Lunch on your own 1:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Case Presentation: Lewis Lent Serial Murder Moderator: SSA Robert J. Morton Speakers: SSA Gerard F. Downes Captain Frank Pace Sr. Serial murder crime scenes can have bizarre features that may cloud the identification of a motive. These murders and the nom de guerre Jack the Ripper have become synonymous with serial murder. The responsibilities and duties of the prosecutor should be clarified initially in the investigation to avoid potential confusion while the investigation progresses. The goal of the Symposium was to bring together a group of respected experts on serial murder from a variety of fields and specialties, to identify the commonalities of knowledge regarding serial murder. In 19th century Europe, Dr. Richard von Krafft-Ebing conducted some of the first documented research on violent, sexual offenders and the crimes they committed. Many have been involved for years in the study of serial murder, and they have collectively published dozens of books and articles on a number of diverse topics related to serial murder. Any verbal comments made in conjunction with written press releases should be coordinated and rehearsed with the lead investigator(s), prior to the release. Desirability is described as the appeal of the victim to the offender. Fibers from an afghan. Derrick Todd Lee, an African-American, killed at least six women in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. From 1974 until 1988, BTK sent a series of five communications to the media, citizens, and the police in which he not only named himself BTK (Bind them, Torture them, and Kill them) but also claimed credit for killing a number of the victims. Over the past twenty years, law enforcement and experts from a number of varying disciplines have attempted to identify specific motivations for serial murderers and to apply those motivations to different typologies developed for classifying serial murderers. This allows them to do what they want, whenever they want. Rather, there are a multitude of factors that contribute to their development. It was recommended that agencies develop emergency response plans and establish MOUs at the local, state, and national level. Do not comment on the particulars of the current case. A murder book or series of murder books should be created and maintained. The NCAVC also conducts research into violent crime from a law enforcement perspective. WebIn 1999, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) estimated the percentage of inmates suffering from a significant mental condition at 16 percent. Vulnerability is defined as the degree to which the victim is susceptible to attack by the offender. Trace evidence may provide important lead information pertaining to offender characteristics, vehicle and tire descriptors, and environmental clues that relate to killing scenes and modes of transportation used to move bodies. Offenders committing a crime for the first time are inexperienced. WebMost serial killers who have identifiable psychosis work in a disorganized manner such that their reign is extremely short (Fox & Levin, 1999). To combat these issues, attendees suggested the following: Access to critical incident counselors. The majority of serial murderers, however, are not acquainted with or involved in a consensual relationship with their victims. Do not misrepresent ones credentials or experience. These cases are reported to law enforcement upon discovery of the crimes and draw immediate media attention. Computerized systems promote the analysis of a tremendous amount of data. Tom Jensen Mr. Brian McDonald, Esq. Causality and the Serial Murderer. This distinguishes a serial murder investigation as a more nebulous undertaking than that of other crimes. Identifying a homicide series is easier in rapidly-developing, high profile cases involving low risk victims. Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, and the However, a policy statement issued by law enforcement to the media would be appropriate, and below is an example of such a statement: The medias role in reporting the facts of a case is a major public service. There is also growing recognition by criminal justice professionals of the wider scope of forensic techniques and available tests. Previous definitions of serial murder specified a certain number of murders, varying from two to ten victims. The team should consist of two to four investigators from within the involved agencies, as well as the crime analysts. Assistant Director Michael J. Wolf (retired) and Executive Assistant Director J. Stephen Tidwell for their support of this project and for their willingness to dedicate the resources necessary for its successful completion.Foreword. Regular meetings with owners and managers of media outlets during the course of a serial murder investigation may help alleviate these issues. Inaccurate information distributed by the media regarding a serial murder investigation should be identified and addressed by law enforcement as soon as possible. Jon Mattsen Det. It is essential for media releases to be closely coordinated with investigative strategies. The team must remain intact throughout the investigation, to maintain the case integrity. There are no specific combinations of traits or characteristics shown to differentiate serial killers from other violent offenders. Understanding psychopathy becomes particularly critical to law enforcement during a serial murder investigation and upon the arrest of a psychopathic serial killer. As all information must be shared seamlessly, teleconferences may not sufficiently allow for the flow of information. Individuals who have developed an expertise in a given field recognize that before an opinion can be rendered, complete and accurate information must be obtained and analyzed. Tunnel vision