He shook his head, like I still didn’t get it. It was raining harder now. He glanced to the side, directing my attention to the car’s window. ‘You see those two raindrops?’ He pointed. ‘I’ll bet you the one on the left gets to the bottom of the glass before the one on the right does. We don’t need the Super Bowl. All we need is two little raindrops. You can’t stop us, John, no matter what you do. It’s what we are.’... It’s what we are. There was something inherent, deep within the criminal’s mind and psyche, that compelled him to do things in a certain way. (Douglas & Olshaker, 1995, p. 68) It’s what we are. This was said by the ringleader of gambling circle that Supervisory Special Agent John Douglas caught in 1972. The year that the Dallas …show more content…
Lopez claimed to have killed over 300, but the police only unearthed 57 of his victims. Eventually the police apprehended Lopez and got a confession of him killing 110 victims. Lopez grew up in Santa Isabel, Colombia. He was the seventh child of thirteen. His mother, Benilda was three months pregnant with Lopez when his father was killed. While growing up, Benilda was severely abusive to Lopez. She was also a sex worker who was reported to be sexually assaulted by her clients. Eventually his mother kicked him out of the house after catching him fondling his younger sister. He joined a gang and got addicted to cocaine. While on the streets, a man approached Lopez and offered him a place to stay for the night. He took Lopez to an abandoned building and raped him. At the age of 21, Lopez stole a car and was sent to prison and was raped, again, by at least two fellow inmates. Lopez killed his attackers soon after. Later, Lopez will fulfill his new desire to kill by murdering 110 known victims. Most of them looking eerily similar to his own mother. It would be difficult to attempt to make an argument for this man to be born a serial killer. His childhood shaped him for a road with two paths: catch a killer, or become …show more content…
Raine and his team continued to scan numerous murderers brains over the course of many years. They noticed a similarity between the brains such as overactivation of the amygdala, the area that generates and stimulates our emotions.They also found reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is the area of the brain that monitors our emotional impulses. They came to the conclusion that a murderer has a brain that makes them impulsive and prone to rage. After being asked about his findings, Raine explained that the reason behind there being reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex most likely was caused by childhood abuse and damage cause by ruthless abuse. In general, the prefrontal cortex is extremely vulnerable, but especially when you are young and your brain has not grown to its hilt. Through the years of research and causal new findings only one caught the attention of Professor Raine. It was a gene that produced an enzyme called MAOA, better known as the Warrior Gene. Raine discovered that about 30% of men have this gene, but if it is triggered or not depends on the violence that occured when you were vulnerable and
As typical human beings we all want to know why someone could randomly take the lives of several innocent people all at one time. It is frightening and scientists figure if they can figure out why, then it can be prevented in the future. The documentary, Mind of a Rampage Killer, tries to solve the mystery and really dive deep into the minds of people who could potentially create such a horrifying situation. Through the use of ethos, logos, and pathos, this documentary concludes that every killer had something in common; they all struggled with mental disorders, depression, or outbursts of violence, all stemming from early childhood or an internal battle throughout growing up, some could have even just been born with a violent rage.
Carlos Deluna was born on March 15th 1962. Carlos DeLuna, who was arrested for murder, was developmentally disabled and had a low IQ. He dropped out of junior high and took a series of manual jobs. He had a history of petty nonviolent crime, including robbery and car theft. DeLuna also developed a taste for huffing spray paint. He was arrested multiple times holding a can of spray paint with his hands and mouth “smeared with the stuff.” DeLuna was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by the state of Texas. On the night of February 4th,1983 a 24 year old gas station attendant named Wanda Lopez was murdered.Reporters said the young woman had been stabbed multiple time with a buckle knife. At his 1983 trial, Carlos DeLuna told the jury that on the day of the murder he had ran into Hernandez, who he'd known for the previous five years. The two men, who both lived in the southern Texas town of Corpus Christi, stopped off at a bar. Hernandez went over to a gas station, the Shamrock, to buy something, and when he didn't return DeLuna went over to see what was going on.Mrs.Lopez was killed while on the phone with the police, having just called 911 reporting a suspicious person. Police found DeLuna hiding in a truck a few blocks away. DeLuna told the jury that he saw Hernandez inside the Shamrock wrestling with a woman behind the counter. DeLuna said he was afraid and started to run. He had his own police record for sexual assault. "I just kept running because I was scared, you know." When he heard the sirens of police cars screeching towards the gas station he panicked and hid under a pickup truck where, 40 minutes after the killing, he was arrested.(Pilkington) DeLuna always maintained that he didn't do it, but waited until his tr...
Neurotransmitters have been suggested as a significant cause of aggressive behavior. Hans Brunner, a geneticist at the University Hospital in Nijmegen, has found that the violent male members of the Dutch family mentioned earlier in this paper, lacked a gene that produces monoamine oxidase-a (MAOA) (4). MAOA is an enzyme that breaks down significant transmitters in the brain. If the MAOA does not break down these transmitters - specifically, serotonin - then buildup of serotonin will occur and could cause a person to act violently (3).
