al killer.The Crime Classification Manual used by the FBI defines serial murder as "three or more separate events in three or more separate locations with an emotional cooling-off period between homicides". The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) defines serial killing as "a series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually but not always, by one offender acting alone. The crimes may occur over a period of time ranging from hours to years. Quite often the motive is psychological, and the offenders behavior and the physical evidence observed at the crime scenes will reflect sadistic, sexual overtones". By avoiding the strict criteria of the FBI and other published definitions, the NIJ undoubtedly rankled a few criminologists, but its broad definition at once closes the FBI loopholes while providing coverage for cases otherwise denied any label at all. Throughout the early annals of criminal history, serial murder was labeled as mass murder. Only since 1950 have criminologists made an effort to distinguish between types of multiple murder. In 1966, author John Brophy coined the phrase "serial murder" in his book The Meaning of Murder. Though the written definitions and diagnosis terminology may differ there are some facts about serial killers that speak for themselves.Serial killers are divided in two types disorganized and organized. The first, disorganized killers often appear to have three strikes before they begin. Disorganized killers are at best of average intelligence, sometimes mentally retarded. This type of killer has an unstable work history, mirroring that of his father, in low or unskilled occupations. His birth-order was low, usually the last of a number of siblings. His social life is nonexistent; he lives alone and is usually sexually incompetent, often times a virgin. He usually strikes his victims at random and lives or works near the crime scene. There is little or no interest in the me...
