Police caught up with her after crashing one of the stolen vehicles.

To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time.

Even if youre a fan of Criminal Minds or Dateline, you may not be familiar with all of the terminology and classifications involved.

Mission Oriented Serial Killers Serial Killers Are

This article will help you understand how serial killers are typically discussed and categorized.

The FBI defines a serial killer as one who commits an unlawful killing of two or more people on separate occasions.

The term serial killer dates back to ancient times; this kind of crime is not a uniquely American phenomenon.

Roman Gladiators, executioners of the medieval times and Hessian mercenaries can all be classified as serial killers.

They may be considered either organized or unorganized in their thought processes.

That is, they believe that the most important thing in life is the pursuit of pleasure.

His reign of terror occurred between 1978 and 1991; he killed 17 men during this period.

He then lured them to their death with promises of sex or money.

He provided alcoholic beverages laced with sleeping pills, then proceeded to strangle his victim to death.

He held a compulsive, pathological hatred for both Jews and African Americans.

They may have a psychotic disorder that causes delusions or hallucinations.

He believed that a demon was speaking to him through his neighbours dog.

New York City was terrorized as Berkowitz would send letters to police and the press, taunting them with promises of more killings.

He was captured in August of 1977, confessed to the killings and was later sentenced to 25 years to life on each count.

He was arrested in 1978, after having murdered at least 30 women.

In 1989, he was sent to the electric chair to pay for his crimes.

This woman, typically victimized by a husband, boyfriend or former lover, will kill for financial gain.

She stole personal belongings and the cars of the men she killed.

She ended up pawning some of these items, which is how she was eventually caught.