Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Female Serial Killing Categories

In 1991 Eric Hickey split up female serial killers into two categories Black Widows and Angles of Death. When female serial killers popped up more and more it showed assorted types of deepened psychoses (Geringer, 2 ). In addition, the reason why they killed became more evident. During the 1990's Hickey's successors added to the list of categories. By 1998, Michael D. and C.Lc Kelleher authors of Murder Most Rare, published their book that contained nine different categories for female serial killers (Geringer, 2 ). The categories are: 

1. Black Widows 
2. Angels of Death 
3. Sexual Predators
4. Revenge Killers
5. Profit Killers
6. Team Killers
7. Killers Whose Sanity is in Question 
8. Killers Whose Motives Defy Explanation, 
9. Unsolved Crimes
(Geringer, 2 ). 



Black Widows:
In my last blog post i briefly talked about female serial killers being labeled as Black Widows. A huge portion of Black Widows began killing in their mid-thirties, but some started their killing career earlier. Based on cases on record, the average number of victims for a Black Widow was between six and thirteen (Geringer, 3 ). The average span of when the murders occurred was eleven years. The main motive for the Black Widow is profit, and on some rare cases they murder someone they believe learned the truth about them (Geringer, 3 ). For most Black Widows after one husband dies it isn't rare to see them relocated to another part of the country. They will then changed their name and created a completely fabricated background (Geringer, 3 ). They put up an easily act of being a faithful wife and good mom, because society assumes almost all women are. The Kelleher's state in their book also that "Because she will deliberately target those who have come to trust her, the crimes of this type of serial murderer violate our basic assumptions about love, loyalty, guardianship and friendship" (Geringer, 3 ). One example of a Black widow is Judias V. Buenoano who poisoned her husband, son, an attempted to poison her new fiance.

Angels of Death: 
A female serial killer that is categorized as an Angel of Death sets herself up as God (Geringer, 2 ). The reason being is that they prey mainly on victims that they believe are already marked for natural death. Sick patients at hospitals and caregivers for the elderly fit under people marked for natural death (Geringer, 2 ).  There weapon is either something chemical, like lethal injection of Potassium, or suffocation with a pillow. Both of these means are hard to trace which is why their the most popular for Angels of death (Geringer, 2 ). An example of an Angel of Death serial killer is Jane Toppan. Jane Toppan was a nurse that killed her patients using injections. For more information on Toppan one of my previous blogs is solely dedicated to her.

Sexual Predators: 
  This means that the female serial killer was driven to kill by some type of sexual fantasy (Geringer, 2 ). This category of female serial killer is quite rare compared to the rest. This tends to be more common in male serial killers. Jane Toppan could also be under this category, because at one point she stated that she derived sexual pleasure from killing her victims (Adams, 1 ). Another debatable one is Alieen Wuornos, some say debatable whether sexual fantasy had any part with her motivation to kill (Geringer, 2 ). 

Revenge Killers:
Revenge female serial killers tend to be obsession-driven (Geringer, 2 ). Whether it be by love, hate or jealousy which are the most common factors. They are just as rare as Sexual Predators, but when pushed just enough they will come back for vengeance. The average age for Revenge Killers are between mid 20's to early 30's (Geringer, 2 ). Martha Wise is a perfect example she was told she could not marry a much younger man from her family and minister. To lash back at them she poisoned three family members and burned down the church (Geringer, 2 ). 

Profit Killers:
These killers strictly kill for monetary gain. They hire themselves out as "hit women" to mainly jealous wives that want their husband killed because they cheated or are abusive (Geringer, 2 ). The wives don't want to do the dirty work so they hire a Profit Killer. This differs from the Black Widow because the Black Widow chooses their victims, while Profit Killers will commit murder for others (Geringer, 2 ). Because they are considered "silent witnesses" their killing career could last for many years. Madame Alexe Popova is a prime example of a Profit Killer (Geringer, 2 ). She poisoned some three-hundred husbands and boyfriends for different women. She was finally caught in 1909 and executed by a firing squad (Geringer, 2 ).

Team Killers: 
(Geringer, 2 ).
Female Team serial Killers can really come in many shapes and sizes. This one category comprises two-thirds of the female serial killer rank and file (Geringer, 2 ). This category consists of three types of Team Killers groups. The most infamous one is the "male/female" duo, which consists of one male and one female partnered together. In most of the cases they are just thrill-seeking lovers (Geringer, 2 ). The second most common Team Killers isthe "female/female" duo. Most of the time these two women agree together to commit the murders as a team (Geringer, 2 ). Although in some cases one female may force the other to be part of the deadly team. The last group is called "killing family" when three or more people come together as a team to commit multiple murders (Geringer, 2 ). The most infamous example of the "killing family" group is Charles Manson. He led sixteen people to commit over dozens of murders back in the late 1900's. Shockingly ten of the sixteen apart of the "killing family" were females (Geringer, 2 ). 

The last three categories aren't as closely defined as the others (Geringer, 2 ).  

Killers whose sanity is in Question: 
This category of females usually have gone to trial and plead not guilty because of reason of insanity. There are very few women that have gotten away with murder using this defense and instead of going to prison they go to a mental hospital.  Jeanne Weber got out of being hung in 1908 after killing her children. She convinced the jury that she was insane and was sent to an institution instead of prison (Geringer, 2 ). 

Killers Whose Motives Defy Explanation:
 (Geringer, 2 ).
This category of women are found guilty of their crimes, but they remained unlabeled, The reason being because, there is no clear motives present (Geringer, 2 ). Audrey Marie Hilley is the most famous case for this category (Geringer, 2 ).  If there was clear motives she would have been placed in the Black Widow category. From all the evidence collected there was no tangible gain or monetary profit for Hilley (Geringer, 2 ). For some unknown reason, Hilley went on a four year killing spree killing three of her family members (Geringer, 2 ).  

Unsolved Crimes: 
These are crimes that are suspected to be committed by a women but there was no confirmed suspect or motive behind it (Geringer, 2 ).  A eerie example of one close by are the murders at Maryland's Prince George's County Hospital during 1984 and 1985 (Geringer, 2 ).  Someone killed seventeen patients instantly, by injecting potassium into their IV tubes. When they suspected it was a female, the DA's office believed she was innocent and let her go (Geringer, 2 ). 


Works Cited: 

Geringer, Joseph. "Black Widow: Veiled in Their Own Web of Darkness." .N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. 

Adams, Nicole. " Ten American Female Serial Killers." Listverse.  29. Dec. 2012. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.















Female vs. Male Serial Killers

Recently, a peer suggested that one of my blogs should be written on the differences of female and male serial killers. I felt it was necessary to do so, and I'm apologetic for not doing it before. I believe it's very important to understand characteristics and motives of serial killers. Most certainly, before going in depth in cases like I have in my past posts. That being said, I'm dedicating this whole post to spread awareness of not only the differences of male and female serial killers, but also the similarities. 

Execution of Murders

The first huge difference between male and female serial killers is the way they execute their murders. Almost all female serial killers tend to be very sly and attentive when planning and executing a murder (Geringer, 2). Often they lean towards a more untraceable and non-aggressive way of killing their victim (Geringer, 2). "The Electronic Journal of Sociology, published by the University of Guelph, Ontario, estimates that 80 percent of female serialists have employed poison by itself or with other means" (Geringer, 2). While on the other hand male serial killers tend to be more physical and face to face. It is more common for a male serial killer to shoot, stab, or strangle their victims (Geringer, 2). The way male serial murders carry out their murders are almost always a cruel, violent, and bloodbath of an act (Geringer, 2). 

Demeanor  

Overall female serial killers are much more subtle, unlike male serial killers who are very aggressive and tend to be over the top. As a result, male serial killers killing careers usually only range from a few months to the longest four years (Geringer, 2). Recorded lengths of female serial killing careers range from six to eight years. In some cases females have gone undetected for three decades (Geringer, 2). As rare as female serial killers can be compared to males, perhaps females could give the males pointers on how to go undetected for a longer period?

Victims

Another big difference between female and male serial killers is their victims. Females largely tend to kill victims that they know and are close to (Geringer, 2). This could range from family members to someone they provide care for, like a nurse or caregiver. Males for the most part don't have a relationship with their victims(Geringer, 2). They will pick out a stranger and stalk them until they are ready to carry out their crime (Geringer, 2). This being said, you'd think it would be harder to detect males since the victims are random, but the extent of their crimes give them away easily. 

