Serial Murder: Understanding Multicide Through Theoretical Explanations, Offending Patterns, and Outcomes

This research is focused on reviewing the definition of marginalized victims who constitute the “less dead”, a term coined by Egger (1990). The original definition classifies the "less dead” as prostitutes, the homeless, vagrants, migrant farmworkers, homosexuals, the poor, elderly, women, and runaways; this research modernizes the term to include drug users, hitchhikers, elderly men, and criminals. Victim characteristics of serial murderers were found by cross-referencing resources then logged into an excel spreadsheet containing all known serial and mass murders. Women offenders target primarily elderly victims, with male offenders targeting prostitutes and the elderly. A significant number of victims are believed to fall into the category of “less dead”. Putting emphasis on targeted groups shifts the attention away from offenders and onto victims.