Profiles are Helpful, but Should Never Limit the Search

I have always been amazed at the ability of FBI profilers to piece together seemingly trivial shreds of information to develop a thorough character sketch of a wanted criminal. My respect for this process only heightened after engaging in my own studies of forensics and criminal behavior. What could an expert determine about an anonymous suspect just from his chosen victim and the manner in which a crime was committed? It’s a fascinating question.
The first time a profile was established to catch a serial killer was in the New York case of the Mad Bomber in 1957. The FBI determined that their wanted man was heavy set, middle aged, foreign, Roman Catholic, single, living with a brother or sister and would like double breasted suits. It turns out that the profile was correct on all counts except for the fact that the offender lived with two sisters.

In addition to physical characteristics and a particular penchant for fashion, the FBI can use the details of the crime to reach some conclusions about the offender’s psychological state. If the killer strangles his victim, he may have felt a need to be intimate. If the killer shoots the victim, he has a desire to remain remote or distant from the victim. If he killed the victim after mutilation, he was likely trying to gain control over the victim. If the murder was very brutal, it may indicate that the killer has feminine characteristics. If he sexually assaulted the victim after death, he was shy.

Every determined detail for a profile has been reached through years of extensive research and proven patterns. However, the FBI warns police departments not to limit their searches to those who match the developed profile. We certainly have seen enough instances in which the killer was found to be someone much different than originally assumed. Profile are important pieces of an investigation, but cannot be considered 100% accurate.

In my novel Compulsion, Emily Stone uses her experiences tracking down criminals to develop her own profiles in determining what to expect next. Her natural instincts have proven quite successful, with numerous offenders brought to justice. Will she be able to see so clearly when a serial killer sets his sights on her? I hope you will read my book and determine how you would characterize the serial killer I develop.