Sexual Burglaries and Sexual Homicide: Clinical, Forensic,
and Investigative Considerations
Sexual Burglaries and Sexual Homicide:
http://www.jaapl.org/content/27/2/227.full.pdf
Burglary is the third most common crime, behind larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft (FBI Urzifornz Crinze Reports, 1997). The vast majority of break-ins are committed for gain. Nevertheless, a number of burglaries are sexually motivated and are very important in the understanding and prediction of serious violent crime, particularly sexual homicide.
The relationship of burglary to sexual murder has been noted by many investigators,
Because our exploratory study (combined with the findings of others) shows that about 40 percent of sexual murderers have a history of burglary, individuals with such a background should become prime suspects in an investigation. iebert notes that, in cases of sexual murder, "any suspect with a history of burglary or assault must be thoroughly investigated for a history
which has either been distorted by the Court or inadequately investigated" (p.
198).
In cases where a woman is killed in her residence. we have found that there is about a 77 percent chance that the offender has a history of sexual burglary.