APPLYING A SUBCULTURE OF VIOLENCE THESIS TO AN ONGOING CRIMINAL LIFE-STYLE

This article describes our case study of a random violent abduction an d murder in a rural part of southeastern Kentucky located in the Appal achian mountains. The offender, who was raised in this rural and isola ted part of Kentucky, had a long history of violence and had been soci alized into what we identify as a subculture of violence that is still found today in homogeneous and isolated pockets of some Appalachian r egions (among other areas). In our description and analysis of his ong oing criminal way of life and this specific act of violence, we rely o n Miller's (1958) subcultural explanations. We particularly use Miller 's focal concerns, that is, daily behavioral patterns that are reflect ed in this offender's culturally based and lower class lifestyle and h is violent subcultural traits.