Evaluating Competing Serial Murder Definitions

• In Event: Serial and Mass Murder Incidents and Offenders

Abstract

Research on serial murder has been limited for a variety of reasons. One of the primary limitations with this research is an empirical question over the number of victims necessary to delineate between a killer and a serial killer. Specifically, does the minimum number of victims need to be two or three? Utilizing data collected by Eric Hickey, this research explores the nature of the different definitions associated with victims of serial murder and attempts to further the research on serial murder by comparing/contrasting the number of victims in relation to indicators previously found to have an impact on serial murder behavior.

Authors

• Gavin M. Lee, University of West Georgia

• Sean Maddan, University of West Georgia

• Lynn Pazzani, University of West Georgia