CC202 Lecture 7: Female Serial Killers
Document Summary
Little is known about female serial killers: few empirical studies. Some definitions of serial murder are too narrow exclude women. People close to them emotionally and in proximity: poison more common in these cases more difficult to classify victims as victims of homicide, more reactive rather than predatory. 1991 study 15% of american serial killers were women. Use a broad definition of serial killer in order to include more women: i. e. eliminate mention of sexual motives. Black widow: begin career after age of 25, systematically murders multiple partners, spouses, family, or people outside the family that they have a relationship with, 6 8 victims, active approx. The unexplained: murders for unknown reasons, motive not sufficiently clear, often in cases where children die. The unsolved: cases not solved, but strong belief that perpetrator is a woman. In a study of 100 cases: 19% of cases motives unknown, 14% of victims killed by romantic partner for profit, 10% motivated by revenge/anger.
