Serial murder in America: case studies of seven offenders.

This article summarizes and compares information on seven interviewed serial killers in an ongoing project designed to study similarities and differences among these individuals. The aim of this article is to increase our collective knowledge of the dynamics of serial murder by examining the perpetrators' backgrounds, as well as the unique ways in which they view themselves and the world around them. Although qualitative interview research alone is not sufficient to fully understand such behavior, it is useful in many ways. Some of the information discussed based on the seven offenders interviewed is compared with broader epidemiological studies, and the strengths and limitations of each type of research are discussed.

Nonfamily child abductors who murder their victims: offender demographics from interviews with incarcerated offenders.

Nonfamily child abductions have a low rate of occurrence despite the media attention and public hysteria that these types of cases often attract. Although the annual incident rate is low, nonfamily child abductions are emotionally charged crimes that can rapidly overwhelm law enforcement resources. The 24-hour period following an abduction is critical, and law enforcement must be prepared to respond immediately and effectively. The purpose of the present research is to obtain demographic and background history on convicted nonfamily child abductors who have murdered their victims. Data for the study were obtained through interviews of incarcerated offenders and review of case documents. To date, interviews with 25 child abductors who murdered their victims have been conducted within various prison facilities.