Immediate Triggers for a Compulsive Murder

The time period from the emergence of various ominous signs to an eventual homicide is likely to be many years. Therefore, the question arises as to what might trigger an individual who has engaged in violent fantasy and nonlethal forms of aggression to actually commit murder. Various factors that reduce controls and inhibitions, especially in predisposed individuals, are important immediate triggers for a compulsive homicide. Depression, frustration, or anything else that can weaken inhibitory controls, including alcohol and drugs, can potentially precipitate a murder by an individual who is struggling with a compulsion to act.

Revitch (1980) noted that “some of the attacks by predisposed individuals may be unleashed by a suggestive stimulus” (p. 8). He cited a number of cases where an individual committed his first sexual homicide after watching a TV show or reading press reports about similar crimes. Malamuth (1986) and Wertham (1968) referred to the disinhibit- ing influence of the media, particularly television and movies. In fact, Wertham (1968) argued that media violence could facilitate “a transition from daydreams into actions” in susceptible individuals (p. 199). Pennell and Browne (1999) reported on the relationship between film violence and subsequent aggressive acting out in predisposed viewers. Meloy and Mohandie (2001) also studied the connection between “screen violence” and homicide committed by vulnerable adolescents. These authors described seven cases where the offenders viewed violent movies prior to the commission of a homicide and concluded that media violence can increase the risk of violent criminality, especially among the predisposed. However, Meloy and Mohandie, caution that “screen violence alone should never be used to predict risk, but it is one of a number of static (historical and dispositional) and dynamic (clinical and situational) variables that contribute to violent behavior” (p. 1117).

Several researchers (Brittain, 1970; Douglas and Olshaker, 1995; Ressler and Schachtman, 1992) have found that a compulsive murder may be triggered by a severe loss such as rejection in a relationship or discharge from a job. For example, in Case 8.1 an army drill sergeant committed the first of his six compulsive murders following a dishonorable discharge because of exploitation of subordinates. In Case 9.10 the offender had harbored violent fantasies and was preoccupied with the future victim but acted out only after having been fired from his job at a gas station. A failed relationship was a trigger in Cases 8.4 and 9.9.

Various other traits, characteristics, and behaviors have been associated with individuals who committed compulsive sexually motivated murders. For example, difficulty with authority (Douglas and Olshaker, 1995), persistent enuresis into adolescence (Ressler et al., 1988), absence of conscience (Hazelwood and Douglas, 1980), and social isolation (Grubin, 1994) have all been regularly noted in the histories of sex murderers. However, these signs do not differentiate a potential compulsive murderer from individuals who might engage in other types of criminal violence, including nonsexually motivated homicide or even various forms of noncriminal behavior. Antisocial personality disorder, for example, is found in individuals who commit various crimes involving violence, but it is not determinative or dispositive in predicting a homicide (Revitch and Schlesinger, 1981). Accordingly, we believe that the ten signs discussed, especially when seen in considerable combination, are more effective than these other characteristics in pointing out a predisposed individual who might eventually commit a compulsive homicide.