Toward Identification of the Sexual Killer: A Comparison of Sexual Killers Engaging in Post-Mortem Sexual Interference and Non-Homicide Sexual Aggressors

Abstract

Establishing a model of sexual assault reflecting psychosocial and behavioral characteristics of perpetrators of sexual killing and rape is necessary for development in risk assessment and intervention. Methodological variations in defining sexual killing have amalgamated serial and non-serial offenders and perpetrators with direct and indirect associations between killing and sexual arousal. This study defined sexual killing specifying that killing should be directly linked to sexual arousal, and sampled 48 sexual killers, operationalized to include only those engaging in post-mortem sexual interference, with one or two known female victims (non-serial), from prison service national (England and Wales) databases. These sexual killers were compared with 48 non-homicide, life or indeterminately sentenced sexual aggressors on psychological and crime scene characteristics. Contrary to previous research, fatal outcomes were associated with neither stranger victims nor weapon presence; sexual killing was characterized by severity of violence less so than non-fatal assault. Sexual killers more often reported problems with emotional loneliness, empathic concern, and sexual entitlement than the sexual aggressors. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.

Lethal combinations: A conjunctive analysis of crime scene behavior associated with sexual homicide

“…Recently, Chan and Heide (2016) and Stefanska, Beech, and Carter (2016) published respectively a literature review and a systematic review of the differences and similarities between the two groups of offenders. In the systematic review by Stefanska et al (2016), which examined 10 studies, the authors found some differences between SHOs and NHSOs as to their characteristics: namely, SHOs were more likely to have reported loneliness problems (see Grubin, 1994;Higgs, Carter, & Stefanska, 2015;Marshall, 1989;Milsom, Beech, & Webster, 2003;Nicole & Proulx, 2007;Palermo, 2008) as well as anger issues (see Chene & Cusson, 2007;Grubin, 1994). However, the two groups shared the presence of mental disorders (see Grubin, 1994;Oliver, Beech, Fisher, & Beckett, 2007;Proulx & Sauvêtre, 2007), a criminal history of sexual and violent offense (Grubin, 1994;Nicole & Proulx, 2007;Oliver et al, 2007;Vettor & Beech, 2014), dysfunctional family structure (see Nicole & Proulx, 2007;Oliver et al, 2007), and sexual victimization (Grubin, 1994;Nicole & Proulx, 2007;Oliver et al, 2007).…”

“…Findings from these studies were inconclusive as to whether SHOs and NSHOs differed in physical victimization, relationship status at the time of the crime, low self-esteem, and age at the time of crime (Stefanska et al, 2016). As to the crime scene behaviors, the analysis by Stefanska et al (2016) revealed that NHSOs were more likely to have committed vaginal penetration, to plan the crime (see Higgs et al, 2015;Salfati & Taylor, 2006;Vettor & Beech, 2014), and to humiliate the victim (Healey, Lussier, & Beauregard, 2013;Higgs et al, 2015). The findings were inconclusive as to whether the victim was restrained.…”

The lesser of two evils? Sexual homicide as an “hybrid” offense

“…More recently, a systematic review by Stefanska, Beech, and Carter (2016) examined ten published studies comparing the same two groups of offenders. The findings revealed that sexual murderers were less likely to have committed vaginal penetration, to plan the crime (Higgs et al, 2015;Salfati & Taylor, 2006;Vettor & Beech, 2014), and to humiliate the victim (Healey, Lussier, & Beauregard, 2013;Higgs et al, 2015). Moreover, the findings were inconclusive as to whether the victim was restrained as well as if they differed in physical victimization, relationship status at the time of the crime, low self-esteem, and age at the time of crime (Stefanska et al, 2016).…”

Patterns of Necrophilic Behaviors in Sexual Homicide: A Criminological Perspective

“…Interestingly, recent studies have introduced the concept of Post Mortem Sexual Interference Offenders (PMSIOs) (Carter, Mann, & Wakeling, 2008 ;Higgs, Carter, Stefanska, & Glorney, 2017;. This category of offender includes "homicide offenders whose offence contained at least one of the following characteristics, the perpetrator disclosed that he had sexually assaulted the victim after killing them, there was evidence from a pathologist of post mortem sexual behaviour, the perpetrator had disclosed post mortem sexual behaviour, there was evidence of sex with an unconscious or dead victim or the perpetrator disclosed since conviction that they had sexually assaulted the victim after killing them" (Carter and colleagues, 2008 p. 173).…”