Midterm 3 / Final Exam Flashcards
(215 cards)
1
Q
1866 Richard von Krafft-ebing found characteristics that serial homicide killer use, what are they?
A
Lie and manipulate Take souvenirs from the crime scene Use ligatures Prolong torture for increase sexual arousal and pleasure Engage in an escalation of sadistic behaviuour Use pronopgraphy Humuliate and degrade victims Carefully plan to avoid detection
2
Q
Signature aspects of the crime
A
killer’s idiosyncratic touches on the crime scene that reflect their personality and psychopathology
(This is used as a key datum in modern criminal profiling)
3
Q
By the 1980’s the FBI counted about ____ serial killers in the US, a more recent study has estimated between ___ to ____, accounting for 2000-3500 murders a year. With the world’s population, USA has roughly 75% of the serial killers in the world
A
35
200-500
(New reaserch shows 30 active serial murderers)
4
Q
The case clearance rate is so low for serial killers, unless the murderer _____ or are apprehended
A
dies (The easiest crime to get away with)
5
Q
anthropophagy
A
eating of humans (human flesh)
6
Q
Surveys have shown that the public puts their fear of serial killers ____, only to the fear of terrorism which is first
A
2nd
7
Q
Serial Murder (FBI definition)
A
Those who, either alone or with an accomplice, kill at least three people over a period of time, with “cooling off” periods between the murders, indicating premeditation of each killing
8
Q
Serial murderers vs mass murderes
A
Mass murderers: Kill multiple victims in a single incident, and whose fantasies tend to involve revenge against actual or imagined persecutors. Typical goal is to kill as many victims as possible, quickly, efficiently, and at once, using the highest level of lethal technology available to do the most damage (Handguns, assault weapons, explosives or arson)
Serial murderers: slow and close up torture and murder activites, involve low tech weapons that gouge, flay, or strangle,
often kill themselves
9
Q
The typical serial murderer
A
White male in his 20’s to 40’s
(Older cases are seen, especially for those who have escaped detection)
Individual is a loner, although many are married or live in stable relationships
Appears to be intelligent and charming, and may move jobs or houses frequently
10
Q
Many serial killers, when apprehended, are found to have ________, studies have shown that more than half have a past criminal history, and few have shown a lifelong, often escalating, pattern of antisocal and criminal behaviour
A
No prior criminal record
11
Q
What frequent association appears between serial homicide
A
Burglary and Rape (These crimes involve the willful violation of another persons intimate self, either their home or their physical body
12
Q
The typical victim for serial murder
A
Female, white, and young adults
Same sex murders are not uncommon, and some target children
13
Q
Serial sexual homicides are ____ as likely as other homicides to involve strangers
A
twice
14
Q
Trophies from kills
A
Range from articles of jewlery or clothing to internal organs or other body parts
15
Q
Necrohphilia
A
Sex with a dead body
16
Q
Renfield’s syndrome (Clinical Vampirism)
A
Killer feels a compulsion to drink the victims blood
Some believe by drinking the blood or eating the flesh of the person you slain gives the deads power to you
17
Q
Characteristic signature
A
May include patterns of attack, forms of bondage and torture, type of killing, postmortem body positioning, dress or undress, postmortem mutilation or dismemberment, and trophy taking
18
Q
Paraphilias
A
fetishism: sexual preoccupation with bodyparts, inanimate objects, or bizarre activities
transvestism: dressingin the opposite sex’s clothing
exhibitionism: public sexual displays
voyeurism: surreptitious watching of others’ sexual activity
enucleation: gouging out of the eyes
19
Q
Deitz typology
A
Divides multiple murderers into 5 categories
1) Psychopathic sexual Sadists
2) Crime spree killers
3) Organized crime functionaries
4) Custodial killers
5) Psychotic Killers
20
Q
Psychopathic sexual Sadists (lust murderer / erotophonophilia)
A
Kill for sheer pleasure of torturing and murdering their victims in a sexual way (ted bundy, John WAyne gacy)
21
Q
Crime spree killers
A
embark on one or more jaunts of murder, usually in association with other crimes (Robbery) but they also derive thrill from the power and oppertunity to flaunt authority that their acts entail (Bonnie and Clyde)
22
Q
Organized crime functionaries
A
consist of professional or semiproffessional “hit men”, individuals who kill primarily for money
certainly enjoy a sense of power and control (Political assassins, rival gang killings)
23
Q
Custodial killers
A
Murder Vulnerable victims who are supposed to be in their care
“Angel of Death” cases (Highest female serial killer count)
24
Q
Psychotic Killers
A
Murder under the influence of some forms of delusion, defending themselves against malevolent pursuers (persecutory delusion) or receiving a divine command to rid the world of certain types of people (grandiose delusion).
25
Holmes Typology
1) Spatial mobility killers
2) Visionary serial killer
3) Mission serial killer.
4) Comfort-orientated serial killer
5) Hedonistic serial killer
6) Power / control serial killer
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Spatial mobility killers
This typology maintains a clinical and forensic distinction between geographically stable serial murderers who live in one area and kill in that same or a nearby area, and geographically transient murderers who travel to other locales to commit their crimes.
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Visionary serial killer
This type of killer is induced to murder by delusions and/or command hallucinations which impel him to act. His victims are typically strangers, and his psychotic state at the time of his crimes sometimes results in the invocation of an insanity defense. This type appears closest to one variety of Dietz's psychotic killer
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Mission serial killer.
This may represent another type of Dietz's psychotic killer, who is following a religious or political imperative to eradicate a certain group of people. In the Holmes classification,the mission killer need not be grossly psychotic, but simply affected by what would be described as a delusional disorder in DSM-5, ),or he may have no diagnosable mental disorder at all and may simply be acting on an extreme ideological belief that it is necessary to eliminate some identifiable class of“bad”people.
29
Comfort-oriented serial killer
This killer's motive for murder contains at least some utilitarian purpose. It may include the hired assassin who kills purely for profit or the individual who murders family members for financial gain, in which case the profit motive may be admixed with feelings of hatred and revenge.
30
Hedonistic serial killer.
This is the type of serial murderer who derives sexual pleasure from the act of killing, which is usually prolonged and contains acts of mutilation, torture, dismemberment, and/or necrophilia. This is probably closest to Dietz's psychopathic sexualsadist, as well as to the classic description of the serial sexual homicide perpetrator.
31
Power/control serial killer
Similar to the above type, this murderer derives pleasure from the prolonged torture and killing of another human being, but here the emphasis is more on the control and domination aspects of the killing than the sexual component perse. Of course, there is likely to be a great deal of overlap between these two categories.