and impulsivity should be avoided. Desirability involves numerous factors based upon the motivation of the offender and may include factors dealing with the race, gender, ethnic background, age of the victim, or other specific preferences the offender determines. If responsible professionals are requested to provide statements about ongoing cases, the following guidelines are suggested: Speak in general terms only. They gain experience and confidence with each new offense, eventually succeeding with few mistakes or problems. There are no specific combinations of traits or characteristics shown to differentiate serial. the 1984 San Ysidro McDonalds incident in San Diego, California; the 1991 Lubys Restaurant massacre in Killeen, Texas; and the 2007 Virginia Tech murders in Blacksburg, Virginia). The NCAVC is comprised of four units: Behavioral Analysis Unit-1 (Counterterrorism/Threat Assessment), Behavioral Analysis Unit-2 (Crimes Against Adults), Behavioral Analysis Unit-3 (Crimes Against Children), and the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP). They should also, with managements support, have the ability to select a cadre of investigators and support personnel and assign such personnel as the investigation dictates. Morning Break 10:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Panel: Evaluation of Known Offenders Moderator: SSA James J. McNamara Speakers: Judge Ann Keary Dr. Park Dietz Dr. Fred Berlin 11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m. This person would, in conjunction with other members of the investigative effort, prepare releases, make statements, and update the media on behalf of all involved jurisdictions, including forensic laboratories and medical examiners offices. Symposium attendees also discussed the importance of the behavioral aspects of the investigation and recommended the FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit be utilized for the multitude of services it provides to include crime scene analysis, offender profiles, case linkage analysis, interview strategies, and prosecution strategy. mental disorder in people convicted of The publics interest in serial murder cases makes serial murder an attractive storyline for the media. He abruptly stopped communicating in 1988. It was the opinion of the experts at the Symposium that it is not possible to regulate or officially censor comments made by talking heads during serial murder investigations. Case management and investigative decision making are still controlled and managed by the law enforcement agencies. WebSince then, data suggest, the number of serial killersdefined by the National Institute of Justice as those who commit two or more separate murders, often with a psychological Their bodies were discovered five days later in a river, 40 miles from their residence. Serial Killers The racial diversification of serial killers generally mirrors that of the overall U.S. population. Early Dismissal (Breakout team leaders briefly meet) 5:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Research Poster Session with Refreshments & Snacks, 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Panel: Task Force and Major Case Management Issues Moderator: MCS Kirk R. Mellecker Speakers: Chief Cal Walker Long term investigations Major Gary Terry Problem recognition Mr. Lloyd Sigler Major case management Mr. Ken Farnsworth - Multi-jurisdictional issues Mr. Jim Bell Lead control issues 10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. A major problem identified by attendees at the Symposium was the issue of micro-management. Evonitz fled South Carolina and was sighted in Florida. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. This only lends more confusion to the true dynamics of serial murder. Because it creates arbitrary guidelines, the confusion surrounding this concept led the majority of attendees to advocate disregarding the use of spree murder as a separate category. The BTK killer first emerged in 1974 and, over time, killed a total of ten victims. These commentators are commonly referred to as, 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast. IAFIS provides positive identification through comparisons of individuals based on the submission of fingerprint data, through both ten-print fingerprint cards and latent fingerprints. The PIO must be aware that any verbal comments they make to augment information in the written press release can negate the strategy of the written press release. The publics interest in serial murder cases makes serial murder an attractive storyline for the media. The investigation continued for an additional five years, until a girl was abducted in South Carolina. These individuals are among the worlds most knowledgeable experts on serial murder. Supervisors should also act as buffers between investigators and the other levels of command. Primary to the investigation is sufficient manpower to successfully investigate and prosecute the case. He was married with two children, was a Boy Scout leader, served honorably in the U.S. Air Force, was employed as a local government official, and was president of his church. WebSome experts estimate that women comprise approximately 15 percent of serial killers. Afternoon Break 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Breakout Session #2 5:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. Breakout Team Leader Meeting, 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast 8:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker J. Stephen Tidwell Special Agent in Charge, Critical Incident Response Group 8:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Panel: Prosecution of Serial Murder Cases Moderator: SSA Mark Safarik Ms. Barbara Corey Mr. Anthony Savage, Esq. Public comments on an active investigation with incomplete or incorrect information are merely speculation and can seriously jeopardize an ongoing case and place citizens at great risk. Keeping Bullying and Violence Out of Schools, 1 in 3 COVID Survivors Struggle With Mental Health Issues Months Later, 1 in 3 U.S. Public Health Workers Feels Threatened During Pandemic, 1 in 5 American Adults Say They Have Relative Killed by a Gun. WebThe FBI estimates that there are approximately 20 active serial murderers in the United States at any given time (Diamond, 2012); however, precise estimates are dicult to establish, as some serial killers successfully evade law enforcement and are Examples of these types of crimes are black widow killings, robbery homicides, or multiple killings involving insurance or welfare fraud. Of Serial Killers Additional personnel may be brought in for specific tasks as necessary. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Ideally, reports should be computer generated to ease the communication issues. "We need to reduce the stigma associated with these diseases to enable patients to receive appropriate and adequate psychiatric medication and other treatments," they added, "by actually talking to patients and their significant others, we have the opportunity to save lives.". The majority of serial killers who are sexually motivated erotized violence during development. To further the publics interest in these cases, the media uses people who are willing to speak as experts on the topic of serial murder and more specifically, individuals willing to comment on the current, featured case. When consulting with forensic scientists, investigators should prioritize forensic examinations based upon their potential investigative value. A growing trend that compounds the fallacies surrounding serial murder is the. I deeply appreciate the work that went into this publication. Establishing good working relationships with other departments prior to the crisis, through networking, scheduled meetings, and joint training. In some cases, agencies submit evidence to different laboratories, even though those agencies are located adjacent to one another. Even if a motive can be identified, it may not be helpful in identifying a serial murderer. These commentators are commonly referred to as talking heads, and it appears that there is no shortage of people willing to do this. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Chief of Forensic Psychiatry Walter Reed Army Medical Center, R. Stephen Mardigian Supervisory Special Agent (Retired), FBI, John Martin Sergeant Texas Rangers San Antonio, Texas, Jon Mattsen Detective King County Sheriffs Office Kent, WA, Brian M. McDonald Deputy Prosecuting Attorney King County Seattle, WA, Michael Medaris Senior Policy Advisor U.S. Department of Justice, Dr. J. Reid Meloy Associate Professor Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Diego, Frank Merriman Lieutenant (Retired) Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, Homicide Bureau, Thomas Monahan Lieutenant Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Paul Morrison District Attorney District Attorneys Office Olathe, KS, Dr. Wade Myers Chief of Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University of South Florida, Mike Napier Supervisory Special Agent (Retired), FBI, Thomas M. Neer Supervisory Special Agent, FBI CIRG, NCAVC, Dr. Debra Niehoff Neurobiologist Biotext Newtown, PA, Frank Pace Captain New York State Police Loudonville, NY, John Perry Special Agent Virginia State Police Roanoke, VA, Dr. Tom Petee Professor Auburn University, Pat Postiglione Sergeant Nashville Metropolitan Police Department, Patricia Prezioso Assistant Attorney General Division of Criminal Justice Trenton, NJ, Mark W. Prothero Attorney at Law Hanis Greaney Law, PLLC Kent, WA, Dr. John T. Rago Professor of Law Duquesne University, Lee Rainbow Senior Behavioural Investigative Advisor National Crime & Operations Faculty Bramshill Hook, Hampshire, United Kingdom, Dr. D. Kim Rossmo Department of Criminal Justice Texas State University, Dr. Gregory B. Saathoff Associate Professor of Research University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Bruce Sachman Special Agent in Charge (Retired), OIG Veterans Administration New York, NY, Dr. Gabreille Salfati Professor John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Christina Schaub Crime Analyst, FBI CIRG, NCAVC, Carlo Schippers Captain Dutch National Police Agency The Netherlands, John H. Shultis Senior Investigator New York State Police Latham, NY, Lloyd Sigler Supervisory Special Agent (Retired), FBI, Howard Smith Sheriff Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office Spotsylvania, VA, Vito Spano Chief Investigator New York State Attorney Generals Office, Faye Springer Senior Criminalist Sacramento County Forensic Services Laboratory, Jayne M. Stairs Crime Analyst, FBI CIRG, NCAVC, Suzanne D. Stiltner Crime Analyst, FBI CIRG, NCAVC, Dr. Michael Stone Professor of Clinical Psychiatry Columbia University, Dirk Tarpley Special Agent, FBI Kansas City Field Office, Ron Thill Investigator San Diego County District Attorneys Office, Melissa L. Thomas Supervisory Special Agent, FBI CIRG, NCAVC, Roger Thomson Sergeant Montgomery County Police Department Rockville, MD, Ronald Tunkel Supervisory Special Agent, ATF CIRG, NCAVC, James Van Allen Detective Sergeant Ontario Provincial Police Orillia, Ontario, Eva von Vogelsang Detective Inspector National Criminal Intelligence Department Stockholm, Sweden, Mary E. Walsh Producer CBS News Washington, DC, Arthur E. Westveer, Jr. Assistant Professor Virginia Commonwealth University, Jeannine Willie Assistant Manager California Department of Justice Missing Persons DNA Program Sacramento, CA, Glenn Woods Superintendent Royal Canadian Mounted Police Ottawa, Ontario Canada, Wilma B. Wulchak Management and Program Analyst, FBI CIRG, NCAVC. The media will recruit