NCJ Number
176049
Date Published
1998
Length
222 pages
Annotation
This volume examines serial murders by females' and the backgrounds, motives, and methods used by nearly 100 female serial murderers in the 20th century, nearly half of whom committed their crimes in the United States.
Abstract
The discussion notes that female serial murderers are far more deadly and determined, difficult to apprehend, and complexly motivated than her male counterpart. The discussion divides female serial murderers into seven categories. These include the Black Widow, who is the most careful and methodical or murders and kills persons with whom she has a close, personal relationship; the Angel of Death, who often murders in a hospital or nursing home; and the sexual predator, who works alone and is the rarest type of female serial killer. Other categories include the revenge killer, who commits crimes of passion, usually against members of her own family; the murderer motivated by profit or crime; the team killer, who works with other women or men to commit brutal and often sexual murders; and the killer whose sanity is in question. The discussion also emphasizes that the complicated nature of these offenders' crimes makes profiling almost impossible. Tables, figures, chapter notes, index, appended background information and 51 references (Publisher summary modified)