NCJ Number
40113
Date Published
1976
Length
169 pages
Annotation
AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT FOUR PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED MURDER, THE EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THAT ULTIMATE ACT OF VIOLENCE, THE ACT ITSELF, AND THE ENSUING LEGAL PROCESS.
Abstract
IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO MOTIVES FOR THE MURDERS, THE AUTHOR RELATES FIRST, THE ACTUAL MURDER SITUATIONS, AND THEN REVIEWS BOTH THE INTERVIEWS WITH THE MURDERERS AND HIS EVALUATION OF THEIR SANITY. IN THREE OF THE CASES, THE VICTIMS WERE PEOPLE THE MURDERERS SUPPOSEDLY LOVED. IN THE EXCEPTION TO THESE CASES, STRANGERS TO THE MURDERER WERE KILLED. HOWEVER, THE AUTHOR FEELS THAT THESE STRANGERS CAN BE SYMBOLICALLY LINKED TO THE MURDERER'S FATHER AND MOTHER. THE AUTHOR USES THESE CASES TO UPHOLD HIS THEORY THAT MURDER HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE CHILDHOOD OF THE MURDERER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...KAP