Motives 

In addition to their victims, motives are also very different. There are many different types of female serial killers. The most notorious type being the Black Widows (Geringer, 2). The term black widow comes from a toxic spider that kills it's mate when there usefulness is over. These female serial killers portray a perfect housewife to cover their true colors (Geringer, 2). Seventy- five percent of female serial killers kill for only a profit, or any asset gained from a "sudden" death (Geringer, 2).The only way they would obtain this profit or asset is by killing a family member like husbands, parents, and even their own children. Thirteen percent will kill for control and following very close behind twelve percent will kill for revenge (Geringer, 2). Male serial killers motives on the other hand can be very fuzzy for a bunch of reasons. Although when men kill repetitively half the time the motive is sexually driven. Which explains why most of the time victims of male serial killers will not have clothes on. 

Similarities 

Although male and female serial killers seem very different there are three major similarities. The first one is their ability to portray themselves as normal looking citizens. Most of society is under the assumption that all serial killers look like Hannibal Lecter (Geringer, 2). 
 In reality most serial killers could be your neighbor, friend, and even your own family. The second is that they may be psychopaths, but psychopaths aren't insane. The Third is that as psychopaths they lack a conscience.(Geringer, 2). Co-author of The A-Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers, Harold Schecter said "Serial killers are psychopathic personalities...lacking in certain basic human emotions, including remorse. Other human beings are just objects they use for their own gratification"(Geringer, 2).

 I believe that people need to start opening their eyes and realizing that at this day and age anyone could be a serial killer. Society needs to stop labeling a serial killer as only a male figure, and accept the fact that women also can and have been serial killers. As of now male and female serial killers are quite different, but over time i think they will become more similar. Male serial killers will become more sly and undetectable like women serial killers, and women will become more violent and random like male serial killers. For example, Aileen Wuornos killed all her victims face to face every time with a gun. This type of serial killing fits that of a male serial killer. Perhaps that's why she may have gotten away with murder for a longer period of time?  


Works Cited: 

Geringer, Joseph. "Black Widow: Veiled in Their Own Web of Darkness." .N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. 











Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Andrea Yates

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Andrea Yates ( Top Ten, 1)


Andrea Yates is a prime example of a serial killer with mental illnesses. Almost every serial killer suffers from a psychological disorder. In some occasions it can be more than one psychological disorder (Saxean, Chaitra Suraj). Symptoms can be related to each other and in most cases, one condition leads to the other (Saxean, Chaitra Suraj). A few known serial killer psychological disorders are: 

 
  • Schizophrenia

  • Multiple personality disorder
  • Antisocial personality disorder
  • Anxiety disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Childhood antisocial disorder
  • Delusional disorder
  • Depression
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)
  • Physical abuse
  • Panic attack
  • Pedophilia
  • Personality disorder
  • Psychotic disorder
  • Sexual sadism
  • (Saxean, Chaitra Suraj).

     Andrea Yates and Rusty Yates met when they were 25 years old. Three years later, In 1993 they got married and one year later had their first child Noah ( Ramsland, 5). The Yates told friends and family They were planning on having as many children as came along, whatever God wanted for them ( Ramsland, 5). Soon after Noah was born Andrea began to have violent visions. They ranged from seeing someone get sabbed to her believing satan spoke to her. She kept the dreams secret, because her and her husband had idealistic, Bible-notions about motherhood and family ( Ramsland, 5). Little did Andrea Yates just how much mental illness ran in her family's history. It ranged from depression to bipolar disorder, which can contribute to postpartum psychosis. In the beginning stages of signs of mental illness she was undiagnosed and untreated. She kept the secrets she knew unknown ( Ramsland, 5). Soon after she had more kids totaling to four kids. Pressure starting buliding as she tried to be a good mother and care for her father with Alzheimers. She began to feel lonely and depressed. This was the beginning of her being admitted to hospitals mutilple times and many visits to therapy and a psychiatrists. She was taken on and off of multiple medications like Zoloft, Zyprexa, and Haldo. During this she was admitting to those observing her that she was hearing voices and afraid she might hurt someone ( Ramsland, 6). Almost every medication she was prescribed she refused to take. To make matters worse in 2000 she had a fifth child, which was their first girl. At this point in her life she had sereval episodes of psychotic hallucinations, survived two suicides, and been diagnosed in many institutions with major depression ( Ramsland, 6) She was now taking care of five children with three still in diapers. Soon after her father passed away she was so upset she had to be hospitalized because she couldn't function ( Ramsland, 6). On June 20, 2001 the worst would happen, Andrea Yates will one by one drowned all her five children in the bathtub ( Ramsland, 1). After she will call her husband and police to inform them of what she had done. ( Ramsland, 1). When she was taken to police headquarters she was questioned by police ( Ramsland, 3).

