NCJ Number
221298
Date Published
September 2007
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper presents results of a study examining the circumstances and characteristics of serial murders that have occurred in Australia since the inception of the National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP).
Abstract
Results show that between July 1989 and June 2006 there were 11 groupings of serial murders identified in the NHMP, committed by 13 known serial murder offenders, with a total of 52 known victims. This represents 1 percent of the total homicides in Australia over a 17-year period. Further research is suggested on the profile of long-term missing persons and serial murder victims, as well as exploring offenders who commit multiple murders on separate occasions to identify what prevented them from committing additional murders. Despite the fascination with, and interest in, the serial murder phenomenon, little research on the topic in Australia has been undertaken. Building on earlier research undertaken at the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), this current research explores the serial murder phenomenon in Australia using data collected as part of the Institute’s NHMP. Table, references