Forensic Archaeology and the Question of Using Geographic Profiling Methods Such as “Winthropping”

The majority of geographical profiling research focuses on the relationship between offender and location, which works particularly well when a burial site is known. In real-world investigations, however, burial or dump sites are often not known. The aim of the current paper is to outline a relatively under-used method of geographic profiling: Winthropping. While the method has been around for several decades, few studies have provided any research findings using it. There are two likely reasons for Winthropping being under-used, first, it has not been clearly, theoretically explained. Second, given its relative novelty, it may not be immediately clear how to use it in research and real-world scenarios. The current paper outlines several key psychological (e.g., satisficing and affordances) and criminological (e.g., rational choice theory and crime geometry) theories that may explain why Winthropping works. Case studies are provided and a methodological approach (Matrix Forecasting) is then provided to show how it could work in research practice and real-world applications. Overall, Winthropping is deemed to be highly useful and it is hoped that experts in the field will begin developing this tool for wider, applied use.

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See 2 more Smart Citations

The Psycho-criminology of Burial Sites: Developing the Winthropping Method for Locating Clandestine Burial Sites

Keatley

O’Donnell

Chapman

et al. 2021

“…In recent years however, geographic profiling techniques have been applied to the location of clandestine graves (see Keatley et al 2021;Lundrigan and Canter 2001a, b;Moses 2019;Somma et al 2018). This recent application does not strictly abide to the above four assumptions, as the goal is to locate the BDSs and not necessarily where the offender's anchor points are.…”

Section: Geographic Profiling Techniques Used To Locate Clandestine Gravesmentioning

confidence: 99%

More than an Offender Location Tool: Geographic Profiling and Body Deposition Sites

Berezowski

MacGregor

Ellis

et al. 2021

In homicide cases, it is difficult to provide resolution for the bereaved or to obtain a successful criminal conviction of the guilty party when no body is found. Since the mid-nineteenth century, geographic and environmental patterns have been used to better understand the relationship between crime and its environment. Now known as geographic profiling, practitioners in this field amalgamate criminological, psychological, and geographical knowledge, as well as aspects of mathematics, statistics, and physics to identify spatial patterns associated with criminal behaviour as a means of locating anchor points of an offender (where they live, or work). The same techniques can also be used to locate the covert body deposition sites of their victims. This paper aims to (1) provide a brief summary of criminal behaviour and the environment and how understanding their relationship can be helpful to geographic profiling, (2) amalgamate the available literature on the application of geographic profiling in locating clandestine graves (as most documented uses are to locate offender residences), and (3) include a geographic profile of Ivan Milat, an Australian serial killer (officially) active from 1989 to 1992, demonstrating how geographic profiling techniques can help to identify additional victims and potential body deposition sites. The information in this review will be helpful to law enforcement and practitioners to improve missing persons investigations and searches for clandestine graves.

Winthropping as an Investigative Tool in Clandestine Grave Discovery and Psychological Profiling

Keatley

O’Donnell

2023

Missing persons cases are some of the hardest investigations to solve. The lack of forensic evidence impedes an investigation and critical time can be lost attempting to find the person or body. Recently, researchers have attempted to develop new approaches to help police in these types of investigations. The current paper continues research into Winthropping as a means of assisting police investigations when searching for clandestine, hidden graves and missing persons. A novel approach, using geocachers, to help inform Winthropping processes is outlined, and support gained through a survey of geocachers. The findings are then applied to a series of real-world homicides, including several serial killers. Analyses of gravesite locations in serial killer cases matched many of the features and properties outlined by geocachers. The results also indicate the potential of using Keatley and colleagues’ Winthropping as a psychological profiling as well as geographical profiling technique. Support was provided through the case of a murdered child who was later dumped. Recommendations for further research and application are provided.