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A study looking at the Holmes Serial Murder Typologies found that:
They found limited support for aspects of the lust, thrill, and mission serial killer categories,and features of the power/control serial killer were found to generalize to serial killers as a whole, rather than forming a distinct type. The findings suggested that more attention should be paid to styles of inter-actions with victims, such as use of restraints, torture, mutilation and theft of property, rather than just inferring the motivations of individual offenders.
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Rappaport typology
Five types of Serial Killers:
1) Spree Killers
2) Functionaries of organized criminality
3) Custodial killers
4) Psychotic killers
5) Sexually sadistic killers
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Spree Killers
kill a series of victims during a continuous span of mur-der and are basically similar to Dietz's and others' descriptions of the crime spree killer.
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Functionaries of organized criminality
are the contact killers, assas-sins, and hit men familiar from previous descriptions.
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Custodial killers
medical personnel, foster parents of disabled children, or other caretakers who poison or asphyxiate victims for financial gain, revenge, ideology, or twisted altruism (“angels of mercy/angels of death”).
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Psychotic killers
murder under the influence of delusions and/orhallucinations, familiar from above descriptions.
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Sexually sadistic killers
are murderers who derive sexual pleasure through inflicting pain on their victims, which describes both Dietz's psychopathic sexual sadist and Holmes' hedonistic serial killer.
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Sewall and colleagues typology
1) Competitively disadvantaged offenders
2) Psychopathic offenders
3) Sadistic offender
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Competitively disadvantaged offenders
These are life-long offenders whose criminal careers begin early,often in childhood or adolescence, and involve numerous and sundry crimes, ranging from petty theft to sexual assault and murder. They frequently are developmentally and cognitively impaired, socially dis-advantaged, and lead a marginalized, criminal lifestyle. They would probably correspond to the definition of antisocial personality disorder described in DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5. When it occurs,sexual homicide is characterized by an impulsive, angry sexual attack,often in response to sexual rejection, and may begin as an attemptedsexual assault that then escalates to murder.
41
Psychopathic offenders
These offenders also begin their variegated criminal careers early,but they are more neurodevelopmentally intact and able to maintain relatively stable lifestyles coexisting with their criminality. Cold and re-morseless, their crimes are likely to involve far more cunning and con-ning than the previous type, and they would probably correspond tothe classic psychopath in criminological literature. Their primary motivation is the quest for thrills andexcitement, which they obtain by manipulating, exploiting, and domi-nating other people. At times, this may include various forms of sexuallysadistic behavior, but deliberate murder is likely to be the exceptionand, again, may occur in response to sexual rejection or in the courseof a sadistic sexual act that gets out of hand.
42
Sadistic offender
For this perpetrator, preoccupation with sexual torture and murder has become a lifestyle, at first nurtured by fantasies and pornography,later perhaps practiced on animals, and finally expressed in acts against human beings. Intriguingly, this individual may have little or no criminal history beyond his sexual homicides, and he is also likely to possess the controlled predation characteristics of the psychopath, here focused exclusively and intently on his pursuit of gratification through sexual domination, torture, and murder.
43
Serial killer typologies: conceptual commonalities
These appear to boil down to a basic set of common serial or multiple murderer subtypes:
1) Sexual sadists
2) Delusional killers
3) Custodial killers
4) Utilitarian killers
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Sexual sadists
who kill for the intense pleasure derived from the domination, control, torture, humiliation, and murder of another human being.
45
Delusional killers
who are on a mission, either frankly psychotic or more ideologically-driven, to rid the world of persons they consider undesirable.
46
Custodial killers
who murder helpless or dependent persons under their care. Note that this group may overlap with the above, e.g.the health care worker who believes that society should not waste resources on sick or disabled people or that God has commanded that it would be more merciful to put them out of their misery.
47
Utilitarian killers
whose motive at least partly involves some practical financial or other material gain, although the motive may be mixed with anger or revenge, as in the aggrieved spouse who wants to put a final end to the wrangling over a bitter divorce.
48
Organized–disorganized dichotomy
Probably, the best-known, and increasingly controversial, classification scheme of serial killers is the one developed by the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit (BSU), which divides serial killers into organized vs. disorganized subtypes
1) Organized
2) Disorganized
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Organized serial killer
This perpetrator is above average in intelligence and considers him-self superior to other people. He is meticulous in most aspects of his lifeand takes great care with personal appearance, grooming, and belong-ings. His crime is well thought out and carefully planned. The crime isusually committed away from his area of residence or work and he isquite mobile, often travelinglongdistances to commit his crimes. Fanta-sy and ritual are important to the organized killer, and he typicallyselects a stranger whom he considers the“right”type of victim interms of age, physical appearance, behavior, and other qualities. Thekiller often carries a carefully prepared“torture kit”containing his pre-ferred implements of bondage and mutilation. He may follow and stalkthis victim for hours or days, and he may take great pride in verballymanipulating his target into a position of vulnerability. His captureand control of the victim are calculated to afford him maximumpower over his hapless prey. Alcohol is often used during the murder.He often takes a souvenir or trophy from his victim that he maylater use to relive the event or enhance his fantasies surrounding thekilling.
The organized serial killer is often familiar with police procedures and takes great pride in thwarting investigations and taunting law enforcement officials by the careful placement or concealment of evi-dence. In some cases, he is currently or has formerly worked in somebranch of law enforcement or security, or aspired to do so. He may bea“student”of previous or contemporaneous serial killers, reading upon their exploits and even corresponding with them in prison. He typically learns from each of his own crimes and becomes increasingly sophisticated in his predatory and elusive tactics. Although casual observers may describe some serial killers as solitary and strange in their daily behavior, just as commonly he may appear normal and a“regular guy”to coworkers, family, and neighbors.
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Disorganized serial killer
This killer is average or below average in intelligence. He is often a loner and a recluse. He is typically an underachiever, feels sexuallyand interpersonally inadequate,has a poor self-image, and is considered“weird”or“creepy”by acquaintances. He typically engages in such sex-ual activities as voyeurism, exhibitionism, lingerie thefts, and fetish burglaries, and uses sadistic and fetishistic fantasy and pornography inautoerotic activities. He is less careful about planning, and his crime scenes typically display more haphazard behavior. The violent offense is more impulsive and spontaneous, and the victim is often a target of opportunity. The disorganized killer's crimes lack the manipulation and cunning of the organized killer, and typically consist of“blitzattacks”that are intended to silence the victim quickly through bluntforce trauma, following which, death usually follows quickly. Some attacks may be characterized by overkill, with multiple stabs andblows. Postmortem activities with the corpse may include biting, exploratory dissection, mutilation, insertion of foreign objects, or mastur-bation onto the body, and there may or may not be actual penilepenetration of the body. As the name implies, the crime scene is sloppyand disorganized, with minimal effort to conceal the evidence. Trophiesare less frequently taken, but there may be a secondary robbery ofopportunity.
