@article{ref1,
title="Rapid-sequence serial sexual homicides",
journal="The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law",
year="2017",
author="Schlesinger, Louis B. and Ramirez, Stephanie and Tusa, Brittany and Jarvis, John P. and Erdberg, Philip",
volume="45",
number="1",
pages="72-80",
abstract="Serial sexual murderers have been described as committing homicides in a methodical manner, taking substantial time between offenses to elude the authorities. The results of our study of the temporal patterns (i.e., the length of time between homicides) of a nonrandom national sample of 44 serial sexual murderers and their 201 victims indicate that this representation may not always be accurate. Although 25 offenders (56.8%) killed with longer than a 14-day period between homicides, a sizeable subgroup was identified: 19 offenders (43.2%) who committed homicides in rapid-sequence fashion, with fewer than 14 days between all or some of the murders. Six offenders (13.6%) killed all their victims in one rapid-sequence, spree-like episode, with homicides just days apart or sometimes two murders in the same day. Thirteen offenders (29.5%) killed in one or two rapid-sequence clusters (i.e., more than one murder within a 14-day period, as well as additional homicides with greater than 14 days between each). The purpose of our study was to describe this subgroup of rapid-sequence offenders who have not been identified until now. These findings argue for accelerated forensic assessments of dangerousness and public safety when a sexual murder is detected. Psychiatric disorders with rapidly occurring symptom patterns, or even atypical mania or mood dysregulation, may serve as exemplars for understanding this extraordinary group of offenders.<br><br>© 2017 American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1093-6793",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}