Compulsion or Convenience? Assessing the Disproportionate Victimisation of Sex Workers by Serial Killers

Sabrina E Stewart

Serial killers victimise street sex workers at a significantly disproportionate rate to the victimisation of the general population; from 1970 to 2009, 32 % of serial killer victims were sex workers (Quinet, 2011). Current literature does define serial killer perpetrator types for those specifically targeted sex workers. This research project aimed to determine if distinct serial killer types targeting sex workers may be determined according to those motivated by compulsion and those motivated by convenience. This project thematically analysed the presence of perpetrator motivations in the case files of twenty-two serial killers. Themes of compulsion considered were perpetrator childhood trauma, perpetrator impairment, perpetrator insanity, evidence of paraphilic desires, anti-sex work attitudes, repetitive victim profiles, and the victim as a representation. Themes of convenience considered were victim-blaming attitudes, the perpetrator as a client, victim vulnerability, victim substance use, policing negatively impacting perpetrator discovery evidence contamination, and unidentified victims. Through the qualitative data produced from the thematic analysis, it was evident that some perpetrators were motivated more by compulsion or convenience. Five perpetrators indicated motivations of compulsion primarily, and two perpetrators indicated motivations of convenience primarily. However, the data also demonstrated that fifteen of the perpetrators analysed could not be classified into either motivation killer type. Ultimately, this research project indicated that perpetrator types of serial killers targeting sex workers might be classified according to motivation. This project provides framework for future research to define perpetrator types so that initiatives and policing strategies hoping to reduce this victimisation are effective.

Compulsion or Convenience? Assessing the Disproportionate Victimisation of Sex Workers by Serial Killers

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