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Mixed
a serial killer with organized and disorganized parts
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The organized / disorganized system should be a continuum rather than one or the other
True dat young bass
53
Sadist–masochist serial killers
For a subset of serial killers, sadism is suffused with masochism, and these individuals derive pleasure from both giving and receiving pain, often engaging in acts of self-mutilation, genital self-torture, orautoerotic asphyxiation(choking oneself almost to the point of unconsciousness during masturbation)
54
Theories to explain the orgins of the sadist-masochist serial offenders
1) identification with an earlier parental figure who has been both an aggressor and a victim
2) being raised by a sexually provocative and punitive moth
3) becoming a“substitute victim”to vicariously experience the victims' pain, so as to heighten theoffender's enjoyment of inflicting further pain (“Wow—if this is whatit feels like, she must really be suffering...”)(
4) thegrandiose sadism theory, in which the serial offender assumes the veryidentity of the victim by such actions as wearing her clothes, using herscalp as a wig, or even donning her skin as a jacket or shawl in orderto extend his control over the victim beyond her death
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Female serial killers
| Male vs Female serial killers
As with violent crimes generally, male serial killers far outnumber female serial killers;however, over the past two centuries, about 15 per-cent of multiple homicide offenders have been women
Male: Compulsive rage and / or predatory lust, use brute force, more likely to shoot, stab, strangle, or buledgon their victims, who are typically strangers
Women: Monetary gain or histrionic attention seeking, start around age 30, more likely to use poison as a lethal tool and kill people they know (Family members and spouses)
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Female serial killer typology
1) Visionary serial killers
2) Comfort-oriented serial killers
3) Power-seeking serial killers
4) Hedonistic serial killers:
5) Disciple serial killers
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Visionary serial killers
women who murder in response to delusional beliefs and/or hallucinated voices or visions. These women often suffer from a severe psychotic illness or mood disorder.
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Comfort-oriented serial killers
women who murder for financial or material gain. These are the“black widows”who may be highly mo-bile and skilled at changing their identities to lure unsuspecting victims in diverse locations over time, thereby racking up a string of wealthy (and soon to be deceased) husbands, before being apprehended.
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Power-seeking serial killers
females who kill for the thrill and power gained through having full control over life and death of the victim.These include the“angel of death”cases that occur in health care facilities, although the killer may also target disabled family members, in which case the motive may be intertwined with material gain.
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Hedonistic serial killers:
women who kill for sexual gratification. Un-like for men, this is typically rare as a primary motive in female serial killers. However, many of these women may derive gratification through their association with a male serial killer
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Disciple serial killers
women who kill under the command of a charismatic leader. Also rare, this may occur in a religious cult,more commonly out of personal allegiance to a charismatic male.The women who participated in the Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969 were under the thrall of Charles Manson, who remains in prison for the crimes. One of his disciples, Leslie Van Houton, was recently denied parole for the 13th time
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Jenkins described four types of partner or group serial killer (typology)
1) Dominant–submissive pairs.
2) Equally dominant teams.
3) Extended family or group
4) Organized or ceremonial social groups.
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Dominant–submissive pairs.
In this group, one member, usually the male, is the dominant partner. The woman participates in the murders mostly to please the man and often to act as the bait to lure victims. She may or may not participate in the actual torture and murder of the victim, but may observe it. These women maylater describe themselves as reluctantly willing participants, butmore commonly claim that they were“brainwashed”by the man,especially when facing serious legal charges.
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Equally dominant teams
Here, both members of the couple derivesatisfaction from the killings, and both members are willing partici-pants in the crime. The woman may participate in the capture andbinding of the victim, more rarely in the torture and murder itself.She may enjoy witnessing the crime. The couple may subsequentlyuse their recollections of the crime, aided by photographs, videos,and even objects or body part trophies, to enhance their sexualactivity.
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Extended family or group
These may range from actual biological fam-ilies who collaborate in serial murders to cult-families, such as theoriginal Charles Manson group in the 1960s, in which unrelated peo-ple come together to form a small commune or tribal group that par-ticipates in homicide, typically for reasons ranging from robbery, tosexual gratification, to loosely-articulated philosophical/ideologicalreasons, sometimes with all of these motives combined.
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Organized or ceremonial social groups.
Here, the ideological or politi-cal aspect has become more crystallized and systematic. These areoften quasi-religious cults who commit mass murder, as in the1995 Aum Shinrykio saringasattackonthe Tokyo subway; however,in some cases, individual victims may be targeted as well. Sexualmotives are far less common in these groups.
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classification of female serial homicide offenders into two groups, based upon whether their crimes occur predominantly solo or in collaboration with a male partner.
1) Solo, purpose-oriented serial homicide offenders
2) Partnered, pleasure-oriented serial homicide offenders
3)
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Solo, purpose-oriented serial homicide offenders
These women act alone and typically have some utilitarian motive for their murders, even though they may be driven by psychopathological forces. These may include: (1)medical murderers(custodial killers,“angels of death”);profit murderers(“black widows”who kill husbandsor other family members for money); andinfanticides(multiple mur-ders of babies or young children; this may overlap with the custodialkiller category).
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Partnered, pleasure-oriented serial homicide offenders
These women operate as part of a male–female serial murder team,and their motives are typically more for personal gratification or to accommodate their partner's pleasure, including: (1)sexual sadists(the woman directly obtains pleasure from sexually torturing and murdering the victim);spree murderers(these usually occur in connection with other crimes, such as robbery, e.g. Bonnie and Clyde in the 1930s); profit murderers(similar to solo profit murderers, but herewith the help of a male collaborator);cult or religious murderers(the killings are evoked by a charismatic male figure, e.g. the Tate-Labianca murders by the Charles Manson cult in 1969);male serial murderer–female accomplice(the woman serves primarily to aid and abet the male partner's depredations, such as luring victims or disposing of remains).
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Homosexual serial killers (Typology)
1) Interpersonal violence-oriented disputes
2) Forced sodomy
3) Lust murder
4) Power murder
5) Robbery–homicide.
6) Homophobic murder.
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Interpersonal violence-oriented disputes
These are essentially“lover's quarrels”between homosexual partners or ex-partners that escalate to violence and murder. Unless they occur in a repeated pattern, it is unlikely that these acts meet the definition of serial homicides,per se.
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Forced sodomy
Here the gratification occurs through the act of sexu-al domination; death in these cases is usually accidental from excessive force used to brutalize or restrain the victim, most often either blunt force trauma or asphyxiation. Again, unless repeated, whether this meets the definition of serial homicide is questionable.
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Lust murder
This homosexual serial killing pattern probably comesclosest to its heterosexual correlate described more commonly inthe literature. In these crimes, the act is carefully premeditated andreinforced by sadistic fantasies. A certain type of victim may bestalked and seduced or overpowered into submission. Death issadistically prolonged by torture and genital mutilation, trophiesmay be taken, and there may be concealment or crime scene stagingof the body.
