I’m a forensic criminologist… these are the seven gruesome stages of becoming a serial killer
A forensic criminologist has revealed in gruesome detail the seven chilling stages serial killers go through.
Laura Brand, who has interviewed more than fifty serial killers, told DailyMail.com that she identified these stages while conducting a personality study on many of these killers over the course of a decade.
The seven stages range from before they kill a person to during and after, including the so-called ‘fantasy’, ‘hunting’ and ‘capture’ stages.
Brand explained that the time it takes for a serial killer to complete a cycle of the different stages can vary greatly, from several hours to years.
PHASE 1: FANTASY
Brand explained that the first twisted stage of a serial killer is “fantasy.”
This is when the person strays from reality and becomes obsessed with thoughts related to control, dominance and violence.
“Other common themes include aggression, sexual gratification, power and manipulation, revenge and retaliation,” Brand explains.
Laura Brand, who has interviewed more than 50 serial killers, told DailyMail.com that she identified these stages while conducting a personality study on killers over ten years
Serial killer Ted Bundy pictured after being indicted by a Florida grand jury. Bundy reported using “true crime books and true detective magazines” during phase one, Brand said
To feed their fantasies, many collect materials such as pornography, violent online content and true crime reports, or create works of art, write stories and poems.
During this time, they often become increasingly isolated and withdraw from social interactions. They may also feel rejected.
Brand said factors that influence the development of fantasies include childhood trauma or abuse, and mental health issues such as psychopathy and/or narcissism.
She claimed that this phase can last between five and thirty years and is usually the longest of the seven cycles.
Notorious serial killers Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer all reported having fantasies of control and domination, she added.
PHASE 2: PLANNING
The second phase is the preparatory phase, where serial killers begin to plan their crimes, Brand told DailyMail.com
They typically investigate potential victims and identify vulnerable individuals or groups. This can involve online research, and they may build relationships with potential victims or study their routines, Brand explains.
Serial killers also typically scout locations and identify places where they will carry out their attacks. They can also prepare a contingency plan for unexpected events and decide which weapons to use.
“They experience heightened excitement and anticipation and a growing sense of control and empowerment,” Brand said. This phase often lasts one to five years, she added.
Brand (pictured) outside San Quentin’s Death Row prison, where she has interviewed dozens of murderers
Forensic criminologist Laura Brand sits next to murderer Lawrence Bittaker on San Quentin’s death row as he shows her a map showing the bodies of Andrea Hall and Lucinda “Cindy” Schaefer
Serial killer John Wayne Gacy was accused of murdering more than 32 young men and boys
PHASE 3: HUNT
The third phase that a serial killer goes through is known as the stalking or hunting phase.
This is when they actively seek out and track potential victims, Brand said.
They can track or view victims in various locations, including transportation hubs and parks. They are usually looking for ways to create opportunities to grab their victim, for example by offering rides or assistance.
At this stage, they may use technology such as spyware or GPS tracking, she explained.
They will usually also gother personal information such as addresses and mmonitor the online activities of potential victims.
They can even contact victims via phone, email, or a fake online profile on social media.
“They test the limits of victims,” Brand explained.
Normally the hunting phase can last one to two years and is a “favorite” among depraved killers, she added.
PHASE 4: CAPTURE
Brand described the fourth phase as the ‘kidnapping phase’.
“This is the gruesome moment when a serial killer begins to carry out his plan to kidnap or gain control over his victim through manipulation, coercion, deception, violence, surprise or ambush,” she explained.
If a victim is drunk or alone, it can create a perfect storm for a killer.
In this phase, the serial killer may use restraints such as handcuffs or rope.
Chemical controls may also be used, including sedatives and narcotics.
Psychological manipulation may also be used during the kidnapping, including threats, intimidation and emotional control such as fear and guilt.
This phase, Brand explains, can last days or weeks and is when the killer experiences “intense arousal.”
PHASE 5: MURDER
When the serial killers carry out their plan, it is known as the “murder phase” and it can last several minutes or days, Brand said.
Serial killers have historically used a variety of gruesome killing methods, including blunt force trauma, strangulation, shooting, stabbing, poisoning, drowning and suffocation.
‘The motivation could be ssexual satisfaction, ccontrol and dominance, financial gain, revenge, retaliation or simply thrill seeking,” Brand explained.
At this time, serial killers experience an ‘intense emotional release and a sense of power and achievement that they are’ fulfilling fantasy-driven desires,” she said.
PHASE 6: REMOVAL
In the post-murder phase, the killer disposed of evidence, bodies and other incriminating material.
They clean or disinfect the crime scene, create alibis or false trails and monitor the progress of the police investigation.
During this time, they often experience emotional decline or withdrawal, Brand said.
“They cover their tracks and destroy evidence while trying to maintain secrecy,” she explained. ‘This phase can last from hours to days.’
She added that serial killers often take some kind of memento or trophy from the victim to remember the crime.
PHASE 7: REBIRTH
The final gruesome phase is the post-offense phase.
This is when the killer experiences an “emotional crash” and typically suffers from “potential depression,” Brand explains.
A twisted turn of events leaves the killer “in need of reassurance and validation,” she said. “They also plan their next fantasy or crime to recapture the thrill.”
The ‘rebirth’ phase varies and can last for years.
Charles Manson (pictured) is classified as a ‘spree’ and not a serial killer, Brand explains. In this 1969 photo, he is escorted to his arraignment on charges of conspiracy and murder in connection with the Sharon Tate murder case
Aileen Wuornos (pictured) is one of the country’s first known female serial killers
Jeffrey Dahmer, aka The Butcher of Milwaukee, is depicted as being indicted on seventeen murder charges between 1978 and 1991, including men and boys of African or Asian descent.
Brand said the timeline of each serial killer varies.
“The social environment and interpersonal relationships they had at the time played a major factor in how quickly they returned to the cycle,” she said.
As many as 96 percent of the serial killers she surveyed used “real detective” magazines during the “fantasy phase,” she continued.
Most serial killers she interviewed told her they prefer the “planning” and “hunting” stages, she said.
They told her it was ‘addictive’ and gave them a feeling of ‘euphoria’ or a ‘high’.
She added that serial killers told her they got the same feeling if they weren’t caught, and that they wanted that too ‘increasing the tension for next time’.
