Introductory Criminal Analysis What is Insanity?

Introductory Criminal Analysis

What is Insanity?

Introduction

No criminal is more feared and no one is harder to catch than a killer who selects his victims among strangers, who kills not for money, not in anger, not for revenge, but for a perverse pleasure in the act of killing itself, or out of a depraved compulsion from the dark corners of a twisted mind.

Clifford L. Linedecker, Thrill Killers

Insanity is a legal term. Medical profession refer to the specific mental disorder, such as schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.

The definition varies a little depending on which insanity rule is used. But in general terms, it means that a person is not responsible for criminal conduct if, at the time of the offense, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, he was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his acts.

Actus Reus(Criminal Act)

Mens Rea(Guilty Mind)

Concurrence

THE INSANITY DEFENSE

Field Trip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6-6di9GJ5M

First, it is Risky. The Burden of Proof (Clear and Convincing Evidence) is on the defendant. You generally admit the actus reus Juries hate it

As a result, it is hardly ever used. Generally only used in murder trials Used in less that 1% (.85%) of all criminal trials.

Finally, it is usually not successful. About 70% of all those who claim insanity withdraw the defense when the state appointed experts declare them to be sane. Only about 25% of those who claim insanity actually win at trial and 90% of those had been previously diagnosed with mental illness.

Kip Kinkel, 17, who shot 29 people in an Oregon school rampage John Wayne Gacy, killed 33 people. The "Killer Clown" who kept bodies of young men and boys buried under his Chicago home. David Berkowitz (Son of Sam), killed 8, controlled by a demon who possessed his neighbor’s dog. Ted Bundy, between 30 and 100 murders, would generally bludgeon his victims, then strangle them to death, then have sex with the dead bodies.

Jeffrey Dahmer At least 13 victims. He tortured and brutally murdered young men. He poured acid on his victims, dissected them, cut them into pieces and preserved their heads and genitals, Dahmer treated, preserved and decorated the skulls of his victims and used them to decorate his apartment. He ate the remains of his victims.

Introductory Criminal Analysis

Male Serial Killers

http://investigation.discovery.com/videos/crimes-that-shook-the-world-green-river-murders.html

New Field Trip

Gary Ridgway - Green River Killer

Murdered at least 49 womenMost of their bodies were dumped in wooded areas around the Green River in Washington, except for two confirmed and another two suspected victims found in the Portland, Oregon, areaThe bodies were often left in clusters, sometimes posed, usually nude. Because most of the bodies were not discovered until only the skeletons remained, four victims are still unidentified. Ridgway occasionally contaminated the dump sites with gum, cigarettes, and written materials belonging to others, and he even transported a few victims' remains across state lines to confuse the police.

The prosecutor explained his decision to make the deal by saying “We could have gone forward with seven counts, but that is all we could have ever hoped to solve. At the end of that trial, whatever the outcome, there would have been lingering doubts about the rest of these crimes. This agreement was the avenue to the truth. And in the end, the search for the truth is still why we have a criminal justice system... Gary Ridgway does not deserve our mercy. He does not deserve to live. The mercy provided by today's resolution is directed not at Ridgway, but toward the families who have suffered so much.”

Criminal Investigative Analysis:

Key FunctionsAnalysis Direct examination

of reports

Collection of criminal information

available to investigators

Direct examination of evidence and

photographs

Crime scene reconstruction

Criminal personality profile

Interviewing/interrogation

practices

Major Considerations

Identifying serial murder cases

Males inmostcases

Commit second and/or subsequent

murder

“Cooling-off” period

Motive generallyfinancial and/or thrill

seeking

Spree Killer

Seeks elimination of individuals considered competitors or subjects of paranoid delusions

Killings result of single eventCan be of long or short durationMurders which involve family

members generally attempt to seek power, control, and revenge.

Mass Murder

Killing several victims

simultaneously

Anything beyond threevictims

Withinone

event

In oneplace

Massmurder

Norris Seven Rituals of Murder

Aura phase Trolling phase

Murder phaseCapturephase

Totem phase

Wooingphase

Depression phase

Framing: Serial Sexual

HomicidesCollect

data

Assesssituation

Reconstruct crime

Formhypothesis

FBI Profiling System

FBI profiling system Three basiccategories

MixedDisorganizedOrganized

The Disorganized Killer

Mental disorderCommits a delusional

related homicide

UnplannedChaotic

Significant evidence leftat the crime scene

Spontaneouscrime scene

The Organized Killer

Hedonistic needsIntelligent planning,Cunning, and stealth

Respected member ofcommunity

Middle-classjob

Neat appearance and compulsive

Educated

Offender ProfileAge, sex,race

Employment

Personality

Criminal history

Marital status

Emotionaladjustment

Analysis of criminal act

Sequence ofevents during offense

Sexual adjustment

Work habits

Motive foroffense

Mood of offender before, duringand after offense

Socialadjustment

Residence in relation tocrime scene

Lifestyle Geo-forensic pattern analysis

Staging: Smoke and Mirrors

Designed to throw police

off track

Someone closeto victim

Attempts to distanceself frommurder

Criminal Geographic Targeting

Dr. Kim Rossmo Developedsoftware

CGT

Hunt serialkillers

Criminal Investigative Analysis: Victim Profiling

The right victimThe right locationPresents

opportunity for planned sexual homicide

Fantasies Need for violenceCore behaviors

Center on victim preference

Victim frequently a stranger

Victim of opportunity

Victims share characteristics

Offender preference

Evaluation: CIA and Profiling

Focus on investigation = 72%

Locate possible suspects = 20%

Identify suspect = 17%

Assistprosecution

= 6%

No assistance

= 17%

104 unsolved cases:profile seen as helpfulgenerating leads, suggestingmotives, confirming findings

