True Crime: Deadly Serial Killers And Gruesome Murder Stories From The Last 100 Years

A serial killer is defined as being a person who murders three or more people. The murders usually give the killer an abnormal amount of gratification, either psychological or physical – often both. The murders can take place over more than a month and include significant breaks between them which are called 'cooling off periods'; however, this is not always the case.
There are more than two hundred convicted serial killers in the United States alone. Imagine the number in the entire world! Some of the most horrifying acts of violence are committed by serial killers though not all serial killers are especially violent. Serial killers are almost always looking for their next victim. They kill over and over again and are never fully satisfied by their bloody deeds. Their twisted motivations and techniques cause police to label these people as the most frightening criminals in history.
Each homicide case that law enforcement officers across America respond to on a daily basis is tragic. However, there are few cases more stomach-churning and more difficult to understand than serial murder. The topic of serial murder occupies a unique niche within the community of criminal justice. Serial murder cases attract a lot of attention from the media, mental health experts as well as the general public.
Anyone who enjoys crime drama on television will be familiar with Criminal Minds; the BAU out of Quantico, a branch of the FBI that only gets involved when asked by the local law enforcement? Well, the one thing the show doesn't tell us is that the BAU is actually 4 different units under the 'banner' titled the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC). While Morgan, Hotchner, Rossi, et al fly around the country in their private jet following the cases they are asked to join in on the investigation … the real BAU groups specializing in certain crimes and working on solving those cases. In the case of serial murders the local law enforcement might work with two or three different units; BAU-2 (Crimes against adults), BAU-3 (Crimes against children) or ViCAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program). BAU-1 concentrates exclusively on terrorist threats and crimes.
Serial murder isn't a new phenomenon and it's not uniquely American either. However, the obsession that people have regarding serial killers and their atrocities seem to have been fed by Hollywood's productions. The story lines are created in order to heighten the interest of audiences rather than to accurately portray serial murder. Focusing on the atrocities inflicted on victims by 'deranged' killers, the public is captivated by the criminals and their crimes which only leads to more confusion to the true dynamics of serial murder.
Serial murders are relatively rare events with less than one percent of all murders committed in any year or location being the result of a serial killer. Ever since 'Jack the Ripper' in the late 1880s and the series of unsolved prostitute murders in London people have been fascinated with serial killers. Let's indulge ourselves, shall we?
Please be advised that the contents of this book may be graphic and is not suitable for some audiences.