Female Serial Killer Research Paper

Serial killers are something people love to research and investigate. Figuring out why serial killers do what they do is an interest of many people. When someone thinks about a serial killer a man like john wayne gacy comes to mind and people often forget that there are women serial killers. Women serial killers are rarely caught and are understudied because of this. There have been around 64 female serial killers in America since 1821 and there have been many many more male. Over 90% of serial murders are committed by a male offender which makes characterising male offenders a little trickier. Nevertheless the majority of male serial killers have common characteristics as do female serial killers. Although most people wouldn't think there

There are very few that are caught and the ones that are, often have very similar methods and reasons. With there being only 64 caught female serial killers in america since 1821, one would think that that methodology and victimology would vary but they don't. Female serial killers typically pick victims who they know and are close to. Most victims are children, the elderly, and ill people along with some healthy people. Female serial killers often pick typical gender professions such as nursing, that puts them close to weak victims. Female serial killers kill for power or money unlike their male counterparts. The average female serial killer is a white, middle or upper class, married christian who is fairly educated and is in her early 30s. Female serial killers kill with poison most often and any other methods are often impersonal and clean. The most curious thing about female serial killers is that they evade capture twice as long as male serial killers and most are not caught. This could be because they are overlooked by law enforcement or because they are more cunning as their motives are more for gain than pleasure. Male serial killers are much more abundant in any case and are studied much

Another main similarity between them is that most serial killers, male or female, are white. Could this be because white people are more prone to becoming serial killers or is it simply because caucasians are the majority in america? Another curious similarity is that both genders typically pick victims of the same race as them. The characteristic that all serial killers share is their lack of empathy. Researchers have found abnormalities in the brain that can cause a lack of empathy but often times it is unknown why some killers have a lack of empathy. Another characteristic serial killers share is they have an average or above average IQ. You have to be intelligent to evade law enforcement for at least three kills. One of the scariest similarities between serial killers is their ability to look and act like an average person. Most people who know them are shocked to find out the crimes they've committed. They are often very manipulative and are able to get victims without blitz attacking them. There are many more similarities between male and female serial killers but those are the most