SEXUAL HOMICIDEThe More Extreme Version of Murder

Nicholas P. Bordignon

Simon Fraser University

TRIGGER WARNING

The Following Contains Graphic Images

Topics to CoverWhat is sexual homicide?How is it different from homicide?How do we define it?Why do we even need to define it?How prevalent is it?What are the general typologies/explanations?Why won’t you be able to sleep tonight (case

studies and real life examples)?

Homicide• Illegal

• Perpetrated by at least 1 offender

• Involves at least 1 victim

• The victim is dead• Not sexual

Sexual Homicide• Illegal

• Perpetrated by at least 1 offender

• Involves at least 1 victim

• The victim is dead• Sexual

Homicide v. Sexual Homicide

What is the difference?Legally: NothingThere are no sections of the CCC that deal

specifically with sexual murderBeyond legal implications, there is no mention of

the crime’s sexual nature

While sections do cover murders committed during sexual crimes, they provide only a charge for First Degree Murder

Definition of Sexual HomicideSexual homicide if the crime scene exhibits at least

one of the following:

1. the victim is found naked or partially clothed;

2. the genitals are exposed;

3. the body is found in a sexually explicit position;

4. a foreign object has been inserted into a body cavity;

5. there is evidence of sexual activity; and

6. there is evidence of substitutive sexual activity or of sadistic sexual fantasies

Definition of Sexual HomicideSexual homicide if the crime scene exhibits at least

one of the following:

1. the victim is found naked or partially clothed;

2. the genitals are exposed;

3. the body is found in a sexually explicit position;

4. a foreign object has been inserted into a body cavity;

5. there is evidence of sexual activity; and

6. there is evidence of substitutive sexual activity or of sadistic sexual fantasies

Alternative Definitions“Sexual homicide involves a sexual element

(activity) as the basis for the sequence of acts leading to death” (Burgess, Burgess, and Ressler, 1992, p. 123)

Murder can be characterized as sexual when the sexual factors and the homicide are simultaneous or very close in time. (Carter, Mann and Wakeling, 2007)

Complicating the DefinitionMass murder: refers to a murder involving at least

three victims, killed in the same location, at the same time.

Serial murder: comprises a series of events, at different locations, separated from one another by transition, or emotional cooling-off, periods.

Mass and serial murders may or may not be sexual. Similarly, serial and single-victim sexual murders may or may not be sadistic.

So Why Bother With Definitions?Despite similarities, sexual homicide is still distinct

from regular homicide

The sexual nature of the crime introduces;Different motives for the crimeVictim selection processOffending behaviours/M.O.

These all have implications for our explanation of the crime as well as prevention strategies

Public Perception of Sexual Murderers Media influences our notion of crime, criminality,

and criminals Media sensationalizes extreme cases of violence

Depicts extraordinary examples as ordinaryExaggerates the prevalence and risk of occurrence

In the context of sexual homicide, media gives attention to serial sadistic murderersCrimes are extremely violent and bizarreCaptivates the public’s attention and fears

Prevalence of Sexual Homicide

Rare: 0.09 sexual murders per 100,000 people

The Canadian national rate of sexual murders have remained stable over the last three decades. 1974 to 1986: 305 sexual murders in Canada, or

about 23 per year (Roberts & Grossman, 1993). In 1999 there were 22 sexual murders,

representing 4.1% of all murders (Porter & Woodworth, 2001).

What Causes Sexual Homicide? A number of theories have been developed to

explain sexual murder. However, it is difficult to draw a definitive theory

due the low prevalence of sexual homicide. Some theories rely solely on clinical observations Others developed from studies of small samples.

Many of the theories are derived from studies analyzing a single category of sexual murderers, specifically serial sexual murderers or sadistic sexual murderers (Fox & Levin, 1999).

Serial Sexual Murder Prevalence Serial sexual murderers represent a small

proportion of sexual murderers. USA: approximately account for 2% of sexual

murderers (Geberth, 1995). Canada: serial sexual murderers constitute only

3% of incarcerated sexual murderers (Beauregard & Proulx, 2002).

In view of these statistics, it is surprising that a major proportion of the sexual murder literature focuses on serial sexual murderers.

Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris

Known as the Tool Box Killers, these two men abducted, raped, tortured, mutilated and murdered five female teenage girls from June – October 1979

Modus Operandi Prior to the murders, the pair picked up over 20

female hitchhikers There practice runs allowed them to develop their

ability to lure girls into the van The van was constructed with a bed, under which

they stored tools, beer, soft drinks and marijuana

Modus Operandi • The duo would offer victims a ride home,

coupled with the promise of marijuana, beer or soft drinks.

• If the target refused, they would pull alongside the victim and pull the victim through the sliding door.

• Once inside the van, Norris would violently subdue the victim with duct tape while Bittaker would blast the stereo to drown out the sound of screaming.

Victims

Name AgeLucinda Shaefer

16 Raped by Bittaker and Norris; manually strangled; strangled with wire coat hanger and vise-grip pliers

Andre Joy Hall

18 Raped twice by Bittaker, once by Norris; forced fellatio, posed for Polaroid pictures, stabbed with ice pick in ear, manually strangled

Jackie Gilliam

15 Posed for pornographic pictures, raped three times, tape recording of assault, forced to pretend to be Bittaker’s cousin, breasts stabbed with ice pick, vice grip pliers used to tear off part of nipple; ice pick in ear; manually strangled

JackyLamp

13 Posed for pornographic pictures; molested touching, bludgeoned with hammer; manually strangled

Shirley Lynette

16 Bittaker tormented her in van; slapping; beating with fists, hammer; ordered to scream loudly; beating breasts with fists; inserting pliers into orifices; vaginal and anal rape; assault was voice recorded; 25 sledgehammer strikes on the elbow; strangled with coat hanger wire and pliers

Contextualizing Sexual HomicideSerial, sadistic sexual murders are atypical

Overemphasized in media and researchThe exaggerated prevalence of sadistic sexual

murders has limited public knowledge of alternative typologies/explanations of sexual homicide Frustration-Anger theoryMisogynist/Dominance theory

No simple explanation: each case must be examined in their own context and circumstances

Homicide as Consequence to Crime?Is murder the end goal of the sexual assault or did

the victim simply succumb to injuries sustained during the assault?While the offender intended the sexual assault,

they did not intend to murder the victim

Is murder committed to eliminate witness?The assault and homicide are two separate eventsMurder for the sake of reducing the risk of

apprehension and punishment

Questions?