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SERIAL KILLERS - Methods of Identifying Them
According to the National Institute of Justice, serial murders are characterized by committing at least two killings. Additionally, the killer and victim are typically unrelated. Be a People Watcher!
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Guest Article by Rob Csikalla
Serial Killers - Methods of Identifying Them
Serial killers come in all sorts of packages, both "weird" and "normal." Park your car near the return cart "kiosks" in parking lots; they provide a barrier from criminals. Report strange behaviors to neighborhood security personnel. They can investigate for you.
Jennifer Ewing, a 54 year-old mother of three who was kidnapped off of metro Atlanta's Silver Comet Trail while cycling, never dreamed that when she awoke one balmy morning in July 2006, she would soon be brutally raped and killed. Millions of people succumb to disease or accidental death on a daily basis. But for the family members of those killed by serial murderers, the death is always a surprise. So that leads me to wonder where all of these serial killers and rapists are hiding?
It would appear that their identities are always made known after the fact. But in a society that prides itself on its psychological savvy, how is it that authorities are never able to spot these degenerates BEFORE they begin picking off their prey?
WHO ARE THE KILLERS?
There are two confusing, yet accurate determinations that can be made regarding serial killers: A person who looks "eccentric" is not always a serial killer, and The person who appears "normal" is very often not. Those statements being made, how is anyone to be able to spot a sick, sadistic killer in a society full of people who thrive on living both grandiose and inconspicous lives?
According to the National Institute of Justice, serial murders are characterized by committing at least two killings. Additionally, the killer and victim are typically unrelated. The killings are usually sporadic, though many of them contain common threads of consistency. These factors, in and of themselves are enough to thwart the attention of investigators who are constantly on the hunt of unidentified serial murderers. There have been several studies on the general characteristics that serial killers seem to possess.
One study in particular, conducted and reported on by R. Ressler, A. Burgess, and J. Douglas (authors of "Serial Killer Characteristics") ---provided some of the following distinctive traits amongst adult killers:
*white male, typically between 25 and 35 years of age.
*"moderate" intelligence *usually with an IQ of 105-120 *poor performance in school (usually behavioral issues, prefer solitude over lots of social activity).
*difficulty in maintaining work.
These are very broad characteristics. And over the years, they have been broken down into various categories and subcategories---so much so that it seems virtually anyone these days can be considered a threat to the community.
TIPS FOR WOMEN : PROTECTING YOURSELF AGAINST SOCIAL PREDATORS...
At the risk of echoing the sentiments of everyone who has ever provided tips for avoiding (and saving oneself) from violent crime, there are actually some things that you can do to be "on guard." For women, who appear to be the target of many bizarre and violent crimes, the standard rules apply. Most killers choose victims who have no connection to them. However, some use their cunning ways to attract their prey. Keeping that in mind, here are a couple of things that women (especially single ones) should look out for when encountering new men:
OVER-ATTENTIVENESS :
It's a wonderful thing to attract the attention of a man you find alluring. But women should be wary if their newest love interest has too much interest in the very beginning of a friendship. Suffice it to say, if a new male friend is overly insistent that you spend time alone together, it may be a red flag. Furthermore, women should be wary of men who are a bit too eager to spend exorbitant amounts of time together in the very beginning of a friendship. When you decline his offers or advances, do you perceive a "shift" in his mood? Does he seem annoyed, but then immediately corrects his facial expression? If you detect even an ounce of possessiveness, it's time to step back and assess the situation. Your new friend may not be a serial killer. But at the very least, he may be abusive in more way than one.
HOW'S THE FAMILY?:
When getting to know a new man, take hints from your conversations. You don't have to dig too deeply into a man's past to get a feel for what his family life was like. Does he speak of his parents? If so, in what context? Not all people who have uncomfortable childhoods grow up to murder innocent human beings. But you should be suspicious of "abnormal" relationships with Mom, or frequently mentioned violent episodes with Dad. Listen also, to the way that he speaks of friends and other associates of his. A fairly strong network of close friends will more than likely be able to shed lots of light on the true personality of your new suitor. Be wary if he never speaks of friendships with others, and spends excessive amounts of time alone.
