NCJ Number
201253
Date Published
1997
Length
52 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings of a 3-year study on the investigations of the murders of over 600 abducted children.
Abstract
This report, written for homicide detectives and patrol officers who are confronted with unsolved cases of missing or abducted children, is designed to provide a guideline for the investigation of such cases. The authors note that because of their complexity and rarity, cases of missing children homicides are difficult to investigate. Not only do homicide detectives and police agencies usually have little experience with these types of cases, there is no body of empirical research from which to draw upon. The research presented in this document was conducted by criminal justice professionals with expertise in murder investigations and research methods. The research findings are presented as simple percentages and will assist investigators in making decisions, identifying strategies, and implementing investigative tactics that will most effectively solve missing children homicide cases. The first section presents the research methodology, while the second section provides an overview of the victim of child abduction murders, including a discussion of the typical victims’ lifestyle and the victim-killer relationship. The third section describes the typical killers’ main attributes, martial status, employment, occupations, residential arrangements, lifestyles, criminal histories, and motivations. The fourth section discussion elements of the investigation, including the main investigative steps that are undertaken in the first 48 hours, the most common types of physical evidence, the use of polygraphs, and issues involving the news media. The fifth section presents data on the murder incident site. Each investigation into a child abduction murder should emphasize the search for clues about the major sites of contact between the victim and the killer, including the murder site itself, the last known location of the victim, and the point of initial contact between the victim and the killer. The sixth section offers comparison data about single-victim cases versus series cases, including the typical victim, the victim-killer relationship, and the killers’ personal problems. The final section offers a summary of the report and conclusions regarding investigative techniques.