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Portrait of the Lust Murderer What set of circumstances create the individual who becomes the lust murderer? The authors do not possess the expertise to explain the multiple and complex casual factors associated with the psychological development of the individual who commits such a hei- nous crime. But, it is generally ac- cepted that the foundation of the per- sonality is formed within the first few years of life. While extreme stress, fre- quent narcotic use, or alcohol abuse can cause personality disorganization in later life, it is the early years that are critical to the personality structure and development. Seldom does the lust murderer come from an environment of love and understanding. It is more likely that he was an abused or neglected child who experienced a great deal of conflict in his early life and was unable to develop and use adequate coping devices (i.e. defense mechanisms}. Had he been able to do so, he would have withstood the stresses placed on him and devel- oped normally in early childhood. It must be emphasized that many individ- uals are raised in environments not conducive to healthy psychological de- velopment, yet they become produc- tive citizens. These stresses, frustrations, and subsequent anxieties, along with the inability to cope with them, may lead the individual to with- draw from the society which he per- ceives as hostile and threatening. Through this internalization proc- ess, he becomes secluded and iso- lated from others and may eventually select suicide as an alternative to a life of loneliness and frustration. The au- thors have designated this reaction to life as disorganized asocial. This type possesses a poor self-image and se- cretly rejects the society which he feels rejects him. Family and associates would describe him a nice, quiet per- son who keeps to himself, but who never quite realized his potential. Dur- ing adolescence, he may have en- gaged in voyeuristic activities or the theft of feminine clothing. Such activi- ties serve as a substitute for his inabil- ity to approach women sexually in a mature and confident manner. The individual designated by the authors as the organized nonsocial type harbors similar feelings of hostil- ity, but elects not to withdraw and inter- nalize his hostility. Rather, he overtly expresses it through aggressive and seemingly senseless acts against soci- ety. Typically, he begins to demon- strate his hostility as he passes through puberty and into adolescence. He would be described as a trouble- maker and a manipulator of people, concerned only for himself. He experi- ences difficulties with family, friends, “The lust murder is committed in a brutally sadistic manner.” and “authority figures” through antiso- cial acts which may include homicide. Thomas Strentz and Conrad Hassel, in the June 1978 issue of Journal of Po- lice Science and Administration, wrote of a youth who had first murdered at the age of 15 and was committed to a mental institution. After his release, he murdered and dismembered eight wom- en.7 It is the nonsocial’s aim to get even with society and inflict pain and punishment upon others. The Role of Fantasy As noted, the lust murder is premeditated in obsessive fantasies experienced by both the asocial and nonsocial murderers. Fantasy provides them an avenue of escape from a world of hate and rejection. Dr. James J. Reinhardt in his book, Sex Perver- sions and Sex Crimes, has written: “A study of these cases almost invariably reveals a long struggle against what Reik calls the ‘for- ward thrust.’ By fantasy the mur- derer attempts to wall himself in against the fata! act, while at the same time gratifying the compul- sive psychic demands in the de- velopment and use of fantasy. These sadistic [fantasies] seem always to have preceded the bru- tal act of /ust murder. These fanta- sies take all sorts of grotesque and cruel forms. The pervert, on this level of degeneracy, may re- sort to pornographic pictures, gro- tesque and cruel literary episodes, out of which he weaves fantasies. On these, his imagination dwells until he loses all contact with reali- ty, only to find himself suddenly impelled to carry his fantasies into the world of actuality. This is done, apparently, by drawing human ob- jects into the fantasy.” ® James Russell Odom, tried and convicted with James Clayton Lawson for the brutal lust murder described at the beginning of this article, stated that while he and Lawson were at a mental institution, they would express their fantasies about women: ‘(Odom) raping them and Lawson mutilating them. . . (we had fan- tasized so much that at times | didn’t know what was real.” ° If he acts out the fantasy (commits the crime), his goal will be to destroy the victim and thereby become the sole possessor. James Lawson (men- tioned above) is quoted as saying: “Then | cut her throat so she would not scream. ... at this time | wanted to cut her body so she would not look like a person and destroy her so she would not exist. | began to cut on her body. | remember cutting her breasts off. After this, all | remember is that ! kept cutting on her body.” *° The victim may represent some- thing he desires sexually, but is unable to approach. Lawson speaks again, ‘| did not rape the girl. | only wanted to destroy her.” *!