"STRANGERS WITH CANDY"...
History dictates that women are certainly not the only victims of serial murderers. As a matter of fact, men and children are very often the target of these criminals for a variety of reasons. The study conducted by Ressler, Burgess, and Douglas reveals that many killers grew up with some sort of deviant sexual behavior. Moreover, many are found to have wet the bed, or to have taken an interest in killing/maiming small animals. While these activities are rarely discovered by others during adulthood, some of the "traits" make their way into the killers' adult behavior. Most of the ways that one can protect him/herself are rooted in simple common sense:
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS:
How many times have you heard this one? The problem is that everyone hears this warning. Yet many people fail to follow the advice. In actuality, many serial killers scope out the locations from which they plan to abduct their victims. In many cases, they study a location for weeks or even months, simply to determine the best course of action. The victims they choose are those who are usually extremely familiar with the area (like stores and other public places). And because of this, the victims take for granted that they can be easily abducted and/or killed. The best thing to do is to take a really close look at where you are at all times. Be cognizant of where you park your vehicle. When in supermarket parking lots, try to park directly next to one of the shopping cart buggy "return kiosks." First of all, it will be difficult for someone traveling in another vehicle [like a van] to sneak up on you and abduct you. Furthermore, you will have less distance to walk while transfering groceries from your cart to your vehicle.
BE A PEOPLE-WATCHER:
One thing that you can do to protect yourself is to watch the people around you. There is a normal ebb and flow to the movement of those who are acting out of habit. Most people are typically preoccupied with their shopping lists or other errands. They are easy to spot. You should be wary of the person who, when you look up---appears to have already been eyeing you. Anyone who has sat down in an airport, awaiting the departure or arrival of a flight, understands the fine art of people-watching. Not necessarily considered "spying" per se, people-watching can simply be defined as paying acute attention to hidden details. Go with your gut feeling. If someone strikes you as strange, (even if they look "normal")---there may be a valid reason why you should keep your distance.
WALK WITH "PURPOSE":
It is true that most predators, serial killers or not, will not prey on someone who walks with "purpose." This means that one's head should be held high; and steps taken should be deliberate and firm. People who appear to be daydreaming, or otherwise lost in thought are prime targets for all sorts of crimes. You don't have to paint a scowl on your face. But it truly does help if you look as if you have somewhere to be, and the will to get there at any cost. Predators will more than likely see you as a threat to their plans.
REPORT STRANGE FINDINGS:
If policemen were everywhere they were supposed to be, there would be no more serial murders, or any crime for that matter. This is why public institutions place security guards on their premises. Places like shopping malls and public transit stations often have some sort of security personnel policing the area. While all suspicious activity does not warrant police interference, it is important to report any strange, or unsuitable behavior.
Millions of adolescents and teenagers are abducted and killed each year. Some of their deaths could have been avoided, had people in the communities in which they lived, reported some of the weird behaviors they noticed. Serial killer, Andrei Chikatilo, of Russia, murdered over 50 women and children between the years of 1978 and 1990. In many of the cases, he abducted his victims in places which were heavily populated. In retrospect, some people even recalled seeing him at various crime scenes.
It would be premature to assume that anyone who fits the "profile" of a serial murder actually is one. Just as it is wrong to assume that people who appear normal have no dark, hidden secrets. The world is simply too large to go about in fear of being slaughtered by a sadistic criminal. However, if you can understand how some of the most famous killers operate, there is the chance that you can protect yourself, and perhaps hundreds of others, from unnecessary harm.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rob Csikalla is a member and owner of the BGG Horror Forum and horror movies message board located at http://bgghorrorforum.proboards57.com Discussion includes splatter horror, classic horror films, upcoming horror movies and the latest in horror news.
www.mounted-police.00books.com
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