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47 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Homicide
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The unlawful killing of one human being by another human being
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Non-negligent murder
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-Willful killing of one human being by another
-1st degree: premeditation (considered beforehand) and deliberation (planned, not impulsive, meant to kill the person), death penalty possible; ex. a man decides to kill his wife, rather than divorce her, to ensure he maintains sole custody of their children -2nd degree: no premed or deliberation but malice intended (intent to cause harm); ex. a man kills his wife during an argument over how to best discipline their children -felony murder: the commission of a homicide during the course of another felony (e.g. robbery, arson), usually considered a first-degree murder; ex. a man commits arson in order to collect insurance, not knowing that his wife is home and she dies from smoke inhalation |
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Non-negligent manslaughter
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-Killing of another person without malicious intent and/or without reckless disregard for life
-voluntary manslaughter: intentional killing of another person under extenuating circumstances such as provocation or emotional duress, "crime of passion" - not planned or necessarily in control/meant to kill; ex. man kills his wife when he finds her spanking their child with a belt |
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Negligent manslaughter
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-Killing of another person through gross negligence
-categorized separately from other homicides -involuntary manslaughter: killing of another person through some type of negligent behavior; ex. driving while dialing his cell phone, a man slams into a tree, killing his wife who is seated next to him |
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Justifiable homicide
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-Killing of a felon by a peace officer in the line of duty OR killing of a felon during the commission of a felony, by a private citizen
-categorized separately from other types of homicides (since not illegal) -ex. man kills his wife as she attempts to strangle their child |
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According to FBI, homicide is NOT:
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-Fetal death (must be able to live on his/her own to classify as homicide)
-Suicide -Traffic fatalities -Accidental deaths -Assaults to murder* -Attempts to murder* *must be dead to be homicide (not included in UCR) |
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Problems with UCR data
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1. Only accounts for crimes known to LEOs (some victims don't tell police which leads to underreporting)
2. Voluntary reporting (some police don't report) 3. Definitions of homicide limited by UCR guidelines 4. LEOs may interpret cases differently across jurisdictions -1 & 2 lead to underreporting, seem like less crime than in reality -3 & 4 make so local and national data don't match |
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Trends
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-All crime decreasing
-Homicide decreasing: 14,700 homicides in 2010 -Less homicides than offenders since may have committed crimes in other years than when convicted, multiple offenders to 1 victim, etc -Largest proportion of homicides are single victim/single offender (48%) -Only 6% of multiple homicides were committed by a single offender |
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Supplemental Homicide Data
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-Race
-Age -Relationship to offender -Weapon used -Missing information |
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Average Homicide
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-Male victim (10,000 m: 3,000 f)
-Male offender (10,000 m: 1,000 f) -Black/white similarly rep. among victims (raw data) but black overrep. when look at overall population -Slightly more black offenders than white in raw data, blacks again overrep when looking at overall pop. -Intraracial (within same race) -Know attacker (50%) and half of that are killed by family members -Gun (least common is personal weapon like body) |
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Nettler's motivations for homicide
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1. Self-defense: ex. Aileen Wuornos (self-defense against rape)
2. Love: "Crime of passion", jealousy/love triangle; ex. Catina Salarno (broke up with bf who then killed her because suspected she was seeing someone new) 3. Lust: sexual homicides (erotic asphyxia, necrophilia, rape-murder, mutilation of sex organs, sadistic homicide [overkill, above and beyond to satisfy a sexual urge]); ex. Jerry Brudos (killed 4 women in 60s as outlet for his shoe fetish, removed victims feet and put them in high heels) 4. Lunacy: mental illness; ex. David Berkowitz (Son of Sam killer, killed 6 in NYC in 70s, said neighbor's dog told him to kill) 5. Psychopathy: lack of empathy, flat affect (emotionless), and can appear normal, etc; ex. Ted Bundy (killed at least 30, appeared normal, good at deception, didn't care what he did to victims, emotionless when talking about them) 6. Wealth & Power: war & invasion, gang violence; ex. prison gangs 7. Terrorism: intent to spread fear; ex. 9/11 |
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Self defense vs self-preservation
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-Self defense: against unlawful attack (felony), attack was unprovoked, defender did not intend death (just trying to stop them); excusable
