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The primary objective of this study was to describe and compare the modus operandi, and associated contextual and situational factors, of French serial sexual murderers (SSMs) and nonserial sexual murderers (NSMs). A further objective was to verify the generalizability of the conclusions of James and Proulx's 2016 systematic review of the modus operandi of sexual murderers, the majority of whom were American or English. Detailed data on the precrime, modus operandi, postcrime, and victimology factors of 120 French sexual murderers (SSMs: n = 33; NSMs: n = 87) were compared. The results suggest that choice-structuring properties that shape the modus operandi of French sexual murderers are similar to those reported by James and Proulx: The modus operandi of French SSMs was shaped by homicidal, sadistic, and rape fantasies, while that of NSMs was shaped by the need to satisfy immediate, especially sexual, needs. However, it should be noted that while the modus operandi of American and English NSMs is primarily shaped by general deviance, that of French NSMs appear be primarily shaped by sexual deviance.

Sexual homicide typically implies a crime involving two people: perpetrator and victim. Thus, multiple-perpetrator and multiple concurrent victim sexual murderers are unusual, empirically invisible due to their exclusion from (or burying within) research samples. The present study examines 21 such cases of male sexual murderers having perpetrated at least one sexual homicide either together with a co-offender or alone but killing two victims at once. The aim was to investigate just how unusual, or not, these cases may be in relation to current scientific understanding of sexual murderers and their crimes. A descriptive analysis of offenses (co-offender and offender-victim dynamics, modus operandi) and offender characteristics is presented. Main findings, that multiple-perpetrator and multiple concurrent victim sexual murderers are not so unusual in that they are well conceptualized through application of the established sexualized, grievance, and rape murderer typology, are discussed in relation to clinical and empirical implications.

Notre perception des auteurs d'homicide sexuel a depuis longtemps été influencée par la médiatisation de leur crime les plus extrêmes, ceux qui se distinguent par leurs degrés de violence et de cruauté. En conséquence, l'opinion du public a été façonnée en partie par les questionnements que peuvent provoquer de telles descriptions : Comment une personne peut-elle être si détachée émotionnellement et motivée par des besoins si destructeurs ? Comment ces individus peuvent-ils obtenir du plaisir à travers des actes si violents ? Tandis que ces descriptions reposent sur des événements qui ont vraiment eu lieu, cette image des auteurs d'homicide sexuel n'est pas un portrait représentatif de qui ils sont vraiment. Bien que les auteurs d'homicide sexuel sadique et sériel existent, ils représentent l'arbre qui cache la forêt. Dans cet entretien, les psychologues Jonathan James et Jean Proulx dressent l'état des lieux sur ce phénomène d'un point de vue épidémiologique, indiquent l'impact que peut avoir ce type de crime sur la vie en communauté, définissent ce à quoi il correspond, décrivent les caractéristiques des différents types d'auteurs d'homicide sexuel, fournissent des indications quant à leur risque de récidive et des recommandations concernant leur traitement. Our perception of sexual murderers has long been influenced by the mediatization of the most spectacular of these crimes–crimes that stand out by virtue of their extreme cruelty and violence, and by the degradation of the victims. Consequently, public opinion has been partly forged by the questions raised by such descriptions: How can anyone be so insensitive to others and driven by such destructive urges? How can these individuals derive any positive experience from such extremely violent acts? But although they are anchored in actual events, these impressions of sexual murderers are not accurate portraits of these individuals' true nature. While sadistic and serial sexual murderers do in fact exist, they nevertheless remain the threes that hide the forest. Through this interview, our objectives are to take stock of the phenomenon from an epidemiological point of view, to indicate the impact that this type of crime can have on community life, to define what it corresponds to, to describe the characteristics of the different types of sexual homicide offenders, but also to provide indications as to their risk of recidivism and recommendations concerning their clinical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with the duration of criminal investigations and determine whether these factors influence the seriality of sexual murderers. To this end, data on the investigation of 62 sexual homicides (homicides committed by a serial sexual murderer = 24; homicides committed by a nonserial sexual murderer = 38), were analyzed. Organized behaviors, typical of serial sexual murderers, were not all associated with a longer criminal investigation. However, it was possible to develop a model of the duration of investigations, and predict the seriality of sexual murderers, by taking into account the decisions of murderers and investigators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The objective of this study was to develop a psychosocial profile of sexual murderers and characterize their life context at the moment they decided to commit homicide—in some cases, on repeated occasions. To this end, serial sexual murderers (SSMs, n = 33) and nonserial sexual murderers (NSMs, n = 87) were compared in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, general and sexual lifestyles, criminal behaviors, cognitions, stressful events, and motivation to commit sexual homicide. The results of this study indicate that sexual murderers are marginalized individuals who are dissatisfied with their lives and whose crimes are triggered by stressful events. However, unlike NSMs, SSMs have a psychosocial profile and the criminal skills that allow them to avoid arousing the suspicion of neighbors and police. Moreover, the sexual tension they experience daily motivates them to commit carefully planned crimes. Taken together, these characteristics partially explain why these individuals are more likely than NSMs to commit a series of sexual homicides. While sexual homicide is an extreme phenomenon, it is nevertheless primarily committed by individuals whose characteristics resemble those of individuals who commit less spectacular crimes. It is thus not surprising that psychological theories of sexual assault and criminological theories are suitable for the study of this phenomenon. Highlights • Sexual murderers are not different from the criminals described by classic criminology. • Sexual murderers are marginalized individuals who are dissatisfied with their lives. • Nonserial murderers were described as dysfunctional and having alcohol problems. • Serial murderers avoid arousing the suspicion of neighbors and police. • Homicidal fantasy may partially explain why some murderers become serial murderers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this current systematic review was to describe the characteristics of the modus operandi of serial and nonserial sexual murderers, and the contextual and situational factors associated with them. It analyzes detailed data on 1836 sexual murderers (serial sexual murderers = 176; nonserial sexual murderers = 1660) taken from 45 empirical descriptive studies carried out between 1985 and 2013. In order to better characterize serial sexual murderers (SSMs) and nonserial sexual murderers (NSMs), four categories of variables were established: precrime variables; crime scene and modus operandi variables; postcrime variables; and victimology variables. Sexual murder possesses specific choice-structuring properties, and interactions between internal constraints and external constraints produce a limited number of crime scripts. SSMs' modus operandi reflects sadistic sexual fantasies, sexual sadism, and organization. SSMs plan their murders in order to make them as congruent as possible with their fantasies. NSMs' modus operandi is the result of an explosion of anger. These sexual murderers are impulsive and extremely violent, and use sexual murder to diminish their internal tension [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this current systematic review is to identify the main characteristics of sexual murderers and the areas in which further research is warranted. It analyzes detailed data on 1836 sexual murderers (serial sexual murderers = 176; nonserial sexual murderers = 1660) taken from 45 empirical descriptive studies carried out between 1985 and 2013. In order to better characterise serial sexual murderers (SSMs) and nonserial sexual murderers (NSMs), three categories of variables were established: developmental variables; adult life and criminal career variables; and psychopathological variables. Characteristics of different types of sexual murderers were identified. Sexuality and sadism are the key features of SSMs. They are socially isolated, rejected, and humiliated, and take refuge in compulsive masturbation in paraphilias, which compensate for the poverty of their emotional, relational, and sexual lives. NSMs are polymorphic criminals who are easily angered when their immediate needs are not met. They adopt a victim stance, and sexual murder is a way of exacting vengeance and an outlet for their anger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]