Serial KillersChristine MaroldaMary Daugherty

Why Serial Killers?

(“Paramount”)

Background Information

● FBI definition of “serial killings”○ Series of 3+ ○ In the United States○ Have common characteristics that suggest the

possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors (“Serial Murder”)

● 4 types of serial killers○ power and control○ visionary○ mission○ hedonistic (Chase)

(“Seal and Motto”)

Organized & Disorganized CriminalsDisorganized, Asocial Offenders Organized, Nonsocial Offenders

IQ below average, 80-95 range IQ above average, 105-120 range

socially inadequate socially adequate

lives alone, usually does not date lives with partner or dates frequently

family emotional abuse, inconsistent family physical abuse, harsh

usually a high school dropout may be college educated

may contact victim’s family to play games usually contacts police to play games

kills at one site, considers mission over kills at one site, disposes at another

usually leaves body intact may dismember body

responds best to counseling interview responds best to direct interview

not interest in police work a police groupie or wannabee

(O’Connor)

Nature vs. Nurture

(“Current Worldwide”)

PET Scan

From left to right: “normal” person, murderer with a troubled childhood, murderer with a relatively standard

childhood (Sabbatini)

(Sabbatini)

Gary Ridgway (The Green River Killer)

● Grew up poor with violent parents.

● Was described as friendly but strange.

● Had a low IQ and struggled in school.

● At sixteen he stabbed a six year old boy.

● Began Killing at thirty-three

● Committed more murders than anyone in the US.

(“Gary Ridgway Biography”)

Ted Bundy● Grew up in a good,

christian home with four other siblings.

● Was popular in high school.

● Graduates from UW with a psychology degree.

● Started killing at 28.● Killed over 30 women,

all with a similar appearance.(Bell, Rachael)

Quotes From Ted Bundy

“We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands, we are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow.”

“I didn’t know what made people want to be friends. I didn’t know what made people attractive to one another.

I didn’t know what underlay social interactions.”

“I don’t feel guilty for anything. I feel sorry for people who feel guilt.” (Vronsky)

Jeffrey Dahmer

● Parents absent during childhood

● Outcast in high school

● Dropped out of college, joined military

● Raped, killed and dismembered 17 boys and men (“Jeffrey Dahmer”) (Martinez)

Dahmer Articles

"Jeffrey Dahmer." Milwaukee's Finest."Jeffrey Dahmer." Milwaukee's Finest.

Dennis Rader● Appeared to be an

average boy growing up.

● Developed fantasies about bondage, control, and torture at an early age.

● Poor grades in college, joined the air force.

● BTK killer.● Convicted of killing

10.(“Dennis Rader-BTK”)

Dorothea Puente

● Grew up in an orphanage● Multiple abusive

relationships● Brief time in jail for check

fraud● Killed for Social Security

checks ● Murdered 3-9 elderly

and/or disabled at her boarding house (“Dorothea Puente”), (Vronsky)

(“Female Serial Killers”)

Puente’s Boarding House

(“Home of Notorious Serial Killer”)

(“Dorothea Puente.” True Crime XL.)

Conclusion

Based on our research, we conclude that, while environmental and societal factors are important, psychological factors have the most impact on the development of serial killers. There is not just one factor, but the perfect combination of both nature and nurture that create serial killers.

Work Cited● Bell, Rachael. “Ted Bundy.” Crime Library. TruTV, 2013. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

● Chase, Jennifer. "Investigating Four Types of Serial Killers." CrimeSpace. Ning, 7 Jan. 2012.

Web. 7 Nov. 2013.

● "Current Worldwide Homicide/Murder Rate." ChartsBin. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

● “Dennis Rader-BTK Killer-a Biography.” Blogspot.com. N.p. N.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

● "Dorothea Puente." NNDB. Soylent Communications, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

● "Dorothea Puente." True Crime XL. N.p., 24 July 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

● "Female Serial Killers." Dorothea Puente. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

● “Gary Ridgway Biography.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

Works Cited, cont’d.

● "Home of Notorious Serial Killer Where Elderly Tenants Were Buried in the Yard Opens as a

Macabre Tourist Attraction (and There's Even a Model of the Murderer Holding a Spade)." Mail

Online. N.p., 13 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

● "Jeffrey Dahmer." Milwaukee's Finest. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

● "Jeffrey Dahmer." Serial Killers Murders. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

● Martinez, Phillip. "Third Coast Daily." Inside The Jeffrey Dahmer Files Comments. N.p., 1 Oct.

2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

● O'Connor, T. "Profiling Serial Killers." MegaLinks in Criminal Justice. N.p., 04 Nov. 2012. Web.

04 Nov. 2013.

● "Paramount Re Announces "Zodiac." HighDefDiscNewscom RSS. N.p., 18 Sept. 2007. Web. 21

Nov. 2013.

Works Cited, cont’d.● Ramsland, Katherine. "The Many Sides Of Ted Bundy." Forensic Examiner 22.3 (2013): 18-25.

Criminal Justice Abstracts. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.

● Sabbatini, Renato M.E. "The Psychopath's Brain." Brain & Mind. Brain & Mind Magazine, n.d.

Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

● "Seal and Motto." FBI. FBI, 21 May 2010. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

● "Serial Murder." Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ed. Robert J. Morton. U.S. Department of

Justice, 21 May 2010. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

● Vronsky, Peter. Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters. New York:

Berkley, 2007. 3-28. Print.