Motivation and Criminal Career of Sexual Murderers (From Sexual Murderers: A Comparative Analysis and New Perspectives, P 143-155, 2005, Jean Proulx, Eric Beauregard, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-220255)

• NCJ Number: 220263
• Author(s): Maurice Cusson; Jean Proulx
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

This analysis of 26 sexual murders committed in the Canadian Province of Quebec by 21 men focused on the murderer's motivations in committing the crime as well as the link between criminal careers and the specific sexual murders examined.

Abstract

The study identified four typical crime scenarios. In one, the murderer killed out of rage at the victim's actions. In another scenario, the murderer killed as part of the pursuit of sexual pleasure. In a third scenario, the murder occurred during an attempt to subdue the victim during the sexual assault. In the fourth scenario, the murderer killed the victim of the sexual assault in order to eliminate her as a witness. With the exception of four of the sexual murderers who had no criminal record prior to the murder and manifested signs of overcontrolled personalities, all of the offenders had extensive criminal histories prior to the sexual murders they committed. Most had committed robbery, and almost half had committed violent crimes. Many had substance abuse problems. One-fourth had been convicted of sexual crimes. They were apparently oriented toward immediate gratification and had no long-term goals or commitments. Driven by anger or sadistic fantasies and frustrated in the pursuit of intimate relationships with women, they treated them as either prey or enemies. Study data were obtained from official criminal records, self-reported juvenile and adult criminal offenses, and case reported. The latter were based largely on interviews with the murderers. 3 case studies