There has been some speculation that military training either creates serial killers or makes them more efficient at taking lives. However, the studies done on this subject are either anecdotally based or have a limited sample size. Many of these studies also fail to take into account serial killers who were rejected or expelled from the armed services. This study will strive to explore if a serial killer can thrive in the military and if the training makes them more proficient or violent. The researcher will achieve this by collecting a large sample of serial killers, mass murderers and spree killers that have a military background and statistically compared them to a large control group of killers without military backgrounds. Achieved military rank, length of service, discharge status and military records will be used to determine if the subject thrived in the military. Length of killing career, victim count and how the subject treated his/her victims will be used to measure violence level and the proficiency of each subject. Military protocols that protect against unstable and unsuitable candidates along with the possible positive and negative effects of military training will be discussed.

1. Serial Killers and the Military: Misconceptions and Statistical Facts
Abstract Kristin Elink-Schuurman-Laura Results
There has been some speculation that military Resume Study 1- Military vs. Non-Military
training either creates serial killers or makes them Military training did not reliably affect victim count
more efficient at taking lives. However, the Methods [t(378)=1.119, p>0.290], total killing career
studies done on this subject are either Study 1- Military vs. Non-Military duration [t(378)=2.100, p>.140] nor active killing
anecdotally based or have a limited sample size. Internet sites, books, newspapers, journal articles and career [t(378)=0.001, p>.260]. Having a military
This study will strive to explore if a serial killer the Aamodt Serial Killer Database were examined for background did not reliably affect the use of
can thrive in the military and if the training makes information pertaining to serial killers, spree killers and torture [χ2(df, 1)= 0.393 (p> .05)] or quick kills
them more proficient or violent. The researcher mass murderers to determine a population of potential [χ2(df, 1)=0.353 (p>.05)].
will achieve this by collecting a large sample of subjects with military backgrounds. Of the 2,052
serial killers, mass murderers and spree killers identified complete cases, 190 were found to have had Serial murderers were significantly more likely to
that have a military background and statistically military backgrounds. A random sample of 190 killers, use a gun in their killings if they had military
compared them to a control group of killers selected from the Radford Serial Killer Database, that training [χ2(df, 1)= 0.037 (p>.05)].
without military backgrounds. Achieved military had no military background was the comparison
rank, length of service, discharge status and sample (non-military). Study 2- Military Service
military records will be used to determine if the Least squares linear regression model was showed
subject thrived in the military. Length of killing Statistical comparisons were made between the there was no correlation between success in the
career, victim count and how the subject treated military and non-military samples to determine military and a successful killing career. Nor did
his victims will be used to measure violence level whether military training influenced proficiency, doing well in service correspond with how they
and proficiency of each subject. method used or violence of the killings. treated the victims.
Introduction Discussion
While there have been several cases of serial Two-sample independent t-tests were used to
Did the familiarity firearms training in the military
killers who have served in the military, these compare victim count, total killing career and active
influence serial murderers who went through that
cases are few and far between. John Allen killing career between the two samples. Pearson Chi2
training? We did see a higher number of serial
Muhammad, Jeffrey Dahmer and David was used to compare how the killers from each of the
murderers with military backgrounds using guns to
Berkowitz are just a few serial killers who once samples treated their victims and the methods they
kill their victims but we also see that 32.73% of
served in the military (Saunders, 2002). A study used to kill.
serial killers also use this method (Aamodt, 2012).
of 354 American serial murders yielded only 25 The possibility that military training does impact
(7%) with military background (Castle, 2001). Study 2- Military Service
how the serial murderer kills their victim cannot be
Due to the small sample used by Castle and the Of the 190 cases identified as the military killer
ruled out at this time.
lack of statistical information, this subject needs population, only the 147 who served in the United
to be studied further. There were no studies States military were included in this study. Of the 147
Conclusions
that detailed how long a serial killer stayed in subjects with U.S. military experience, the researcher
This study shows that military training doesn’t
the military and little mention of a serial killer’s was able to collect the military records of 62 cases.
create a more proficient serial murderer or a more
military records. Did Dahmer achieve a high malicious one. The military and non-military
rank and what was his discharge status? How Linear regression procedures were performed to
population had no statistically significant difference
long did David Berkowitz stay in the military? determine how much variance in killing success, as
in kill count, active killing career or total killing
Did either have a negative military record? defined by active killing career, total killing career and
career. The military sample population wasn’t
Considering the answers to these questions can victim count and viciousness of the killings, as defined
more or less likely to torture their victims than
be found within public records, this lack of by if they tortured their victims was explained by
those without a military background. However, it
information is inexcusable. military achievement.
would be wrong to say military training doesn’t
Aamodt, M. (2012, Mar. 20). Serial Killer Database. Radford
influence a serial murderer at all. The military
University. Achievement was measured using rank upon
Castle, T. (2001). A case study analysis of serial killers with sample did have more cases where a firearm was
discharge, total time in service and highest award
military experience: Applying learning theory to serial used to kill than the non-military population, which
murder. Unpublished master’s thesis, Morehead State category achieved.
University.
may be due to familiarity from training. Overall the
Saunders, D. (2002). Military training links string of serial killers. subject needs to be studied more in depth.
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