The nature and dynamics of sexual homicide: An integrative review

The author reviews the definitions, epidemiology, evolving research, offend er, and offense characteristics of sexual homicide, a form of intentional k illing that occurs in less than 1% of homicides in the United States. Altho ugh the extant research is limited by very few comparative studies, repetit ive use of small, nonrandom samples, retrospective data, no prospective stu dies, and the absence of any predictive statistical analyses, the yield ove r the past 100 years is impressive. The author advances a clinical typology of sexual murderers. The first group of compulsive sexual murderers leaves behind organized crime scenes and are usually diagnosed with sexual sadism and antisocial/narcissistic personality disorders. They are chronically em otionally detached often primary psychopaths, are autonomically hyporeactiv e, and the majority experience no early trauma. The second group of catathy mic sexual murderers leave behind disorganized crime scenes and are usually diagnosed with a mood disorder and various personality disorders that may include schizoid and avoidant traits. They are hungry for attachment, only moderately psychopathic, are autonomically hyperreactive, and have a histor y of physical and/or sexual trauma. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.