Thread: Serial Killers..Organised or Disorganised??

In crime documentaries you hear of serial killers being organised when it comes to killing their victims. How is it that they are so organised when it comes to this yet their mind is obviously quite disorganised as they are not of sound mind? How is their mental state selective in organisation?

It's probably a very specific type of OCD. They ruminate on very peculiar things, and act on them in strange ways, but the "organization" is in the planning and detail. They may be frakked up in the head, but they're generally detail oriented in a compulsive degree.

I think that for a serial killer. The question "why do it" doesn't exist. it is rather "why not do it".
Which would suggest that killing is a instinct, which I also think all humans have, but in a serial killers case he/she cant suppress that instinct

Originally Posted by Pikkhaud

I think that for a serial killer. The question "why do it" doesn't exist. it is rather "why not do it".
Which would suggest that killing is a instinct, which I also think all humans have, but in a serial killers case he/she cant suppress that instinct

I agree to an extent but many serial killers appear quite miticulous and well organised. For example take ted bundy for instance. He planned his attacks and used to carry a kit (containing: balaclava, crow bar, rope etc...) around with him in his VW car. This just appears to calculated for someone whose acting on an impulse wouldn't you agree?

I agree to an extent but many serial killers appear quite miticulous and well organised. For example take ted bundy for instance. He planned his attacks and used to carry a kit (containing: balaclava, crow bar, rope etc...) around with him in his VW car. This just appears to calculated for someone whose acting on an impulse wouldn't you agree?

Yeah I agree that in that case and most other publicly know serial killers are very organized, but I personally also think that having the right "equipment" is more of a per-caution to satisfy their need.

I think that the reason a serial killer is caught is because they tilt and extremely good police work.

I think that they start out as well organized and that the "instinct" takes over a bit too much.

And in many cases there might not even be a "need" to kill, but rather a "because I can" attitude. Which is really frightening. also this contradicts my earlier post.

I just want to add that these are my personal thoughts and ideas. I have no expertise in the field. I just like to discuss.

I think that there are two types of serial killers in this world. Those that kill because of a neurological disorder which makes them kill people to satisfy their warped version of superiority, and those that kill because of an OCD-like condition, as mentioned earlier.

Serial killers follow a patter. They often start out disorganized, but as they refine their methods, and for as long as they get away with their crimes, they'll become more organized. Almost all famous serial killers were cought eventually, often because they made a mistake, which accounts for both their deterioating mental state, and their efficiency at committing multiple murders. Also, most serial killers are not by definition criminally insane. Ted Bundy served as his own defence. John Wayne Gacy was evaluated by psychologists and cleared to stand trial, so was Jeffery Dahlmer. They are able to function normally, and are able to kill almost simultaneousy because they compartmentalize, and some lack apathy altogether. Ted Bundy exhibited both of these traits, and was captured by a chance encounter. John Wayne Gacy was a clear cut sociopath, and was captured when he invited the cops to his house. The cops noted a "faul odor" coming from his ventilation system. Jeffery Dahlmer on the other hand had to drink alchohol in order to supress remorse and guilt. By his own admission, this caused him to make several mistakes, which eventually got him cought. Personally, I would say that it was the smell of rotting flesh coming from his apartment that got him cought...

Examples of disorganized killers are spree killers. Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold and Seung-Hui Cho all committed suicide after killing indiscriminantely, which suggests that they were aware of their own actions, and would rather die then live with the guilt. Or perhaps the death penalty wasn't a good tradeoff for being completely insane. These people did not however compartmentalize their thoughts, although they did lack apathy during their rampage. There's a saying: It gets easier after the first time. Such killings are usually attributed to feelings of hoplesness, jelaousy, revenge, and the usual youth related clichés.

Both serial killer and spree killer groups sometimes share commonalities. Both groups feel power over life and death. They sometimes do it for revenge, although the serial killer may not be aware of it. They plan their crimes. Ironically, they all become infamous, unlike their victims...

I have seen a really interesting new documentary about the serial killers Burke and Hare, and would recommend it for anyone interested in serial killers and true crime in general –http://www.burkeandharedvd.com.

Robert Pickton's murders went unnoticed largely because of disorganisation. They took place at his mismanaged pig-farm which had become a sort of party zone for drug-addicted riffraff who lived on the property. No one remarked to hear the screams of overdosing prostitutes or see pigs running around with bones. Since blood noise and chaos was the norm.