Serial Killers Characteristics – Organized vs Disorganized
ORGANIZED
- IQ above average, 105-120 range
- socially adequate
- lives with partner or dates frequently
- stable father figure
- family physical abuse, harsh
- geographically/occupationally mobile
- follows the news media
- may be college educated
- good hygiene/housekeeping skills
- does not usually keep a hiding place
- diurnal (daytime) habits
- drives a flashy car
- needs to return to crime scene to see what police have done
- usually contacts police to play games
- a police groupie or wanabee
- doesn’t experiment with self-help
- kills at one site, disposes at another
- may dismember body
- attacks using seduction into restraints
- keeps personal, holds a conversation
- leaves a controlled crime scene
- leaves little physical evidence
- responds best to direct interview
DISORGANIZED
- IQ below average, 80-95 range
- socially inadequate
- lives alone, usually does not date
- absent or unstable father
- family emotional abuse, inconsistent
- lives and/or works near crime scene
- minimal interest in news media
- usually a high school dropout
- poor hygiene/housekeeping skills
- keeps a secret hiding place in the home
- nocturnal (nighttime) habits
- drives a clunky car or pickup truck
- needs to return to crime scene for reliving memories
- may contact victim’s family to play games
- no interest in police work
- experiments with self-help programs
- kills at one site, considers mission over
- usually leaves body intact
- attacks in a “blitz” pattern
- depersonalizes victim to a thing or it
- leaves a chaotic crime scene
- leaves physical evidence
- responds best to counseling interview