Przejdź do głównej zawartości

A Mass Murder





Violent interactions in which people are engaged are based on experiences and expectations of reality. For that reason, an understanding of violence and its extremes must consider the offender’s construct of reality. As was defined “behavior is the product of one’s own sense of reality regardless of the degree to which that reality matches the objective facts of that person’s life”. Moreover it has been  stated that the rationale behind scientific inquiries is that there is an attempt to understand the causes and outcomes of human actions in order to determine or formulate sets of “relatively simple explanatory principles laying beneath immediate appearances, and behind what people say [or do]…[in defining] the reasons for their actions”.  Therefore, violent offenders normalize their psychologically constructed violent propensities, realities, and motivations so as to normalize for themselves and within their life the violence they commit against others. The current trend in the characterization and classification of sexual/lust homicides attempts to use and evaluate the violent character of those homicides to determine the psychological predispositions of the offender by analyzing the patterns, controls, wounding techniques, wounding focus, and injuries suffered by the victim(s). Five fundamental assumptions permeate the current literature on sexual (lust) homicide:

1)  the sexual nature of the offense;
2)  agreement on the features and definitions of the activities associated with sexual (lust) homicides;
3)  the significance of offense activities as articulated by the offender’s violence;
4)  the validity of the offense/offender motivational models;
5)  the functionality of the models in the detection and identification of sexual (lust) homicide offenders.

“…there is perverse emotional colouring of the sexual ideas. Ideas physiologically and psychologically accompanied by feelings of disgust, give rise to pleasurable sexual feelings; and the abnormal association finds expression in passionate, uncontrollable emotion…this is…the case if the pleasurable feelings, increased to passionate intensity, inhibit any opposing ideas… the absence or loss of all ideas of morality, aesthetics and law”.

A homicide is generally classified as sex-related or sexualized when there is evidence or acknowledgment of sexual activity in the offense. Evidence of sexual activity characteristic of sexual or lust murder includes but is not limited to:

1)  the condition of the clothing or lack thereof on the victim;
2)  evidence of ejaculation or seminal fluid on, near, or in the body;
3)  sexual injury and/or sexual mutilation;
4)  extreme wounding (frenzied) or mutilation;
5)  substitutive sexual activity indicating fantasy, ritualism, and symbolism;
6)  removal of the victim’s personal belongings for keepsakes, including the taking of personal property, portions, or substances from the body;
7)  evidence of postmortem insertions into the body of the victim (whether in body orifices or wound areas).

Therefore, during the investigation of lust murder the collection of evidentiary materials is important. It is the understanding, and reconstruction, of the offender’s actions and activities that comprise the complete collection of evidence and presentation of evidentiary significance. The characteristics of lust murder behavior include but are not limited to access to the victim through such activities as stalking, breaking and entering, work, socialization, location, travel, and acquisitional planning associated with the routine activities of the victim or perpetrator. Lust murder behavior at the crime scenes associated with the violence is also apparent in the generalized forensic awareness of the offender demonstrated by the removal of evidentiary significant items or artifacts. No two sexual/lust murderers are exactly alike. Motivations differ, target preferences differ, and hunting grounds vary. Crime scene behaviors, victim targeting, acquisition techniques, and mobility influence the classification and typologies of offenders. Various typologies and classifications have been developed via the use of empirical and qualitative research, noting such behaviors that are frequently inconsistent and rival one another. Moreover, such typologies are often of limited use to investigators beyond providing some conceptual understanding of the offender. As has been observed, “for some serial killers the acts of killing are primary and sexualized; for other serial killers the killings are secondary to sexual gratification. Sexual motivation is implicated in each case but at a different level”. Therefore, the victim’s presence or absence of consciousness or life is not an essential prerequisite for the offender’s fantasy driven conduct consisting of generalized violence, torture, or sexualization of those activities. Lust murder (in Latin, erotophonophilia), also known as sexual homicide, is the commission of murder where the acting out of violence is exhibited by the presence of sexualized brutality that results in the death of the victim. Moreover, sexualized brutality is the means by which the offender commits the actions against a targeted victim and the violence is not its end. In sexualized brutality the victim is plainly an instrument for the offender to use to fulfill his needs as dictated by his psychopathological and paraphilic predilections. Expressive homicide is defined as violence committed when the ultimate and primary goal is harm of a specifically identified or targeted type of person. As such, the expressive homicide occurs when a person is identified by the offender as a real or perceived threat to the offender’s sense of personal integrity, their sense of self-worth, or has otherwise unwittingly provoked or triggered the offender’s purposively violent response. During the violent interaction the victim is perceived as refusing to acquiesce to coercion, domination, or control by the offender; that refusal, or target-triggering response, renders the victim subject to the offender’s violent intentions. Most commonly, expressive homicides are violent interactions that take place between spouses, other family members, strangers or acquaintances in contests of will, and machismo threat-related confrontations. Expressive violence, and therefore expressive homicide, occurs when the offender physically expresses specifically focused revenge or anger toward the known or familiar victim. Instrumental violence, in contrast, is not prompted by the immediacy of revenge or specific anger. Instead, it is the expression of goal directedness and is not based on emotional prompting. Rather, instrumental violence does not find its primary targets among the offender’s familiars. Instrumental violence and instrumental homicide occurs when the offender identifies a victim (individual or group) as appropriate or preferred type. Instrumental violence offenders exhibit planning and are intentionally directed at gaining their target and attaining satisfaction of their preexistent psychopathologies through the victim. Instrumental homicide is not a response to external motivations or actionable prompting by the victim. Therefore, with instrumental violence the victim is a vehicle or device for the offender to attain the psychological fulfillment of his or her paraphilic or psychosexual predisposition. The victim is unfortunately simply the means to an end. Therefore, homicides committed by psychopathic offenders were significantly more instrumental in their nature than those committed by nonpsychopaths. Most significantly, the study demonstrated that psychopaths, long believed to be prone to impulsivity and expressive offenses, were in fact capable of modifying their behavior and planning; and they were much less likely to be reactive under provocation than nonpsychopaths. Psychopathic homicide offenders have been found to be capable of controlling their impulsiveness, focusing on their targeted victim, planning and preparing the assault, and executing the violence in such a way as to elude detection. Psychopaths were found to be significantly less prone to respond under emotional provocation, engage in conscious decision-making, consider means of eluding capture, and carry out murders in a “cold blooded” fashion. Instrumental homicide, particularly instrumental lust murder, occurs when the offender attempts to obtain something of value. The thing of value sought by the perpetrator is the target’s relationship or connection with the offender’s predetermined presence type and/or what that type represents to the offender. More specifically, the offender targets the victim based on internal pathology and emotional drives. The motive of the offender is not about gain, money, or other artifact of real property as with traditional murder offenses. Instrumental lust murder is the commutation of the offender’s psychopathology in the acts of acquisition, injury, and death of the victim. Any removal of property or other belongings of the victim by the offender is important in its intrinsic nature, not the monetary value of the item. It is the violence and death of the victim that reflect the essential goals significant to the offender, and these are reflected in the items taken. Any item of property taken after a lust murder is merely a memento for remembrance and fantasy in which the offender indulges between offenses. In summary, the serial instrumental offender does not act impulsively and is capable of planning, executing the offense, concealing their identity, and waiting for the next opportunity. Lust murderers respond to their environment from a psychological wellspring that contains the constructs of the target and offense significance. They have a propensity to choose victims for whom they have a particular preference and acquisitional opportunity. Much of the criminological research during the last century has focused on attempts to discover the motivation and behaviors of persons who commit criminal offenses. Therefore, the investigator, through observation of the offense, crime scenes, and evidentiary artifacts, seeks to identify the planning, preparation, and style of execution of a sexual homicide offender and their psychosexual predispositions. The tools and methods used by the offender reveal their modus operandi, signature, and ritual significance. A significant factor regarding the relationships and connections signifying the offender’s “calling card” are opportunity, means, victim availability/ vulnerability, and the setting of the offense. The victim in terms of being a target of opportunity, the symbolism inherent in the violence, and the geographic availability for predation are important considerations when identifying the offender. Consequently, a detailed examination of the victim’s identity, life, lifestyle, and habits is vital.  Key issues inherent to such a consideration should include:

1.  Routine(s)—work, relations, hobbies, habits, frequency of contacts
2.  Habits—indicated by residence, friends, and information from intimates
3.  Risk-lifestyle—social, financial, living environment, economic, age, associations, etc.
4.  Databases and criminal activities—criminal and civil histories, associates
5.  Links to scene—what routine or activity associated, if any, to scene(s)
6.  Physical appearance and demographics
7.  How controlled by offender—weapon, ruse, bindings, other
8.  Personality—psychological, physiological, emotional predispositions
9.  Precursor incidents—including historic or previous assaults, threats, burglaries, robberies, etc.
10.         Relationships—intimates, friends, associates, coworkers, interpersonal social and sexual lifestyles
11.         Preference-selection—based on victimology, what would have made this person an “attractive target”
12.         Last known 48 to 72 hours of victim’s activities—related to known routines
13.         Relevant national research data—re-risk assessment: likelihood that the person would have been a victim and classification of victimizer indicated

The combination of the information obtainable regarding the victim and the crime scene comprise a substantial and frequently characteristic set of variables available for a homicide investigation that are of particular importance in the investigation of a sexualized homicide. Sex-related offenses and sex-related homicide are low incidence offenses and as such do not represent the opportunity for experiential learning by investigators that high incidence offenses such as theft, robbery, and burglary provide. Investigator familiarity with, and practice at, investigating types of offenses provides a learning curve of offense associations, offender behaviors, and characteristics and identification techniques. Although academic inquiry to support investigative necessities of sex-related offenses may seem a responsive practical tactic, its reliability to an investigator has yet to be clearly determined.

For the continued evolution of lust murder analysis, classifications, and typological constructs, a critical information template is necessary rather than mere generalities or popularization of psychological motivations. Such a critical information template would utilize valid typologies, violence data generalities/summaries, and a continuum of decision-making supported by best practices in investigative procedure—thus providing a reliable classification synopsis for the field investigator. In sexualized/lust murder homicide investigation, current typologies of offender behavior should develop an understanding of an offender’s “social reality by identifying homogeneous groups of crime behaviors that are different from other clusters of crime behavior”.  The acts and actions are framed by the actor through ceremonial constructs and have meaning for both the actor and the informed observer. Those acts are the “demonstration of means of power as strategies”.  Therefore, criminal profiling must move from its more artful constructs to the formalization of analytically derived analyses of offender actions, violence, victim interactions, offender tools and techniques, and “hunting” preferences. The classifications and typologies of various researchers are a beginning, but much work remains if the classifications are to be a means of formulating profiles that result in apprehension of the offender.

Acknowledgements:
The Police Department;
https://www.politie.nl/mijnbuurt/politiebureaus/05/burgwallen.html and a Chief Inspector – Mr. Erik Akerboom     ©

 Bibliography:

1.       Criminal Investigations – Crime Scene Investigation.2000
2.       Forensic Science.2006
3.       Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation.2012
4.       Forensics Pathology.2001
5.       Pathology.2005 
6.       Forensic DNA Technology (Lewis Publishers,New York, 1991).
7.       The Examination and Typing of Bloodstains in the Crime Laboratory (U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., 1971).
8.       „A Short History of the Polymerase Chain Reaction". PCR Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology.
9.       Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (3rd ed.). Cold Spring Harbor,N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.2001
10.     "Antibodies as Thermolabile Switches: High Temperature Triggering for the Polymerase Chain Reaction". Bio/Technology.1994
11.     Forensic Science Handbook, vol. III (Regents/Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1993).
12.     "Thermostable DNA Polymerases for a Wide Spectrum of Applications: Comparison of a Robust Hybrid TopoTaq to other enzymes". In Kieleczawa J. DNA Sequencing II: Optimizing Preparation and Cleanup. Jones and Bartlett. 2006
13.     Nielsen B, et al., Acute and adaptive responses in humans to exercise in a warm, humid environment, Eur J Physiol 1997
14.     Molnar GW, Survival of hypothermia by men immersed in the ocean. JAMA 1946
15.     Paton BC, Accidental hypothermia. Pharmacol Ther 1983
16.     Simpson K, Exposure to cold-starvation and neglect, in Simpson K (Ed): Modem Trends in Forensic Medicine. St Louis, MO, Mosby Co, 1953.
17.     Fitzgerald FT, Hypoglycemia and accidental hypothermia in an alcoholic population. West J Med 1980
18.     Stoner HB et al., Metabolic aspects of hypothermia in the elderly. Clin Sci 1980
19.     MacGregor DC et al., The effects of ether, ethanol, propanol and butanol on tolerance to deep hypothermia. Dis Chest 1966
20.     Cooper KE, Hunter AR, and Keatinge WR, Accidental hypothermia. Int Anesthesia Clin 1964
21.     Keatinge WR. The effects of subcutaneous fat and of previous exposure to cold on the body temperature, peripheral blood flow and metabolic rate of men in cold water. J Physiol 1960
22.     Sloan REG and Keatinge WR, Cooling rates of young people swimming in cold water. J Appl Physiol 1973
23.     Keatinge WR, Role of cold and immersion accidents. In Adam JM (Ed) Hypothermia – Ashore and Afloat. 1981, Chapter 4, Aberdeen Univ. Press, GB.
24.     Keatinge WR and Evans M, The respiratory and cardiovascular responses to immersion in cold and warm water. QJ Exp Physiol 1961
25.     Keatinge WR and Nadel JA, Immediate respiratory response to sudden cooling of the skin. J Appl Physiol 1965
26.     Golden F. St C. and Hurvey GR, The “After Drop” and death after rescue from immersion in cold water. In Adam JM (Ed). Hypothermia – Ashore and Afloat, Chapter 5, Aberdeen Univ. Press, GB 1981.
27.     Burton AC and Bazett HC, Study of average temperature of tissue, of exchange of heat and vasomotor responses in man by means of bath coloremeter. Am J Physiol 1936
28.     Adam JM, Cold Weather: Its characteristics, dangers and assessment, In Adam JM (Ed). Hypothermia – Ashore and Afloat, Aberdeen Univ. Press, GB1981.
29.     Modell JH and Davis JH, Electrolyte changes in human drowning victims. Anesthesiology 1969
30.     Bolte RG, et al., The use of extracorporeal rewarming in a child submerged for 66 minutes. JAMA 1988
31.     Ornato JP, The resuscitation of near-drowning victims. JAMA 1986
32.     Conn AW and Barker CA: Fresh water drowning and near-drowning — An update.1984;
33.     Reh H, On the early postmortem course of “washerwoman’s skin at the fingertips.” Z Rechtsmed 1984;
34.     Gonzales TA, Vance M, Helpern M, Legal Medicine and Toxicology. New York, Appleton-Century Co, 1937.
35.     Peabody AJ, Diatoms and drowning – A review, Med Sci Law 1980
36.     Foged N, Diatoms and drowning — Once more.Forens Sci Int 1983
37.     "Microscale chaotic advection enables robust convective DNA replication.". Analytical Chemistry. 2013
38.     Sourcebook in Forensic Serology, Immunology, and Biochemistry (U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Washington, D.C.,1983).
39.     C. A. Villee et al., Biology (Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphia, 2nd ed.,1989).
40.     Molecular Biology of the Gene (Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Menlo Park, CA, 4th ed., 1987).
41.     Molecular Evolutionary Genetics (Plenum Press, New York,1985).
42.     Human Physiology. An Integrate. 2016
43.     Dumas JL and Walker N, Bilateral scapular fractures secondary to electrical shock. Arch. Orthopaed & Trauma Surg, 1992; 111(5)
44.     Stueland DT, et al., Bilateral humeral fractures from electrically induced muscular spasm. J. of Emerg. Med. 1989
45.     Shaheen MA and Sabet NA, Bilateral simultaneous fracture of the femoral neck following electrical shock. Injury. 1984
46.     Rajam KH, et al., Fracture of vertebral bodies caused by accidental electric shock. J. Indian Med Assoc. 1976
47.     Wright RK, Broisz HG, and Shuman M, The investigation of electrical injuries and deaths. Presented at the meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Science, Reno, NV, February 2000.

Komentarze

Popularne posty z tego bloga

# 15 Željko Ražnatović

Željko Ražnatović was born on 17 April 1952 – 15 January 2000 and known as Arkan , was a Serbian career criminal and commander of a paramilitary force in the Yugoslav Wars, called the Serb Volunteer Guard. He was enlisted on Interpol's most wanted list in the 1970s and 1980s for robberies and murders committed in a number of countries across Europe, and was later indicted by the UN for crimes against humanity for his role during the wars. Ražnatović was up until his death the most powerful crime boss in the Balkans. He was assassinated in 2000, before his trial. Željko Ražnatović was born in Brežice, a small border town in Slovenian Styria, FPR Yugoslavia. His father, Veljko Ražnatović, served as a decorated officer in the SFR Yugoslav Air Force, earning high rank for his notable World War II involvement on the Partisan side, and was stationed in Slovenian Styria at the time of Željko's birth. He spent part of his childhood in Zagreb (SR Croatia) and Pan...

Chemical Weapon

                                                Chemical weapon is the most dreadful of all weapons of mass destruction. Its power and devastating input could be seen and be very much aware of in Iran and Iraq. Its overwhelming impact on human body was reported and acknowledged in 1984. Early 1980s Iran and Iraq were fighting over the land and domination over the ideology and oil fields – somewhere in the middle were civilians and soldiers who were about to find out what the chemical weapon may do, its destructive notion was irreversible and inevitable – avoided and prevented. The soldier was a victim of the chemical weapon – one can only dream of in nightmares. He was wounded by a heavy smoke emitted from the artillery shells. He was very badly wounded, His skin began to itch, his eyes burned, the body was gradually covered with blisters. A co...

How They Get It Right and When They Don’t

In most serial homicides, FBI agents do not actively participate in the investigation, secure evidence, or pursue the suspect—that is the responsibility of the local police agency. Nor is the FBI called in if serial homicides occur in different jurisdictions—that is a myth. The FBI analysts act in an advisory capacity, only at the request of a local police department that submits a standard, thirteen-page Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP) analysis report to the FBI. The data from the VICAP report is fed into a computer known as Profiler, and the output of the computer is then elaborated on by the analysts in the form of a profile before being sent back to the local police department. FBI analysts sometimes travel to the scene of a crime or assign one of a team of specially trained local FBI agents, known as field profile coordinators, to work at the scene. The average FBI agent is fairly well educated—a university degree is required of recruits. The agents...