Comparing Partnered Serial and Mass Murderers: An Examination of Offending Patterns, Theoretical Explanations, and Adjudications/Outcomes

• In Event: Serial and Mass Murder Incidents and Offenders

Abstract

Criminal homicide is a rare occurrence that typically accounts for approximately one percent of all violent crimes in many countries. Despite this low occurrence, homicide continues to be an area of intense study, often focusing on subjective measures (e.g., motive). This research study aims to reframe the study of multicide (i.e., serial and mass murder) to use objective measures. Specifically, this research study aims to expand our understanding of multicide offending through statistical analyses of homicide patterns, drawing distinctions between partnered and solo, serial and mass, homicide offenders. Research on co-offending remains limited compared to solo offenders; however, research has shown women and co-offenders are not merely a subgroup of male homicide offenders, rather they have their own theoretical explanations, offending patterns, and outcomes that need further exploration.

Author

• Elizabeth Anne Gurian, Norwich University