Patterns of overkill in sexual homicides

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to explore the presence of overkill in sexual homicide. More specifically, the study examines whether overkill is a valid indicator of an organized or disorganized sexual homicide. Moreover, the study tests the presence of various patterns of sexual homicide involving overkill. Design/methodology/approach The sample used in this study consists of 662 cases of extrafamilial SHs with (n = 145) and without (n = 517) evidence of overkill, respectively. A binomial regression was used to compare at the multivariate level the two groups of crimes, while a latent class analysis was used to determine whether overkill could be associated with different patterns of sexual homicide. Findings Findings from bivariate and logistic regression analyses show that the presence of overkill may be associated with both organized and disorganized sexual homicides. Moreover, latent class analysis suggests that there are three distinct patterns of overkill in sexual homicide: impulsive, sadistic and personal. Originality/value This study is the first to empirically analyze overkill in sexual homicides and to propose a classification using crime-commission process characteristics.

The significance of unusual acts in sexual homicide

“…Previous research also linked different types of extreme crime scene behaviours with specific crime characteristics during the crime‐commission process (e.g., Chopin & Beauregard, 2021c). A total of 16 crime characteristic variables were used in the current study, including non‐sexual crime scene behaviours of SHOs during the crime‐commission process as well as prior to and after the crime: (1) weapon involvement (i.e., the offender deliberately planned to use a weapon as a method to kill the victim instead of an accident), (2) use of restraints (i.e., to overcome the victim's resistance), (3) beating, (4) method of killing: stabbing, (5) method of killing: cutting, (6) method of killing: strangulation, (7) dismemberment, (8) evidence of overkill (i.e., inflicting more injury than necessary to kill the victim), (9) items taken (i.e., offender took items from victim), (10) pre‐crime: offender approached the victim with a con (i.e., befriended with the victim, posed as an authority figure, offered assistance, etc.…”

“…The choice of independent variables included in this study has been driven by previous studies focusing on extreme crime scene behaviours and SH (e.g., Beauregard et al, 2020;Chopin & Beauregard, 2021c, 2021dPetreca et al, 2020Petreca et al, , 2021. This study used a total of 50 independent dichotomous variables to answer the research question.…”

“…Depending on the country, overkill in SH has been observed between 18.7% and 43.1% of the cases (e.g., Beauregard & Martineau, 2013; Sea et al., 2019). Interestingly, this extreme behaviour has been debated in the literature as belonging to the organised or the disorganised SH (Chopin & Beauregard, 2021c). Thus, Chopin and Beauregard (2021c) found that SH with overkill were more likely to be characterised by the beating of the victim, using a weapon, and moving the victim's body, which are all consistent with the organised typology.…”

“…Interestingly, this extreme behaviour has been debated in the literature as belonging to the organised or the disorganised SH (Chopin & Beauregard, 2021c). Thus, Chopin and Beauregard (2021c) found that SH with overkill were more likely to be characterised by the beating of the victim, using a weapon, and moving the victim's body, which are all consistent with the organised typology. However, SH with overkill also tended to target acquaintances with a coercive approach, without restraints, and with a low diversity of sexual acts perpetrated on the victim, which is more typical of the disorganised SH.…”

“…However, SH with overkill also tended to target acquaintances with a coercive approach, without restraints, and with a low diversity of sexual acts perpetrated on the victim, which is more typical of the disorganised SH. These findings led the authors to suggest that overkill was not a useful indicator for the organised/disorganised model (Chopin & Beauregard, 2021c). On the other hand, in their study, they identified three patterns of overkill in SH.…”