Introduction

Homosexual homicides are relatively common and may involve male victims killed by other males or female victims, involved in some sort of lesbian relationship, who are killed by another female. A homosexual person is an individual "whose primary erotic, psychological, emotional, and social interest is in a member of the same sex, even though that interest may not be overtly expressed."1

Homosexual-related homicides, like all sex-related homicides, include interpersonal violence-oriented disputes and assaults, killings that involve forced anal and/or oral sodomy, lust murders and other acts of sexual perversion, and serial killings.

Homosexuals who engage in "cruising" and other high-risk behaviors drastically increase their potential to become victims of robbery–homicide as well as fatal incidents of "gay-bashing," which present additional considerations for the detective engaged in the investigation of homosexual homicide.

Homosexual Relationships

There are a wide variety of lifestyles among homosexuals who, like heterosexuals, are represented among all social classes, occupations, races, religions, and political persuasions. Individuals in homosexual relationships engage in sexual behaviors similar to those of heterosexual persons, with the exception of penile–vaginal intercourse. Touching, kissing, body contact, and manual and oral genital stimulation are common sexual expressions.2

It should be noted that uncomplicated homosexual male or female relationships as well as sexual orientation are not the subject of this section.

Sex in America: A Definitive Study, which is considered the most extensive research on human sexuality to date, found that only 2.8% of men and 1.4% of women identified themselves as gay or bisexual, far below the one out of ten number popularized by the Kinsey Report study.3 Present research has indicated that there are differences between homosexual men and women regarding the number of

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sexual partners.3,4 Research also indicates that lesbian couples are more likely to have monogamous relationships than male homosexuals are.5 However, more importantly, the current research indicates that most homosexuals do not fit the commonly held effeminate and butch stereotypes.

Homosexual Lifestyles — Investigative Considerations

However, the appearance, dress, and demeanor of some homosexuals do fit the exaggerated effeminate and butch gestures and dress of lesbians or male homosexuals. These individuals are highly visible within the general population due to these attributes. The males are often referred to as "fag," "faggot," or "flit." Lesbians who take on the role of masculinity through clothing, dress, gestures, or hair are referred to as "dykes," "bull dykes," or "diesel dykes." Male and female homosexuals might dress as "bikers" and other macho types or "femme" and "fruit," depending upon what role they assume in their sexual exploits. These lifestyles represent specific subcultures within the subculture of homosexuality.

In addition, many male homosexuals engage in brief, casual sex with multiple partners. They participate in what is called "cruising" as they seek out a homosexual pick-up or partner for a brief sexual encounter.

A number of "gay bars" cater to different segments of the homosexual community. For instance, there are lesbian bars, leather bars, business suit bars, drag bars, and dancing bars. These locations provide gays and lesbians, who have a specific orientation, a place where they can be themselves. However, other establishments exist exclusively for cruising opportunities, which make multiple sexual encounters convenient and easy. In back rooms and stalls patrons can participate in various sexual activities privately with a partner or publicly while other patrons stand around and watch. It is not uncommon for some of the more active patrons to have several sexual encounters throughout the evening. They engage in furtive eye contact, staring, smiles, bodily moves, and wearing apparel, which signal an interest in participating in a particular sexual encounter (see Table 15.1).

In an article written by a freelance writer who specializes in gay issues, the author states that "the number of businesses allowing unsafe sex has grown."6 Statistics indicate that AIDS is far more common in men with many sexual partners than in the general population.7 Despite the fact that this behavior has made AIDS an epidemic among gay men, it continues into the 21st century.

In fact, "straight gays," as some homosexuals refer to themselves, speak of these previously described activities and the types of gays who participate in them as "queer queers."8 Gays, in general, resent these extreme types and usually avoid social contact with the "queer queers," who they feel cast all homosexuals in a bad light.8

In order for professional homicide investigators to investigate homosexual murders effectively, they must be able to break through these various subcultures in a nonthreatening and nonjudgmental manner to open up lines of communication.

Table 15.1 Standard Color Codes for Homosexual Handkerchiefs

Handkerchief Where Worn

Color Sexual Activity Left Right

Red Fisting Top Bottom

Dark blue Anal intercourse Giver Receiver

Light blue Fellatio Desires Provides

Robin's egg blue 69 Both Both

Mustard Penis more than 8 in. Has Desires

Orange Anything Top Bottom

Yellow Golden shower Giver Receiver

Green Hustler Seller Buyer

Olive drab Into uniforms Both Both

White Masturbation Desires Dual

Gray Bondage Giver Desires

Brown Scat (fecal matter) Spreads Receives

Black Heavy S&M Top Bottom

Purple Genital torture Piercer Receiver

It should be noted that individuals within the homosexual community devised and regularly use specific slang terms to describe certain activities and lifestyles, such as "flaming faggots," "drag queens," "leather queens," "diesel dyke," "rough trade," "chicken hawks," "trash," and "deviant." In the investigation of homosexual murders, the proper and discreet use of these terms may be necessary to aid in communication and assist the investigator in understanding the dynamics of an event. Therefore, I have included some of these descriptive terms in the Glossary at the end of the book.

Interpersonal Violence-Oriented Disputes and Assaults

It has been my experience that male homosexual homicides involving interpersonal violence often present patterns of injuries that can best be described as overkill.

