...Forensic Science and Murder: The Ted Bundy Case Sheila Hawkins Criminalistics Abstract Forensic science is the foundational element of all crime investigation procedures. Recent advances in forensic technologies make possible to resolve even the most challenging crimes. This paper tells a story of Ted Bundy, a serial killer, whose case was solved with the help of forensic science. Implications and possible changes in case investigation are proposed. Keywords: forensic science, Ted Bundy, serial killer, case, solve. The Ted Bundy Case Forensic science is at the heart of all crime investigation procedures. Recent advances in forensic science make possible to solve even the most challenging cases. The contribution of forensic science to crime investigation is difficult to overestimate: according to Ribaux, Walsh and Margot (2006), forensic science facilitates accreditation, standardization, and interpretation of forensic evidence and ensures the scientific efficiency and objectivity of crime data. The case of Ted Bundy, a serial killer, is no exception: it is with the help of forensic science that the crimes committed by Ted Bundy were solved. The story of Ted Bundy is believed to have started between 1973 and 1974, when he committed his first murders. In just two years, Bundy managed to kill almost two dozens of girls (Ramsland, n.d.). Victims’ age ranged from 12 to 20; some of them were reported to be missing, whereas others vanished from their rooms, leaving...
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...John Douglas on the Mind of a Criminal Serial killers leave fibers, hairs, and weapons which are used as evidence to build a criminal’s profile. Criminal profiling was once considered a new controversial investigative technique. When officers hit a wall in their investigation FBI special agent John Douglas and Hazelwood are called to assist. They exam crime scenes and created profiles of the suspect, describing their habits and attempting to predict their next moves. Research prison interviews were conducted over a five-year period by John Douglas and one of his colleagues interviewing on more than thirty of the most notorious serial killers in the united states. Most of the questioning focused on family life, childhood and teenage years....
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...LAT1 - Serial Killers Abstract This paper that was written explores how a person is born innocent, and evolves into a monstrous and calculated serial killer. It will mention several different specific serial killers and their histories to support the facts. Another area that is explored is the difference between mass murderers and serial killers. Many times theses terms are used simultaneously; however the fact is that they are different. Reviewing the classifications, behaviors, motives, childhood neglect, sanity, and how profiling and other methods will assist in catching a serial killer. Understanding and studying serial killers can help in preventing them to start killing, or in catching them before they continue killing. Research shows that the problem of serial killing can be addressed by understanding its causes, identifying common behaviors and motivations of serial killers, and using this information to develop tools for law enforcement to prevent initial or repeated killings If a person commits a murder, it doesn’t constitute to be tagged a serial killing. I will be including material in order to define what serial killer is, and why we are so obsessed with understanding them. To fully discuss and understand serial killers, we must first distinguish the differences between them and mass murderers. The term mass murderer is often used interchangeably; however, the two terms are technically different. Mass murder occurs when a large number of people...
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...Behavior Variable, Signature, & Modus Operandi Ted Bundy was considered to be an unusual serial killer. This is due to the nurturing and supportive home life provided to him growing up by his grandparents. This is conflictive with the social learning theory that links these behaviors to conditioning and behavioral modeling. However there has been speculation that there was potential abuse as a child. This could simply be an attempt to better explain what seems to be irrational and unfounded behavior being demonstrated. Behavior had been demonstrated by Ted Bundy as a teenager that although problematic was not considered to be completely uncommon for a teenage boy. He was a peeping Tom and had been investigated in connection with two burglaries but no charges were ever made. This behavior was demonstrated prior to the revelation that he was raised by his grandparents and abandoned by his mother. This was a revelation that led to him re-inventing himself. It severely affected his self-esteem knowing he was not wanted by his mother. This combined with the loss of his first love Brooks seemed to take Ted Bundy on a more sinister path than previously destined for. This is evident by the similarity of his victims to Brooks. His belief that good sex was derived from an attractive woman who believed that she was going to die fueled his behavior. A behavior that he stated stemmed from an addiction to pornography. He believed that this addiction fueled hatred towards women. His...
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...The Green River Killer also known as Gary Ridgway was responsible for taking the lives of approximately 90 women in the 80’s. The police had trouble finding him. They had such a hard time getting him because he preyed on prostitutes. They were easy for him to pick up without anyone knowing they were gone. He mainly killed prostitutes because in his eyes they were like disease. They got plenty of DNA evidence from Gary Ridgway but the technology wasn't nearly as advanced as it is today so they had to wait to pin the killings to him. It wasn't until 2001 when they were able to peg him by using more advanced DNA technology and samples to arrest him. This new found technology proved that we can accurately scan and process DNA to help find criminals....