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Power murder
This is similar to theabove category (andthetwo maywell overlap), except that here, the sexual motivation is thought tobe secondary to the thrill of power and domination. The victimsare likely to be chosen for their physical vulnerability or social mar-ginality, such as children, teens, homeless men, drug addicts, orprostitutes. Although torture may be a feature of these killings,mutilation and dismemberment are just as likely to occur postmor-tem to create“shock value”for whoever discovers the body. Anger,more than lust, appears to drive this kind of homosexual serialhomicide.
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Robbery–homicide
Here, the offender cruises the gay scene, often posing as a prostitute, looking for vulnerable victims to rob. Either deliberately as part of the plan, or inadvertently, some of these robberies end in murder.
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Homophobic murder. (Not Testable)
Episodes of gay-bashing may escalate to mur-der, again, either deliberately or accidently. The offenders may beself-repudiating homosexuals or homophobic heterosexual males.
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More recent typology for homosexual serial homicide
| Not Testable
1) Avenger
2) Sexual predator
3) Nonsexual predator
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Avenger
| Not Testable
These individuals can be found among the ranks of homo-sexual, heterosexual, or bisexual prostitutes, whose lifestyles often re-volve around drug and alcohol consumption. Many have criminalrecords, includingproperty crimes and violence. Psychological, physical,and/or sexual abuse during childhood appear to form the core dynamicof this pattern. The victim is often an older man (parentalfigure?).When a particular sex act is requested by this partner, pickup, or prosti-tution patron, it purportedly triggers a traumatic memory and violenceerupts, which may eventuate in murder. Psychodynamically the offend-er is violentlyavenginghimself onthe haplesssex partner for past griev-ances and abuses he's suffered at the hands of others. The murder sceneis characterized by signs of intense rage, and death usually occurs by8L. Miller / Aggression and Violent Behavior 19 (2014) 1–11
strangulation or by use of a weapon of opportunity (sharp utensil, heavyobject, belt or cord)
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Sexual predator
| Not Testable
This is the homosexual lust murderer, motivated bysadistic sexual fantasies, and on the prowl for vulnerable victims, oftenchildren or adolescents, whomay be homosexual or not. There is often aprior criminal history. The killing is premeditated, the victim is stalkedand abducted, and acts of torture, sodomy, and mutilation are typicallyperformed in the course of the sadistically prolonged murder. This typemost closely resembles the classic heterosexual serial sexual homicideoffender.
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Nonsexual predator(Not Testable)
This type of murderer is not motivated by angeror by sadistic sexual fantasies, and the homicide is usually accidental orimpulsive, occurringin the course of a robbery whichis theprimary mo-tive for the encounter. Often, the offender chooses his victim at a gaycruising venue, gains access to the victim's residence under the guiseof a sexual liaison, attempts to rob the place, and when confronted bythe victim, feels compelled to overpower him, killing him in the process.The attempted robbery may also occur in an alleyway, car, or other se-cluded locale. Sex may occur prior to the crime to pacify the victim,but the motive for the encounter is not primarily sexual. The offender may act alone or with an accomplice, and alcohol or drugs are frequent-ly involved. The perpetrator usually has a varied criminal history with an emphasis on property crimes.
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Homosexual serial killer typologies: conceptual commonalities
(Not Testable)
The commonalities between these typologies appear to involve thefollowing basic subtypes, which may overlap:Profit. The motives are primarily to rob the victim, and sex is used asa lure or for pacification.Sadistic sexual gratification. Like many heterosexual sadistic sexualhomicide perpetrators, the homosexual serial killer derives intensepleasure from the torture and murder of another human being.Power. The sexual component is ancillary to the motive of power anddomination.Homophobia. The killer destroys that which he is most afraid of ordisturbed by in himself or others.
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Professional serial killers
1) Amateur
2) Semiprofesional
3) Professional
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Amateur
These actually comprise the majority of murderers for hire,largely because of their low cost and relatively easy availability with-in the criminal subculture. This subject frequently has a history of petty crimes and of addiction, psychopathology, and a marginal life-style. The most common scenario involves a small-time crook who is hired by either an associate or a stranger to eliminate a no-longer-wanted spouse, lover, or personal rival for purposes of jealousy,money, or revenge. Although initially motivated by cash, many of these minor-league hitmen eventually come to enjoy the thrill and power associated with taking another person's life.
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Semiprofessional
The semiprofessional contract murderer is more technically savvy and has had more on-the-job training than theamateur. His criminal history is more lengthy and has involved more serious crimes, and he may have served terms in prison. Semi-professionals are less likely to show major psychopathology, but frequently display traits of antisocial personality and have histories of violence in their background. The semiprofessionals plan their contract murders with a higher level of sophistication and attention to detail than do amateurs. The typical target of a semiprofessional contract murderer is the hirer's business associate or rival criminal,but in some cases, the semiprofessional is hired to eliminate a spouse or other family member. Because he is more expensive than the amateur, the clientele of the semiprofessional tend to be financially comfortable individuals with something substantial to gain from the target's elimination.
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Professional
As the name implies, the professional contract killer takes his vocation seriously, actually studying and training himself in the art and science of killing. He often has prior military, law enforcement, or security experience and carries his lethal skills over into his criminal trade. Most of these professional assassins are on retainer with organized crime cartels, although some freelance their services to various criminal and political organizations as need-ed, commanding stiff fees for a professional job which typically includes the efficient elimination of the target and cleaning up of evidence that could tie the crime to either the assassin or the hirer. The target is usually a prominent functionary in a rival criminal organization or a political figure. The job may also involve multiple tar-gets, in which case, bombing or arson may be involved, in which case it may overlap with terrorism. In some cases, certain government agencies may retain the professional's services when they want to carry out a military or political assassination that cannot be traced back to them.
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Most common type of serial killer discussed in law enforcement and featured in the popular media is the ____
sadistic serial sexual homicide offender,
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Missing / murdered indigenous women
Indigenous women and girls comprise of 16% of all female homicides, but make up 4% of the population
The homicide rate was 7x higher than other females
(highway of tears - 18 murdered and disappeared )
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Signature (Definition)
A unique set of acts an offender engages in with each victim
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piquerism (signature)
intense, focused injury to breasts of victims
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necrosadism (Signature)
postmortem mutilation or dismemberment
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Modius oprandi
Method of operating
Low profile: Poisons, drug overdoses (longer duration of years of active killing)
High Profile: bodily insults and use of firearms
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Serial killers typically reach the peak in their activity in their early ____'s to mid ____'s
20's to mid 30's
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Traits that children of soon to be serial killers have
Often lie, steal, destroy property, set fires, and are cruel and callous to other kids. (Macdonald Triad)
Many shown a triad between bedwetting, firesetting, and cruelty to animals that predicts antisocial behaviour in later years
Many enjoy torturing animals, grow up shy, lonely, highly sensitive - with feelings being rejected, unloved, and neglected, and harboring a baseline hostility toward specific people and or the world
Most meet criteria for ASPD, NPD, or SPD
Seen as early as age 3/4 (age 2's are violent)
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Adolescence and early adulthood for soon to be serial killers
- Turns inward and nurtures sadistic sexual fantasies
- Resorting to violent porn or experimenting with things they have seen in movies, magazines, or video games
- Begins to incorporate real people he knows into his sexual murderous fantasies and begins to mentally rehearse more realistic scenarios for stalking, abducting, and torturing victims to death
- Criminal offences begin with assault and escalate to battery, arson, rape, and eventually murder.
