Learning to Kill: Contract, Serial, and Terroristic Homicide (From Shocking Violence II: Violent Disaster, War, and Terrorism Affecting Our Youth, P 145-164, 2003, Corrine E. Frantz and Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, eds. -- See NCJ-199446)

• NCJ Number: 199455
• Author(s): Louis B. Schlesinger; Laurence Miller
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter presents several case studies on three different types of homicide where learning to kill is involved: the contract, serial, and terroristic murder.

Abstract

The majority of homicides are spontaneous acts with a smaller number of homicides not of the spontaneous or unplanned type. These are planned and sometimes highly planned. In this chapter, three different types of homicide, where the offender not only plans the crimes, but frequently studies methods to kill in order to perfect the technique are reviewed: the contract murder, serial murder, and terroristic murder. The contract murderer is an individual who is hired to take the life of another person, with the majority of contract murders carried out by amateurs acting for a specific gainful purpose. Serial murder is viewed as sexually motivated and basically a subtype sexual homicide. Sexual homicide becomes serial when multiple victims are involved, usually in multiple locations. The terroristic murderer is not seeking sexual gratification or money, but rather the killings are motivated by political philosophy or extreme religious doctrine. All three of these types of homicide have been present since ancient times, and current evidence indicates that contract murder and terroristic murder are on the rise and will continue to present an increasing problem for society in the 21st century. References