-Self preservation: afraid of what they will do so kill first; not excusable -Self defense = Aileen Wuornos - life was threatened during assault, danger of imminent harm, unprovoked -Self preservation was Dudley & Stevens - cabinboy not a threat, intended to kill him |
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Lunacy vs. Psychopathy vs. Insanity
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-Lunacy= out of touch with reality
-Psychopathy = recognize reality -Insanity= legal term; not knowing difference between right and wrong at time of crime and not able to control behavior at time of crime |
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Twinkie Defense
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-Legal slang for any improbably defense for commission of a homicide
-Coined in Dan White case: White was depressed (as displayed by switching from healthy to sugary diet with Twinkies), argued depression caused him to go crazy and shoot San Fran Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, convicted of voluntary manslaughter |
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Roid Rage Defense
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-steriods = anger = murder
-ex. Chris Benoit (WWE wrestler killed wife Nancy and son Daniel then self in 07) and Gordon Kimbrough (bodybuilder stabbed and strangled gf Kristy Ramsey in 90s after "exploding with rage" when found she was seeing other men, guilty of 1st degree murder) |
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Gay Panic Defense
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-Homicide committed because of temporary insanity resulting from psychiatric disorder known as "homosexual panic" (brief reactive psychosis from unwanted homosexual advances)
-ex. Joseph Biedermann (in 08 was tried for 1st degree murder in stabbing death of Terrance Hauser, claimed neighbor made unwanted sexual advance towards him so he stabbed him in self defense [not as self defense claim more insanity], acquitted) and Matthew Shepard (McKinney plead not guilty after plea of NGRI was disallowed but convicted, claimed McKinney's traumatic past intensified his reaction of rage) |
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Columbine
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-Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
-April 20th, 1999 in Littleton, Colorado -15 dead (12 students, 1 teacher, themselves) & 24 injured -Not targeted victims -Bombing as well as shooting -No "trench coat mafia" -Not outcasts necessarily |
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Kid-Killer epidemic
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-1980s and 90s saw marked increase in juvenile homicides compared to previous decades
-Rose every year from 84-93 (peaked in 93 at rate of 14) -Fox & Levin suggest: increase in crack cocaine trafficking among juveniles (arm selves because competitive), increase in teens acquiring guns due to increased availability, increase in gang activity & "subculture of violence" (violence is generally accepted) -Heide suggests: increases in abuse (matricide, patricide, parricide), "crisis in leadership and lack of heros" (lack of parenting so lack people to look up to, instead look up to negative role models) -Declining now which Fox & Levin attribute to contraction of crack cocaine market and drop in violence associated with dealing crack (community recognized violence and started to rectify ex gun buy backs); another explanation is medical advances so not dying -Now 5.3% of all homicides (no longer higher than pre '84 levels) |
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Child Killer demographics
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-More often male vs female (700 m: 75 f)
-More often AA than white (500 AA: 275 white) -Aged 13-18 mostly -Kill adult victims (200 adults: 100 under 18) |
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Limitations of Research
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-Based on case studies
-Case studies often drawn from psychiatric population, often conducted by clinicians -Don't know if these case studies rep the majority of juvenile offenders -What we have may not be the best info but it is the best available -Sometimes little consensus |
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Characteristics of kids who kill
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-Heide: psych dx, neurological impairments, intelligence, home environments, instances of other antisocial behavior, substance abuse
-Busch: come from criminally violent famillies, join gangs, struggle in educational pursuits, abuse alcohol |
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Psych Dx and JHOs
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-Findings mixed
-Studies from 40s-70s tended to find support -Some instances of psychopathology -Varied diagnoses given (no single dx): personality & conduct dx, ADHD most common -Possible problem with how samples generated |
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Neurological impairments and JHOs
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-Mixed findings
-Caused by head injuries, seizure disorders, other neuro disorders -Some research shows prevalence other research says rare -Problems with how samples generated |
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Intelligence and JHOs
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-Some found mental retardation but large number did not
-Some found below average IQ some above average -Regardless of IQ show problems in school with poor academic performance, class disruptions, learning disabilities |
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Home environments and JHOs
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-Often come from broken homes and have family with criminal records
-In cases of parricide, often evidence of child abuse, spousal abuse, parental drug or alcohol dependence |
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Anti-social behavior and JHOs
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-Some evidence that committed prior offenses or had prior arrests (others found no criminal history or that it varied with type of offender and victim/offender relationship)
-Evidence of fighting or other anti-social behavior has been mixed |
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Substance Abuse and JHOs
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-Not very much research on topic
-25% substance dependent -70% used substances -more likely to use alcohol (45% JHO: 28% control) -Some used during crimes (25%-43%) |
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Kip Kinkel
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-May 20, 21 1998 in Springfield, Oregon
-Kinkel home and Thurston High School -At age 15, killed parents and 2 classmates and 22 wounded with gun -brought gun to school and got suspended, disappointed parents for the last time, killed parents at home then drove to school and opened target -wrote a note talking about voices and not being happy -Confessed -Possible factors: psychiatric history, jealousy of sister, example set by other school shootings, expulsion as trigger event -Unusual because of multiple homicides |
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Neonaticide
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-Killing of a child under one month old
-Usually intentional -Ex: baby born unexpectedly, suffocated, and thrown in trash |
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Filicide
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-Murder of older children
-May be accidental -Ex: case of Kayla McKean, beaten to death after soiling her pants |
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Child Homicide stats
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-More common among low SES
-Recent decreases among AA but rates still higher than others because of proportionality in pop (even though raw #s similar, white #s higher) -Stability among Whites and other races |
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Historical reasons why parents kill
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-Female children killed most often because males more useful around house/work and removed need for dowry
-General economic hardship -Illegitimacy |
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Contemporary reasons why parents kill
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-Resnick:
1. Altruism 2. Removal of Impediments 3. Psychosis 4. Accident 5. Child unwanted 6. Spousal revenge -Fox & Levin: 1. Psychosis 2. Personality dx 3. Situational loss or trauma, including altruism and revenge against spouse 4. Accident |
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Altruism
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-mercy killing
-protect the child from an unjust world -real or perceived disability/abnormality -relieve suffering from birth defects and mental disability *motive seems to be the most common reason a mother kills her child |
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Removal of impediments
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-Child killed to restore parent's life chances like career aspirations, cover up extramarital affair, maintain relationship
-Ex. Susan Smith |
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Psychosis
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-Postpartum psychosis: severe break with reality after giving birth
-Religious delusions: ex. Mary Anne Stewart (crucifixion, thought child was Jesus, given probation and counseling, when got out wanted to see child walk on water and it drowned) and Andrea Yates (thought children had mark of the devil) -Mothers who kill are more likely to suffer from psychosis than fathers who kill |
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Accident
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-Parent does not mean to kill child
-"Battered child syndrome": punishment using physical violence resulting in death -Other accidents: shaking a baby until it stops crying, leaving child alone in bathtub |
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Unwanted
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-Young women who don't know they're pregnant (dispose of baby upon birth)
-Amy's Law: anonymously drop-off neonate at police station, ER, etc -most common reason for neonaticide |
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Spousal revenge
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-Murder of a child to get back at spouse or partner
-Seems to be least common reason parents kill children |
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Susan Smith
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-Oct 1994 in Union, SC at John D. Long Lake
Susan Smith, 23, killed 2 sons, Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 mos by letting car roll into lake (drowning) -Tom Findlay broke up with her in letter (trigger event), she reported abduction/carjack by black man, investigated and appealed on TV, failed polygraph, inconsistent stories, FBI profile, and fake crying -Confessed nine days later, convicted 2 counts of murder and sentenced to 30-life -Misconduct in prison with guards and requested new trial -Possible predictor: dysfunctional home life, alcoholic father, spousal abuse, father's suicide, molested by stepfather, multiple suicide attempts -Removal of impediments (possible reason) |
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Caylee Anthony