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...Criminal Profiling The article I chose to do is Improvement of Thematic Classification in Offender Profiling: Classifying Serbian Homicides Using Multiple Correspondence, Cluster, and Discriminant Function Analyses written by Alasdair Goodwill, Jared Allen, and Dag Kolarevic. The research they conducted was about finding new and improved ways, through thematic classification of certain homicides, to profile the possible offender. In their research they conducted two separate homicide investigations from to very different regions being Serbia and North Korea. Their goal was to use a new method of profiling to initially obtain the perpetrator and prove that the new way of profiling does indeed work efficiently. They worked these separate cases by using traditional profiling methods and researching methods such as sample, variables and data coding, and analysis of crime scene behavior. Their findings resulted in the conclusion that in the homicides, high frequency behaviors resulted in murder and they were able to pinpoint this in the relevant homicide cases as well. They did note some limitations of their research being, the variables such as the firearm used in the homicide and the particular offenders life. This relates to me because this is part of what I want to do as a career in my future. Most people may not be able to relate well to it otherwise. Works Cited Goodwill, Alasdair M., Jared C. Allen, and Dag Kolarevic. "Improvement Of Thematic Classification In Offender Profiling:...
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...Criminal Justice The literature on criminal profiling has risen to a considerable volume. It includes not only a high number of true criminals but also many scholars’ articles and texts. In light of this, the paper will be on the history of profiling, with specific analysis of inductive and deductive profiling. History of Profiling Offender profiling also referred to as criminal profiling, offender analysis psychological profiling or simply profiling is an investigative exercise that was initially established to provide behavioral counsel to the police investigations. Likewise, people have projected many definitions of what essentially institutes a profile, and what the objectives of this advice should be. Petherick (2009) says it is an educated endeavor to provide investigation organizations with particular information on who is alleged to have executed a criminal offense. Nevertheless, whereas many variation exists about content and...
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...Benefits, and Liabilities of Criminal Profiling The First Issue Related to the Validity of the Information/Research on Which the Criminal Profiling is based The first issue related to the validity of the information/research on which the criminal profile is based is Psychological Autopsies, issues stemming from psychologist who are not well trained in this area when trying to determine the cause of death in a client. Anonymous (2013) states that, if different psychologist were to be given the same information involving a suicide case, would the outcome of their diagnosis be the same? (para. 5). How can this question be answered? If these psychologist form and present different opinions using the same information, then there would not be any validity to the psychologist’s opinions. According to research, there will always be conflicting outcomes between psychologists when it comes to any conclusions as to how a person met their demise. Psychologist are in the profession to serve the public and not mislead their clients. They are bound by ethics to make sure that the information that is generated and put out to the public is valid. The Second Issue Related to the Validity of the Information/Research on Which the Criminal Profiling is based The second issue related to the validity of the information/research on which the criminal profile is based Bartol (2009 pg. 79) is Profiling Procedures that are used when gathering...
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...Unit 10: Psychology. 10.1 Group Psychology Useful Vocabulary: Qualities for people in a team: Ambitious: determined to be successful, rich, and powerful Authoritative: behaving or speaking in a confident, determined way that makes people respect and obey you. Conscientious: careful to do everything that it is your job or duty to do. Creative: someone who is creative is very good at using their imagination to make things. Diplomatic: dealing with people politely and skillfully without upsetting them. Energetic: having or needing a lot of energy or determination. Knowledgeable: knowing a lot. Objective: based on facts, or making a decision that is based on facts rather than on your feelings or beliefs. Practical: a practical person is good at dealing with problems and making decisions based on what is possible and what will really work. Resourceful: good at finding ways of dealing with practical problems. Phrasal verbs: Working together Get on (with): have a friendly relationship. Fall out (with): argue. Get used to: become comfortable with. Get down to: start work. Break up: separate. Put up (with): tolerate. How understanding team roles can improve team performance: Belbin Model Meredith Belbin is an expert on teams; he identified nine team roles in management teams. One of his most important findings was that effective teams have member covering all the roles. However he also noted that people may have more than one role. ...
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...Triple Homicide of Michael Moore, Steve Branch and Christopher Byers: The Offender Profile Profile prepared for: West Memphis Police Department Profile prepared by: XXX Contact Details: Name: Address: Email address: Overview The following profile is based on the case of triple homicide of the victims identified as Steve Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers. The bodies were discovered less than 24h after their disappearance, in the wooded area of West Memphis, Arkansas, known as the Robin Hood Hills. Steve Branch and Michael Moore were discovered hogtied and drowned with extensive injuries to the body and the head, while Christopher Byers was discovered mutilated with the similar injuries displayed by the other two victims. Upon the review of the available forensic and investigative evidence, the following offender profile has been compiled, based on the known facts, for the use by the West Memphis police Department in further investigation, and ultimately, the offender apprehension. The Profile Limitations The profile, although put together to the best of the profiler’s knowledge and with presented evidence, does have limitations, which are noted below. The use of this profile should be done with its limitations in mind. The profile should be used as a framework in further investigation and not as means of naming the offender. * The State Crime Scene Laboratory reports did not have any concrete physical evidence that can be indicative of any of...
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...many of these movies and television programs try and make our minds believe that fiction is reality, there are no such things as ‘dream stalkers’ and talking dolls. A real-life serial killer can be distinguished (not by a scary masks) through the many distinctive patterns in their social and mental behavior, unusual childhood, murder periods, and Modus Operandi; all of which are fashioned in different ways to create a cold blooded murderer. Serial Killers are normally classified by their social and organizational skills. Their social behavior can be simplified into the “nonsocial” and the “asocial”. While both appear to be related social characteristics, the difference is comparable to the examples given in Pico Iyer’s famous essay Of Weirdos and Eccentrics. Similar to an “eccentric”, a nonsocial personality is a personality who chooses to outcast...
