Serial Killer

A serial killer is a person who murders three or more people in separate incidents over a period longer than one month, typically driven by psychological gratification rather than material gain. Investigators traditionally require a cooling off period between killings to distinguish serial murder from a single spree of violence, though some law enforcement bodies have also worked with a lower threshold of two or more victims. Victims often share a common demographic profile, appearance, gender or race, suggesting the offender is targeting a particular type of person. Serial killers frequently show personality disorders but are usually judged sane enough under the law to be held criminally responsible for their crimes.