Case Management for Missing Children Homicide Investigation, Executive Summary

• NCJ Number: 201316
• Author(s): Kenneth A. Hanfland; Robert D. Keppel; Joseph G. Weis
• Date Published: May 1997
• Length: 128 pages
• Grant Number(s): 93-MC-CX-K006
• Sponsoring Agency: Washington Office of the Attorney General; Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Sale Source: Washington Office of the Attorney General; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Guideline
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This document discusses investigative techniques and strategies for cases of child murder in which the victims were abducted.

Abstract

The murder of a child that is abducted by a stranger is a rare event. There are estimated to be about 100 such incidents each year, less than one-half of 1 percent of the murders committed. There is approximately one child abduction murder for every 10,000 reports of a missing child. The victims of these cases are "average" children, living with normal families, typical low-risk victims. The majority of them are girls, with the average age being slightly over 11 years of age. In most cases, the initial contact between the victim and killer is within one-fourth mile of the victim's residence. These cases are generally reported to a law enforcement agency as a missing child. This is a difficult time for the investigator because he/she is in the position of having to decide on a course of action when time could be a very critical factor. As many facts as possible surrounding the disappearance should be obtained as fast as possible, and an assessment of the nature of the case made expeditiously. Factors to consider in assessing the case should include the age of the child, the circumstances surrounding the child's missing status, and the history of the child. Fast action is necessary since there is typically over a 2 hour delay in making the initial missing child report, and the vast majority of the abducted children that are murdered are dead within 3 hours of the abduction. It is important to respond quickly with a neighborhood canvass and search of the area. Over half of child abduction murders are committed by a killer that is a stranger to the victim. The relationship between the victim and the killer varies with the gender and age of the victim. Most of the victims of child abduction murder are victims of opportunity. Almost two-thirds of the killers had prior arrests for violent crimes, with slightly more than half of the killers' prior crimes committed against children. 34 tables, appendix