Fatal Violence: Case Studies and Analysis of Emerging Forms PDF

Preface

As a coroner and academician, we have seen many examples of death motivated by hate. We have also compiled a series of books dealing with serial murder, mass murder, suicide, sex crimes, and other topics of personal violence. We have had the opportunity to interview serial killers in prison, correspond with multiple other serialists, and talk with violent rapists who have wreaked havoc on many unfortunate people. In some fashion, we have become fascinated with the topic of violence.

With the interviews we have learned firsthand as the experts in the field talk about how they planned their crimes. One serialist, presently on death row at San Quentin, was one of the most vocal. He said that he enjoyed most the planning and the execution of the crime rather than the actual murder. One reason for this, he added, was that once the apprehension was accomplished, the victim was no longer a human being but an object. He told a story about how he cut off the heads of many of his victims, placed the heads in the freezer of his refrigerator, and retrieved them when he wanted to have sex. He said this on death row with his girlfriend, whom he later married, sitting next to him.

Another killer said that he lived in a world of fantasy. He constantly thought of killing blond-haired, blue-eyed, unmistakably young, very definitely female, cheerleader types. This was his ideal victim type. He was successful, he said, scores of times. He too gave this information in the visiting room with his girlfriend, whom he would later marry, sitting next to him.

We talked with a young woman who killed her week-old son. She said she loved the child but the devil spoke to her and made her knife the baby to death. Another young woman killed her two daughters, both under age 10. She then committed suicide. She knifed the girls to death and shot herself to death. In her suicide note, she mentioned that the girls were filled with parasites. She "had" to kill them to rid them of the parasites. Her husband had committed suicide 2 years earlier.

We have also talked with street gang members who talk about the injustices in the world and feel no remorse in killing others for turf issues, drug concerns, or horning in on their girlfriends.

Violence is an addictive topic. Even from our perspective, we see violence from a safe perspective. We can look at the violent, talk with the violent, and then go home to our safe refuge in the suburbs where one of the biggest problems is making sure the garage door is shut so no one can come into the garage to steal your lawn mower.

In the course of any book, we have made connections, friends, and, thankfully, no enemies. The contacts we have made in this book helped us with information and ideas. Names come to us and to mention some we run the risk of leaving some out. But that is the risk we will take: David Rivers, retired sergeant of the Cold Case Squad of Miami-Dade Police Department; Thomas Harris, author; Anne Rule, author; and various killers and other violent offenders we have talked with. There are others. We are also especially grateful to the CRC Press. This is our first book with the company. We appreciate its willingness to take a risk with this book.

And of course we thank our families. My (RMH) 6-year-old granddaughter, Bella, was surprised when she found out that Grandpa and Uncle Steve wrote a book. She said, "I thought people had to be really smart to write a book!" Little does she know. Our wives also deserve special thanks.