Find me here:
  The Paranormal Guide
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Atlas
  • Glossary

Serial Killer Statistics

28/2/2014

Comments

 
Picture
When a serial killer is caught, it is not unusual for the killer’s friends and family to be shocked, saying “He/she was such a normal person!” So what identifies a serial killer?

Can we figure out if someone is one, and perhaps stop them before they go on their killing spree?

Who are These Killers?

PictureHannibal Lector, popular fictional killer.
What are the markings of a serial killer?
How do you know if you work with one?
If your neighbour is one?
If you live with one?
If you ARE one?

As a snapshot, a serial killer is defined (usually but not always) as someone who has killed more than three people. More than 80 percent of serial killers are male, Caucasian and in their 20s or 30’s… they are normally about average intelligence, with the exception of the really, really smart ones (Jeffery Dahmer, who raped, murdered, dismembered and ate 17 men and boys had an IQ of 145, and Harold Shipman, a British doctor who reportedly killed 250+ people by poison had an IQ of 140).

The majority of serial killer’s are sociopaths. But not every sociopath is a serial killer – not even close. Most serial killers are organised and antisocial.

There Have Been a Lot

PictureHarold shipman, a killer with a higher IQ - 140
In the last 114 years, or the last 11 decades, the 1980s were the busiest for serial killers. There were a recorded 765 serial killers throughout the world in that decade. Interestingly, 603 of those serial killers came from the United States of America, with 162 others being classified as “international”. Due to the large number in the US, we’ll focus mainly on there. The following statistics come from the Radford University Serial Killer Database - who knew there was a database! You just have to kill a couple of people to become a statistic!

The majority of serial killers in the past 11 decades have been men - by a long shot! The actual figures show that there have been 3029 male serial killers and only 309 females. The main reason recorded for these people to commit their terrible deeds is due to the enjoyment of it. They find it a thrill, they find it sexually satisfying, and they find it powerful. The second highest reason was for financial gain, followed by anger, gang activity, to avoid arrest, for attention, for convenience, due to hallucinations, and because they were in a cult. Then there are those who fit in several of those categories – 176 people murdered for several different reasons.

Surprisingly, the average IQ of a serial killer is 94.1. All those stories you hear, and the movies you see, which displays serial killers as being genius’ aren’t correct (quid pro quo Clarice…) The highest IQ of a serial killer recorded is 165 – that is high enough to be in Mensa, but it’s not the norm. The lowest IQ was only 54 – which is definitely on the mental retardation spectrum.

How They Prefer to Kill

PictureJeffrey Dahmer in high school.
The most popular method for a serial killer to murder someone is with a gun, followed quickly by strangulation. The least popular method is poison.

More do not rape their victims than do, but to be honest, the difference is only .5 of a percent, which again goes back to the sexual satisfaction of watching the life drain out of somebody’s eyes.

Most of the serial killers in this study were organised and knew what they were doing. And most killed more than five people.

Only 23% of serial killers had some form of military service, and none of the female serial killers had military service. So the military cannot be blamed.

Serial killers by country are listed as follows, for the past 11 decades:

United States - 2320
England - 116
Italy - 97
South Africa - 96
Japan - 78
Germany - 72
Canada - 60
Australia - 55
France – 46
India - 46
Russia - 39
China - 30
Mexico - 22
Brazil - 14
Scotland - 11
Poland – 10

Serial killers are more likely to be in their late teens to early thirties, and their victims are more often white females.

In the United States, those living in California are more likely to be the victims of a serial killer, with Florida coming in second – Dexter wasn’t wrong! In population ranking, Florida is actually the fourth in population (according to 2010 statistics), so per capita, Florida probably wins.



By Peet Banks 2014
Put together by Ashley Hall 2014
Comments
comments powered by Disqus

    The Paranormal Guide Articles

    Here you will find all of the articles written for The Paranormal Guide on all things paranormal, strange, dark, macabre, weird, strange and bizarre!

    All photos with the blog posts remain the property of their respectful owners. If one of your photos is featured here without attribution please leave a comment on the blog and full credit will be given.

    Categories

    All
    Bizarre Experiments
    Conspiracy
    Cryptozoology
    Cursed And Haunted Objects
    Curses Demons And Exorcisms
    Earth Mysteries
    Fakes Frauds And Hoaxes
    Ghosts And Hauntings
    Ghosts Ghouls And Demons
    Interesting And Inspiring People
    Investigations
    Miracles
    My Paranormal
    Paranormal Photos
    Paranormal Vocabulary
    Phobias And Philias
    Post Mortem Practices
    Psychics Predictions And Seers
    Questions And Discussions
    Reviews
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Strange And Macabre Places
    Strange And Tragic Deaths
    This Week In Dark History
    Tragedy
    True Crime And Punishment
    Ufos And Aliens
    Unsolved Mysteries
    Urban Legend Superstition And Folklore
    Weird Odd And Bizarre


    Ashley Hall -
    The Paranormal Guide

    Ashley Hall explores The Paranormal, True Crime, Strange Deaths, Dark History, The Weird, The Strange and The Bizarre! Fact or Fiction? You decide!

    Picture

    Contributors

    Picture
    Matty Sweeney
    Picture
    Peet Banks
    Picture
    Nic Hume

    Picture
    Check out The Paranormal Guide Podcast and join three paranormal investigators and researchers for honest and raw discussions on all things paranormal, strange, dark and macabre HERE!

    Archives

    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Please note that dates are from when the article was originally made.
    The Paranormal Guide does have posts all the way up to the current date.


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.