About

With over 30 years of  education and long-term relationships with serial killers, I have narrowed down four traits that are most prevalent in violent offenders. I call these factors, the "Quadrant Theory of Predictive Violence." My theory includes the traits of Abuse, Abandonment, Neglect and Anger/Self Hatred.

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These four traits appear so often, with so many different races, religions, and crossing socio-economic backgrounds - it has become impossible for me to ignore. These traits begin to solidify at an early age, build over time, then graduate from fantasy to murder.

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Quadrant Theory of Predictive Violence 

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Abuse - Sexual, Physical, Psychological

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Abandonment - Parental, Social, School (improper attention to intellectual deficits)

 

Neglect - Parents, Familial (when lacking birth parents), Slighting (viewed by offender over time)

 

Anger - Need to make others feel as they do, Feelings of Worthlessness, Helplessness, Feelings of Inadequacy, Impotence, Inability to Keep up with Peers, Rejection from Women/Men/Friends/Teachers

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Invariably, these four traits appear so often that I have concluded there is a causal link between these factors and the "need" (their view) to kill other human beings. When an offender likes the feeling of power, the control they have for the first time in their lives - it compels them to continue to kill until they are caught. Even when they go dormant (BTK, Zodiac)  - the urge never leaves. 

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Need for Recognition

 

They will often seek recognition for their actions due to the aforementioned lack of such attention earlier in life. Sometimes the killer will feel necessitated to gain recognition by "self-dubbing" themselves with a moniker. (The Zodiac Killer, BTK, Son of Sam, Jack the Ripper). Sometimes they will leave notes or clues at the crime scenes (The Lipstick Killer, The Manson Murders, Albert Fish, Keith Jesperson, etc.) And sometimes the press will dub their moniker for them (The Night Stalker, The Gainesville Ripper, The Cross Country Killer, The Green River Killer, The Unabomber, The Co-Ed Killer, The Trash Bag Killer, The Moors Murderers, The D.C. Snipers, The Hillside Stranglers, etc.).

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Why do Serial Killers get Caught?

 

In most cases, serial killers often make mistakes as they become more reckless - rather than police tracking them down. Their urge to kill exceeds their ability to follow their own "action plans," so mistakes are made and the perpetrator is caught. Any deviation from their normal routine or even disagreements among duo-killers (two perpetrators - e.g. "The Hillside Stranglers," "The Toolbox Killers" etc.), ultimately will lead to their capture. 

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The more strict a serial killer is at following their "plan," the less likely they will be caught. Additionally, nomadic serial killers or those who are able to cross state lines with little ties to family, friends, relatives or job responsibilities, often amass a large number of victims (Ted Bundy, Danny Rolling, Pedro Lopez, Keith Jesperson, Henry Lee Lucas/Ottis Toole, etc.). The rationale for this is that intrastate victimology lags far behind knowledge of authorities. By the time any "pattern" is formed or known, the offender has moved on to a different area of operation.

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Myths:

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The idea that all serial killers are all white males is not only erroneous, it often leads to investigations taking far longer than necessary. Serial killers, by and large, kill in relation to their race.

 

Studies suggest that African American/Black serial killers comprise about 18-20-% of all serial killers, highly consistent with their population percentage. Asians account for about 3.5% of all serial killers, again, consistent with their population (4%). In fact, some experts believe that Coral Watts (a name not known to most of the public), may be the most prolific American serial killer. Watts was African-American who crossed racial lines in a violent manner.

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About 8-11% of all serial killers are female. Female killers tend to use less violent forms of killing and therefore go undetected for longer periods of time. They often leave less physical clues, so these figures are likely less accurate. It would not be shocking to learn that up to 15% of all serial killers are female.

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However, regardless of race or gender - the four factors remain constant. I have yet to connect with a serial killer who did not express at least 3 of these factors as being present. As to the theory that serial killers are "born evil," I do not espouse any credibility to this theory.

 

If that were the case, legally speaking, it would almost serve to excuse their conduct. The "born evil' theory is a dangerous road to travel. 

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