These injuries are usually directed to the throat, chest, and abdomen of the victims. It has been suggested, but not empirically proven, that the assault to the throat takes place because of the sexual significance of the mouth and throat in male homosexual "love-making." There are certain "psychosexual wound structures" present in homosexual and heterosexual homicides. The cutting of the throat, the stabbing into the chest, attacks to the breasts in females, the slashing of the abdomen, and attacks to the genitalia are indications of the sexual significance of the motive. The psychological significance in an attack to the throat in male homosexual homicides manifests the destruction of this "substitute sex organ" which engulfs the penis. Anal intercourse is often thought to be the most prevalent sexual behavior between homosexual men. However, according to Crooks and Baur, the Bell and Weinburg study of 1978 found that fellatio was the most common mode of sexual expression.2

Figure 15.1 HOMOSEXUAL HOMICIDES. Homosexual homicides involving "lovers' quarrels" — slashing and cutting to the throats of the victims. Note the increased level of violence and "overkill" types of injuries that are in homosexual homicides. In addition to the cutting, the offender stabbed his lover in the head with an ice pick. These types of violent wound structures to the throat and chest of victims are attributed to the dynamics of two biologically engineered sexual aggressors involved in an emotional conflict with elements of rage, anger, and revenge. (Courtesy of Dominick J. DiMaio, M.D., former chief medical examiner, City of New York.)

Although most of these interpersonal violence-oriented scenarios involve male participants, there are similar cases of extreme sexual violence involving female victims engaged in a lesbian relationship. I am aware of a brutal sexual torture and mutilation murder of a 12-year-old girl in Indiana. The victim, whose first name was Shanda, was killed because she had begun a lesbian relationship with a young girl who had previously dated another lesbian named Melinda. Melinda talked three other teenage girls into helping her kill Shanda. Shanda was taken to a remote location where she was stripped. She was physically and sexually assaulted. The pathologist later reported findings which indicated numerous multiple insertions had been made into the victim's anus. She was strangled, stabbed, and hit in the head with a tire iron. Her tormentors then poured gasoline on her and burned her while she was still alive. All four were convicted and currently are serving their sentences in Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis.

Figure 15.2 INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE — LOVERS' QUARREL. This man was a victim of a dispute involving his younger male partner. After he killed him, the lover covered the victim's face with the bloody towel. (From the author's files.)

Figure 15.3 INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE — LOVERS' QUARREL. Note the stabbing into

the victim's chest and cutting of the throat. (From the author's files.)

Figure 15.4 HOMOSEXUAL HOMICIDE — THROAT AND BACK. This photo illustrates the classic attack to the victim's back. There were a number of stab wounds into the victim's back. Another male homosexual using a sword perpetrated the assault. (Courtesy of Detective Jim O'Conner, High Point, North Carolina, Police Department.)

Interpersonal violence-oriented scenarios can also include instances in which a homosexual male solicits or is solicited by another male to engage in fellatio. Young heterosexual male subjects and others, who are described as "hustlers," will participate in this conduct as long as the nature of the sexual activities allows them to maintain the more masculine role. In other words, the parties will agree to certain "ground rules." The homosexual male (customer) is allowed to perform fellatio on the subject, but the subject will not reciprocate. I have investigated and consulted on murder cases where these ground rules were broken, resulting in an apparent homosexual homicide. These cases usually involve older homosexual males in a sexual liaison with younger males or hustlers. The older male may attempt to carry the activities beyond performing fellatio or demand that the younger male reciprocate. The younger male, who usually denies being a homosexual, suddenly has his masculinity threatened and he responds with violence and viciously attacks the victim. The injuries inflicted upon the victim usually will indicate an extreme rage and sexual violence.

In any event, if presented with the death of a male in a crime scene that suggests sexual activity and in which the throat has been cut or slashed, consider a homo-

Figure 15.5 HOMOSEXUAL HOMICIDE — THROAT AND BACK. This photo illustrates the classic attack to the victim's throat. The sword had been thrust through the victim's neck. (Courtesy of Detective Jim O'Conner, High Point, North Carolina, Police Department.) sexually oriented interpersonal violence motivation. I would suggest that these interpersonal violence-oriented scenarios and "lover's quarrels" between male homosexuals manifest an increased level of violence due to the fact that the parties involved in the emotional conflict are "biologically engineered" sexual aggressors.

Murders Involving Forced Anal Rape and/or Sodomy

Homosexual homicides involving forced anal and/or oral sex are to some extent analogous to the rape–homicide among the heterosexual population. These can be extremely brutal homicides, where death occurs from the amount of force used to overcome the victim's resistance, or the victim is killed to prevent identification.

I refer to one particularly brutal sexual assault on a male homosexual, who thought he was going to a party to participate in "a little S&M." He was almost killed. He was physically and verbally abused as his tormentors called him "faggot," scum," and "asshole." He was whipped on his back and buttocks until bloodied. The group then urinated on him. He was then forced to perform oral sex on the leader of the group before he was allowed to leave, with a warning that if he told the cops he would be killed.

In prisons and institutions, many less aggressive males ("punks") and females ("bitches") are sexually dominated by macho male ("gorilla") and female ("bull") offenders. The more aggressive homosexuals (male and female) are referred to as

(A)

(B)

Figure 15.6 HOMOSEXUAL ROBBERY CASE. (A) Crime scene. The deceased, who was a

Mexican diplomat, had picked up his assailant at the Greyhound bus terminal. The assailant then accompanied him to the man's residence for a sexual liaison during which time the man was assaulted, robbed, and killed. The assailant took the victim's credit cards and his vehicle. (B) Suspect was identified and located in jail in another jurisdiction on an unrelated matter. During the interview, detectives noticed a number of fresh scratches, bruises, and a bite mark on the suspect. (C) Detectives secured a search warrant to obtain evidence from the suspect's body, particularly the bite mark, which was ultimately matched to the dentition of the victim. (Courtesy of Lt. Col. James J. Hackett, deputy chief, Bureau of Investigation, St. Louis Police Department.)

(C)

Figure 15.6 Continued.

"insertors." Examples are the homosexual male who puts his penis in the partner's mouth or anus and the lesbian who performs cunnilingus on her partner. The "insertee" is the homosexual male who receives the partner's penis in his mouth or anus and the lesbian who receives the partner's tongue in her sexual parts.