- Over time, the abduction, torture, and murder sequences become more ritualized and more refined, and the killers learn from their near-miss mistakes, becoming increasingly efficient in their killings and evasion of capture. Even at this latter stage, fantasies may still be employed between actual crimes because, unlike reality, the fantasied scenario can always be“perfect.”
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two types of aggression
Affective
| Predatory
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Affective aggression
involves high states of emotional and physiological arousal and typically occurs in ritualized intraspecies fighting for food, territory, mates, and social status. One thinks of two wolves in apack battling over top-dog rank, or two rival human gang members signifying, cursing, or threatening each other with gestures, fists, or weapons. In natural environments, the usual purpose of affective aggression is to intimidate and dominate rivals within an established social hierarchy, so serious physical injury usually does not occur. Actual death of one of the combatants is rare and probably accidental, although for modern humans, access to technologically lethal weapons makes death more likely.
97
Predatory aggression
more“cold-blooded,”involves low emotional and physiological arousal, usually requires some degree of preparatory stalking, and typically occurs across species, especially between hunter and prey, with the goal clearly being to kill and consume the prey animal for sustenance, not out of hatred or revenge:“it's business, not personal.”
One thinks of a leopard quietly tracking a gazelle, before rushing in for the kill, which usually involves a single, efficient bite to the throat, or a professional hit man patiently stalking his target, before quietly and efficiently dispatching him with a garrote, blade, or bullet.
98
In most cases _______ and ____ aggression can be mixed, this includes the additional cognitive features of more complex planning, symbolization, and socialization
Affective, predatory
99
Examples of predatory aggression
Stalking of victims, some types of mass murder such as school shootings or terrorist bombings
Planned, purposeful, emotionless, consistent with the“warrior mentality”
100
Neurochemistry to understand aggression
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter most clearly implicated in the inhibitory control of aggression (limbic system)
Potentiation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) also inhibits aggression
Low levels of serotonin paired with high testosterone results in aggression
Dopamine and norepinephrine generally enhance aggression,
101
Underarousal theory of psychopathy (psychophysiology of violence)
psychopaths seek excessive stimulation through antisocial behavior to compensate for their constitutionally low levels of physiological arousal; that is, they are sensation-seekers
- low resting HR
- Reduced sweating
- Increased attention to stimuli of interest
102
Neuroimaging studies (CT MRI rCBF PET)
Frontal lobe dysfunction was more associated with violent, nonsexual offending, such as murder,
Temporal lobe dysfunction was associated with sexual, but relatively non-violent offending, such as incest and pedophilia.
Dysfunction that involved both regions of the brain was associated with offending that combined sexual and violent elements,such as rape.
Affective murderers deficient in ability to regulate and control aggression
103
Neuroimaging studies (CT MRI rCBF PET) for affective and predatory murderers
Both affective and predatory murderers showed heightened activity in subcortical limbic brain regions
Only affective murderers showed impaired frontal lobe functioning. Thus, affective murderers appear to be deficient in their ability to regulate and control aggressive impulses generated from subcortical limbic structures due to impaired frontal lobe regulation.
104
Impulse control disorder
Failure to resist an impulse, drive, or temptation to perform an act that is harmful to the person or to others.
105
Behaviours included in the impulse control disorder
Intermittent explosive disorder: paroxysmal attacks of extreme rage
Kleptomania: compulsive stealing
Pyromania: compulsive fire-setting
Trichotillomania: Compulsive hair-pulling
Pathological gambling.
106
Psychodynamics
| Simon's (1996) theory
Places the underlying psychology of serial killers in a core of self-loathing, from which the killer briefly relieves himself in the acts of controlling, torturing, and killing a victim.
Only the most intensely violent, sexually sadistic exploitation of his victims can bring the serial sexual killer out of an emotional deadness to life, temporarily enabling him to feel calm and relaxed.
This is how the feel "normal"
107
Psychodynamics
| Malmquist (1996)
highlights the profound depression and despair reported by many serial killers just prior to their next murderous act, with the subjugation, degradation, and slow destruction of a helpless human being acting as a mood-elevating tonic for these murderers—the kind of perverse antidepressant function of serial killing noted earlier.
However, many serial killers report no such dysphoric feelings and give every impression of killing simply because they revelin the control and power that their acts afford.
108
Pschodynamics
| Schlesinger (2000)
fundamental psychological dynamics of all true serial homicides can be distilled down to three core components:
(1) sexual sadism,
(2) intense fantasy,
(3) a compulsion to act out that fantasy.
In any given serial murder case, all three components will be present,but the proportion and intensity of each will differ from perpetrator to perpetrator, as follows
109
Sadism
sexual arousal derived from the physical suffering, humiliation, domination, and control of the victim, and isat the core of serial sexual homicide: these individuals kill sadistically because nothing else gives them the same kind of thrilling stimulation.
110
Fantasy
fantasies of domination, control, and sexual aggression initially serve as mental rehearsal for the soon-to-occur behaviors, and fantasies are later used to relive and reinforce the pattern of killings once they have begun.
111
Compulsion to kill
Many offenders describe a state of mounting inner tension, precipitated and maintained by fantasy, that builds overtime into an almost unbearable state, the only relief for which is obtained by the act of sexually sadistic murder. Once the homicide is carried out, the tension is discharged, and the offender feels a sense of relief and satisfaction—until the cycle begins again
112
Cogntive map
Palermo and Kocsis (2005)
They view the world as hostile and are correspondingly unable or unwilling to properly interact with other people. Their thinking is trapped in a circuitously narcissistic, isolative, and self-referencing cycle, which revolves around fulfilling their need for per-verse stimulation to reduce their state of inner tension. The commission of their crime represents an act of narcissistic grandiosity, reinforcing their sense of entitlement to use other people for their own gratification and, with each act, reestablishes a certain degree of inner psychological homeostasis until the next time.
113
Implicit theories
(Page 9 of Serial Killings II readings)
Basic views of the world that allow offenders to rationalize and justify their sexually predatory actions.
