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Dissertation
When silenced voices speak: an exploratory study of prostitute homicide
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
Aug 2001
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00008312
Abstract
The FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) recently cited an increase in consultations involving serial, or multiple, homicide of female prostitutes, including anecdotal evidence of distinct victimology and crime scene differences among the victims. Of particular interest to the NCAVC was whether such variables (e.g., work location, body disposal method) could classify a deceased prostitute case as being either "single" (i.e., the only victim of a murderer) or "serial" (i.e., one of several victims of a murderer) in nature. Because this phenomenon had not been examined empirically, this exploratory study investigated differences between samples of serial and single prostitute homicide victims. The NCAVC's anecdotal data and variables excerpted from relevant research literatures were included in an instrument designed for the study, the Prostitute Homicide Questionnaire (PHQ; Dudek & Nezu, 2000). Psychopathy was measured retrospectively with the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare, 1991 c). Efforts were made throughout the study to control error variance. Trained raters eyed 123 closed homicide files (49 single and 74 serial victims, respectively) submitted from U.S. law enforcement agencies, completing both instruments. The study's aims were largely fulfilled. Significant bivariate relationships between victim groups and conceptual blocks of included variables were demonstrated, including expected trends from the examined literatures. Although most prostitute victims were crack cocaine addicts, serial victims evidenced a more chronic pattern of abuse and risk behaviors, resembling so-called "crack whores" (Ratner, 1993a), while single victims resembled traditional street prostitutes. Although the perpetrators resembled each other superficially, having lengthy criminal histories and elevated psychopathy levels, the serial killers differed markedly "under the surface," evidencing sexual motivations, deviant interests, and a high likelihood for sexual aggression (Hanson & Bussiere, 1996, 1998). Serial offender subgroups were identified, differing in their socioeconomic status, criminal sophistication, and exhibition of sadistic and idiosyncratic crime scene behaviors. Single offenders were nonsexually motivated, murdering victims spontaneously during interpersonal disputes involving substances. Although low sample size precluded multivariate analyses, odds ratio calculations facilitated victim classification, and empirical profiles of the murderers and victims were derived. Replication with a larger, more representative sample of prostitute victims and murderers is recommended.
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Details
- Title
- When silenced voices speak
- Creators
- Jonathan Adam Dudek
- Contributors
- Christine M. Nezu (Advisor) - Drexel University, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002)
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xix, 480 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); College of Nursing and Health Professions (2000-2002)
- Other Identifier
- 991021889014304721