ABSTRACT

The investigation of a sexual homicide represents a challenging task for the police. Independent of the sexual homicide definition used, practically speaking, if the body is that of a female and it is found naked or partially naked, the investigator should think “sexual homicide”. The most important phase of the investigation is the search of the homicide crime scene. It generally begins with a complete documentation of events (e.g. photographs and/or video, as well as crime scene sketches) and a careful and complete search (i.e. search for any forensic materials and other evidence). Because of the complexity associated with the investigation, in sex-related homicide cases, basic evidence-collection procedures acquire an increased importance. In addition, it is important to distinguish between four types of sexual homicides (i.e. interpersonal violence-oriented disputes and assaults, rape- and/or sodomy-oriented assaults, deviance-oriented assaults, and serial murders), each presenting specific investigative strategies. Of the four types, the serial murder investigation is often stymied because there is a tendency for some agencies to jealously guard their respective information and not confer with other law enforcement agencies or ask for help from an outside agency, often leading to linkage blindness (e.g. an offender who kills in more than one jurisdiction). Another important aspect relative to the sexual homicide investigation is the determination of the motive for the killing. Finally, another aspect deserving specific attention in the investigation of sexual homicide cases is sexual posing, which is a subset of crime scene staging. Offenders may pose the victim in a specific position to avoid detection or to redirect the investigation.