Conclusion

Serial killerwill repeat

crimes

Coordinated efforts

essential

Anticipatethe criminal

mind

Criminal investigative analysts

are on the frontier

Opportunities to reveal

excellentcriminal

information

Introductory Criminal Analysis

Female Serial Killers

Investigative Analysis: Female Serial Killers

Those are the quiet killers, every bit as lethal as male serial murderers, but we are seldom aware of one in our midst because of the low visibility of their killing. Eric W. Hickey

Investigative Analysis and Female Serial Killer

CharacteristicsKill for psychological gainKill for financial gainUnderlying sexual and power

themesWhile both ideal typologies have

overlapping characteristics, there are dominant themes in the modus operandi.

Research: Female Serial Killers

Intelligent serial killers are more likely to get away with their crimes.

Female Serial Killers

Careful

Precise

Methodical Successful

Quiet

Based on 100 Cases Since 1900

According to Hickey, more than one-third of female serial killers started their murderous careers since 1970.

Average duration before detection:

9.2 Years

Society’s Definition of Caregivers

“Angels of Mercy”…Not “Death”Fortunately, most are the former.A few kill for the same “power

and control” reasons as male serial killers.

Male Serial Killer Motivation

Sadistic

Power

Sexual

Female Serial Killer Motivation: Male

Counterpart May Act in Her Behalf

InsuranceMoneyLifestyle

Female Serial Killer Motivation: Male

Counterpart May Act in Her Behalf

RevengeLove triangle

Sex

Holmes and Holmes: Female Serial Killers

Disciple

Power seeker

Hedonistic

Visionary

Comfort

Kelleher: 9 Categoriesof Female Serial Killers

Angel of Death Black Widow

Sexual Predator Revenge

Kelleher: 9 Categoriesof Female Serial Killers

Profit Crime Questions of Sanity

Team Killer Unexplained

Kelleher: 9 Categoriesof Female Serial Killers

Unsolved

Collapsed Typologies: Female Serial Killer’s Modus

Operandi

2Basic

Themes

Psychological

Economicgain

Female Serial Killers

2 Basic Sub-Themes

Power andcontrol

Sexual fantasies

Female Serial Killers

Seldom selects random victims, as disorganized male profile

Targets those who have disrespected, mistreated, or abused her in the past

Victims have caused significant degrees of: Discomfort Abandonment

Female Serial Killers

Misled Weakened her standing in society

She desires: Revenge Elimination of competitor who stands

in her way

Motivation

Females seldom kill in fulfillment of sexual fantasies.

Motivation is to regain order and control in a life perceived as unworkable or out of control.

Kill people they knowOften inside the home

Female Serial Killer Research

One-third report killing strangers.One in two had male accomplices.Murder for material gainUse poisons or pillsSource: Dr. Hickey

Case Illustration: Nurse Jane Toppan

26 years oldNurseWanted to kill more people than

preceded herGave lethal infections to 31 patientsSuspected in 70 other casesEventually confined to state mental

institution

Financial Gain: Serial Killers

Weisheit StudyOverall seventy-four percent of

female serial killers motivated at least partially for financial reasons

Balance killed exclusively for money

Psychological Gain: Lone Offender

Angel of Death

Power Seeker

Decides who lives or dies under

defective care

Motivation for Murder

Enhanced

Self Esteem

Respect Attention

Adoration

She ignores those who die because

she failed to resuscitate

them…

“Mr. Bond, they have a saying in Chicago:

Once is happenstance,

Twice is coincidence,

The third time it’s enemy action.”

Ian Fleming

Criminal Statistical Analysis

Conviction of nurse82 patients died in two-and-one-

half year period

Deaths in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Gregory Istre, epidemiologist with CDC pored over charts

Deaths in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

He was able to eliminate variables such as age, race, sex, medical history, severity of illness, procedures, surgery, surgeons, and therapeutic intervention as explanation.

The timing of the deaths pointed to only one nurse, Genene Jones.

Deaths in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

CPR event was 25 times more likely to occur when appellant was working.

As to 8 of the 9 patients who had recurrent CPRs on different shifts in the epidemic period, appellant was assigned to their care during each CPR episode.

FOCUS POINTS: Female Serial Killers

The level of murder in hospitals and nursing homes requires increased law enforcement attention.

Prevention = focus on health care providers.

FOCUS POINTS: Female Serial Killers

Structural pressures offer opportunities for serial murder.

Ideal for those who seek psychological gain and want to kill

Coordination, education, and proactive strategies needed

Female Serial Killers

Place specific Most often kill in hospitals

Leave no geographic pattern

Opportunities to kill without detection

are abundant

Female Serial Killers: Opportunities to Kill

Accessible and vulnerable victims

Induced quietlyMultitude of weapons at their disposal

Health care settings not perceived as murder scenes

Autopsies seldom performed

Congestive heart failure reasonable outcome

Hospital administrators reluctant to report incidents

Appropriate Legislation and Law Enforcement Proactive

Strategies

Set the stage for the protection of innocent victims

Motive + Opportunity + Vulnerable Victims = Serial Killing Opportunities

Conclusion

Criminal investigative analysis will not predict the female serial killer.

It will help identify potential suspects.

It helps avoid the “smoke and mirrors” of serial murder investigations.

Conclusion

Women have a special advantage in the social environment.

They aren’t the usual suspect when it comes to serial murder.