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 There seems to be some debate as to what constitutes a serial killer, most of which centers around the number of people that need to have been killed before it is considered to be more than simply a one off. Most agree that a minimum number of two people must be killed with a ‘cooling off’ period in between for the perpetrator to be referred to as a serial killer.
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Murderers are thought to be:
- Male
- Early 20s
- From a dysfunctional family
- Previous criminal history
They have an inability to separate emotions, such as anger and frustration, from the people they believe are causing them; choosing instead to remove the cause i.e. the person! (Canter, 1995)
In early studies on homicide, researchers concentrated on sociological and structural factor such as:
- Demographic variables of offenders;
- Relationship to the victim(s);
- Method of killing used
The way in which the murderer interacts with the victim during the crime and how they deal with the body after death reveals a considerable amount about how they see the world and how they felt about the victim (Canter,1995). Professor Canter refers to three different types in his book “Mapping Murder”:
- Victim as Object: No consideration for the victim, the offender merely treats them as an object with which to play e.g. Fred West
- Victim as Vehicle: More of an awareness of the victim who often share symbolic importance and similar characteristics but frenzied violence may be evident e.g. Jack the Ripper
- Victim as Person: Offender may believe they can have an intimate relationship with the victim and that they are taking on the role of a hero
Jack the Ripper
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One of the most recognized murders of the 19th Century and he has never been caught! During August, 1888 and November, 1888, he is said to have murdered at least seven women in the Whitechapel area of London:
- Mary Ann Nichols
- Martha Tabram
- Annie Chapman
- Elizabeth Stride
- Catherine Eddows
- Mary Kelly
Dr Thomas Bond created a thought provoking profile of the person he believed committed these crimes (Axelrod & Antinozzi, 2002):
- No knowledge of surgical techniques
- Quiet, inoffensive-looking man
- Neatly dressed
- Middle aged
- A man of great coolness and daring
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The hunt for Jack the Ripper still continues and many speculations have been made about the person who could have committed these murders. In Patricia Cornwell’s book entitled “Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper – Case Closed”, support seems to suggest that the world-famous artist Walter Sickert is responsible. However, in Shirley Harrison’s book “The Diary of Jack the Ripper”, a diary written by James Maybrick, a cotton merchant from Liverpool, claims to have been responsible.
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| Fred & Rose West |
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Between 1967 and 1987, Fred and Rose West are thought to be responsible for the torture and murder of about 12 women including Fred’s pregnant lovers and children:
- Anna McFall (Fred’s pregnant lover)
- Rena Costello (Fred’s 1st wife)
- Charmaine West (Fred’s daughter)
- Shirley Robinson (Fred’s pregnant lover)
- Heather West (Fred’s daughter)
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In 1994, Fred and Rose were arrested and charged with the murders following a search of their home 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, branded “The House of Horrors”, where several bodies were discovered. Fred admitted to the murders whereas Rose did not and both were due to stand trial in 1995 but in January of that year, Fred committed suicide. Rose is now serving a life sentence.
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John Duffy (The Railway Rapist)
 During 1982 & 1986, Duffy raped and murdered women all around the South of England. He was arrested and charged with three cases of murder and seven cases of rape in November 1986. In February 1988, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison and since then a further 12 years have been added to his sentence for the due to the addition of a further 17 cases of rape.
This was the first case that Professor Canter was asked to help with and he was able to provide an accurate profile that subsequently led to Duffy’s arrest (Putwain & Sammons, 2002).
- Living near to the first cases in 1983
- May have been arrested in 1983
- Lives with a partner (wife/girlfriend) but probably has no children
- Mid to late 20s
- Approx 5’9”
- Right-handed
- Skilled or semi-skilled job that involves working at the weekends
- Quiet person with maybe one or two close male friends
- Little contact with women in the workplace
- A detailed knowledge of the railway system
- Considerable sexual activity prior to the attacks
- A previous criminal record, possibly for aggressive attacks under the influence of alcohol.
Peter Tobin
 In 1993, Tobin was charged with the sexual assault and rape of two 14 year old girls and was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison. He was released in 2004 but went on to murder Angelika Kluk in Glasgow in 2004. He was arrested for this crime and in May 2007 was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, in November 2007, the bodies of Vicky Hamilton and Dinah McNicol, who both disappeared in 1991, were found at Tobin’s previous residence in Margate, Kent and Tobin has subsequently been charged with their murder.
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