Identifying Common Characteristics Among Female Serial Killers and the Role of Early Childhood Abuse
Date of Conferral
12-1-2025
Date of Award
December 2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Criminal Justice
Advisor
Nancy Blank
Abstract
Approximately 17% of known serial killers in the United States are women, and often their crimes go undetected for years accruing a higher number of victims than their male counterparts. The purpose of this study was to identify common characteristics of female serial killers (FSKs). A multidisciplinary, holistic and developmental approach was used to guide the identification of common characteristics based on theories by Erik Erikson and Carol Gilligan as well as feminist theory. Case studies of 15 FSKs were randomly selected for participation from a list of over 100 known FSKs documented in the Radford Serial Killer database. Common characteristics were identified for this sample of 15 using secondary data including biographies, autobiographies, news articles, and court records and the characteristics were organized using thematic analysis. Key common characteristics identified include having histories of child abuse and exposure to domestic and parental mental health/substance abuse issues as well as a poor mother-child relationship that negatively impacted future development. In most cases the method of killing was strangulation or poisoning, the victim was known to the FSK, and the primary motivation for killing was greed. The common characteristics identified are consistent with previous research on FSKs. Two common characteristics not originally considered that were identified included being a mother and having been married or in a significant relationship. Implications for positive social change are the importance of early identification of risk factors and providing early intervention with the child and her family to prevent future serial murder and the loss of innocent lives.
Recommended Citation
Raichel, Jill Marie, "Identifying Common Characteristics Among Female Serial Killers and the Role of Early Childhood Abuse" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18811.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18811