I remember supervising the investigation of a homicide on a South Bronx rooftop landing. The deceased, who lived in the building, was "discovered" at the location by a male resident of the building. The reporting witness told police that he had gone to the roof to urinate when he came upon the body. He told the officers that he had lit a match and recognized the dead man as a fellow resident. He then reportedly summoned his common-law wife to the roof and she called the police. The victim was fully clothed, but there was a belt around his neck.

Once again, I caution the reader. I do not have any independent empirical data to support this theory. However, it has been my experience that when you observe a belt, strap, or ligature around the neck of a male victim, you can expect that there has been forced anal sodomy. This method of controlling the victim by choking off the air is a prison trick employed by the more aggressive male inmates to intimidate and sexually dominate other, weaker males.

I immediately recognized the significance of the belt and directed that the male who found the body be brought in for questioning as a "witness." Investigation at the scene indicated this to be a sex-related death. A canvass of the building yielded evidence that the victim and the reporting witness were observed going to the roof together. The "witness" had just been released from prison. Originally, he told his common-law wife that some "faggot" in the building had "hit on him" sexually. He then explained to her how he got mad and beat the guy to death. He conveniently forgot to tell his wife that he had had anal intercourse with the deceased before

Figure 15.7 HOMOSEXUAL HOMICIDE — VICTIM ASSAULTED. Belt was used to overcome victim's resistance. These photographs show a homosexual homicide crime scene. The victim's body was found on a roof landing in the Bronx. Note the belt around the neck of the victim. This may be a clue that suggests that the offender may have spent time in a prison or institution. (From the author's files.)

strangling him. When the common-law wife was advised of what had actually transpired on the roof landing, she became the state's best witness.

Lust Murders and Other Acts of Sexual Perversion

In sadomasochistic sex, one partner is the "master" and the other is the "slave." The master, who is usually a sadistic type of personality, obtains sexual pleasure in tying up the slave, whom he beats or whips. The slave, who is usually a masochistic type of personality, obtains a sexual thrill from being treated this way. Often, maleoriented homosexual homicides involve bizarre and sadistic methodologies, such as "S&M" (sadomasochism) or "B&D" (bondage and discipline) scenarios. A male might be chained to a rack to be whipped by a master, who is dressed in a special leather suit. The slave might wear a leather discipline mask in a display of submission. In some scenarios in these "B&D" sex games, the slave is forcibly "raped" (anally sodomized) by the master or other, more dominant participants.

Other male homosexual activities include the insertion of a live gerbil into the anal cavity and then allowing the rodent to extricate itself from this orifice, as well as "shrimping." Shrimping is a disgusting action in which one homosexual, who has engaged in anal intercourse with another, then "sucks out" the ejaculate from the recipient's anal cavity.

In some cases, the slave will be urinated or defecated on by others. In other male homosexual scenarios, the activities include urolangia (the consumption of urine) and coprolangia (the consumption of human feces). I am aware of a homosexual homicide involving these activities, which were videotaped by the participants.

There is an organization of homosexuals who refer to themselves as the "Fist Fuckers of America" (F.F.A.). This loosely knit organization made its debut in May of 1981 in San Francisco, where it held its first conference. It even produced a videotaped "training film" for members on the proper method of "fisting." In "fisting," the "top man" inserts his lubricated fist and forearm up to the elbow into the anal cavity of the "bottom man." These sadistic acts and other sexual perversions, which are considered deviant and abnormal, can result in serious injury and death.

The Rockland County, New York, "Death Mask" case, which made national headlines, is an example of depraved homosexual violence involving bondage, anal assault, beatings, and torture. This case was a classic example of a sadistic homosexual "snuff" killing. The victim, who was a Norwegian fashion student, had been at a homosexual club in Manhattan. He was brought to the Rockland home of one of the perpetrators for what he thought was a coke and sex party. While at the house, the three men drank wine and did some "coke." The victim was stripped, handcuffed, sexually abused, and tightly laced into a leather bondage mask. He performed fellatio on one of the offenders, who told the other offender that this would be a good night to kill a "faggot." The victim was brought outside to an area by an old smokehouse on the property. While one of the offenders was engaged in anal sex with the victim, the other offender shot him twice in the head at point-blank range.

Figure 15.8 SADOMASOCHISTIC PARAPHERNALIA. These photos depict some of the S&M paraphernalia removed from the scene of a homosexual sex-related death. Some of the persons who participate in these S&M and B&D scenarios do not realize the risk factors involved. (From the author's files.)

Figure 15.9 MALE HOMOSEXUAL ASSAULT — BONDAGE. The victim was discovered face down and tied in this sadomasochistic position. He had been sexually assaulted and robbed by a man he picked up in a gay bar. (Courtesy of Dominick J. DiMaio, M.D., former chief medical examiner, City of New York.)

Figure 15.10 NECROPHILIA — HOMOSEXUAL ASSAULT. The victim was stabbed to death and then sexually assaulted anally in an act of necrophilia by the homosexual lover of the man the victim had "made a move on." The victim was killed and posed in this position as a lesson to the other homosexuals "not to mess with his boyfriend." (From the author's files.)

Figure 15.11 FISTING. In "fisting," the "top man" inserts his lubricated fist and forearm up to the elbow into the anal cavity of the "bottom man." (From the author's files.)

Figure 15.12 DISTENDED ANAL CAV-

ITY. This photo illustrates the effect of inserting a large object and/or fist into the anal cavity. This is a distended anal cavity of a male homosexual. (Courtesy of Dominick J. DiMaio, M.D., former chief medical examiner,

City of New York.)

