Tags

Type your tag names separated by a space and hit enter

The relationship between serial sexual murder and autoerotic asphyxiation.
Forensic Sci Int. 2008 Apr 07; 176(2-3):187-95.FS

Abstract

This case series documents and examines the association between autoerotic asphyxiation, sadomasochism, and serial sexual murderers. Autoerotic asphyxiation, along with other paraphilias found in this population, is reviewed. Five cases of serial sexual killers who engaged in autoerotic asphyxiation were identified worldwide: four from the United States and one from Russia. Case reports for each are provided. All (100%) were found to have sexual sadism in addition to autoerotic asphyxiation. Furthermore, two (40%) had bondage fetishism, and two (40%) had transvestic fetishism, consistent with these paraphilias co-occurring in those with autoerotic asphyxiation. Overall the group averaged 4.0 lifetime paraphilias. Some possible relationships were observed between the offenders' paraphilic orientation and their modus operandi, e.g., all of these serial killers strangled victims-suggesting an association between their sadistic and asphyxiative paraphilic interests. The overlap of seemingly polar opposite paraphilias in this sample--sexual sadism and autoerotic asphyxiation--is explored from a historical and clinical perspective. Multiple commonalities shared between these five offenders and serial sexual murderers in general are addressed. A primary limitation of this study is its small sample size and empirical basis; the results may not be generalizable beyond the sample. The findings from this study support the supposition that crime scene behaviors often reflect paraphilic disturbances in those who commit serial sexual homicides.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Myers WC
Forensic Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 102, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. wmyers@health.usf.edu
Bukhanovskiy A
No affiliation info available
Justen E
No affiliation info available
Morton RJ
No affiliation info available
Tilley J
No affiliation info available
Adams K
No affiliation info available
Vandagriff VL
No affiliation info available
Hazelwood RR
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdolescentAdultAsphyxiaCriminal PsychologyForensic PsychiatryHomicideHumansHypoxia, BrainMaleMiddle AgedParaphilic DisordersSex Offenses

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17980531

Citation

Myers, Wade C., et al. "The Relationship Between Serial Sexual Murder and Autoerotic Asphyxiation." Forensic Science International, vol. 176, no. 2-3, 2008, pp. 187-95.
Myers WC, Bukhanovskiy A, Justen E, et al. The relationship between serial sexual murder and autoerotic asphyxiation. Forensic Sci Int. 2008;176(2-3):187-95.
Myers, W. C., Bukhanovskiy, A., Justen, E., Morton, R. J., Tilley, J., Adams, K., Vandagriff, V. L., & Hazelwood, R. R. (2008). The relationship between serial sexual murder and autoerotic asphyxiation. Forensic Science International, 176(2-3), 187-95.
Myers WC, et al. The Relationship Between Serial Sexual Murder and Autoerotic Asphyxiation. Forensic Sci Int. 2008 Apr 7;176(2-3):187-95. PubMed PMID: 17980531.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - The relationship between serial sexual murder and autoerotic asphyxiation. AU - Myers,Wade C, AU - Bukhanovskiy,Alexandr, AU - Justen,Elle, AU - Morton,Robert J, AU - Tilley,John, AU - Adams,Kenneth, AU - Vandagriff,Virgil L, AU - Hazelwood,Robert R, Y1 - 2007/11/05/ PY - 2007/04/20/received PY - 2007/07/09/revised PY - 2007/09/11/accepted PY - 2007/11/6/pubmed PY - 2008/4/11/medline PY - 2007/11/6/entrez SP - 187 EP - 95 JF - Forensic science international JO - Forensic Sci Int VL - 176 IS - 2-3 N2 - This case series documents and examines the association between autoerotic asphyxiation, sadomasochism, and serial sexual murderers. Autoerotic asphyxiation, along with other paraphilias found in this population, is reviewed. Five cases of serial sexual killers who engaged in autoerotic asphyxiation were identified worldwide: four from the United States and one from Russia. Case reports for each are provided. All (100%) were found to have sexual sadism in addition to autoerotic asphyxiation. Furthermore, two (40%) had bondage fetishism, and two (40%) had transvestic fetishism, consistent with these paraphilias co-occurring in those with autoerotic asphyxiation. Overall the group averaged 4.0 lifetime paraphilias. Some possible relationships were observed between the offenders' paraphilic orientation and their modus operandi, e.g., all of these serial killers strangled victims-suggesting an association between their sadistic and asphyxiative paraphilic interests. The overlap of seemingly polar opposite paraphilias in this sample--sexual sadism and autoerotic asphyxiation--is explored from a historical and clinical perspective. Multiple commonalities shared between these five offenders and serial sexual murderers in general are addressed. A primary limitation of this study is its small sample size and empirical basis; the results may not be generalizable beyond the sample. The findings from this study support the supposition that crime scene behaviors often reflect paraphilic disturbances in those who commit serial sexual homicides. SN - 1872-6283 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/17980531/The_relationship_between_serial_sexual_murder_and_autoerotic_asphyxiation_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -