Serial killer
An individual who murders three or more people over time.
A serial killer is an individual who murders three or more people, with the killings taking place over a period of more than one month in three or more separate events. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) states that the motives of serial killers can include anger, thrill-seeking, attention seeking, and financial gain. The victims tend to have things in common, such as demographic profile, appearance, gender, or race. As a group, serial killers have a variety of personality disorders. They are often not adjudicated as insane under the law. The primary motivations for serial killing involve some form of psychological gratification, usually though not always sexual.
- definition
- Three or more murders over more than one month in separate events
- field
- Criminology, law enforcement
- known_for
- Multiple murders with cooling-off periods
- motives
- Anger, thrill-seeking, attention seeking, financial gain, psychological gratification
- victim_pattern
- Common demographic profile, appearance, gender, or race
Reader's Guide
Notable historical figures include Gilles de Rais, Elizabeth Báthory, Peter Stumpp, and members of the Thuggee cult. H. H. Holmes was responsible for at least nine victims in the early 1890s. The category of serial killer has been found to be of no real value to law enforcement because of definitional problems relating to the 'cooling-off period.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a serial killer?
A serial killer is an individual who commits three or more murders spread across more than one month, with each killing occurring as a distinct, separate event. This temporal separation is what sets the category apart in criminology and law enforcement.
What motivates serial killers to commit their crimes?
The FBI identifies common motives as anger, thrill-seeking, attention-seeking, financial gain, and psychological gratification. These drivers vary considerably from one offender to the next.
How are serial killers different from mass murderers?
The defining distinction is the cooling-off period between killings; serial killers act in separate events over time rather than in a single continuous episode. This repeated, spaced-out pattern is the core criterion used by investigators.
Is there a recognizable pattern in who serial killers target?
Victims of a given serial killer frequently share common traits such as demographic profile, physical appearance, gender, or race. This repetitive targeting signature helps law enforcement narrow down a suspect.
Are serial killers typically found legally insane?
Despite often exhibiting a range of personality disorders, serial killers are frequently not adjudicated as insane under the law. They are generally held criminally responsible for their actions in court.
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