Abstract

Offender and Offense Characteristics of a Nonrandom Sample of Mass Murderers

Hempel A G~~Meloy J R~~Richards T C

Year: 1999 Source: Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, v.27, no.2, (1999), p.213-225 SIEC No: 20020158

A nonrandom sample (n=30) of mass murderers in the USA & Canada during the past 50 years was studied. Data suggest that such individuals are single or divorced males in their fourth decade of life with various Axis I paranoid &/or depressive conditions & Axis II personality traits & disorders, usually Clusters A & B. The mass murder is precipitated by a major loss related to employment or relationship. Sixteen of the subjects committed suicide after the mass murder & one other attempted suicide before capture. (36 refs.)