'Monster of Florence' profiled by FBI

Crime assessment
No attempt will be made to reconstruct a precise chronology or sequential scenario of this series of crimes. However, an analysis of these crimes from the perspective of significant offender behavior will be provided.

These eight assaults were, in the opinion of the analysts examining the submitted materials, perpetrated by the same offender, who acted alone. The attacks themselves are (?) classified as "lust murders." FBI research into crimes of violence indicates that lust murders typically involve the mutilation and/or displacement of the victim's breasts , genitals or rectum. Lust murders are distinguished from sadistic homicide in that lust murders involve the immediate incapacitation of the victim followed by post-mortem mutilation and the absence of typical sexual penetration. Instead of penis penetration, the lust murderer typically inserts foreign objects into victims vagina or rectum as well evidenced in incident #2 where a grapevine was inserted into the victim's vagina.

Site selection
It is likely that the offender is familiar w/ areas in which these crimes were committed. The offender is sufficiently familiar w/ these areas to know that they are routinely frequented by "dating" couples who may engage in various stages of sexual activity in the relative privacy these "lover's lanes" afforded them. Additionally, these areas are remote and generally rural in nature, and likely to be known only to individuals w/ an intimate knowledge of the Florence area. It is believed that the offender became more specifically familiar w/ the individual assault sites as a result of surveillance and pre-offense site selection. The remoteness of the areas allowed the offender to feel comfortable in knowing that he would not be detected during the time it took to complete his attacks.

FBI research has shown that offenders of this type tend to assault in areas where they feel comfortable and low-risk, such as near the offender's own place of work or residence.

Approach
Based upon review of the materials provided, the offender appeared to utilize the following techniques, once he had made his site selection. The offender stalked his victims at the scene in order to obtain a position of advantage and to observe and hear the victims. The offender is then likely to have surveilled his victims until such time that they were pre-occupied and engaged in some form of sexual activity. It was at that moment that the offender chose to strike, utilizing surprise, speed and an immediately incapacitating weapon. This particular style of approach is generally indicative of an assailant who has doubts about his own ability to control his victims, who feels sufficiently inadequate in interacting with "LIVE" victims, or who feels incapable of direct confrontation.

Assault
The offender utilizing a "blitz" approach, discharged his weapon multiple times at close range, focusing first on the male victim, thereby negating his most immediate threat. Once the male victims had been neutralized, the offender felt sufficiently safe to perpetrate his attack upon his female victims. The expenditure of numerous rounds indicates that this assailant wanted to ensure that both victims were dead before beginning his post-mortem mutilation of the female victims. The female victims are the obvious focus of the offender's attention, the males represented only an obstacle that had to be removed.

In homosexual case (#6) - offender failed to mutilate and believed to have been disgusted to learn both were males. "Possession" and ritual are very important to this offender. This would explain why the female victims were generally removed some distance from the vehicles containing their male companions. The need for possession, as well as the offender's ritualized display of anger with women in general is further demonstrated by the removal of the victim's breasts and genitals. Despite the absence of penis penetration/ejaculation by the offender, these are all sexually motivated offenses. Mutilation of his victim's sexual organs represents both the sexual inadequacy of the offender as well as his anger toward them.

MORE FROM DATELINE

Dateline Section Front

NBC's People of the Year: Read the interviews The Night Mary Jane Disappeared The Friday the 13th Mystery Mystery at Lost Dog Road Slideshow: Photos in the Bob Duke case When The Smoke Clears   Sneak peek: When The Smoke Clears Slideshow: The Christie Fleming murder Transcript: Dan Brown and Secrets Of The Lost Symbol Through The Pouring Rain Dateline Section Front   Add Dateline headlines to your news reader: