Grave Situation (37 page)

Allan interjected by raising his
hand. “There was no sexual involvement, at least in John Baker’s
case. Do you find that odd?”

Armstrong gave him a thoughtful
look. “Not really, Lieutenant. These men have different
motivations. They’re not all hard-wired the same. Contrary to
popular belief, there is no generic profile that fits a serial
killer. Some have traits in common; others don’t.

“Your man could be killing out of
anger and the murder itself is his form of release. Perhaps he’s
looking for attention or is thrill-seeking.

“First, I’d like to give you a
brief overview of these killers. Then we’ll have a closer look at
the man you’re after.”

Allan nodded his acquiescence.
“Please continue.”

Armstrong pushed himself straighter
in his chair. “The serial killer doesn’t look at his victim as a
human being,” he told them. “They view people as objects—one that
only serves to satisfy a murderous fantasy.

“Since many are sly and cunning,
they lure potential victims into their traps by winning that
person’s confidence first.

“Dahmer is a prime example. He
managed to convince his male victims to go back to his apartment by
asking them to pose for photographs in return for money. Canada’s
own Robert Pickton used money and drugs to lure victims to his pig
farm.

“These killers have the ability to
lead completely normal lives. They exhibit no odd behavior to
family, friends or co-workers. In essence, they’re living two
separate lives. They know full well that they’re drastically
different from the rest of us.

“Some of them have families and
hold down respectable jobs. But on the side, they’re also
satisfying a deep compulsion by killing.

“Look at John Wayne Gacy. He was a
highly respected man in his community. Married. A father. Yet
during all this, he killed thirty-three young boys and buried most
of them beneath his own house.

“Dennis Rader is another example.
He was also married. Had two children. Was a Boy Scouts
leader.

“On the surface, these men seem
perfectly ordinary. They appear pleasant, ingratiating, even
compassionate. But they actually mimic the behavior of a normal
human being. Underneath this facade lies an overwhelming hostility.
A core of rage, if you will. They are amoral and conscienceless and
that’s a common trait seen in psychopathic
personalities.

“Many psychopaths, in fact, aren’t
cold-blooded killers. That’s a stereotype. Yes, the more violent
ones can end up as serial killers, terrorists, or even wife
beaters. The more criminally inclined, however, end up as con-men,
thieves, and crooked businessmen.

“Most psychopathic personalities
have no criminal or murderous intent. But undoubtedly, they’ll be
using and manipulating those around them in some parasitic
way.

“I want to stress that not all
violent people are psychopaths and not all psychopaths are
violent.

“Since many have an exalted
craving for excitement, you’ll find some of them working as stock
brokers because it satisfies that part of their
behavior.

“With others, they seek dominance
and power over people. You’ll find them in careers where they can
exercise that power—politicians, lawyers.” Pausing, Armstrong
gestured toward the two men. “Or even police officers. No offence,
gentlemen.”

Allan grinned. “None taken. I think
we’ve all come into contact with a psychopath at some point in our
lives and never even realized it.”

Armstrong nodded. “There are more
of them in our society than you can imagine. Some say one percent
of our population is psychopathic. Others think the rate is much
higher, possibly one in twenty-five to thirty. That’s a staggering
figure when you think about it.”

Allan watched the tape spinning in
the recorder. From the corner of his eye, he saw David cross his
arms, watching intently.

“Do you think it’s the dominance
or control that our man is after?”

“Yes, very much so.”

“Serial killers seem to choose
victims who are easy to kill,” Allan said. “That’s why many of them
target women and children. When I looked at the victims here—a
woman and a frail homeless man—I surmised that’s why the killer
chose them, because they were easy targets.”

“I think you’re right,
Lieutenant.”

“What about the body parts?” David
asked. “Why would the killer take them?”

Armstrong crossed one leg over the
other and leaned back in the chair.

“This ritualistic dismemberment,”
he began, “is somewhat common among serial killers. They try to
keep the feelings of power by preserving parts of their victims.
The body part, in essence, becomes a trophy and is part of the
killer’s ritualistic fantasy.

“It’s common for serial killers to
take photos or jewelry from their victims as a sort of keepsake.
Reportedly, body parts that have been preserved by some killers
include fingers, breasts, penises, even hair. In your cases, it’s
the hands and eyes. Your killer could’ve made totemic preservations
of these body parts by pickling them in jars.

“Henry Lee Lucas and Edmund Kemper
were two men who did this. Kemper kept his own mother’s head that
he used as a dartboard. Dahmer is another serial killer who kept
body parts around. Even Robert Pickton.”

“What do you think this man is
doing with the body parts?” asked Allan.

“One of two things. First, I’d
have to go back to my initial thought—this killer has made totemic
preservations of the body parts by pickling them or cataloguing
them somehow. He will use them at a later time to relive the
murders in his mind.

“Or secondly, I’d say the man took
the body parts as a way to further dehumanize his
victims.”

David cleared his throat. “Is this
man insane?”

Armstrong shook his head. “Not in
the legal sense. He knows what he’s doing. The serial killer, in
many cases, but not all, is the product of neurological disorders,
chemical imbalances brought on by malnutrition, substance abuse,
brain injuries, bipolar disorders, and even child abuse. These
factors can actually shape a person’s behavior.

“This man could’ve suffered some
serious head trauma that damaged areas of the brain that control
behavior and the ability to manage emotions. These head traumas
could’ve been caused from falls, bumping the head accidentally,
gunshot wounds or from blows brought on by severe child abuse. I
will get into that one in a minute.

