The Crime Of Serial Murder And Mass Murder - 1289 Words

Rotten Apples The act of Serial murder and mass murder have similar characteristics, however they are not the same. Before they can be defined, it is necessary to first understand what exactly constitutes murder. According to the United States Code-section 1111, murder is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought (FindLaw, 2014). With that said, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, â€Å"the term serial murder implies that there are at least three different murder events at three different locations, with a â€Å"cooling off† period between each event† (Ramsland, 2009). Individuals who perpetrate the crime of serial murder are referred to as serial killers. The term â€Å"serial killer† was coined in the†¦show more content†¦While serial murder has a definition that contains certain specific characteristics, there is no generic profile of a serial murderer. According to the FBI, each serial killer is individualized by t heir motivations for killing, method of operation, and behavior at the crime scene. However, lack of remorse or guilt, impulsivity, predatory behavior, the need for control, and sensation seeking are all common traits to most serial killers (Federal, 2005). Modus Operandi, commonly known as MO, is also a characteristic that may individualize one serial killer from another. The MO reflects what actions the killer performed to commit the crime in question. This includes everything from the ruse used to lure, type of restraint used, to the way that the killer actually consummates the murder. A serial killer’s MO can change, as he learns from his past mistakes and improves his tradecraft. On the other hand, a Signature is a discernable regularity that occurs at each crime scene event that can link a particular homicide to others. According to FBI profiler John Douglas, a signature, â€Å"is a ritual, something the subject does intentionally for emotional satisfaction -- somethi ng that isn’t necessary to perpetuate the crime† (John Douglas in Freeman, 2014). Some serial killers pose their victims in a certain way or leave them in a particular location after consummating the murder. Another form of signature may be the technique employed to