criminalprofiler:

Characteristics of DISORGANIZED Serial Killers (using Holmes typology)

- below average IQ

- socially inadequate, this is the type of person who has a hard time fitting in, neighbors and acquaintances will often describe them as weird or a loner

- lives alone, or with parents, does not date, has a hard time maintaining relationships

- often has an absent or unstable father

- suffered emotional abuse and inconsistent parenting

- will live or work close to the crime scene, stays within a small “comfort zone”

- nocturnal, often sleeps during the day

- minimal interest in the media

- often has not finished high school

- keeps a secret hiding place in the home

- if he has a vehicle, it will be older and probably in need or repair/maintenance

- poor hygiene and housekeeping skills - car/home will be untidy, probably cluttered, and not clean

- may return to the crime scene to relive the crime, or will contact victim’s family members

- no interest in police work

- may be interested in self-help programs

- usually kills at one site and leaves the body there

- body is usually left intact

- attacks victim with a “blitz” style attack

- depersonalizes victim to a thing or it

- leaves a chaotic crime scene, probably leaves physical evidence, may leave the weapon, weapon is usually opportunistic/found at the crime scene, often does not bring his own weapon

- may turn out to have a mental illness

*note* there are likely fewer disorganized serial killers due to the fact that it is more likely they will be caught sooner, for ex. Ed Gein would fit the disorganized classification but did not kill enough women to be considered a “serial killer” according to the well-known FBI classification (which has been revised!) - he is only known to have killed two women, and to meet the definition of a serial killer, there must be at least three victims killed at separate times with a cooling off period in between

*ALSO* I disagree with saying they usually leave the body intact - a psychotic killer is going to appear disorganized, and they can be very likely to mutilate a body (ex. Gein and Chase)