In an effort to bridge the gap between the many views of issues related to serial murder, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hosted a multi-disciplinary Symposium in San Antonio, Texas, on Augthrough September 2, 2005. While there has been significant, independent work conducted by a variety of experts to identify and analyze the many issues related to serial murder, there have been few efforts to reach a consensus between law enforcement and other experts, regarding these matters. In addition to the significant investigative challenges they bring to law enforcement, serial murder cases attract an over-abundance of attention from the media, mental health experts, academia, and the general public. The topic of serial murder occupies a unique niche within the criminal justice community. Stephen Tidwell for their support of this project and for their willingness to dedicate the resources necessary for its successful completion. Wolf (retired) and Executive Assistant Director J. Cristie Dobson, Management and Program Assistant, FBI, NCAVC, for her talent and time spent copyediting this document and for her work on the cover art.

Pamela Hairfield and Wilma Wulchak, Management and Program Analysts, FBI, NCAVC, for their skill, dedication, and perseverance in successfully handling the countless administrative tasks associated with the Symposium.

The names of these individuals are listed in Appendix C.

The Symposium attendees, for their generous sharing of time and expertise in the area of serial murder.

The names of these individuals are listed in Appendix B.

The members of the Serial Murder Symposium Working Group, for their assistance in planning the Symposium.

The NCAVC would like to gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the following individuals, without whose efforts the Symposium and this monograph would not have been possible: I believe it will be invaluable to our collective ability to understand, respond to, and hopefully prevent, serial murder. I would like to thank all those who participated for their willingness to share their dedication, time and expertise. I deeply appreciate the work that went into this publication. I am grateful for the partnerships that helped spur this symposium, and for the partnerships that were formed as a result. We believe the best way to combat any threat - be it terrorism, gang violence, or serial murder - is to combine our knowledge and resources with those of our partners, and to work as a team. The FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime stands ready to assist our state, local, and international partners.

The FBI is committed to contributing to the understanding of these horrific acts. Our hope is that it will give you new ideas and new resources as you continue your important work. This monograph presents the findings and collective wisdom of a multidisciplinary group of experts, who brought their individual experience and insights to the same table. Until the Serial Murder Symposium, however, there had been few attempts to reach a consensus on some of these issues.

These diverse groups have long attempted to understand the complex issues related to serial murder investigations. Each homicide case is tragic, but there are few cases more heartrending and more difficult to understand than serial murder.įor years, law enforcement investigators, academics, mental health experts, and the media have studied serial murder, from Jack the Ripper in the late 1800s to the sniper killings in 2002, and from the “Zodiac Killer” in California to the “BTK Killer” in Kansas. Issues Regarding Talking Heads in the MediaĪppendix B: Serial Murder Symposium Working GroupĮvery day, law enforcement officers across America are called to respond to murders. Media Issues in Serial Murder Investigations Motivations and Types of Serial Murder: The Symposium Model National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime

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