A heuristic study of the similarities and differences in offender characteristics across potential and successful serial sexual homicide offenders

Abstract

This heuristic study examined potential serial sexual homicide offenders (SSHOs), an unacknowledged offender group comprised of aspiring and probable SSHOs, and compared them with successful SSHOs. Data were collected on six aspiring SSHOs who each failed a single homicide attempt, 16 probable SSHOs who committed 17 homicides in separate events, and 13 successful SSHOs who killed 90 victims in separate events. The study results indicate that while potential SSHOs share more in common with successful SSHOs than they do with single‐victim nonsexual homicide offenders, and that there is an overlap between potential SSHOs and successful SSHOs, there is currently insufficient evidence to suggest that there are discreet transitions among categories. While few potential SSHOs strive to become successful SSHOs, this may be due to weak or nonexistent emotional triggers. Being a potential SSHO does not appear to be a predictable first step on a pathway towards becoming a successful SSHO, as potential SSHOs cannot reliably be thought of as prospective SSHOs if all things were equal. The present study could not foresee all potential SSHOs becoming successful ones. An as yet unidentified number of factors still appear to separate potential SSHOs from successful SSHOs.

Is It Time to Revisit the Definition of Serial Homicide? New Evidence and Theory

“…In short, new research supports the three-victim minimum favored by Skrapec [2], the time dimension proposed by Adjorlolo and Chan [1], and the killing as motivated by personal enjoyment (as leisure experience) outlined in both reviews [1,2]. Furthermore, although aspiring or hopeful serial homicide offenders [11] appear to be distinct from actual serial homicide offenders [9,10], there remains much that researchers and professionals can continue to learn from this group. To conclude, it is strongly recommended that, based on new research, experts follow the conceptualization refined most recently by Adjorlolo and Chan [1], but with an updated three-victim (fatal) threshold rather than two.…”

“…A similar study of both male and female serial homicide offenders (N = 1258) found that two-victim offenders differed from their more prolific counterparts on important variables related to victim demographics (sex and race) and prevalence of rape at or near the time of murder [10]. These two large empirical studies found clear differences between serial homicide offenders (minimum of three victims) from serial homicide offenders with two victims but perhaps a similar psychological mindset [11]. Together, these studies clearly call for a three-victim minimum threshold, rather than two.…”

Chasing Yesterday: Struggle for Digitalization in Serial Violent Crimes Investigation in Russia

“…However, despite the significant advances made by crime scientists in the West in this area, we must remember the dependence between the predictive value of the ML algorithms used and the quality of the data used therein. At present, this aspect of crime science leads to extensive discussions in the foreign academic environment [Slobogin C., 2021: [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. This demands a balanced approach that does not allow for excesses and truly "automatic" solutions based on blind adherence to mathematical calculations [Dressel J., Farid H., 2018: 5580].…”

Serial sexual murder by juveniles and the role of sexual sadism: An international study

“…Yaksic et al. (2021) reported on 22 potential serial sexual murderers of varied ages who failed to reach their goal of becoming full‐fledged serial murderers between 2013 and 2018.…”

“…Yaksic (2022) found that there were 381 serial murderers who were apprehended in the 10-year period between 2011 and 2021 or approximately 38 offenders annually. Yaksic et al (2021) reported on 22 potential serial sexual murderers of varied ages who failed to reach their goal of becoming full-fledged serial murderers between 2013 and 2018. However, there is still only scant research on serial sexual murder by children and their annual prevalence is unknown.…”