In their Crime Classification Manual, the FBI presents four major categories of serial homicide (or just homicide in general) which they further break down into 32 sub-categories. It’s also important to note that categories are not mutually exclusive. (Part 1 of 4, trying to fit it all in one post is terrifyingly long)
Criminal-Enterprise Homicide
To kick things off, the criminal-enterprise motive is classified as any murder committed for personal gain. This category consists of 10 subcategories.
1. Contract or Third-Party Murder: contract killers, “hit men”. While some may argue that these killers are not in the same realm as serial murderers, it can be argued that many (most) probably enjoy their work to a certain degree (aside from the financial gains).
Examples: Richard Kuklinski, Elmer Burke, Thomas Creech, Dennis Webb
2. Gang-Motivated Murder: individuals who commit murder on behalf of some criminal organization.
Examples: Thomas Creech, Dennis Webb, Yves Trudeau
3. Criminal-Competition Homicide: similar to gang-related homicide in many ways, however the victim is usually some sort of figurehead or prominent member within the gang
Examples: Harry Strauss, Murder Inc
4. Kidnap Murder: Usually involves some sort of ransom in return for the kidnapped victim. The victim is returned, however, already dead.
Examples: Lindbergh Baby, William Hickman
5. Product-Tampering Homicide: messing with some sort of product to induce death in an attempt for some sort of financial extortion.
Examples: Tylenol Murders, Stella Nickell
6. Drug Murder: usually (but not always!) associated with organized crime, but this type of homicide involves killing someone in order to take their drugs to sell themselves
Examples: William Mentzer
7.& 8. Insurance/Inheritance Homicide: By far the most popular form of criminal-enterprise homicide, this involves murder to collect insurance or inheritance. Women who fall into this category are often known as “black widows” and men, “bluebeards”. It’s important to note that this subcategory is further split into individual and commercial profit.
Examples: Henri Landru, Betty Lou Beets, Jill Coit
9. & 10. Felony Murder: refers to murders that are committed while in the act of another crime (i.e. robbing someone and shooting them when they fight back). Once again, the FBI further divides this into two subtypes: Indiscriminate (planned in advance but no specified victims) and Situational ( murder that occurs as a result of panic, impulse, in the moment).
Examples: Charles Sinclair, William Hickman
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