According to a report called "Serial Murder - Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives for Investigators" released by the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, much of what is commonly believed about serial killers is incorrect. According to this report the definition of a serial killer is as follows:

Serial Murder: The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events.

According to this report the Media and Hollywood have developed many myths surrounding this type of killer. In this article we will explore the serial killer further and the myths as well as the truths surrounding them.

 Serial killing dates back to the 19th century.  Serial killings are rare in the fact that they only represent 1% of murders committed in a given year.  Why then is the public so fascinatedwith the often gruesome crimes?  Movies and books are most often created in a manner to captivate audiences rather than portraying actual facts of their heinous crimes.  At the trial of Ted Bundy women swooned and batted their eyes at him.  Little did these women realize that given the right setting and opportunity, Bundy would have extinguished their life without feeling any emotional or moral sentiments.

According to the FBI there are several myths about serial killers.  Here are a few:

Myth:  Serial Killers are all dysfunctional loners.

Fact:  You could be living next door to, attend church, or even work with a serial killer and not even know it.  Some serial killers appear quite normal and fit in to society quiet well.  They are often married, some have children, attend church and are employed.  These killers blend in so well  in fact, they are often overlooked by law enforcement.

Ted Bundy was attractive, smart, and had what many thought was a future in politics.  As a teen he was well behaved, generally liked by his peers.  Robert Yatesa killer of prostituteswas a decorated US Army National Guard Pilot who was married with five children.  The Green River Killer, Gary Ridgeway was married and attended church.  He also worked as a truck driver.  Dennis Rader, The BTK killer was married with two children.  He was even a boy scout leader and held the position of president in his church.

Myth:  Serial killers are all white males.

Fact:  Serial killers are quite racially diverse.  They can sometimes even be female.

Belle Sorenson Gunnessa Norwegian who settled in Indiana is believed to have killed 40 victims over several decades.  Margie Velma Barfield was the killer of 5 victims and was the first woman to be executed by lethal injection.  Gesche Gottfried was a German female who killed 15 victims with the use of arsenic.  Derrick Toddwas African American and he killed 6 women in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Rory Conde, a Colombian killed 6 prostitutes in Miami, Florida.

Myth:  Serial killers are only motivated by sex.

Fact:  Serial killers commit their crimes for a wide variety of reasons.  Some kill out of rage or for the thrill of it.  Some are acting out murder fantasies derived from an abusive childhood.  Some kill merely to cover up another crime such as robbery or rape in an attempt to eliminate the witness.  Serial Killers and their motives for killing differ as much as the human finger print from person to person.

Today, Police Officers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin are looking for what they believe to be a serial killer.  DNA evidence has linked seven murders that span two decades from 1986 up to 2007.  Currently over 23 other similar crimes are being reviewed to see if the DNA found can link to the current 7.  Of the seven victims so far, six are believed to be prostitutes and one was a runaway.  Five of the victims were strangled and one was left with her throat slashed and apparently believed to have been killed by someone else.  All of the victims are African-American, except for the 16-year old who was Caucasian.  It appears that two were killed in 1986, three in 1995, one in 1997, and one in 2007.  Police are also reviewing two additional murders from 2000 that might also possibly be linked.  The suspect has been able to avoid capture and has not been arrested for any felonies as his DNA is not on file in the data banks.

Las Vegas Police believe to have captured the town's most prolific serial killer thanks to DNA evidence.  John Thomas Jr. who is now age 72 is linked to six murders and he is suspected of over 25 more and he could have been the elusive "West Side Rapist" from the 1970's.  Police are reexamining cold cases that date back to the 1950's from when Thomas was first arrested for attempted rape and burglary. 

It is a fact that Serial Killers may indeed continue to kill, and Hollywood, writers, and the media will continue to have material to sway audiences with.