Is there such a thing as a typical serial killer?

And if there is, how would you describe their MO?

When you picture it in your mind, how you think a serial killer usually operates?

You might think of a person who stalks his prey in the dead of night and lures unsuspecting

victims into his car or home before brutally slaughtering them.

You might justifiably believe they're someone who is highly intelligent and goes to great

lengths to cover up their crimes, and for years they manage to outsmart the police at

every turn.

And as for their victims?

Well you're possibly thinking they're likely to be beautiful young women who have very

specific set of features like the same hair color or clothing or race, something that appeals

uniquely to their particular killer.

What you're unlikely to be imagining is a man who raped and killed elderly women in their

own homes, rarely going further than a couple of miles from his own residents, and far from

covering up his crimes.

Today's monster left his victims exactly where he had attacked them, making no attempt

to hide what he had done.

There were no ritualistic displays, no posing of the bodies, and nothing to indicate a serial

killer was involved.

Today's monster was extensively incarcerated for other violent crimes, and yet he managed

to elude suspicion and rapes and murders for more than 15 years, all while carrying

out his attacks right under the nose of the police.

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