Samantha Mathew
Professor Schultz
English 101
8/ September 2005
Jeffrey Dahmer
The True Serial Killer
The killing of three or more people, by the same individual, is considered serial killings. The murders are often committed with in days, weeks, months, or years apart. Most serial killers are afraid of being caught, and they take precautions in order to continue killing (Nichols, David S). Serial killers tend to murder strangers rather than people they know. Their victims normally have something in common such as age, race, educational background, gender, occupation, or facial features. Serial killers normally have an image of the perfect victim, but will sometimes settle for anyone, if he cannot find his preference (Douglas, John E., Ann W. Burgess, and Allen G. Burgess).
Victims who are from broken homes, runaways, prostitutes, and they who suffer from drug and alcohol abuse normally fall prey to serial killers. Serial murders sometimes share common characteristic; however, their approach to killing might differ. According to Fahui Wang, of the (Idea Group 139,141), some serial killers are organized
and others are disorganized. Some serial killers are very organized, and they plan their attacks with care; they tend to be very selective in choosing their victims, and oftentimes, follow the same patterns when committing a crime. Their crimes are planned in detail, and they involve various ways in which the murders will occur. Some serial killers normally know what sort of victim they are looking for, and where and when the murders should occur. On the other hand, disorganized killers are careless and sloppy. Their victims are chosen at random, and they tend to move on impulses and the instant need and self gratification to kill (Wang, Fhui). Most serial killers murder their victims close to or at their residence. Ted Bundy, John Gacy, and Jeffery Dahmer are among the few serial killers who have committed some of the...