1) It's a dangerous world.“The bitch deserves it—they all deserve it.”
2) Male sex drive is uncontrollable.“We're guys: we're gonna do what we're gonna do.”
3) Women are sex objects.“They're women, sex is what they're for.”
4) Entitlement.“I take what I want.”
5) Women are unknowable.“No one knows what women want.”
114
Sociocultural factors to serial killing
Trauma control model
starts by considering the traditional biological, developmental, demographic, and familial factors, including childhood trauma, that contribute to criminality in general and serial homicide in particular. However, in this model, the potential for a sadistic sexual compulsion to become a series of homicidal acts must be disinhibited and activated by sociocultural facilitators, whichinhere in the values and customs of the surrounding society.
For example, an adolescent's aggressive and sexual urges might be sublimated into some form of productive activity (sports, military service) in a closely-knit, values-oriented culture; however, these urges may only be sadistically inflamed and facilitated in a society which glorifies violence and objectifies women through sexually violent video games and easily available Internet pornography.
115
Sociocultural factors to serial killing
Subcultural theory
proposes that exposure to violent influences in the surrounding subculture may facilitate the transition from violent sexual urges to elaborated fantasies and finally to violent sexual behavior.
For example, today's adolescent who harbors sexually sadistic fantasies will quickly discover a smorgasbord of appetizing fantasy material just a few computer clicks away.
Again, by itself, no book, no movie, no website, no video game ever turned a boy scout into a murderer, however, the narcissistically psychopathic sexual sadist-to-be may be able to nurture his torture fantasies and more rigorously study the craft of homicide in a culture that demeans human beings in general and women in particular, and that provides the technological means to spend hours a day steeping oneself in violent fantasy material.
116
Sociocultural factors to serial killing
Routine activity theory
Focuses specifically on the physical, structural, and social influences that influence a killer's opportunity to commit crimes, including serial murder. These include such factors as:
1) Availability of appropriate victims
2) Number of places for concealment.
3) Population density
4) Population characteristics.
5) Population demographics
More info; Page 6 of Serial Killers Part II
117
Updated activity theory variables
(1) the percentage of the population living in urban areas
(2) the percentage of divorced people in the state
(3) the percentage of single-person households.
118
For the topic of serial killing, the two main areas of application that are usually discussed concern
(1) investigation of serial murders and apprehension of the perpetrators through some type of offender profiling; and (2) the role of the serial killer's neuro psychodynamics to questions of legal responsibility and culpability, that is, the insanity defense.
119
behavioral profiling
a technique for identifying the major personality and behavioral characteristics of an individual based upon an analysis of the crimes he or she has committed
120
Profiling and such
Page 8 on Serial killings II reading
121
NCMRD and serial killing
the defense of not guilty by reason of insanity (NRGI), or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, or simply the insanity defense, is raised as an affirmative defense in about one out of every 100 felony cases.
Inpractice, however, a diagnosis of psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder is virtually never successfully invoked as an insanity defense for any type of crime.
122
To be punished for a crime:
defendant must be proven to:
(1) have actually committed the offense in question (actus reus); and to
(2) have had the mental capacity to have committed the act consciously, knowingly, and purposefully (mens rea).
123
Gender statistics
* 87% of murders committed by males
* 65% of all murders are males killing males
* 22% are males killing females
* 10% are females killing males
* 3% are females killing females
* Remarkably consistent across cultures
124
Serial killers often have _____ intelligence
average
125
Are all psychopaths serial killers?
Most serial killers do meet criteria for psychopathy, as they are going to be glib, impulsive, meeting at least those criteria more than the average person would.
If they have done something criminal the can usually get those ASPD or psychopathy diagnoses.
Most serial killers meet the criteria, but there are some psychopaths who are not serial killers (they do not engage in serial killing)
126
kindling (intermittent explosive disorder but not an Obsessive compulsive disorder)
Easily combustible material that ignite when heated to a critical temperature to facilitate main fuel pile
Slow progressive build-up of angry or dysphoric feelings flashes into full blown violence or depression
Serial killers lock into a pattern, lack the compulsive quality including self-reflection and enjoy doing it, feel entitled doing it, plan out attacks, and rarely regret
127
intermittent explosive disorder but not an Obsessive compulsive disorder, why?
For OCD, the compulsion fades when the task is done. Such as eliminating germs so you wont die. Serial killers enjoy what they do so it cant be OCD
128
Are videogames bad?
Very mixed results, ultimately it does have bad tendencies
129
FBI Serial Murder Definition
The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender, in separate events
130
What is juvenile delinquency? (definition)
Young person who has committed a criminal offence
131
Juvenile (Definition)
an individual who is legally able to commit a criminal offence owing to being over the minimum age of criminal responsibility, but who is under the age of criminal majority, when a person is legally considered an adult
Minimum varies between 6-18
Max is usually 18
132
child delinquents (definition)
children below 13 years old who have committed a delinquent act
133
young offenders
offenders aged under 18 years or include young adults up to their mid-20s
134
Delinquent (definition)
individual who has committed a criminal offence
135
How to meet the diagnostic criteria of conduct disorder
requires evidence of a persistent pattern of dissocial or aggressive conduct, such that it defies age-appropriate social expectations. Behaviours may include cruelty to people or animals, truancy, frequent and severe temper tantrums,excessive fighting or bullying and fire-setting; diagnosis of conduct disorder can be made in the marked presence of one of these behaviours
136
doli incapax
Roman Law that protected children from prosecution owing to the presumption of a lack of capacity and understanding required to be guilty of a criminal offence
137
Welfare model
Focuses on the needs of the child, diagnosis, treatment and more informal procedures,
138
Justice model
Which emphasises accountability, punishment and procedural formality.
139
Deprived of liberty
Any form of detention under official authorities in a public or private location which the child is not permitted to leave
-Such as a prison, detention center, secure remand homes, boot camps, etc
140
Violence epidemic
Dramatic increase in arrest rates of young people for homicide and other violent crimes in the 1980s and 1990
141
Since the early 1990's, juvenile offending has ________
decreased
142
Reasons for an increase in youth gangs
Include factors such as economic migration, loss of extended family networks, reduced supervision of children, globalisation and exposure to inaccessible lifestyle ‘ideals’ portrayed in modern media.
143
Juvenile gang members exhibit significantly higher rates of:
mental health problems such as conduct disorder/antisocial personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
144
Forensic (definition)
Meaning ‘legal’, implying a relationship with any court of law.
145
___/___ of male juvenile offenders in the USA suggested as meeting criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder.
____/_____ offenders is estimated to suffer severe functional impairment as a result of their mental health problems.
2/3 (that is a lot)
1/5
146
What type of therapy is most effective intervention for adults with PTSD
Cognitive-Behavioural therapy
| Also demonstrated efficacy for juvenile non-offenders
147
Trauma-focused emotion regulation intervention (TARGET)
resulted in nearly twice as much reduction in PTSD symptom severity as treatment as usual (TAU), in addition to significant reductions in depression, behavioural disturbances and increased optimism.
