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RAPE-MIURDER Rape and Rape-Murder: One Offender and Twelve Victims Robert K. Ressler, M.S., Ann Wolbert Burgess, D.N.Sc., and John E. Douglas, M.S. This study analyzes data pertaining to 12 rapes and rape-murders committed by one male adolescent offender aver a +-year period. All offenses except the first were committed while the offender was under psychiatric and probationary supervision. The use or relinquishment of violence by the offender was found to be dependent on subtle interpersonal factors. The authors stress the importance of the use of crime scene data and interviews of patients who have committed sex crimes, the role of psychological profiles in apprehension of suspects, and the contribution of law enforcement as a data resource. (Am J Psychiatry 140:36—40, 1983) R vemurdse a crime of increasing concern in our society, results from one person killing another in the context of power, sexuality, and brutality. Al- though the literature is replete with reports on the murderer, it is relatively silent on che victim. This omission from the clinical literature significancdy im- pedes our understanding of the possible variables in a rape assault and handicaps our progress in victimolo- gy. To contribute to the study of cape-murder, we report on 12 rapes committed by a male teenager over a 4-year period in which 5 of his victims were mur- dered following the rape. PROFILE OF THE OFFENDER The offender, born 24 years ago in the Midwest, was the voungesc of 3 children and had an older adopted brother and natural sister. It is reported that he was an Rh baby and required a complete blood transfusion at birth. He has reportedly suffered no major health problems. The parents separated and divorced when he was age 7, and both parents remarried shortly thereatter. He continued zo live with his mother even though her second marriage dissolved when he was 12. He completed age-level work until his senior vear in et Received April 27. 1981; revised Oct. 13, 1981: accepted Nov. 4, L981. From the Behavioral Science Unie. FBI Academy, Quantico. Va.. and Boston Ciey Hospital. Boson, +Liss. Address reprint requests co Mr. Ressler. FBI Academy. Quancco, VA 20135. Supported in pact by National Insacuce ot fustive grant CX-0065. Copynghe 19833 Amencan Psvchiatnie Association 0U02-933% 33-01.0036-05-$00.30, high school, when he was involuncarily withdrawn from school due to excessive absenteeism and lack ot progress. He was of average intelligence and had aspired co attend college. He was athletically inclined and played league baseball, He was outgoing, otren acrended social events, and had a close circle of friends, both male and female. He saw himself as 4 leader, not 4 follower. The offender's antisocial behavior was first recorded when he was age 9, when he and 3 other boys were caught by the school principal writing cusswords on the sidewalk. The boys were required co wash the sidewalk until che words were removed. His criminal record started when he was age |2 with assaultive and disruptive behavior involving breaking into an aparct- ment and stealing property valued ac $100. Ac age 13 he was charged with driving without an operator's license; at age 14 he was charged with burglary and rape and committed 2 minor acts of petty larceny as- well as stealing a car. He ceadily admitted using alcohol and drugs of all cypes trom his early teen vears. He worked sporadically throughout his high school years as part of a program whereby he attended school in the morning and worked in the afternoon. The offender was sent out of state to a psychiatric residential facility following the first felony of rape and burglary at age 14. During his 18-monch stay he received individual insight-oriented psychotherapy, and the discharge recommendation wap that he live at home, attend public school, and connnue psychothera- py on a weekly outpatient basis, with his mother actively involved tn his treatment. Three weeks after returning home from the residential facility he was charged with attempted armed robberyv——an act in- tended to be rape. ft took 1 year for him to come betore a judge for sentencing on this charge, and in that time he had commited the first rape and murder but had not ver been charged tor thac oftense. The disposition on the attempted armed robbery was pro- bation and ourpatient psychotherapy; he had served 8 months when he was apprehended tor the 5 murders. His psychiatric diagnoses according to DSM-I have included adolescent adjustment reaction, character dis- order without psychosis. and multiple personality. At the time ot hts arrest for che murders the young man was 19 years old, weighed 65 kg. and was 170 cm call. He was given 5 lite sentences tor the 5 rape-murders. After 2 years of incarceration, he admitted to 6 additional capes for which he was never charged. 137 Am ] Psychiatry 140:1, January L983