The Difference Between Serial, Mass and Spree Killers

Over the years I have studied many crimes that serial killers, mass murderers and spree killers have committed. I have researched all the different aspects of the people and the crimes committed. Many people who are interested in crimes do not understand that the classifications of the criminal are just as important as profiling the criminal. Below I have written the distinctions between three major crime classifications, serial killers, mass killers and spree killers.

A serial killer is usually a white male in his early twenties through late thirties, and is located 80% of the time in the United States. Motives for serial killers are usually sex, power, control, domination and manipulation. If the serial killer is an organized killer the motive for sex is usually rape, if disorganized the motive for sex is sadism. To be classified as a serial killer the criminal must kill three or more people within a period of time. Their victims are usually of the same classification such as hookers, young females, hitch-hikers, etc. Serial killers rarely change their MO (modus operandi - a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime). They will however advance the severity of the crime if their not satisfied with it's results. Which means they will become more violent, or add something new to their crime, but will always keep the same pattern. John Wayne Gacy searched for young men to rape and strangle, Ted Bundy sought out young girls with specific color hair and demeanor, and Jeffrey Dahmer sought out gay men to have sexual relations with and kill afterwards, all three acting out the same rage with everyone of their victims, changing the crime it slightly but not enough to change the pattern.