to get
caught. Once they are caught they can never be let out. They are out there evolving learning to
be better hunters.

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