Sharing Murder: Understanding Group Serial Homicide

This paper studies cases of serial homicide where multiple offenders are involved. It is suggested that such cases represent a surprisingly large proportion of serial murder incidents, a fact of considerable significance for investigators. The paper considers the kinds of relationship that exist between offenders in a particular case; the varying degrees of complicity involved; and the interpersonal dynamics of the initial decision to share in an act of murder. Finally, and speculatively, it will be asked whether and how subcultural theories can be applied to group participation in multiple homicide.