148
Relationships with ____ and ____ are recognized as key factors in the criminogenic profile of juvenile offenders
Family and peers
149
What is an important component of successful rehabilitation
Engaging juvenile offenders with education and skills-based training (helps improve self-belief)
150
Language and communication with Juvenile offenders
Estimates of those falling into the poor or very poor categories ranging from 46 to 67%; overall, up to 90% of juvenile offenders demonstrated language skills below average
151
Three primary factors associated with effective interventions for juvenile offenders
1) a ‘therapeutic’ intervention philosophy, serving high-risk offenders, and quality of implementation.
Other factors: good staff-adolescent relations, perception of staff as pro-social role models, positive peer pressure, an individualised therapeutic programme approach, developmentally appropriate programmes and activities, clear expectations and boundaries, and placement locations which allow for continued family contact.
152
Ineffective methods / programs that do not help juvenile offenders
Scared Straight
Military boot camp
Curfew
Hearing juvenile cases in adult court
153
Delinquency
Criminal offence (Varies between jurisdictions)
Theft and violence typically considered illegal; drinking, sexual behaviour varies jurisdictionally
154
Sentencing factors
* Retribution, deterrence, and rehabilitation
| * Juvenile offending typically weights rehabilitation as most important
155
Bosozoku
Juvenile bike gang in Japan in the 1990’s responsible for over 80% of serious offences perpetrated by juveniles
156
Multisystemic therapy is effective for ______
Conduct disorder (specifically for youth)
157
Motivational interviewing is effective for _______
substance abuse
158
Various perspectives
Youth Offenders Slide 16-20ish
159
Characteristics for a child to meet conduct disorder (CD)
Aggression to people or animals
Destruction of property
Deceitfulness or theft (steal for $ or goods)
Serious violation of rules
(3 or more of 15 symptoms)
160
Aggression to people or animals
1. Often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others
2. Often initiates physical fights
3. Has used a weapon that can cause serious physical harm to others
4. Has been physically cruel to people
5. Has been physically cruel to animals
6. Has stolen while confronting a victim (mugging, robbery)
7. Has forced someone into sexual activity
161
Destruction of property
1. Has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the intention of causing serious damage
2. Had deliberately destroyed others’ property (other than by fire setting)
162
Deceitfulness or theft
1. Has broken into someone else’s house, building, or car
2. Often lies to obtain goods or favors or to avoid obligation
3. Has stolen items of nontrivial value without confronting the victim
163
Serious violation of rules
1. Often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, beginning before age 13
2. Has run away from home overnight at least twice while living in parental or parental surrogate home, or once without returning for a lengthy period
3. Is often truant from school beginning before age 13 years
164
Specifics with conduct disorder
Can be diagnosed before age ten
Prevalence: 2-10%
Higher in males
Has more criminal flavour
165
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD):
Age-inappropriate recurrent pattern of stubborn, hostile, disobedient, and defiant behaviours
•Usually appears by age 8 (annoying, irritable, but not stealing, hard to manage)
166
Antisocial Personality Disorder: (ASPD)
Pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others
Illegal behaviours, deceitfulness, failure to plan ahead, physical fights, reckless disregard
167
Associated characteristics with conduct disorder (CD)
* Cognitive and Verbal Deficits
* School and Learning Problems
* Family Problems
* Peer Problems
* Self-Esteem Deficits
* Health-Related Problems
168
Pathways for conduct disorder (2)
Life-course-persistent (LCP) path
| Adolescent-limited (AL) path
169
Life-course-persistent (LCP) path
* Early age engagement continuing to adult, consistency in behaviour across situations
* Spontaneous recovery is rare
170
Adolescent-limited (AL) path
Behaviours begin around puberty, cease in young adulthood
171
___% of children with CD go on to develop Antisocial Personality Disorder
40
172
Effective treatment for conduct disorder
Parent Management Training (PMT)
•Parents shape child’s behaviour, improving family relationships
Problem-Solving Skills Training (PSST)
•Focuses on cognitive restructuring, problem solving
```
Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
•Intensive family and community based approach
```
173
Common factors used to define gang-related homicides
| gang definition from lecture
1) the type of weapon used
2) the victim’s relationship to the offender
3) any link involving the victim or family members to an organized crime group or street gang.
And sometimes, the testimony of witnesses can play a vital role in determining the successful resolution of a gang-related homicide.
174
While the definition of a gang is not 100% decided, one may look at it as:
If a group is willing to use enough violence to kill others, whether in defense or in aggression, then it should be considered a gang
175
According to Stats Canada, incidents are classified as "gang related" when:
Police believe the homicide occurred as a consequence of activities involving an organized crime group or street gang.
Homicides of innocent bystanders who are killed as a result of gang-related activity is also considered gang-related
176
According to the Media, a homicide was reported being "gang-related" if:
1) The report explicitly stated it was gang-related (efforts were taken to verify multiple sources)
2) the victim was targeted
3) it involved organized crime
4) it was related to trafficking or producing drugs
5) the victim, suspect, associate or any family member thereof, was linked to a gang or organized crime.
In addition, the authors included innocent people killed in circumstances that were related to gangs
However, the criteria did not include homicidal circumstances that involved street-level drug trade (e.g,drug deal disagreements), domestic disputes and conflicts, or circumstances that were not gang-related.
177
Homicide prevalence rates
Accounts for less than 1% of all violent crimes in Canada
178
Graphs and charts for gang-related activity
Page 5 of June 16th's reading "Gangs"
179
the number of gang-related homicides between 2003 and 2005 remained relatively stable before experiencing a sharp _____ in 2006. Following the decline, there was a steady increase in the number of gang-related homicides over the next three years. Fortunately,the trend didn’t continue as 2010 saw a decline in the number of these homicides, which continued into 2011. However, the rising trend returned with gang-related homicides beginning to increase over the next two years.
decline
180
Some experts believe that the recent increase in gang-related homicides is the result of:
The continued expansion of drug gangs across the province of British Columbia
181
The weapon of choice for gang-related homicides in BC is:
Firearms (due to access and availability)
Restricting access wont work as they are obtained illegally anyways -- very hard to control
182
What is more popular, a homicide in a public area or a private area
Public (80%)
183
Gang-related homicide preferred times to kill
In the last decade, the majority of gang-related homicides have occurred between 8:00 PM and 4:00 AM, while there was continued fluctuation between the 5:00 AM and 7:00 PM. ( see reading for specific times,)
184
Gang-related homicide preferred day to kill
The data suggests that on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday there is a strong possibility of gang activity occurring. (#1 DAY IS SATURDAY)
185
Why is it hard not having a solid definition for "gangs" and "gang-related homicide"
As discussed, the lack of a universal definition can be problematic because it makes it difficult to accurately portray or understand gang violence It also makes research into this area more challenging and may lead to studies being either overly inclusive or not inclusive enough.
