Exploring the psychogeographyof serial murderers in South Africa

Abstract

Recent, but limited local research supports the theory demonstrated abroad that serial offenders tend to cluster their crimes (Geographical Profiling). In response to the need for additional research, this qualitative study explored the psychogeography of fifteen imprisoned South African serial murderers to assess whether this sample of offenders perpetrated their crimes in geographically patterned ways. Using semi-structured interviews, the incarcerated serial murderers were requested to draw mental maps of the areas encompassing their crime scenes as well as to provide descriptions of their movements during their crime series. It was established that geographical patterns did emerge, which had a domocentric focus, and that these South African serial murderers predominantly seemed to represent a marauding, route-following model of environmental learning. Although not yet formally acknowledged in our South African courts, geographical profiling has already made a significant contribution to the investigation of local serial murder. As more research is conducted and the psychogeography of serial murder is better understood, it is hoped that this would have the important implication of assisting police in focusing their patrolling efforts and investigators in their linkage of multiple crimes to a common perpetrator for court purposes.