VICTIM TARGET NETWORKS AS SOLVABILITY FACTORS IN SERIAL MURDER

The situational context in which the serial killer targets his victims is critical to understanding the hunting patterns of a predator. Howe ver, police and researchers eschew victim target networks (VTN). Rathe r, their attention is overwhelmingly concerned with the offender's cha racteristics, As an alternative to traditional police investigations, this paper suggests that by directing attention to victim target netwo rks, inferences about the decision-making process underlying the selec tion of crime locations, victims, and locating offenders' home bases c an be made. The paper presents a decision-making model that the serial predator uses to scope out potential victim target networks and shows how proactive policing in victim target areas can deter the killer. T he study also posits that by directing investigative attention to vict im social networks, police can first identify a set of prospective vic tims targeted by a serial killer. The study closes with suggestions ab out the applicability of law enforcement use of victims' targeting net works and how victim social networks can be used to link serial murder victims.