186
Miller 1990 Gang Definition (this is not the only definition for a gang see slide 173)
* Self-formed association of peers
* Mutual interests
* Identifiable leadership, lines of authority, and other •Act in concert to achieve a specific purpose
* Generally include illegal activity
* May involve control over territory, or enterprise
187
Why join a gang?
- most are not coerced into the gang
- They are looking for a sense of belonging, a family vibe
- It is a slow drift where a close relative or friend is in the gang and they initiate you into it
- 50% of individuals had domestic problems, experienced drug, alcohol, and physical abuse, and had trouble with school
- Some involved for financial or social reasons
188
Ethnic breakdown of youth gangs (2002 RCMP Report)
Canada: First Nations (28%), Black (22%), Caucasian (17%), East Indian (12%), East Asian (10%), Latino (8%), Middle Eastern (3%)
BC: East Asian (37%) Caucasian (22%), East Indian (14%), First Nations (10%), Latino (8%), Middle Eastern (5%), Black (5%)
189
Cult / cults (definition)
A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control designed to advance the goals of the group’s leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community
190
Cult information center methods
* Hypnosis
* Peer group pressure (necessity to belong)
* Rejection of old values (increase acceptance)
* Verbal abuse (desensitize)
* Sleep deprivation (vulnerability)
* Fatigue (vulnerability)
* Dress codes (eradicate individuality)
191
Two psychological concepts to know for cults
Conditioning
| Cognitive Dissonance
192
Conditioning for cults
- People are rewarded and punished for tasks
| - Reinforces behaviour
193
Cognitive dissonance for cults
Members may have to contribute strenuous conditions, contribute funds, or give up luxuries
(Changing beliefs and attitudes)
194
Biological factors in a cult
* Physiological stress factors promote inhibitions within the group
* acute need to attain group goals,
* fear of punishment,
* routine group life,
* channeling sexual drive into exhausting labor,
* sleep deprivation,
* undernourishment,
* prolonged prayer and/or meditation
195
What % of convicted spouse murders in britain were Men
Over 90%
196
Toxicology characteristics
Overlapping discipline with biology, chemistry, pharmacology, and medicine
Involves forensic pathology: to assist the state to find out why its citizens die
(usually the modus operandi for most crimes)
197
How common are autopsies
Most cases do not order an autopsy. Only 6.2% of cases call for one in BC
198
Toxicology (Definition)
The study of adverse affects of chemicals on living organisms and the practice of diagnosing and treating exposures to toxins (poisoning people)
199
Forensic Toxicology
Application to law (postmortem toxicology)
200
Factors that influence effect
Dosage, route of exposure, species, age, sex, and environment
201
Homicidal Poisoning Deaths US 1999-2005
* 523 homicidal poisoning deaths identified
* Rate: .26 per million per year
* Males more likely victims
* Death more likely at extremes of ages
* 2.05 per million for children <1 and .56 per million for >85
* Racial difference: More common among Blacks
202
Arsenic
* Natural semi-metallic chemical found all over the world in ground water; Homicidal poison
* 100 – 200 mg fatal dose
* Inorganic compound (does not have Carbon, able to be traced after death and cremation)
* Odorless, colourless, and tasteless
* Absorbed into small intestine: Body mistakes it for phosphate, can lead to cell death, etc.
203
Two types or poisoned
Acutely poisoned
| Chronically poisoned
204
Acute Arsenic Poisoning
* Prominent features: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, profuse watery diarrhea, excessive salivation, headaches, confusion
* Psychosis, skin rash, seizures, Mees’s lines (fingernail lines)
* Blood in the urine, stomach pain, convulsions
* Detection: Urinary arsenic concentration best indicator of recent poisoning (1-2 days)
Severe symptoms: Metallic taste, excess saliva, problems swallowing, blood in the urine, cramping, hair loss, convulsions, excessive sweating•Results in coma and death
205
Chronic Arsenic Toxicity
* Absorbed arsenic accumulates in the liber, kidneys, heart, and lungs, with smaller amounts in muscles, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, spleen, lungs
* Deposited in keratin-rich tissue: Nails, hair, skin
* Hyperpigmentation palmar and solar
* Vitamin A deficiency, night blindness and heart disease
(exposed water)
206
Arsenic diagnosis
* Toxicology reports:
* Urine tests 1 to 2 days after exposure can determine time
* Hair and fingernails can determine level within 12 months
207
Arsenic Treatment
* 18th century: Fed patients’ milk, sugar water, egg whites (induce vomiting) or bleeding by incision or leeches
* Removing contaminants
* Blood transfusions, heart medication
* No evidenced based treatments to treat chronic arsenic poisoning (some antioxidants advocated, not substantiated)
208
Cyanide
•Made of a carbon and nitrogen atoms
•Pale blue or colorless liquid
•Sodium and potassium cyanide are white powders
•Smells like bitter almonds
•Small doses, body can excrete through urine
•Larger doses, cyanide prevents cells from using oxygen
(most commonly inhaled from gas - from house fires)
•Immediate: Blood levels 0.5-1mg/L mild
+3 mg/L lethal
•Secondary Indicators: extra oxygen in the blood
209
Acute Symptoms of cyanide
Acute Symptoms: weakness, nausea, difficulty breathing, seizures, cardiac arrest, dizziness, slow heart rate
•Fast acting (onset usually a few minutes)•Kill in hours or even minutes
210
Chronic symptoms of cyanide
Increased blood cyanide levels, weakness, paralysis, hypothyroidism
211
Cyanide treatment
* Supportive care: 100% oxygen, IV fluids
| * Vitamin B12a first line antidote
212
Hair growth is a key indicator of poison
However,
•Light hair binds drugs less well
•Cosmetic treatments strip out drug traces (perms)
213
Problems with toxicology
* How much toxin and where it can be found depends on how it was taken
* Inhalation – lungs
* Intramuscularly – muscles around injection
* Intravenously – blood (nothing in stomach/liver)
* Ingested – stomach
* Collection methods vary by jurisdiction
214
Ricin
* Substance extracted from the seeds of the castor oil plant
* 500 times more powerful than cyanide
* High white blood cells, blood poisoning
* Swallowed ricin results in acute symptoms, but not fatal (fever/cough)
* Injected or inhaled, the dose a size of a few grains of salt will kill an adult male
215
Flowering Monkshood Plant
* Known as Indian aconite
* British version: Wolfsbane
* Aconite stops the heart and other internal organs from working
* Severe vomiting, feeling of ants crawling over their body, lose sensation in limbs, breathing slows