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...Theodore Robert Bundy (a.k.a. Ted Bundy) is one of the most intriguing criminals this country has witnessed in the past century. A serial killer, rapist, and necrophile, Bundy had accrued a body count of thirty plus women over seven states before being caught in August of 1975. Bundy was ultimately given three death sentences, and died by the electric chair in Raiford Prison, Florida. Numerous books, films, and articles have been created about him and the horrendous crimes he committed, and his name is infamously known to almost every individual. It is reasonable to believe that Bundy may have possessed quite a few personality disorders, especially based on the crimes he committed and how he was described as an individual. My goal for this paper is to explore Bundy’s childhood, adult years, character qualities, and try to ‘diagnose’ him according to the DSM – 5 criteria. I hypothesize that Ted Bundy possessed antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). First, the DSM – 5 requires that the individual have significant impairment in personality functioning: in self functioning, either in identity, self-direction, or both, and interpersonal functioning, either in empathy, intimacy, or both. Based off various life circumstances of Bundy’s, I would argue that he was impaired in at least self-direction and empathy. The characteristics of his murders implies that he planned each rape and murder in a way that most deeply satisfied his sexual desires (goal-setting). He kept the bodies of...
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...| Become A Critic | | | By Robin Ornellas | 11/6/2011 | | Criminal Minds, lets us see what a serial killer might feel, as they portray there victims through a profilers mind. There is a team of 5 FBI’s, that lives and breathes, every move of a serial killer, that is about to kill again on the streets. Every one of the profile team has an ability to understand, what the next move might be to their UN sub (serial killer). As they visit a crime scene together, they sort out in their profile minds, why the killer has picked their victims and why they like to kill all of the same kinds. As the profilers from the FBI talks out and brainstorms the evidence together, they make you feel as you was thinking and feeling what the serial killer was at the time of the murder. One scene, made you feel that it could have been a sexual predator, because of some kind of sexual abuse they might have went through as a child, from their mother or father. The brutality of the murderer on his woman victims would kill and cut their eyes out before he would sexually abuse them. The profilers combined their thoughts together and came up with all the victims were in the age range from 30-40 and all had burnet hair, like his mother. The computer whiz profiler punches in all the criminals, with a sexual charge and that might have been an orphan because of sexual abuse as a child. It narrowed it down to about 5 UN subs to choose from, in the city the murders happened in. The profilers...
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...Forensic psychology, specifically, offender or criminal profiling has exponentially increased in popularity since its inception. It has spread though out the United States and internationally and this popularity is due mainly to massive media frenzies that focused on high-profile cases as well as the fictional movies. Another reason for the wide interest in profiling is that people have a need to know who and why and additionally, have a fascination with the morbid. It even goes further than that, it is a complete case of related to hate crimes. Many indulge themselves in the insane act of idolizing murders, serial killers, and morbid killings by gangs and other groups that have to perform a killing to be initiated into a gang. The flood of popular attention to criminal profiling created several public misconceptions. I will, therefore, generally define criminal profiling, dispelling myths and then will focus on the origins, history and current applications of criminal profiling. Criminal or offender profiling is a tool used by criminalist, behavioral scientists, forensic psychiatrists and psychologists, investigators, the FBI, the CIA, the CBC, and international law enforcement agencies. However, the practice of criminal profiling is concentrated within the FBI. The mission of offender profiling is to focus a criminal investigation onto more likely suspects (DeNevi & Campbell, 2004; Hicks, & Sales, 2006; Kocsis, 2003; Petherick, 2005). This narrowing serves to better utilize...
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...Raising Of A Serial Killer the word “serial killer” comes to mind, usually for me the name Ted Bundy is the one that dominates. Before Bundy was executed in 1989, he confessed to killing more that thirty women in almost a dozen states across the U.S. during his four year long string of murders in the 70s. “The thing that set Ted Bundy away from the serial killer’s stereo typical analysis is that he was such a mainstream All-American man that the Washington State Republican Party hired him, so cunning that he escaped from jail, twice, and so dashing that a woman friend used to send marriage proposals to him on death row.” (www.crimemageyine.com) If this man was such a moral citizen, what could have brought him to the torturous murders of those young women? What psychological explanation is given on his behalf? I feel that a child’s upbringing and their exposure to different things can also trigger certain urges. Usually, the profile of a serial killer tends to be white heterosexual males in their twenties or thirties. While it is impossible to predict who will become a serial killer, there are traits that appear to be similar in all killers. These behaviors include cruelty to animals, bedwetting, lying, stealing, cheating, alcohol and drug abuse, and a very high fascination for pornography. A lot of these traits are prominent in Ted Bundy’s character. An obvious one was he was white, he had a history of torturing animals and was often found reading his grandfather’s porn magazines...
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