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-Heightened burden of proof (beyond a reasonable doubt vs preponderance of the evidence)
-No specific cause of death (suffocation vs drowning, couldn't tell because so decomposed), ruled a homicide but not much evidence/many questions left -Charged with 1st degree murder and capital case, very severe |
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Familicide
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-Duwe: killing of 4 or more family members in 24 hrs
-Wilson: killing of spouse/partner and 1 or more children -aka family slaying or family annihilation -most frequently observed form of mass murder (defined as killing of 3 or more people in one place at one time) |
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Familicide Perpetrators
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-Almost exclusively male (one of the greatest gender disparities observed here)
-Often patriarch (father, husband); ex. Ronald Gene Simmons -Sometimes a child; ex. Ron Defeo -Sometimes combined with suicide; ex. Chris Benoit -Wilson and Daly classifies into angry (against spouse because of sexual infidelity, real or perceived, or desire to end relationship, spousal abuse likely) or despondent (depressed, more likely to commit suicide) with both feeling sense of entitlement and propriety over spouse and children -Ewing and Holmes and Holmes said often feel loss of control over family and life in general, feel like a failure; children may be reacting to parental domination and control |
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Ronald "Butch" Defeo
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-Nov 1974 in Amityville, NY (112 Ocean Avenue)
-Victims: Ronald Sr. & Louise Defeo (parents), Mark & John Defeo (brothers), Dawn & Allison Defeo (sisters) -Mass murder under Holmes (3+ fam members) and Duwe (4 members in 24 hrs) -6 counts of 2nd degree murder -History of conflict between father and perp (violent arguments, attempted shooting, faked robbery, fought over money) -Shoots father with rifle first, then mother, then brothers, then sisters (all in bed, covers females), cleans up and throws away evidence, went to work and attempted to call dad, went to gf house and called again, went to bar saying he couldnt reach his fam, then "discovered" bodies -Implicated as a suspect because of rifle boxes in room that matched murder weapon and police learned of faked robbery -Pled NGRI (atty talked about not being competent to stand trial) but found guilty |
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Ronald Gene Simmons
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-Largest family massacre in American History
-Christmas 1987 in Arkansas (lasted a couple days and over multiple crime scenes) -16 victims (14 fam members: wife, children, grandchildren, children-in-law, 2 on shooting spree after) by firearm (adults) and asphyxiation (children) -Covers all definitions of familicide -16 counts 1st degree murder, 4 counts attempted murder -Shoots up various establishments, takes hostage and tells to call police, goes peacefully, when police went to notify his family of the arrest found 5 bodies in house then searched 14 acre property, found 7 members in disturbed earth and 2 wrapped in plastic in trunks of cars -Previously wanted in NM on charges of incest (sleeping with 15 yr old daughter Sheila which resulted in child), fled to Arkansas to avoid charges and kept family in fortress -Blamed Sheila for relationship and child and that she got married -Possible reasons: hide evidence of incestual affair? stop wife from leaving? to get back at Sheila for ruining the family and getting married? reunited with Sheila in death? -Both despondent and angry components -Found competent despite hallucinations in jail, resisted insanity defense (maybe because wanted to be executed), convicted and executed |
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James Ruppert
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-Easter Sunday 1975, Hamilton, OH
-11 victims (mom, bro, sister in law, their 8 children) at mom's house by various handguns -long history of brother being the favorite, long history of failure, attempted suicide as teen, collects guns (reps. masculinity and becomes part of personality) and drinks heavily, bro marries former gf and has kids, becomes paranoid claiming mom/bro out to get him, unemployed and living with mom, depressed and mom berates him about not paying rent (trigger event) -Friday before inquires about silencer for gun then went shooting, Sat went to bat and mentioned having a problem, Sun everyone came over for Easter, gets guns for target practice, Leonard asks "How's the volkswagon Jimmie?" (trigger because believed bro was sabotaging his car), shoots bro then sister in law then mother then children, takes less than 5 mins, waited 3 hrs and called police -charged with 11 counts of aggravated murder, NGRI plea (paranoia), guilty on all counts by judge panel, appealed and overturned, then found guilty of mom and bro murders NGRI for others -Classified as angry for mom and brother relations but also despondent because of unemployment, etc |
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Holmes and Holmes Types of Killers
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1. Depressive: under care of mental health professionals, commit suicide and take loved ones with them
2. Mysoped: sadistic child offender, equated with sexual gratification 3. Sexual killer: often a serial killer, connect sexual violence and murder with personal sexual gratification 4. Psychotic: lost touch with reality 5. Psychopathic: character dx that results in being unable to experience feelings of social responsibility, guilt, shame, empathy, etc; concerned only with self |
