The Psychology of a Serial Killer (update)

As the hunt for the Suffolk serial killer continues and as the case unfolds I will be posting regular updates, particularly in relation to any psychological information or theories. I will also be including links to the latest police briefings and any other credible information sources.

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Media Watch



Headline

KILLER WIL BE THINKING: THE GAME'S ON

Published

13th December

Psychology aspect

Written by Mike Berry Criminal Psychologist From Manchester Metropolitan University

Key points

Psychological Profile

White male, aged 25-40, works odd hours Will live, work, or have holidayed locally May meet prostitutes as part of his work.

Psychological opinions

Police are hunting an exceptionally cold-blooded murderer with the potential to become, in the short term, Britain's most prolific serial killer.

What makes this man particularly terrifying is that he has killed two women before and then gone out with the deliberate intention to strangle.

He may well find killing face-to-face more personal and because he is in control he will find it particularly enjoyable.

Yesterday's discovery of two women's bodies close to main roads was unusual and worrying. It may indicate it was a bit rushed or he might be clever and goading the police.

He could be motivated by a desire for revenge on women or specifically prostitutes for a number of reasons.

He may have left some indication at the scene of the crime or more likely at the spot he disposed of the victims' bodies. If so, I would expect the killer to have left a sign, such as a cross, for the police by now.

The killer seems confident and organised, suggesting he may be an older man. And he also seems comfortable in the red-light district - he could be a regular punter and probably known to them.

He knows the area well - he either works, lives or comes to the area to play. In all five cases he has taken the women's clothes off. Is it that he is worried about DNA or has he taken them as a trophy? I would suspect he has taken jewellery such as rings or earrings.

He has taken great risks to dump the bodies in public because the area has been crawling with police. As a result, I think he is confident and incredibly arrogant to dump two bodies within a few hundred yards of each other for the police to find. It is rare behaviour.

WHY take the risk unless you are showing off? We are talking about a serial killer who will soon be as famous as any of the other serial killers, such as the Yorkshire Ripper.

He is organised and in control without any doubt at all. He has had the nerve to dump at least one body in view of a busy road.

The killer may be confident he will not be caught. He will be fascinated by the coverage of the case on TV and almost certainly watching the police appeals to the public for information and to him to give himself up.

He will believe: "I've been recognised as a killer, the police recognise they are dealing with someone who is good at what they do."' To commit five murders is very skilful. Most killers only ever kill one person. It is rare to kill twice and rare to kill up to five people in separate events in such a short time.

Profiling serial killers is never an exact science but it is possible to draw up a range of characteristics this man is likely to have. He will probably be between 25 and 40 - no one younger would have the maturity to kill five women. He will also be white, because virtually no serial killers are black or Asian. He is passionately driven by a fantasy almost as if he is following a film which is playing in his head.

But he is also calm and organised. He can transport a body in his car, in the boot or back seat covered up. He must have a reliable car because he cannot risk breaking down at night. He probably has a job because of the car and is able to make the girls think it is worth their while to take a ride with him.

If the killer is not single his job requires him to work irregular hours or shifts so that he does not have unexplained absences, particularly at night when the girls go missing. It is unlikely to be a nine to five job. It is quite likely he does not work in an office, factory or building, but on the streets part of the time. These girls work the streets and are good at spotting potentially dangerous customers, but this guy is getting under their radar.

One of the possibilities is that the killer is someone the girls felt comfortable with - a taxi driver, church worker, nurse or even a policeman. He is somebody who does not raise suspicion by being in a red-light district.

Links



Click Here For The Latest Police Briefing

The following link from the BBC has information on each location in the murder trail and a profile of the victims.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/6175797.stm

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For a free and comprehensive guide to the world of forensic psychology, including several pages dedicated to criminal profiling don't forget to visit the main forensic psychology website.

http://www.all-about-forensic-psychology.com/

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The Psychology of the Serial Killer

Visitors from the UK will be aware that the news story currently gripping the country concerns the murder of several prostitutes, promting fears that a serial killer is on the loose. To date five bodies have been found near Ipswich over the past fortnight. The bodies of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol and and Anneli Alderton, were all found in rural locations around Ipswich between the 2nd and the 10th of December. On the 12th of December two more bodies were found which are being formally identified today. Police strongly suspect that the bodies will prove to be the missing prostitutes Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls.



Since the story broke a number of criminal psychologists, forensic psychologists and other behavioural scientists have commented on the case.

Dr Ian Stephen a psychologist working with police on the current investigation stated that The killer is losing control and there is a compulsion taking over, he also claims that the recent deaths may be part of a larger killing spree, adding; "What may be an issue is that when he starts running out of prostitutes not becoming available, he will see any woman who's out on the street at night on their own as a prostitute and will target them as a possible victim."

Writing for the BBC Dr Stephen said the suspect was probably male, white, in his late 20s, 30s or 40s, and is someone who probably had been let down by women in his past.

"He maybe had a mother who has let him down, or a mother who has abandoned him," he added. "In some sense he may have idolised women and then they let him down." He also notes that the killer may be on "some kind of Christian mission" believing he is "clearing the world of prostitutes".

Speaking on BBC radio, Film-maker and criminologist Roger Graef said that he also believes the killer may have had negative experiences with women in the past.

"You can calculate if it's prostitutes that it's somebody who was damaged by a woman, who is ashamed of his own impulses possibly, who is, you know, a religious zealot, who feels that they're corrupting the whole of mankind."

During an interview for the BBC newsnight, Professor David Canter, from the Centre for Investigative Psychology, said that while "almost certainly" the killings were the work of one individual, there were too few details yet to form a detailed profile of the suspect.

"It is difficult to assume anything at the moment without a lot more detailed information," he told BBC Newsnight...because serial murders are rare, it is difficult to generalise about the killers involved..The two or three individuals that come to mind have all been rather disturbed but they have very different characteristics...Some of them found their way into these sorts of murders really from a life of crime where they just become ever more extreme in their criminal acts and in their violence...Some serial killers also have a "bizarre understanding of the nature of women" and may attack women because they believe they are "seductresses who destroy their virtue",

Professor Canter inicated that it was more likely that the case would be solved by using police records to try to discover where the suspect may be based rather than building an "intense personal description of the offender". To read more about the work of Professor David Canter and the Centre for Investigative Psychology just click on the following link.

http://www.all-about-forensic-psychology.com/david-canter.html

Video Link

To watch a video of consultant forensic psychologist Dr Ian Stephen discussing the case just click on the following link.

Click Here To Watch The Video

M.S Criminal Justice: Concentration in Forensic Psychology: The University of New Haven

The University of New Haven:



M.S. Criminal Justice: Concentration in Forensic Psychology:

A key objective of the master of science in criminal justice program is the education of men and women planning careers in the field of criminal justice as well as the advanced training and education of those who staff the agencies and institutions of the criminal justice system.
The program stresses a broad understanding of the social and behavioral sciences, the institutions of the criminal justice system and the development of methodological tools and skills.

The courses in the area of social and behavioral science stress the theories of the behavior of man in a social order and the sanctions imposed by different societies to control the social behavior of their members. Courses in the area of criminal justice institutions stress the study of the existing system from the police through the courts, the penitentiaries and the system of probation and parole. The methodological courses expose students to the tools of research and analysis and the contribution of systems analysis to the efficient administration of the criminal justice system.

Concentration in Forensic Psychology

This program, offered jointly between the department of criminal justice and the department of psychology, it is designed for those individuals currently working in the justice system, or those planning a career working with the justice system, who are interested in how psychology and law interact in the administration of justice.

Contact Details

School of Public Safety andProfessional Studies
300 Boston Post RoadWest Haven, CT 06516

Tel: 800.DialUNH (800.342.5864)

e-mail: adminfo@newhaven.edu

Website: Visit The Course Webpage

About New Haven



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A detailed directory of Forensic Psychology Degree courses.

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A detailed directory of Forensic Psychology Degree courses.

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Forensic Psychology Newsletter

I've just sent out the December edition of the forensic psychology newsletter. Highlights this month include an excellent article by clinical psychologist and psychology professor Christopher Cronin which provides some much needed clarity in relation to the complex and confusing issue of academic degree accreditation.

As well as Professor Cronin's article there is a review of what's new on the forensic psychology website, the best of the Forensic Psychology Blog Posts and a detailed listing of all the free forensic psychology resources available.

Click Here To Read The Latest Edition of The Newsletter

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A Great Collection of Forensic Psychology Gift Ideas.

Visit The Forensic Psychology Store

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Quality Psychology Blogs

I've just added a new page to the forensic psychology website showcasing the best psychology related blogs on the Internet. Many of the featured blogs cover topics that are directly related to the world of forensic psychology. In addition, you will be able to access lots of well written and very well informed content relating to psychology in general.

Visit The Psychology Blogs Webpage

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A Great Collection of Forensic Psychology Gift Ideas.

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