serial killer
Multiple-victim predator
A serial killer is a person who murders multiple victims over a period of time, typically with cooling-off periods between killings.
The term distinguishes this pattern from mass murder (many victims at once) or spree killing (multiple victims in rapid succession).
Serial killers often select victims who fit a particular type and may follow ritualized methods: The FBI profiles serial killers to predict their next moves.
One who unlawfully kills
- homicideCausing another's death
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- manhuntSearch for a suspect
- fugitiveOne fleeing authorities
felon · convict · arrest · capture · wanted · rampage · spree · victim
Person without conscience
- sociopathOne without conscience
- antisocialAverse to socializing
- narcissisticObsessed with one's image
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
remorseless · callous · cunning · emotionless · detached · charm · deceptive · grandiose
Behavioral pattern analyst
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
- modus operandiCharacteristic way of working
signature · victimology · behavioral analysis · cold case · unsolved · clues · patterns · crime scene
- BTKSerial killer's self-chosen acronym
- Jack the RipperUnidentified Victorian murderer
- Boston StranglerSerial killer, Massachusetts, sixties
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- cat-and-mouseProlonged strategic pursuit
Norman Bates · Patrick Bateman · whodunit · crime novel · true crime · documentary · podcast · miniseries
murderer
One who unlawfully kills
fugitive · felon · convict · arrest · capture · wanted · rampage · spree · victim · body count
psychopath
Person without conscience
- sociopathOne without conscience
- antisocialAverse to socializing
- narcissisticObsessed with one's image
manipulative · remorseless · callous · cunning · emotionless · detached · charm · deceptive · grandiose · compartmentalize
profiler
Behavioral pattern analyst
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
modus operandi · signature · victimology · behavioral analysis · cold case · unsolved · clues · patterns · crime scene · DNA
Ted Bundy
- BTKSerial killer's self-chosen acronym
- Jack the RipperUnidentified Victorian murderer
- Boston StranglerSerial killer, Massachusetts, sixties
Hannibal Lecter
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
Norman Bates · Patrick Bateman · cat-and-mouse · whodunit · crime novel · true crime · documentary · podcast · miniseries · plot twist
- crime investigationdetective, whodunit, investigation, detectives, investigator
- FBIFBI, agent, special agent, bureau, FBI Academy
- mystery fictionwhodunit, whodunnit, sleuth, murder mystery, detective novel
- true crimetrue crime, cold case, crime docs, unsolved mystery, murder mystery
- crime newscrime scene, court reporter, court reporting, breaking news, arrest report
- dangersdanger, peril, hazard, risk, menace
serial killerlifesaver
Emergency rescue person
life giver · healer · hero · savior · humanitarian
serial killersaint
Canonized holy person
hero · protector · guardian · humanitarian · Good Samaritan
series, killer, serial, killers, serially, serialized, serials, serialize, serialization