The author, Katherine Ramsland, is a forensic psychologist that teaches criminal justice. The purpose of this article is to answer the question of ‘how and why’ a human could have so much anger towards another person. Anthony Meoli holds a BS in criminal justice from Penn State University, a MA in forensic psychology from Argosy University, and a JD from John Marshall Law School. He was interviewed while I was reading this article and answered questions based off of why he was launching this project. His ultimate goal was to find a link between the creative side of their brain and the ability they have to naturally compartmentalize their live. He wants to find out why they are addicted to killing and what draws them towards that need. He
Some psychologist believe that if a serial killer displays or kills his victims in such a way then it qualifies as fulfilling as sexual desire. These killers are usually diagnosed with a mental disorder referred to as sexual sadism. Psychologists refer to serial killers who kill in this manner as sexual sadist. A sexual sadist enjoys the ‘suffering or embarrassment of others to the point of arousal’ (Serial Killers and Sexual Sadism). Sociologists believe that a serial killer needs to “fulfil a sexual desire by turning a fantasy into a controllable reality” (Serial Killers: Nature vs. Nurture). Sadist crave the dominance and control over their victims because they feel as if they cannot control other aspects of their life. Another biological factor derives within the DNA of the person. Many killers have the “MAO-A gene (monoamine oxidase A). This gene, which has been the target of considerable research, is also known as the "warrior gene" because it regulates serotonin in the brain. Serotonin affects your mood — think Prozac — and many scientists believe that if you have a certain version of the warrior gene, your brain won't respond to the calming effects of serotonin (A Neuroscientist Uncovers a Dark Secret).” With this gene psychologist and scientist alike believe that this can foretell a serial killer before he becomes a serial
The article is divided into categories and investigates various factors associated with violence, and details the psychosocial/biological motives behind the criminal acts. It provides comprehensive accounts of neuropsychological concepts, neurochemistry,
Serial killers are defined to “be driven by instinct and desire to kill.” In a study done in 2000, Dr, Richard Davidson says, “people with a large amount of aggression – in particular people who have committed aggressive murders or have a social disorder – have almost no brain activity in the orbital frontal cortex or the anterior cingulated cortex while activity in the amyglade continued perfectly. The orbital frontal cortex and the anterior congulated cortex control emotional impulses while the amyglade controls reactions to fear.” Davidson concludes his research claiming that although environment can and will affect a serial killer’s thoughts, it is a killer’s genetic makeup that inevitably creates murderous thoughts.
Finger (2011), Ermer (2012), and Yang (2010) were all interested in how abnormalities in certain areas of the brain (amygdale, orbitalfrontal cortex, etc.) affected or led to certain characteristics in psychopaths. Finger studied the system of decision-making in psychopaths, Ermer researched the link between damage in certain regions of the brain are what causes the traits of psychopathology, and Yang wanted to see if the amount and thickness of certain areas of the brain had anything to do with the psychopaths being able to live among others undetected. All three studies linked certain areas in the brain that are thought to either help in emotional learning or decision-making to their explanation that abnormalities in these area are responsible for psychotic traits.
Talent is something that may be hidden in the most unexpected places. This talent sometimes could not be appreciated if it does not come from expected places. When determination places along this the result can be great. Four Hispanic high school students form a robotics club under the leadership of their school's newest teacher, Fredi. With no experience, 800 bucks, used car parts and a dream, this ragtag team goes up against the country's reigning robotics champion, MIT.
...theorize that serial killers have brain damage or other biological abnormalities that contribute to their actions. Damage to areas like the frontal lobe, the hypothalamus and the limbic system can contribute to extreme aggression, loss of control, loss of judgment and violence. Henry Lee Lucas, who was convicted of 11 murders, was shown to have extreme brain damage in these areas, probably the result of childhood abuse, malnutrition and alcoholism. Arthur Shawcross, another 11-time serial killer, was found to have had several brain injuries, including two skull fractures. While in prison, he suffered from headaches and often blacked out. Bobby Joe Long, convicted of nine murders, stated at one point, "After I'm dead, they're going to open up my head and find that just like we've been saying a part of my brain is black and dry and dead" [source: Scott].
If someone ever met Andrew Urdiales he would be the type that one would forget. He is not very outgoing and would keep to himself, during his childhood he did not have many friends and was an average student. Urdiales was a marine stationed in Southern California when he committed his first murder killing Robbin Brandley a twenty-three year old college student. From July 1988 to August 1996 Urdiales would go on to kill seven more women. Most serial killers kill each victim similar to all the other victims, Urdiales was different though his first murder he stabbed the victim to death while his last he shot in the head.
Many experts do not accept that biology alone creates children who kill. They believe that violence is a learned behavior. Being abused or witnessing domestic violence is an environmental factor in ju...
It is also crucial to consider the genetic makeup of these killers when trying to decipher their motives. New research shows a potential link between a strand of genes and aggression and violence (Bradley-Hagerty). The MAO-A gene or (monoamine oxidase A) has been researched extensively. The gene is often referred to as the “warrior gene” (Bradley-Hagerty). The function of this gene is to regulate serotonin in the brain. However, there are different variations of the gene, one of which is believed to prevent the brain from feeling the relaxing effects of the serotonin (Bradley- Hagerty). Without these calming effects, the person with this version of the gene is genetically predisposed to fits of rage; fits of rage that could potentially lead to murder over and over again.
Cubillos killing spree was from 1992 to 1999 when he got arrested. There had been found over 200 bodies by 1992. Bodies were found in 13 different places in Colombia and some found in Ecuador. His victims were peasants,poor,street, young boys. They were between the ages 8-16 and vulnerable. It wasn’t hard for him to choose his victims because “39% of the children in Colombia lived in poverty” (Terre des Hommes) (Routine Activity Theory). He offered the kids money, gifts, and drugs. It was easy for the boys to go because the life style they lived didn't offer them so when
Reif , A., Rosler, M., Freitage, C., Schneider, M., Eujen, A., Kissling, C., Wenzler, D., & Jacob, C. (2007). Nature and nurture predispose to violent behavior: Serotonergic genes and adverse childhood environment. Neuropsychopharmacology, 32(11), 2375-2838.