Patterns of overkill in sexual homicides

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the presence of overkill in sexual homicide. More specifically, the study examines whether overkill is a valid indicator of an organized or disorganized sexual homicide. Moreover, the study tests the presence of various patterns of sexual homicide involving overkill.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample used in this study consists of 662 cases of extrafamilial SHs with (n = 145) and without (n = 517) evidence of overkill, respectively. A binomial regression was used to compare at the multivariate level the two groups of crimes, while a latent class analysis was used to determine whether overkill could be associated with different patterns of sexual homicide.

Findings

Findings from bivariate and logistic regression analyses show that the presence of overkill may be associated with both organized and disorganized sexual homicides. Moreover, latent class analysis suggests that there are three distinct patterns of overkill in sexual homicide: impulsive, sadistic and personal.

Originality/value

This study is the first to empirically analyze overkill in sexual homicides and to propose a classification using crime-commission process characteristics.

Citation

Chopin, J. and Beauregard, E. (2021), "Patterns of overkill in sexual homicides", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 44-58. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-10-2020-0045