Criminal Profiling: the online encyclopedia

These profiles were used in John Douglas’s book (The Anatomy of motive), and from his reports and publications (which have been declassified and can be read on the FBI website). These may or may be used in actual investigations, (I don’t quite know for sure). What I do know for sure is the difference between the organized and disorganized serial offender. (The use of optional shows that each crime is different so therefore the murderer may not have used that item, or had that behavior).

 

Organized:

• Plan their attacks (premeditation)

• Use of restraints (optional)

• They exert control over the victim (manipulation, threats, etc.)

• They have a vehicle

• Extremely intelligent (usually have above average I.Q.’s)

• Skilled in their occupation

• They had a precipitating stressor before the crime was committed. (Money problems, divorce, job loss, etc.)

• Has a nice car (in decent condition)

• Likely to follow their case in the news

• The victim is usually a stranger (optional)

• They usually converse with their victim

• They leave minimal evidence at the scene of the crime

• Will leave town or change jobs (to elude the police)

Disorganized:

• Leave weapons and evidence at the scene of the crime

• Position the body (to depersonalize them)(optional)

• Hides the victim’s face (to depersonalize them)(optional)

• They may sometimes keep the body with them (optional)

• Usually doesn’t use a vehicle

• Will usually be the youngest or middle sibling

• Comes from an unstable household (financially or family-wise)

• Was treated with hostility as a child

• Inexperienced (emotionally and sexually)

• Frightened or confused after the crime

• They usually know the victim, (if they don’t its a random stranger that they decide to kill)

• The crime is almost always spontaneous (not-planned whatsoever)

• Minimal (if any) conversation with the victim

• Blitz-style attack (sudden blow from the back with all their force, so the victim won’t struggle)

 

Types of offenders:

Although many don’t know this, there are many different types of serial offenders. I will attempt define, explain, and categorize them so their psychological aspects and motives are easier to show.

 

• Serial Killer- hunts human beings (sometimes for sexual thrill) and does it multiple times. (They usually have a cool down period. They also have to kill at least two or three victims to be considered one. They usually kill one victim at one place, and continue to do this after a cooldown period. Serial Killers are not known, whatsoever.They have no intention to be caught).

• Spree Killer- kills multiple victims at once at many different locations in a short period of hours or days. (They are extremely mobile, and usually are well known during the crime. They have no intention to be caught).

• Mass Killer/murderer- Uses “Endgame strategy”. They kill multiple people at one place, and expect to die. (They usually go out in a blaze of glory or police gunfire).

• Serial Bomber- kills multiple people at once (or sometimes maiming them) by the use of explosives. They don’t expect to be caught, (because of their high level of intelligence).

• Assassin-kills one extremely important individual. (President, governor, celebrity, etc.) They are usually suicidal, and expect (or hope to die) in a blaze of glory.

• Serial arsonist- sets fires either to kill people, destroy property, or for gratification.

• Poisoner- A person who poisons multiple people at once usually killing them. Most poisoners are women or extremely cowardly men. 

 

Profiles of these offenders:

Bomber Profile:

• White male with an above average IQ

• Underachiever in school and work, but secretly is an extremely methodical plotter and planner

• Cowardly and unconfrontational

• Nonathletic

• A loner who thinks they are inadequate and lacking in many skills

• Asocial

• Asexual

• Broken family

• Chronic underachiever

• Feels inadequate and desires to get back at those who made them feel that way

     

     Spree-killer profile:

• White male in mid to late twenties

• Usually kills his own race

• Drifter

• Extremely intelligent underachiever

• Spontaneous unplanned rage that causes them to go on a spree kill

 

      Angry Paranoid Bomber profile:

• Asocial

• Asexual

• Broken family

• Chronic underachiever

• Feels inadequate and desires to get back at those who made them feel that way.

 

     

      Paranoid loner (subtype of the mass-murderer or spree-killer):

• No spouse or friends

• Solitary lifestyle (shut-in, hermit, loner, etc.)

• Fascination (fetishization) of firearms

• They don’t engage in eye contact

• Extremely paranoid, cynical, and distrustful of others

• Finds it difficult to work in groups/prefers to work alone