    "Who killed your children?" the officer asked.


    "I killed my children."  Her eyes were blank.

    "Why did you kill your children?"

    "Because I'm a bad mother."

    ( Ramsland, 3).

    Andrea Yates was sentenced to life in prison after her trials were postponed cause of her mental illnesses ( Ramsland, 7). Today she is still in prison getting help with her mental illnesses. She is working on hopefully leaving the prison and getting into a mental health facility for better help ( Ramsland, 7).

     Postpartum depression occurs in up to twenty percent of women who have children ( Ramsland, 3).  Psychotic manifestations are so much more rare, which makes it much more unlikley to understand. "Only one in five hundred births result in the mother's postpartum psychosis, says forensic psychiatrist Michael Welner" ( Ramsland, 3). In Britain, the mental health system watches mothers for months afterward for signs of depression and mood swings. While people in America have a hard time understanding how hormonal shifts can actually cause violent hallucinations and thoughts ( Ramsland, 3). These women can become incoherent, paranoid, irrational, and delusional.  They could  have outright hallucinations, and may be at risk of committing suicide or harming their child, particularly "for the child's own good" ( Ramsland, 3) The countries that follow up on mothers after birth do so, because the women themself will not recongnize it as an illness ( Ramsland, 3).

    How do you feel about Britian and other countries keeping an eye on new mothers and not the United States? It surprises me to see this because it could save a childs' life if a mother is diagnosed as soon as possible. I feel as though the United States haven't not only because they dont understand hormonal shifts, but assume that the number of mothers with postpartum psychosis is so low, there's no need for a nation wide health check. I believe the United States needs to adopt this system that watches new mothers, even if it saved one life it would be worth it. We don't need anymore Andrea Yates in this world, but unfortnately there will be more like her untreated and undiagnosed until its to late. The public needs to be more aware of this system used in other countries and fight for it to be brought to the United States no matter the cost of tax payers money. A childs life is priceless and deserves the best care.




    Sources:

    Ramsland, Katherine. " Andrea Yates: Ill or Evil?." . Web. 11, Feb. 2013.

    Saxean, Chaitra Suraj. " Serial Killers' Psychology." Buzzle.com. Web. 11, Feb. 2013.

    " Top Ten Deadliest Female Killers." TopTenz.net. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.

    Wednesday, February 6, 2013

    Jane Toppan

    
    Jane Toppan

    Jane Toppan was a very interesting female serial killer compared to others. Although she killed her victims in a stereotypical feminine method of murder (Adams, 1). Her motive wasn't typical for a female serial, but that of a male. Most female serial murderers murder for some type of material gain. Jane Toppan during her arrest admitted that she derived sexual pleasure from watching her victims die (Adams, 1). Like most female serial killers Jane Toppan was a nurse ( Adams, 1).  In 1885, Toppan began working at Cambridge Hospital in Massachusetts ( Adams, 1). While employed at the hospital she experimented on her patients for her own amusement. After a period of time her experimentation's turned into murder. Jane Toppan's number of victims reached a chilling thirty- one victims (Adams). Toppan would simply give her victims an injection of morphine and astropine ( Axelrod, 1).These two injections would then offset each others symptoms and become a silent killer ( Axelrod, 1). Jane Toppan began killing her land lords in 1895, and in 1899 she even killed her sister Elizabeth. Jane Toppan was getting away with murder until one of her victimes, Alden Davis, family requested a toxicology test  ( Adams, 1).  In 1901 Toppan was brought to trial, but was convicted not guilty by reason of insanity ( Axelrod, 1). Toppan was proud of her crimes stating that she wanted to go down in history as the person who “killed more people — helpless people — than any other man or woman who ever lived" ( Top Ten, 56). She was then committed to Taunton Insane Hospital after the trial. Taunton Insane Hospital is where Toppan spent the rest of her days when she passed in 1938 ( Adams, 1).  