“Two areas of the brain that I’m
referring to are the limbic system and the hypothalamus. The limbic
system consists of the amygdala and the hippocampus. These
interconnect with one another in a circuit wrapped around the
thalamus and basal ganglia. It’s been known for years that these
structures play important roles in the regulation of basic drives
and emotions.

“The hypothalamus lies directly
beneath the thalamus. This part of the brain regulates the internal
environment of the body. It contains centers for regulating blood
pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, perspiration and other
functions controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The
hypothalamus also controls the production and release of certain
hormones.

“Since the hypothalamus is
intimately connected to every part of the limbic system, it helps
regulate emotional states such as anger and fear. Damage to or
problems in these areas of the brain can have serious effects on
memory and hamper one’s ability to control violent
behavior.

“This man could be a chronic
alcoholic like Dahmer was. Possibly even a drug user. Many serial
killers are addicted to alcohol or drugs. And many have committed
their crimes while under the influence.

“Those substances changes mood,
thought and behavior in a person by altering the biology of the
brain. One long-term effect of alcohol abuse is called alcohol
amnesic disorder. This results in severe memory impairment and
difficulties with motor coordination associated with damage to
areas of the limbic system.

“If this man already has some
inability to control his behavior due to damaged areas of his brain
caused from either head traumas or some form of birth defects,
alcohol and drugs can make him even more disoriented and
violent.

“Now, moving to child abuse. It’s
been reported that most serial killers were victims of abuse.
Sexually, physically or psychologically. In some cases, a
combination of all three.

“Ted Bundy might’ve been one of
the few exceptions. Reportedly, he had a normal
childhood.

“Many of these men grow into
scarred and abusive adults. Deprived of nurturing parental
affection as children, they grow up not knowing how to love or how
to form any close association with other people.

“Sometimes, a child will repress
these incidents. As a way to cope, the mind pushes incidents too
painful to bear into some remote section of the consciousness.
Later in life, a certain smell, dream, conversation or even further
violence can cause these memories to resurface. Quite often to the
complete surprise of the person it happens to.”

Allan shook his head. “How much
does child abuse really play a role in the development of a serial
killer? I mean there are thousands of child abuse cases reported
every year. And I don’t have to go far out on a limb to say a lot
more than that goes unreported. Now, out of all these formerly
abused people walking around society today, what percentage will go
on to become violent criminals?

“Unfortunately, many people use
the ‘I was abused’ trick to play on people’s
sympathies.”

A hint of a smile surfaced on
Armstrong’s face. “That’s true. Since excessive lying is a very
common trait in psychopathic behavior, you’re taking a chance on
believing anything that comes out of their mouths when they’re
caught. It’s never about their victim’s or the lives they’ve
destroyed; it’s all about them.

“A lot of abused children do move
on from their pasts to lead full and productive lives. They have
well established coping skills. They are resilient. The serial
killer, however, isn’t.

“What I’ve tried to do here,
gentlemen, is touch upon some of the factors that could be
responsible for this man’s behavior. Like I said, in order to see
definitively what makes him tick, you’d need to look at his past.
Unfortunately, you can’t do that until you catch him.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that
he exhibited behavioral problems throughout his life. These
would’ve revealed themselves to the people around him when he was
very young. Psychopathic behavior just doesn’t show up in
adulthood. It might be hard to fathom, but childhood psychopathy is
a fact.

“As a child, this man could’ve
shown signs of social, emotional, and psychological disorders. He
was probably antisocial, never bothering much with other children.
Possibly indulged in excessive daydreaming. He could’ve had a
fascination with barbarous acts to animals, like mutilating them.
Dogs, cats, even birds. Dahmer is a prime example of
this.

“As a child, this man might’ve
responded to the slightest confrontation with other children with
extreme violence. This in itself is an early warning sign that the
child has a behavioral disorder. Incidentally, hair-trigger tempers
are common among serial killers.

“Other signs of early behavioral
problems are lying, theft, vandalism, sexual activity, alcohol or
drug use, bullying, setting fires. All of this accomplished before
he had even reached the ages of twelve or thirteen.

“As an adolescent, this man
could’ve gotten into B and E, rape and auto theft before finally
graduating to these recent murders.” Armstrong paused to stress his
final point. “This proclivity toward criminal acts is an important
part of a surfacing serial killer.”

David looked openly surprised. “So
it’s possible that we’ve run into this man already through the
commission of other crimes?”

“It’s very possible.” Armstrong
steepled his fingers in front of him. “Another important issue to
consider is the recent stressor, the triggering event that brought
about this murderous rage in this man. What was it that set him
off?

“This could’ve been a job loss, a
separation or divorce, the break-up of a girlfriend, the birth of a
baby into an already unhealthy relationship, or the death of a
loved one.”

The office became quiet. In the
silence Allan could hear the whir of the tape recorder. Watchful,
Armstrong shifted his gaze from one man to the other, as if waiting
for a response.

“A lot to consider,” Allan said at
length.

Armstrong nodded. “Yes.”

Leaning forward, Allan checked the
tape recorder. The cassette inside was near its end. He mashed the
stop button, then the fast-forward. Once the recorder clicked off,
he flipped over the cassette and prepared it for the next part of
the session. Beside him, David glanced at his watch.

“Anyone want a break before we
continue?” Allan asked.

“I’m fine,” David said.

“Me too,” Armstrong
seconded.