talking heads, whether true experts or pseudoexperts, to offer their opinions on current cases, when they have no official role in the investigation and no access to any of the intimate facts of the case. Figure 1. WebThe percentage of adults who had received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional in the past 12 months decreased with age, from 11.6% among those aged 1844 to 9.1% among those aged 4564 to 5.7% among those aged 65 and over. Dating back to ancient times, serial murderers have been chronicled around the world. When an expert is retained by the media, having the experts qualifications listed on a public website would offer the community the opportunity to assess the experts authenticity and credibility. However, since the definition was to be utilized by law enforcement, a lower number of victims would allow law enforcement more flexibility in committing resources to a potential serial murder investigation. Individuals whose employment lends itself to interstate or transnational travel, such as truck drivers or those in military service. WebMost serial killers do not have such opportunities to travel and keep their killings close to home. WebThe sensationalized images of serial killers presented in both the news and entertainment media suggest that they either have a debilitating mental illness, such as psychosis, or A common problem in serial investigations occurs when data is not entered into the electronic database in a timely manner. Serial murder is a relatively rare event, estimated to comprise less than one percent of all murders committed in any given year. Symposium attendees provided a number of suggestions regarding media issues: Identify one spokesperson as the Public Information Officer (PIO), to speak on behalf of the investigation. There have been several serial killers who actively communicated with the police or the media. Attendees at the Symposium identified successful investigative practices for solving serial murder cases. Establishing liaison with each of the victims families is the simplest way to counteract this. The team must remain intact throughout the investigation, to maintain the case integrity. The brutality of the crime scenes; the senseless, repetitive acts inflicted on the victims; and a sense of helplessness in failing to catch the offender are all factors that may impact the emotional well-being of investigators involved in a serial murder case. The first case occurred on September 9, 1996, when Sophia Silva disappeared from the front porch of her house. The following suggestions were provided regarding data management issues: In order to avoid time lags, reports should be written as soon as the investigative lead is completed. Many U.S. Mass Shooters Had Untreated Mental Illness: Study This case spawned many legends concerning serial murder and the killers who commit it. These events typically involved a single location, where the killer murdered a number of victims in an ongoing incident (e.g. The relationship between psychopathy and serial killers is particularly interesting. This may be somewhat problematic, since there are crime laboratories that will not duplicate forensic examinations. BAU-2 staff members have developed significant expertise on the subject of serial murder and regularly provide operational assistance, conduct research, and provide training on issues related to serial murder. Another area in which forensic science can play an important role is in the recovery and examination of trace evidence. Attendees also suggested the utilization of standardized training for homicide investigators, crime analysts, and medical examiners. A small group of experienced homicide investigators, under the direction of the lead investigator(s), is far more effective than a large number of less experienced investigators or investigators who are experienced in different areas of criminal activity. She was found in October of 1996, in a swamp, 16 miles from her residence. Dr. Hare and his associates developed the Psychopathy Check List Revised (PCL-R) and its derivatives, which provide a clinical assessment of the degree of psychopathy an individual possesses. To assist law enforcement in narrowing the pool of suspects, attendees at the Symposium suggested that broad, non-inclusive categories of motivations be utilized as guidelines for investigation. place of residence, employment, or residence of a relative). He attended church regularly, read the Bible at home and at work, and talked about religion with co-workers. Welcome and Introductions SSA Mark A. Hilts, Unit Chief, NCAVC, BAU-2 SSA Stephen E. Etter, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge NCAVC SA Robert J. Morton, NCAVC, BAU-2 8:30 a.m. 9:15 a.m. Panel: Serial Murder Myths, Scope, Definitions, and Typologies Speakers: SSA Robert J. Morton Myths and urban legends Dr. Eric Hickey Terms, definitions, typologies Dr. Tom Petee Previous studies 9:15 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Panel: Pathology/Causality Moderator: Dr. Gregory Saathoff Speakers: Dr. Debra Niehoff Biological/Neurological perspective Dr. Robert Hare Psychopathy Dr. Jay Corzine Criminological perspective Dr. Wade Myers Developmental perspective 10:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. The exception to this would be those few killers suffering from a severe mental illness. To address these discrepancies, attendees at the Serial Murder Symposium examined the variations in order to develop a single definition for serial murder. This may require daily monitoring of news broadcasts and print media by investigators, to identify the incorrect statements or misinformation. Serial murderers, like all human beings, are the product of their heredity, their upbringing, and the choices they make throughout development. SA Mark Young (retired) 12:15 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Liaison must also be maintained with the numerous support entities both inside and outside the task force including the prosecutors office, the forensic laboratory, the medical examiners office, and surrounding law enforcement agencies. This often causes the killers to take more chances, leading to identification by law enforcement. Due in a large part to the efforts of the professionals who attended the Symposium, there has been significant progress over the past few years in understanding serial killers and the crimes they commit. After a high-speed chase with police, Evonitz committed suicide. As was discussed previously in the investigative section, a single law enforcement officer should act as a liaison for each of the victims families. Together, these advances allow for a greater probability of successful recovery and analysis of evidence than was previously possible. The contents are based upon the notes taken during the presentations, panel discussions, and break-out group sessions. Its also been diagnosed among three of Health This will lead to a back-log of reports, containing pertinent and timely investigative information. It was not intended to be a generic definition for serial murder. Mental illness and violence: Debunking myths, addressing realities In some individuals the failure to develop adequate coping mechanisms results in violent behavior. The Symposium attendees reviewed the previous definitions and extensively discussed the pros and cons of the numerous variations. Information should be obtained, documented, and distributed in a standardized manner, to maintain consistency among different agencies. NCAVC staff members conduct detailed analyses of crimes from behavioral, forensic, and investigative perspectives. The system can search by geographic area or nationwide, depending upon the course of the investigation. The Green River Killer, Gary Ridgeway, confessed to killing 48 women over a twenty-year time period in the Seattle, Washington area. Press releases regarding the investigative effort should always have a positive tone. The topic of serial murder occupies a unique niche within the criminal justice community. Interestingly, Swango kept a scrap book filled with newspaper and magazine clippings about natural disasters, in which many people were killed. Morning Break 10:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Panel: Forensics in Serial Murder Cases Moderator: SSA Armin A. Showalter Speakers: Dr. Tracey Corey Dr. John Jack Kenney Dr. Lee Goff Dr. William Rodriguez Dr. William Haglund SSA Douglas Deedrick (retired) UC Thomas F. Callaghan 11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Particularly in high profile cases, intense media coverage concerning evidence issues and the work of crime laboratories has served to heighten this interest. When a supervisor attempts to personally direct every action in an investigation, rather than allowing investigators to perform their jobs independently, they exacerbate problems in these high profile investigations. There has been at least one attempt to formalize a definition of serial murder through legislation. There may or may not be overt sexual contact reflected in the crime scene. Serial murder cases are inherently newsworthy. This broad-based public fascination began in the late 1880s, after a series of unsolved prostitute murders occurred in the Whitechapel area of London. Rather, serial murderers may possess some or many of the traits consistent with psychopathy. What percentage of serial killers suffer from mental illness? The field of forensic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis and the legislation that allows DNA testing on a broader number of offenders has made some of the more remarkable advances. After gaining control of the victims, he either stabbed or shot them. It was a consensus of Symposium attendees that law enforcement and prosecutors should work cooperatively as the investigative and prosecution processes are inextricably linked. They communicated with the police by leaving notes, and they attempted to extort money to stop the shootings. He re-emerged in 2004 by sending a new communication to the media. These included: one or more offenders two or more murdered victims incidents should be occurring in separate events, at different times the time period between murders separates serial murder from mass murder. Rotation of personnel should only occur if requested by the investigator, or there are officer assistance issues. Research findings are refined into innovative, investigative techniques that improve law enforcements effectiveness against violent criminals and are shared with law enforcement and other disciplines through publications, presentations, and training. In serial murder investigations, the lead investigators must handle all crime scene activities and related leads, as each incident may be interwoven. In such cases, the agency should contact their neighboring jurisdictions or the FBIs National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime for assistance. The behavior of a serial murderer at crime scenes may evolve throughout the series of crimes and manifest different interactions between an offender and a victim. Press releases should always have very specific objectives. Consequently, law enforcement administrators must assign the most qualified investigator(s) to lead the current case. Retain records of unsolved homicide cases and the accompanying evidence until the case is closed. If additional personnel are needed to expand the task force, the reassignment should be for the duration of the task force, to insure continuity of investigative information. Many agencies are not supported by an actual crime analysis unit or do not employ experienced analysts.
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