Pre- and post-offence behaviours of healthcare serial killers as a confidence game

Extant literature, while plentiful on the topic of serial homicide in general, does not adequately examine the phenomena of healthcare professionals who serially murder their patients. Using a sample of 58 healthcare serial killers located within North America, South America and Europe between the years of 1970-2010, this study examines notable pre- and post-offence behaviours of healthcare serial killers. Patterns related to offender etiology, victim cultivation, crime scene behaviour and techniques of evasion were explored. The findings from this study suggest that the pre- and post-offence behaviours of healthcare serial killers can be examined from the theoretical framework of confidence men or ‘con men.’ The findings from this study also suggest that healthcare serial killings and offenders who perpetrate them continue to be elusive and warrant additional scholarly attention to reduce their likelihood of engaging in homicide undetected for extended periods of time. Policy implications are also discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Criminology

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Lubaszka, Christine Katherine

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Shon, Phillip

• Serial homicide
• Healthcare serial killers
• Victim cultivation
• Confidence men
• Con men

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/287

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/287