Piquerism in homicide: A knife wound analysis of a sexually motivated serial killer.

As part of a wider research project into paraphilic disorders and homicide, a case is presented of a piquerist who achieved sexual satisfaction through the infliction of stabbing wounds. Against a background of sexual domination with willing and unwilling sexual partners, the offender stabbed four men to death. A study of the resulting autopsy reports, in association with the offender's testimony and crime scene documentation, was undertaken to discern a piquerist crime scene signature. An excessive number of stabbing wounds, the targeting of sexual areas, and a variation in wound size and depth were found to be evidence of piquerism. Although there was opportunity to commit a sexual assault upon victims, the preference was to penetrate them with a knife. It is contended that, even without any evidence of sexual assault at a crime scene, a knife wound analysis can reveal a sexual motivation in some cases of homicide.

Somnophilia and Sexual Abuse through the Administration of GHB and GBL.

Somnophilia, the desire to have sex with an unconscious, sleeping, or comatose person who is unable to respond, is a sexual paraphilia that is seldom reported. The underlying desire is often overshadowed by the act of sexual violation and when using GHB or GBL to induce unconsciousness, as in the case presented here, the victim might not even be able to recall, for certain, that they have been sexually violated. A case study is offered of a somnophile who adulterated drinks to render young men unconscious, so he could rape them in that state, before progressing to administering drugs anally on the pretext of applying lubrication to the anus to facilitate sexual intercourse. The offender's fetishistic compulsion to have sex with unconscious men propelled him to experiment with the means by which he surreptitiously administered drugs to his victims in order to deepen their comatose state.

The Preference for Strangulation in a Sexually Motivated Serial Killer.

The existing literature on the killing method of choice for sexually motivated serial killers suggests strangulation as the preferable means of homicide, when the victim is female. When homicide victims are male, however, existing research suggests that firearms and blades are preferable methods of causing death. A case is presented here of a sexually motivated male serial killer who exclusively targeted males and who chose strangulation as his means of killing. Analysis suggests that not only is the psychological constitution of the killer an important factor in understanding how they kill victims but, also, the nature of the sexual act is an important determinant in the method of killing in male on male sexually motivated killing.

Corpse Dismemberment and a Necrofetishist.

A case of postmortem dismemberment and evisceration is presented. Over a 5-year period, a serial killer murdered twelve men, with a necrophilic intent, so he could mimic relationship behaviors with the corpses of those he killed. Analysis of the methods he chose to dispose of his victims reveals a stark contrast to the motive for perpetrating the homicides, methods which are suggestive of anger toward the victim when they could no longer fulfill their role in the necrophile's fantasy.

Deterioration and the long term prisoner: a descriptive analysis of Myra Hindley.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore supposed inevitable personal decline for long-term prisoners, particularly those serving a sentence of life without parole. Design/methodology/approach - Using the prison records of a life without parole sentenced prisoner. Findings - Findings suggest that prisoner deterioration is not inevitable in a whole life prison sentence. Research limitations/implications - Findings are based on one account, of a female prisoner. Practical implications - Distinct services and support are required for those with a natural life prison sentence. Originality/value - To date, there is limited research of prisoners serving life without parole, particularly the mental health implications of denying a prisoner future parole.