Massive FBI study sheds light on the lives and minds of serial killers
Study took several years to complete and involved an examination of the crimes of 480 convicted serial killers.
Peter Edwards
Among their findings:
Prostitutes are the most at-risk group.The study found that 154 of 480 victims were sex-trade workers.
Killers tend to trick their victims.Ruses were used to approach 65.4 per cent of victims. Another 16.9 per cent were surprised, often after being followed. Just 5 per cent were attacked in a “blitz” with no verbal interaction.
Sex was almost always the prime motivator. Sex was listed as the motivator in 81.5 per cent of cases studied, followed by anger at 3.1 per cent and mental illness at 1.3 per cent.
Women are far more at risk than men. The study found that 75.4 per cent of victims were female, and that 50.4 per cent of them were between 14 and 29 years old. Another 29.4 per cent were between 30 and 45 years old.