    How shocking is it to hear that most of female serial killers are nurses? The very women that are suppose to have a positive effect on your heath, end up being the cause of your death. Unfortunately health care serial killers have become more prominent in the media over the past decade ( Ramsland, 12). In an attempt to prevent hospitals from having a health care nurse in there facility, some professionals put together a list on red flags in a nursers actions or behaviors ( Ramsland, 12)

    •  Statistically, there is a higher death rate when the suspected person is on shift
    • The suspect deaths were unexpected
    • The death symptoms were also not expected, given the patient's illness or procedure
    • The suspected person is always available to help
    • He or she is often the last one seen with the victim
    • The suspected person has moved around from one facility to another
    • Other staff members give that person nicknames like "death angel"
    • The person is overly interested in the death
    • Other patients have complained about the person's treatment of them
    • The person is secretive or has a difficult time with personal relationships
    • The person has a history of some form of mental instability or depression
    (Ramsland, 12)
    
    It deems necessary that you need to have a sharp eye and awareness of the signs of a health care serial killer. The means to kill a patient is readily available to any nurse. In addition to the fact that medical murders can be hard to detect ( Ramsland, 12) It's hard to accept the fact that really any health care facility is vulnerable. In my opinion this is a frightening statement. It's sad to see any type of murders happen, yet alone in facilities with sick and innocent victims. My hopes are that the health care system is learning from the past and becoming more precatious. This issue is something that could be prevented, but just needs the extra effort to make it happen.


    Sources:

    Adams, Nicole. " Ten American Female Serial Killers." Listverse.  29. Dec. 2012. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.

    Axelrod, Lauren. " Serial Killer Jane Toppan." Friends Revolution. 1 Aug. 2009. Web. 4 Feb. 2013

    " Top Ten Deadlist Female Killers." TopTenz.net. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.

    Ramsland, Katherine. "Angels of Death: The Female Nurses." . Web. 4 Feb. 2013


    Aileen Wuornos

                                                
                                                     Aileen Wuornos


    Aileen Wuornos was born on February 29, 1956 in Rochester, Michigan. Growing up Aileen had a very troubled childhood. Aileen's father, a child molester and a psychopath, died in prison by hanging himself (Aileen Wuornos). Her mother abandoned Aileen and her brother soon after. As a result they were forced to lived with their grandmother. Throughout Aileen's childhood she claims sexual abuse from her father and brother. Aileen left her grandmothers to hitchhike America while prostituting to have an income.

    While on her journey she fell in love with a woman named Tyria Moore (Aileen Wuornos). The couple will stay together for four years and during their relationship Aileen will commit all her murders. The income Aileen was making from prostitution was not enough to support her and Tyria. The solution to their problem was Aileen had to start robbing and shooting her clients. Between December 1989 to September 1990 the bodies of seven men were found murdered along the highways in northern and central Florida. Aileen's victims names are Richard Mallory, David Spears, Charles Carskaddon, Troy Burress, Charles "Dick" Humphreys, Walter Jeno Antonio, and Peter Siems. Peter Siems was the only victim that they did not recover the body and it's location is still unknown (Aileen Wuornos). For the rest of the victims all their bodies were found shot multiple times.

     The police received four phone calls all identifying Wuornos and Moore as the murderers (Aileen Wuornos). Aileen confessed to six of the murders and claimed self defense for every conviction. After a very lengthy trial she was finally found guilty and sentenced to death. On October 9, 2002 she was put to death by lethal injection (Aileen Wuornos). Her last words were  "I'd just like to say I'm sailing with the Rock and I'll be back like Independence Day with Jesus, June 6, like the movie, big mothership and all. I'll be back" (Famous last words).  

    How do you feel about the death penalty? Do you think it should be applied to women and men? What do you believe is the best way to administer the death penalty?

    I believe wholeheartedly in the phrase "eye for an eye" when it comes to murder. If your willing to kill a human being, yet alone seven, then you should have the same courage to accept a similar fate. Although I do agree they should sit on death row for at least a quarter of their prison sentence. They deserve to sit in prison everyday knowing their one day closer to their death. I believe lethal injection is the best way to go about the death penalty, because it's a painless death. I don't believe the convicted should die a cruel or unusually punishment. That being said, I'm glad they have weaved out the electric chair and hangings. It will be interesting to see if they change the chemicals administered in a lethal injection. Even more drastic inventing a new way to administer the death penalty.



    Work Citied:

    "Aileen Wuornos. biography." bio, True Story. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.

    "Famous Last Words". Daily News. 14 May. 2012. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.