Figure 15.13 RUPTURED BOWEL. These sadistic acts and other sexual perversions, which are considered deviant and abnormal, can result in serious injury and death. (Courtesy of Dominick J. DiMaio, M.D., former chief medical examiner, City of New York.)

After shooting the victim, the offenders cut a hole into his chest cavity. The blood was collected in a cup. Both offenders drank this blood in an oath to keep their evening of sadistic homosexual depravity a secret.9

Case History

Kenneth and Richard had been male lovers for approximately 10 years. They had a long history of domestic violence and Kenneth had stabbed Richard in the past. The two had often discussed a murder/suicide pact. In my opinion, such pacts never work out because after the murder the other party usually decides not to hold up his or her end of the bargain.

They decided to meet each other at a motel to carry out their long planned murder/suicide. The plan was for Kenneth to hang his lover, Richard, and then stab him while he was hanging. Richard was already high on Librium, and Kenneth had drunk a pint of Richard's Wild Irish Rose wine. They first went to a party store to purchase two more bottles of the wine and then headed for the motel to carry out their plan. They were high when they arrived at the motel.

Kenneth left Richard tied up at the motel and went to purchase some sharper knives. He could not find one, so instead he purchased two more bottles of Richard's Wild Irish Rose. When he returned to the motel, he found Richard lying motionless with his lips turning blue, so he took his knife and stabbed him in the stomach, leaving his knife in the victim. Kenneth then consumed the wine. He then put Richard's body on the floor to provide more "working room." When he removed the rope, Richard began to breathe. Kenneth decided to try to save him, but then changed his mind.

Kenneth later told detectives that when he realized Richard was dead he panicked. He went across the street to the hospital and decided to commit suicide by jumping off the parking garage roof. But then he changed his mind.

Kenneth came back to the motel and began to think of the fantasies he had had in the past of cutting up his partner and taking body parts. Kenneth told the detectives that he would often masturbate to these fantasies and think about playing with the body parts. Kenneth removed Richard's penis and testicles. He then began pulling out intestines and sucking and playing with them. He also sucked on the ears to see what they felt like. He then decapitated the corpse and mutilated the body. Kenneth then went to sleep with Richard's body. The next day he attempted to make love with the body but, according to him, the body was beginning to smell.

Kenneth then called his former lover in Southfield and asked him to pick him up at the motel. The friend drove him to his house. When they arrived, Kenneth attempted to stab him. However, the friend escaped and called the police. The police located and arrested Kenneth for the attempted murder of his boyfriend. The police were not aware of the murder at the motel until they searched Kenneth. Kenneth had taken Richard's penis, ears, tongue, and armpit, which he pocketed before leaving the motel. The body parts were still in his pocket when the police searched him. While Kenneth was in Oakland County Jail awaiting trial, he finally completed his end of the bargain by committing suicide. He hanged himself.

Psychosocial information. In the police interview, Kenneth admitted to having homosexual tendencies at the age of 7. According to Kenneth, his first homosexual experience was in Clinton Valley State Hospital at age 14 when another patient forced him to have anal sex with him. He stated that it scared him but he liked it. Kenneth had been hospitalized after he had killed the family dog. He admitted to fantasies about killing his neighbor and had begun tape-recording his fantasies. Kenneth spent 3 years at Clinton Valley State Hospital. During his stay at Clinton, he claimed to have these "killing fantasies" constantly; nevertheless, he was released.9

Homosexual Serial Murders

Homosexual serial murders involve sadomasochistic torture, lust murders, thrill killings, and child killings, as well as robbery–homicides, which are homosexually oriented. Homosexual serial killers can be loosely divided into three groups: (1) the homosexual serial killer who exclusively targets other male homosexual victims, (2) the homosexual-oriented serial killer who attacks heterosexual and homosexual victims, and (3) the male pedophile homosexual serial killer who attacks young males and boys.

It should be noted however, that these three categories are not mutually exclusive due to victim opportunity and victim availability. For instance, John Wayne Gacy and Wayne Williams, who were basically homosexual male pedophiles, sexually assaulted and killed children and young adult males who were heterosexuals as well as homosexuals. Jeffrey Dahmer solicited homosexual young

Figure 15.14 HOMOSEXUAL "SNUFF KILLINGS." The "Death Mask" case. These photos show the decomposed body of a male victim of a homosexual "snuff killing." Note the leather mask on the skeleton. Ironically, the face of the victim, which was tightly covered by the mask in an outdoor location during the winter months, was preserved well enough for physical identification of the deceased by family members. However, for the purposes of official identification, the medical examiner utilized the services of a forensic odontologist. (Courtesy of

Stephen G. Scurti, chief of police, Stony Point, New York, Police Department.)

Figure 15.15 HOMOSEXUAL LUST MURDER. These photos depict the result of a homosexual lust murder in which the participants allegedly agreed to a suicide pact. However, one of the individuals never intended to commit suicide. Instead, he acted out a perverse sexual fantasy with his lover's body and removed body parts, which he took with him. (Courtesy of Sergeant Jeffrey W. Smith, Pontiac, Michigan, Police Department.) Continued.

Figure 15.15 Continued.

Figure 15.16 HOMOSEXUAL MUTILATION. This man was killed and then decapitated and disarticulated. The assailants then placed his penis into the neck structure as some sort of macabre message. (Courtesy of Dominick J. DiMaio, M.D., former chief medical examiner, City of New York.)

men, but he also was charged in the death of heterosexuals as well of a young boy. (See Table 15.2).

My research, which appears in Table 15.2, shows a listing of 37 known and documented homosexual serial killers, who represent 30 cases of homosexual serial murder. These 37 offenders were charged with the deaths of approximately 280 male victims and were actually suspected of murdering approximately 755 victims.

Seven of the offenders worked in teams. Offender William Bonin worked with three other males. Offender Dean Corll worked with two other males, and Kelbach and Kearney each worked with a partner.

The most frequent motivation was sadomasochistic sexual acts followed by male pedophilia. Lust murders and robbery accounted for the balance. Twelve pedophile homosexual serial killers were suspected in the deaths of 126 young males and boys. John Wayne Gacy, for example, killed 33 young men and boys. He was executed in 1994. Dean Corll, with the assistance of Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks, killed 27 young men and boys.

Cruising or tricking male homosexuals, who hang out at gay bars, gay baths, restrooms, bus stations, amusement parks, truck stops, and other kinds of public places looking for casual sex, represents a high-risk victim group. Serial killers who "work" these locations can operate anonymously among their victims. The impersonal nature of cruising, where participants meet to engage in sexual acts with complete strangers, affords the clever serial murderer with a number of killing fields of opportunity. Approximately 70 of the victims listed in Table 15.2 were cruising before they were killed. Approximately 80 of the males were victims of thrill killings and were selected because they were homosexual.

Jeffrey Dahmer, who engaged in necrophilia, anthropophagy, and other bizarre activities with the bodies of his victims, is recognized as one of America's most notorious male homosexual killers. He had managed to kill 17 young men and boys over a 13-year period before he was apprehended by authorities on July 22, 1991. Police found the body parts of 11 victims in Dahmer's Milwaukee apartment. There were four male torsos stuffed into a metal barrel, two heads in the refrigerator, two heads in a freezer, and seven skulls. There were boxes of bones and severed hands, a man's genitals in a lobster pot, a freezer packed with lungs, intestines, a kidney, a liver, and a human heart that Dahmer told police he was "saving to eat later."10 He confessed to drugging, strangling, dismembering, and cannibalizing his victims. Police found photographs of some of the victims in various stages of mutilation.

Dahmer had decapitated some of his victims, boiled their skulls to preserve them, and then painted the skulls, which he kept as trophies. Dahmer reportedly had tried to create homosexual love slaves or "zombies," by drilling holes in the victim's skulls and pouring acid into the holes while they were still alive. In addition, he performed sexual acts with some of the bodies of his victims after they were dead, including an act of anal sex with one corpse.

Jeffrey Dahmer was killed in prison by another inmate, who was serving time for murder, on November 28, 1994.

Figure 15.18 DAHMER VICTIM. This Polaroid photo of a dead victim was taken by Jeffrey Dahmer. (Courtesy of retired Captain James Ferrier, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Police Department.)

Figure 15.19 POSING OF DEAD VICTIM'S BODY. Dahmer would pose his victims after death in various positions and then photograph them as trophies. (Courtesy of retired Captain James Ferrier, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Police Department)

Figure 15.20 POLAROID PICTURE OF BODY PARTS. Dahmer also photographed the decapitated heads and body parts of his victims, which he kept as trophies. (Courtesy of retired Captain James Ferrier, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Police Department)

Robert Berdella, who killed six male victims, was also interested in creating "sex slaves." Police recovered 357 photographs at his residence, which depicted 23 persons in various states of sexual torture. Six of these 23 people were identified as homicide victims. The other persons in the photos had been consensual partners of Berdella, who engaged in sadomasochistic activities with his "guests."

Berdella established "rules of the house" for his sex slaves, who were punished by beatings and electric shock. He put bleach into his victim's eyes and injected different types of drugs and caustics into his "slaves" and then recorded the effects in a diary. He experimented by injecting his captives with Thorazine, animal tranquilizers, curare, and other unknown drugs. Berdella also injected Drano into their throats. He anally raped his victims and submitted them to the insertion of foreign objects into their anal cavities.

Larry Eyler was responsible for the sadistic murders of 23 young men in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. His killings started in 1982 and ended with his arrest in 1984. Eyler's stunning jailhouse confession, made through his attorney on December 4, 1990, provided law enforcement authorities with a vivid insight into the sadistic murders of young gay men by Eyler and an associate.

Eyler described how a young man named Steven was brutally killed during an evening of sadistic sex orchestrated by an associate who was a college professor. The professor was subsequently acquitted of murder. I will refer to him as John in this case history. Lt. Perry Hollowell, who had originally investigated the homicide in 1982, was provided with this information during an interview with Eyler and his attorney in December 1990. Lt. Hollowell, now with the Indiana Law Enforce-

Figure 15.21 PHOTOGRAPH OF "HOMOSEXUAL LOVE SLAVE." Robert A. Berdella took photographs of his "slaves." This man's head was found buried in Berdella's back yard. (Courtesy of Special Agent Jon Perry, Virginia State Police, formerly with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.)

ment Academy, and Trooper Frank Turchi, Indiana State Police, provided the following details, which I have edited for brevity and legal considerations, due to the acquittal of the associate referred to as "John."

Case History

According to Larry Eyler, he and John were driving around in Eyler's Ford pickup truck in an area frequented by gays. They had decided "to play a scene." John liked to play "director" and create sexual scenes, which he photographed. John liked everything to follow a sequence. They saw the victim (Steve), whom they recognized to be homosexual. Eyler nodded his head at him and he nodded back. They made some small talk with the victim and asked him if he wanted to take a ride. They rode around for a while and talked about doing some sex. John said something about being horny and he wanted to "get his dick off." Steve stated that he was also horny.

Figure 15.22 PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VICTIM BEFORE THE MURDER. This photo depicts a victim being tortured by Berdella shortly before he was sadistically murdered. (Courtesy of Special Agent Jon Perry, Virginia State Police, formerly with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.)

According to Eyler, they asked Steve if he wanted to fuck around with them and the victim reportedly agreed. They told him that they were looking to get into "bondage." Eyler explained that they would tie him up and one of them "would suck him off." Steve agreed to participate. John told the victim that he would be paid for participating in the sex game. Both offenders then drove off with Steve sitting between them in the front seat of the truck. They made a brief stop so that John could pick up a bag. [Author's note: murder kit.] The bag had rope, tape, handcuffs, knife, and a beige wrap. John also brought along his cameras — a Polaroid and a Nikon camera with its own flash.

All three ended up at an abandoned farm house. John told Steve they were going to tie him up to some beams. Steve agreed and Eyler tied Steve to the beams. Eyler wrapped duct tape around Steve's head four or five times and then placed an Ace bandage around his eyes. According to Eyler, John had an erection at this point and he began taking pictures of Eyler removing Steve's clothes. John then switched cameras from the Nikon to the Polaroid. John told Eyler to "get the knife." John then took pictures of Eyler holding the knife against Steve's stomach. After a few minutes, John said, "O.K. Kill the motherfucker." Eyler then stabbed Steve in the stomach. John took pictures of the stabbing and then took the knife and also stabbed Steve. According to Eyler, Steve's body went limp. John then started to masturbate over it. Eyler cut the body down with John.

Eyler stated that he suddenly felt this rage build up, so he took a piece of wood and began to beat Steve's dead body. John took pictures of this beating. They then took the body behind the house, where Eyler took out his knife and cut the body open. John took pictures of the eviscerated body. Both offenders then cleaned up the crime scene by

Figure 15.23 PHOTOGRAPH FROM BERDELLA'S COLLECTION. Berdella had hundreds of photographs that he kept as trophies. On some of the photographs, he had made notations. (Courtesy of Special Agent Jon Perry, Virginia State Police, formerly with the Kansas City,

Missouri, Police Department.)

collecting all of the evidence in plastic bags, which they took from the scene. Eyler wore Playtex gloves. Both offenders then went to John's house, where they cleaned up and washed their clothes. According to Eyler, John kept the pictures of the murders in his bedroom closet and would periodically look through them and masturbate. Eyler stated that after he was arrested in Indiana, the police went to John's house to search it for evidence and missed the box with the pictures of the murder victims.11,12

Larry Eyler and his activities were unknown to authorities in Indiana and Illinois, who were investigating a series of homosexual homicides in varying jurisdictions. In fact, during Christmastime 1982, three different bodies, including that of Steve, were found in Indiana. A multiagency task force was formed to investigate these series of murders in Indiana as the body count continued to rise into the spring of 1983. Many of the bodies were mutilated and disemboweled and in an advanced state of decomposition. In early June of 1983, a man who was upset with Eyler for taking his male lover called the task force office and informed authorities that he believed that Larry Eyler was responsible for the recent murders.

Authorities began to "look" at Eyler, whose name appeared in a number of police reports. However, the evidence was, at best, circumstantial. The multiagency task force began surveillance on Eyler and alerted various troop barracks to report any unusual activities of Eyler to the task force. A problem occurred when an Indiana trooper observed Larry

Figure 15.24 HOMOSEXUAL SERIAL KILLER VICTIM. The victim was found face down on farm property by a real estate agent who was showing the property to a prospective client. (Courtesy of Lieutenant Perry Hollowell, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, and Trooper Investigator Frank L. Turchi, Indiana State Police.)

Figure 15.25 VICTIM DISEMBOWELED. The serial killer would disembowel his victims in his homosexual rage, which would greatly enhance the postmortem artifacts and decomposition of the bodies. Most of the remains were skeletonized when they were recovered. This was one of 22 victims of Larry Eyler, homosexual serial killer. (Courtesy of Lieutenant Perry Hollowell, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, and Trooper Investigator Frank L. Turchi, Indiana State Police.)

Eyler and another male park a truck on the side of an interstate highway and walk into the woods. The trooper went to investigate and asked Eyler for identification. When the trooper called in the information, he was erroneously informed that "Larry Eyler was 'wanted' by the multiagency task force." At this time, Eyler was placed under arrest and brought into the barracks. The task force responded and Eyler was "unarrested." However, during the interview of the other male, it was learned that Eyler had made a homosexual proposition to the male. The authorities searched the pickup truck with Eyler's permission. They seized a pair of boots, surgical tape, rope, and a hunting knife stained with blood.

Unknown to Indiana officials, Larry Eyler was also quite active in Illinois. The body of Ralph Calise was found dumped in a field on August 31, 1983, in Lake County, Illinois. Calise had been bound with clothesline and surgical tape. He was stabbed 17 times and his pants were pulled down to his ankles. Ironically, the Calise homicide appeared to have the same signature as the slayings in Indiana. Authorities finally made the connection. The evidence seized by Indiana authorities was forensically matched to the Calise case. Eyler was charged, but the evidence was excluded and Eyler was acquitted on that case.

On August 21, 1984, Larry Eyler was arrested for the murder of 15-year-old Danny Bridges, a street hustler in Chicago. Danny Bridges' dismembered body had been wrapped in garbage bags and placed in a dumpster; he had been lured by Eyler and an associate to Eyler's apartment in Chicago. Eyler was convicted and sentenced to death on this case. He died of AIDS while in prison in March of 1994.9

Investigative Significance

It should be noted that in each of the three serial murder cases discussed in this section, the behaviors of the offenders can appropriately be described as psychopathic sexual sadism. For a complete discussion of the dual diagnosis of psychopathic sexual sadism, see Chapter 14 in my textbook, Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives.13

There was a style and pattern to these killings that involved domination, control, humiliation, and sadistic sexual violence. The murders were committed without the least sense of guilt or shame, and the killers displayed a total lack of remorse. The victims were chosen at random and the murders carried out in almost an obsessive manner.

Sexual sadists rely heavily on fantasy and ritual to obtain sexual satisfaction. There is an element of compulsivity as well as an obsession on the part of the sexual sadist to keep trophies and recordings of the event. Photographs of the victims played a significant part in their rituals as well as their ability to recall their sadistic acts.

Therefore, I recommend that any search warrant applications in these types of cases should certainly reference photographs as possible evidence to be seized, as well as any records, scripts, letters, maps, diaries, drawings, audiotapes, videotapes, and newspaper reports of the crimes.

Psychological Considerations

Serial killers attempt to satisfy psychological desires. That is to say, they seek sensual gratification. These desires are aggressive libidinal wishes that are not expressed in their daily lives and are a product of their developmental arrests and unresolved needs. Following the outburst of lust murder, behavior returns to "normal"14,15 until the next outburst of murder. The victim in homosexual serial murders becomes the target of the "badness" displaced from the mother. This fusion of the destructive impulses results from disorganized developmental experiences and faulty object relations,16 along with the incapacity for empathic bonding — both typically found in the antisocial personality disorder individual. This dynamic is consistent with his superficial adaptation and noninvolvement in any socially integrative manner.

In the homosexual serial murderers, the mechanism of projection is utilized to displace the "badness" to the same-sex victim. The destructive elements of the early mother–child relationship are "introjected" and "split" and then projected with a recycling of this badness through projection and displacement. The male victim becomes dehumanized from the point of view of the killer. The role of the father as a passive "object" in the life of the homosexual perpetrator also plays a role in the displacement of the aggression to another male. The victim becomes the "object" of the "badness" that the perpetrator perceives about himself. The perpetrator can therefore unconsciously identify with the victim and yet destroy him, thus preserving himself.

Robbery–Homicide of Homosexuals

Male homosexuals who engage in "cruising" and other high-risk behaviors drastically increase their potential for harm. If they cruise gay establishments looking for a partner, they may inadvertently pick up an offender who frequents these locations with the intention of setting up and robbing homosexual victims. In some instances, peer delinquent prostitutes, who work alone or in groups, use homosexual prostitution as a vehicle for assault and robbery. They will solicit a "gay" customer who is willing to pay to perform fellatio on them. They then rob and physically assault the victim in a display of masculinity. These offenders are known within the criminal element as "fag workers."

Four of the homosexual serial killers listed in Table 15.2 accounted for the robbery–homicide of 43 males. Two of the killers, Donald Dufour and Bruce A. Davis, were suspects in the murders of 37 homosexual male victims who were sexually assaulted as well as robbed. Walter Kelbach and Myron Lance were two aggressive homosexuals who enjoyed inflicting pain on their victims. Their victims were not homosexual and were anally raped by the offenders, who were sadistic thrill killers.

I remember working a robbery–homicide of a known homosexual who was found tied up in his ransacked apartment. What made this case interesting was the fact that we had investigated this man's attempted murder about 4 years earlier. It was during the attempted murder investigation that we learned that the victim, who was gay, had gone cruising at a popular gay bar in Manhattan. He had picked up a young man, who pretended to be gay, and brought him back to his apartment for a sexual liaison. The victim had a double-key type of lock on his apartment door. In order to enter or exit, a key had to be inserted into the lock. The man had installed this lock because some of his former "guests" had ripped him off while he was sleeping. While at the apartment, after engaging in some sexual activity, the young man suddenly turned on his guest with a knife. He told the victim that he was going to rob him and began stabbing the man in the chest and shoulder. The victim, who was seriously injured, traded his key for his life and the assailant ran from the apartment with the victim's jewelry and wallet.

Figure 15.26 HOMOSEXUAL ROBBERY–HOMICIDE. This victim met his assailant, who pretended to be gay, at a homosexual bar. He brought the man back to his apartment for a sexual liaison. During the sexual activity, the offender killed the victim and robbed the apartment. (From the author's files.)

The police were summoned and the victim was brought to the hospital in serious condition. In fact, we were handling this case as an attempted murder and robbery due to the medical condition of the victim. As the victim began to recover, he was interviewed by my detectives regarding his lifestyle and his activities the evening of the assault. He directed us to the club where he had met the offender and provided us with a description. After an extensive investigation, we were able to obtain an identification of the offender and were ready to proceed with a prosecution. However, as soon as the victim made a complete recovery, he informed us that he was dropping the charges. He moved away and was unavailable for the prosecution.

It was 4 years later when I received a call from a detective sergeant who requested my response to the location. I remember standing in the crime scene and remarking how the apartment looked familiar. I soon learned why. The deceased was our former complainant in the attempted murder and robbery case. I told the sergeant to pull the notes from the original case and sure enough, the deceased had gone back to the same location and had picked up another "trick" from the same crew.

Homophobic Assault and "Gay-Bashing" Incidents

In some instances of homosexual homicides, the victim is killed by a person described as homophobic. Homophobia is defined by Martin Weinberg17 as irrational fears of homosexuality in others, the fear of homosexual feelings within oneself, or self-loathing because of one's homosexuality.2 The term "gay-bashing" is the politically correct version of what street people refer to as "fag-bashing."

I remember a case that took place in Greenwich Village in New York City. The homophobic son of a minister was apparently distressed over his own homosexual tendencies and went on a shooting rampage with an automatic rifle and "sprayed" street corners outside The Ramrod, a popular hangout where homosexual men would congregate. Two males were killed and six others were wounded.

In New York City, a corrections officer was arrested and charged with a series of killings. He reportedly would cruise a certain area in his vehicle looking for gay men whom he would proposition. He then would bring them to a secluded location and kill them with his newly issued off-duty revolver. Three murders were linked to this individual.

In another incident, a Vietnam War veteran who was gay was attacked as he walked along the deserted Arthur Kill Beach in Staten Island, New York. This victim was purposely hunted down and killed by two assailants because he was homosexual. The killers removed the victim's trousers and boots and took his house keys to burglarize his home. The victim's body bore numerous stab wounds to the chest and his throat was slashed.18 According to one of the suspects apprehended, the victim was killed because "he was a queer." In fact, one of the suspects had a previous arrest for kidnapping and assaulting another gay man. Both suspects could appropriately be described as homophobic.

Conclusion

The investigation of homosexual homicides presents law enforcement with additional and unique considerations. The mere fact that the death is classified as homosexual related might prove to be problematic due to factors beyond the control of the police. Social agendas and personal issues relating to gay rights, as well as the politics of special interest groups, can possibly have an impact on the police murder inquiry.

If authorities appear to be indifferent to the sensitivities of the homosexual community or critical of homosexuals in general, the inquiry may be seriously hampered. The law enforcement community needs to stress the fact that the murder — not the homosexual community or lifestyle — is under scrutiny.

Homicides involving interpersonal violence, killings that involve forced anal and/or oral sodomy, lust murders, and other acts of sexual perversion, robbery–homicide, and "gay-bashing," as well as the prolific killings of victims by homosexual serial murderers, are cause for concern by everyone in society.

The circumstances and dynamics involved in homosexual homicides require detectives to be able to communicate effectively with the homosexual community. They must be able to break through various subcultures in a nonthreatening and nonjudgmental manner in order to open up critical lines of communication in pursuit of the necessary information relating to the murder investigation.

References

1. Martin and Lyon, New York Sunday Daily News, November 20, 1994, p. 39.

2. Crooks, R. and K. Baur. Our Sexuality, 4th ed. Redwood City, CA: Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., Inc., 1990, pp. 317, 324, 332–333, 340.

3. Michael, R.T., J. Gagnon, E. Laumann, and G. Kolata. Sex in America: A Definitive Survey.

New York: Little Brown & Company, 1994, pp. 175–176.

4. Rothblum, 1989.

5. Thoresen, J. "Lesbians and Gay Men: Complements and Contrasts." Paper presented at theSociety for the Scientific Study of Sex Conference, Philadelphia, April 7, 1984.

6. New York Sunday News, Nov. 20, 1994, p. 36.

7. Meredith, N. "The Gay Dilemma." Psychology Today, January, 1984.

8. Hunt, M. Gay: What Teenagers Should Know about Homosexuality and the AIDS Crisis. New York: Michael Di Capua Books, pp. 167, 169.

9. Author's files.

10. Davis, D. The Milwaukee Murders: Nightmare in Apartment 213: The True Story. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1991, p. 143.

11. Trooper Investigator Frank Turchi, Indiana State Police. Personal interview, March 12, 1991 re: Larry Eyler case.

12. Lt. Perry Hollowell, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Personal interview, March 19, 1992 re: Larry Eyler case.

13. Geberth, V.J. Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2003.

14. Podolsky, E. "The Lust Murder." Medico-Legal Journal, 33, 174–178, 1965.

15. Liebert, J. "Contributions of Psychiatric Consultation." In The Investigation of Serial Murder. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. New York: Guilford Press, 1986, pp. 187–188.

16. Kernberg, O. "An Ego Psychology and Object Relations Approach to Narcissistic Personality."Psychiatry, Annual Review, pp. 510–523, 1982.

17. Weinberg, G. Society and the Healthy Homosexual. New York: Anchor, 1973.

18. The New York Times, January 25, 1990, p. B1.

Selected Reading

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., rev. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1994.

Bell, A. and M. Weinberg, M. Homosexualities: A Study of Diversity among Men and Women. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1978.

Crooks, R and K. Baur. Our Sexuality, 4th ed. CA: Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., Inc., 1990.

Davis, D. The Milwaukee Murders: Nightmare in Apartment 213: The True Story. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1991.

France, D. Bag of Toys: Sex, Scandal, and the Death Mask Murder. New York: Warner Books, Inc., 1992.

Geberth, V. "Homosexual Serial Killers and Their Victims." Law and Order Magazine, 43(6), 1995.

Hunt, M. Gay: What Teenagers Should Know about Homosexuality and the AIDS Crisis. New York: Michael Di Capua Books, 1987.

Jones, A. Cruel Sacrifice. New York: Windsor Publishing, 1994.

Kernberg, O. "An Ego Psychology and Object Relations Approach to Narcissistic Personality." Washington D.C.: American Psychiatric Association Press, Psychiatry, Annual Review, 1982, pp. 510–523.

Kernberg, O. "Malignant Narcissism." Continuing medical education tapes. Tapes 1 through 3. CA: CME, Inc., 1990.

Liebert, J. "Contributions of Psychiatric Consultation." In The Investigation of Serial Murder. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. New York: Guilford Press, 1986, pp. 187–188.

Linedecker, C. The Man Who Killed Boys. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1980.

Meredith, N. "The Gay Dilemma." Psychology Today, January, 1984.

Michael, R.T., J. Gagnon, E. Laumann, and G. Kolata, G. Sex in America: A Definitive Survey. New York: Little Brown & Company, 1994, pp. 175–176.

Money, J. Gay, Straight, and In-Between. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.

New York Daily News, November 20, 1994, p. 39.

New York Daily News, February 6, 1995, p. 27.

The New York Times, January 25, 1990, p. B1.

Podolsky, E. "The Lust Murder." Medico-Legal Journal, 33: 174–178, 1965. England: W. Heffer Publishing Ltd., Cambridge Medicolegal Society.

Thoresen, J. "Lesbians and Gay Men: Complements and Contrasts." Paper presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex Conference, Philadelphia, April, 1984.

Warren. C. Identity and Community in the Gay World. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1974.

Wilson, C. and D. Seaman. The Serial Killers: A Study in the Psychology of Violence. New York: Carol Publishing Group, 1990.