Challenges in serial murder investigations involving missing persons
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21178286 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Doug LePard, Doug A Lepard, Simon Demers, Cynthia Langan, D Kim Rossmo (0000-0002-2042-5423, Texas State University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2015 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 328-340 |
| Publication date | 2015-07-04 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Police Practice and Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1561-4263 • E-ISSN: 1477-271X |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/15614263.2015.1038030 |
| OpenAlex | W2162845546 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 15 |
| References cited | 4 |
Police agencies investigating serial murders involving missing persons face unique challenges. First, some missing persons are never reported missing or are reported missing long after they were last seen. Second, even when they are reported missing, some serial murder victims are not identified as such because police adhere to the theory that they died of causes other than foul play, or are still alive and have simply moved or run away. Finally, even when serial murder is suspected, the absence of forensic evidence can delay police in confirming that foul play is involved, therefore compromising or slowing the investigation. This article outlines how these investigative challenges have affected various North American serial murder cases. A better understanding of these challenges can help police managers and investigators in North America and internationally remain vigilant and prevent future investigative failures
Criminology · Homicide · Medical emergency · Poison control · Social science · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Forensic and Genetic Research · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues
Implementation and Validation of “SER-DesVi”
Risk factors and missing persons
Identifying victim types in sexual homicide
A heuristic study of the similarities and differences in offender characteristics across potential and successful serial sexual homicide offenders
Making sense of senseless murders
Superhomicide offenders
Mapping the evidence on What works for the police to effectively manage missing persons cases
“Baggage in the business”
Examining the Connection Between Missing Persons and Victimization
A mixed methods study of the mental health and criminal justice histories of missing persons
Training police search and rescue teams
Concerns with police practice in investigations into the deaths of Indigenous people in Canada
Time after time
The math of serial murder
Police responses to cold and long-term missing person cases
| Unique citing works | 15 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,67 |
| Citation span | 2017 - 2026 (10) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 15 |