2009/01/13 by Kathleen M. Heide, Éric Beauregard, Wade C. Myers · 2 citations
Social Sciences · Psychology · Medicine · #Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse #Intimate Partner and Family Violence #Child Abuse and Trauma #Homicide #Psychology #Sadistic personality disorder #Criminology #Poison control #Injury prevention #Suicide prevention #Human factors and ergonomics #Social psychology #Personality #Medicine #Medical emergency #Personality disorders
paper · doi:10.1080/15564880802561770
openalex publication_date 2009/01/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Sexual murders involving children generate intense media attention and widespread public concern, despite their infrequency. Empirical research on this type of murderer is surprisingly scarce in light of the interest in this topic. Most studies have looked at sexual murderers of adult women, neglecting to look at those who murder children. This article reviews the current research on sexual murderers of children, especially those who abduct their victims. Available literature suggests that sexual murderers of children tend to form a relatively homogeneous group, matching several characteristics of the sadistic offender, and differing from sexual murderers of adult women in several ways. Some sexual murderers of children abduct their victims. These crimes, which are usually committed by strangers, can be extremely difficult to investigate. Following the review and synthesis of the relevant literature, a case study of a man who abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered a child is presented. The article concludes with a discussion of psychological and investigative implications and suggestions for future research on this form of child homicide.