Profile of a Killer

Presented by: Caroline Scholte

Psychology and Criminal JusticeModule 2, Assignment 2

January 21, 2009

BASED ON ALBERT FISH

VICTIMOLOGY Child between the ages of 8 and 15 Preferably male but not strictly Child is naive and trusting, easily persuaded,

perhaps low level of intelligence Child is smaller in stature to be easily

subdued Child is from a low socioeconomic background

to draw as little attention as possible to their disappearance

Lured from area where adult supervision is lacking

(Bardsley, 2009)

PAST CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

Prior criminal record unassociated with this crime

No previous violent crimesPetty theftPetty larcenyObscene letters verbalizing his

fantasy’s usually sent to females seeking their acceptance

(Bardsley, 2008)

PRECIPITATING EVENTS

Abandonment by his wife Psychotic break due to this event

causing him to revisit his childhood traumas such as the whipping and beatings he endured

Sudden unexplained urges to kill Opportunity and means to abduct or

lure victims(Bardsley,

2008)

OFFENDER DEMOGRAPHIC

Older white male - 55 to 65 years old No outstanding physical features Small in stature Soft harmless look Quiet, soft spoken Average education Blue collar worker Lacks permanent residency Divorced/no close familial ties No interpersonal relationships or memberships Unremarkable in the community

(Bardsley, 2009)

OFFENDERS BACKGROUNDEarly childhood abuse and or traumaLoss of one or both of the parents resulting in feelings

of abandonmentNo attachment or positive emotional bonds formed in

childhoodAverage level of education No roots ever establishedMultiple unsuccessful relationships in adulthoodPrevious history of mental instability resulting in

institutionalization Suffers from: Antisocial Personality Disorder Narcissist

Sadist Sociopath – Primary psychopath

(Argosy, 2009)

DETAILS OF THE CRIME Location and tools are prepared prior to obtaining the victim Victim is chosen and observed by the offender for the opportunity

to abduct or lure them Often candy or other treats are used to gain the victims trust and

allow for the abduction Once at the previously chosen location, the victim is subdued,

stripped of their clothing and restrained to allow the offender complete control for his sadistic torture including whipping and other physically painful actions

Victims are then castrated and left to bleed to death or they are strangled

Once the victim is dead, the offended will decapitate the body and the body will be carved where by the buttocks, lower abdomen, genitals, nose, mouth and ears will be wrapped in brown paper.

The remaining body parts will be further dismembered and discarded

The offended will leave the location with the victims chosen body parts to be cooked and consumed over the next one to two weeks

(Bardsley, 2008)

MARKERS OF A REPEAT OFFENDER

Major mental illness and previous violence Instability in social relationships or inability to maintain

lasting relationships Job instability increases the likelihood of committing

violent acts. Antisocial, manipulative and exploitive individuals Psychopaths: no expression of guilt or remorseAccepting no responsibility for the crimes Being removed from a parent’s care before the age of

16 Being subjected to cruelty or physical abuse by

caregivers. Lacking a stable and supportive environment Sadistic fantasies, intrusive homicidal thoughts, self-

injury Impulsiveness (Argosy, 2009)

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SIMILAR CRIME

Missing child (primarily a boy) between the ages of 8 and 15

Child is from a lower socioeconomic status Stranger seen in the neighborhood shortly

before the child went missing Body parts of a child are located usually in a

remote area or an abandoned building:the head is severed from the torsothe legs are cut off just bellow the buttocksthe torso is incomplete and is missing the

area from lower abdomen to just below the buttocks

the ears, nose and mouth are missingno sexual organs are located

(Bardsley, 2008)

REFERENCES

Argosy Online Lecture. (2009) Psychology and Criminal Justice: Module 2: Mental health and Disorders and Risk Assessment. Retrieved on January 17, 2009 from http://myeclassonline.com/ec/crs/default.learn?courseID=3255063&Survey=1&47=4729216&ClientNodeID=404511&coursenav=2&bhcp=1

Marilyn Bardsley. (2008) Serial Killers: Most Notorious: Albert Fish. Retrieved on January 18, 2009 from http://www.trutc.com/library /crime/serial_killers/notorious/fish/gracie_1.html

I HOPE THIS HAS BEEN

INFORMATIVE AND WILL SERVE TO

GUIDE YOU IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU