LISTEN LIVE SATURDAY 2pm pacific time by clicking this link.
Three specifically flawed stereotypes surround our perceptions of serial killings and serial murder: (1) that the killing is almost always a White male, (2) that African-American men rarely commit serial murder and (3) that those who commit serial murder are psychologically complex and intelligent therefore able to escape capture by law enforcement. The latter stereotype tends to be biased and at worst, racist suggesting that African Americans are not sufficiently intelligent or psychologically complex enough to commit such crimes of stealth, plan their offenses and escape apprehension. African-American serial killers are less reported in the media particularly when their victims are other African-Americans. The lack of reporting, examination, and comprehension of African-American serial homicide murderers is prejudicial to the victims and potential victims.
Investigators and criminologists over the years have developed profiles for serial killers that enable law enforcement to apprehend serial killers and bring them to justice. The book argues that contemporary patterns neglect a significant portion of all serial killers, specifically, African American serial killers. The lack of accuracy and portrayal in the research and information shared by law enforcement can create an unintentional bias and can hamper the investigation and apprehension of African American serial murderers.
Precious little research exists into the examination of how profiles and typologies developed and how practical their use is in identifying and capturing killers. Through the analysis of selected case studies of African-American serial homicide offenders, the book examines how useful the profiles and typologies are for the homicide investigator by providing the first focused study of non-White serial murderers. The paper identifies and analyzes a significantly neglected population of serial murderers, African-American serial murderers, examines current profiling techniques and their ability to provide for the satisfactory and practical application to investigations, and identifies unique profiling questions that might help in the investigative processes and practices in serial murders whether committed by African-Americans or other non-White offenders. Case examples are provided to underscore the problems of current profiling methods and to illustrate the extent of African American serial homicide offending.
The book is available through Barnes & Nobel in both e-book form and paperback. The ISBN of the paperback is 9781987015003. The e-book is in their Nook section. .
Included in the book are data associated with African American serial murder in the US, a significant number of profiles (brief and extensive) of known African American serial murderers and an in-depth examination of the Wayne Williams case (problems and errors associated as well).
I have long considered the study of African American serial murderers as the "neglected profile" that has allowed the perpetuation of racial stereotypes that endanger potential victims and the escape of the offenders.
