Serial Killer Essay

According to CNN 10, “Serial murders are relatively rare. Fewer than one percent of homicides during a given year are committed by serial killers, the FBI reports” (“Serial Killers Fast Facts”). The term serial killer was first coined in the 1800s; H.H. Holmes, 1890s, was considered the first serial killer in history, but many forget about Jack the Ripper, still unknown to this day, who terrorized the women of London during the early 1880s. There are numerous serial killers within society, but who is considered a serial killer? A serial killer is known as one that has committed two or more homicides, considerably one they believe is an “ideal victim”, within a certain timespan; These murders can span days, months, or even years, and take place

Some of these may include criminal history, absence of feelings towards murder, sadistic tendencies, and one who may have childhood trauma. One of the first warning signs to identifying a serial killer is criminal history; According to Laurence Miller, “Although many serial killers, when apprehended, are found to have no prior criminal record, other studies have found that more than half of serial killers and other multiple homicide offenders have a past criminal history” (Miller). For example, Richard Ramirez was a satanic worshiper; After he was diagnosed with epilepsy, Ramirez was encouraged by drugs plus became a juvenile delinquent succeeding in his drug addiction and high school dropout. One could say Ramirez also had childhood trauma; watching the homicide of his cousin-in-law, gory photographs, and gruesome stories from his cousin who returned from the war (“Richard Ramirez”). Not all serial killers have the same tendencies or trauma that Ramirez might have had. However, some may be so mentally controlled; they can have families and be good upstanding citizens but can be a murderer internally. For example, Ted Bundy lived with his girlfriend, Elizabeth, for numerous years; She had no idea she was living with a killer. It was not until his arrest, for running a stop sign, that she became suspicious of the homicidal maniac she was living

First, is the visionary type, which includes one experiencing psychosis. One might see or hear voices or imaginative objects/people. The visionary type is disorganized as their killings are random, dependent on one's mental state. They are delusional and unpredictable; When one experiences a psychotic break, they tend to the voices or visions to fulfill them. Richard Chase is an example of a visionary serial killer. Chase became delusional after years of neglect, alcoholism, and isolation. He believed consuming others' blood he would steer clear of Nazis from turning his blood into powder (Blanco). They may or may not have an ideology of an ideal victim. Next, hedonistic serial killers find enjoyment in the killing. Further classified into three subcategories: lust, adrenaline, and comfort. A lustful or sexually driven serial killer usually brutally rapes and tortures their victim and can be played out in fantasy, straightforward, or can be a pleasure drawn from necrophilia. Jeffrey Dahmer is a lustful hedonistic, with necrophilia, since he often fantasized about having sexual relations with his victims, post-mortem. A power or control-oriented type tends to assert their dominance and power over their victims; They instill feelings of helpless and fear onto their victims, to make themselves feel powerful. For example, Ted Bundy was a power/control-oriented type of serial killer with a motive of power and