WK2 DISCUSSION QUESTION

In the week two assignment, the typology discussed were organized nonsocial offender

and hedonistic. I chose the organized nonsocial offender for the case studies because of how the

murderer controlled the three crime scenes, the victim's bodies were moved, and little evidence

was left at the crime scene. The behaviors of organized nonsocial offenders are believed to show

a level of premeditation and control. As a result, the crime scene will reflect a planned and

careful approach. The pristine crime scene is viewed as a result of the organized offender's social

skills and ability to deal with interpersonal problems. The interactive crime scene displayed that

the murderer has a type of victim, and that's female college students in their late teens to early

twenties. The murderer shows aggressive acts with the sexual assaults and manual strangulation

of the victims. The murderer also has a preferred location to dispose of the bodies, and that is the

river. Lust, thrill, and power/ control serial killers are the most likely kinds of serialists to dispose

of the bodies of their victims. The reasons they dispose of the bodies are varied, and whether the

killer intends for the body to be found can be a factor (Holmes and Holmes, 2009).

The other typology used to describe the murderer in the case study is hedonistic.

Hedonistic killer’s crimes are process-focused, generally taking some time to complete (Holmes

and Holmes, 2009). Sexual gratification or personal gain drives hedonistic serial killers. In the

case study, all three victims were tortured and sexually assaulted. Hedonistic killers thrive on

deviant behavior that enhances and creates sexual arousal through acts of violence and murder.

Apprehension of lust or thrill hedonistic serial murderers can be especially difficult if they are

geographically transient (Holmes and Holmes, 2009).

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Criminal profiling can give a visual of the suspect based on the physical and nonphysical

evidence of the crime scene and witness statements. Profiling can identify personality traits,

psychopathologies, behavior patterns, and demographic characteristics like age, race, and

geographic location, which can all be included in the description. Criminal profiling can help

narrow down the suspect list and implement techniques that are more likely to result in an arrest.

Profiling can also be helpful when there is little to no evidence at the crime scene; profiling can

help law enforcement find another resource or tool. The profile can be updated or expanded if

more murders occur or new information is discovered.

The limitation of criminal profiling is that it can lead to inaccurate profiles and cause the

criminal investigation to stall. Assuming specific predictions about offenders and suspects based

on data from previous cases or clients is also a limitation in criminal profiling. In the course

reading (Beasley, 2004), varied circumstances demonstrate the difficulty of identifying a precise

motive, considering the combinations of influences on a given offender at a particular time. Such

is the nature of human behavior in general and criminal behavior in particular.

References

Beasley, J.O., 2004. Serial Murder in America: Case Studies of Seven Offenders. Behavioral

Sciences and Law 22(3), 395-414

Holmes, R. M., & Holmes, S. T. (2009). Profiling violent crimes: An investigative tool (4th ed.).

Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc

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