Sexual Murder - Justicia Forense

7.7 Influence of Investigative ProfilingAlthough compulsive murderers have not received a great deal of attentionfrom psychiatric or psychological researchers, members of law enforcementagencies — especially the FBI — have become interested in this group ofcriminal offenders mainly from an investigative perspective. Their interestbegan in the 1950s, when New York City was rattled by a person the presscalled the “Mad Bomber.” This individual set bombs at various landmarksthroughout the city such as Grand Central Station, Penn Station, Radio CityMusic Hall, theaters, and the public library. He planned his bombing withsuch a high degree of detail that he went undetected for about 16 years.Out of frustration, the New York authorities consulted James Brussel, alocal psychiatrist who was interested in forensic psychiatry and criminalbehavior. Brussel (1968) reviewed all the information available, including theletters that the Mad Bomber had sent to the police, photographs of the crimescenes, and descriptions of the homemade bombs. After analyzing this information,Brussel concluded that the offender was a paranoic of Eastern Europeandescent who lived in Connecticut with an aunt or sister. He believedhe was over 40 years old, had a serious illness, attended church regularly, andwas soft-spoken, polite, and exceptionally neat in appearance. A brief profilewas published in the New York Times on Christmas Day 1956:Single man, between 40 and 50 years old, introvert. Unsocial butnot antisocial. Skilled mechanic. Cunning. Neat with tools. Egotisticalof mechanical skill. Contemptuous of other people. Resentfulof criticism of his work but probably conceals resentment.Moral. Honest. Not interested in women. High school graduate.Expert in civil or military ordnance. Religious. Might flare upviolently at work when criticized. Possible motive: discharge orreprimand. Feels superior to critics. Resentment keeps growing.Present or former Consolidated Edison worker. Probably case ofprogressive paranoia. (Brussel, 1968, p. 47)After Brussel gave his profile to the detectives, he closed his eyes, conjuredup a mental image, and said, “One more thing … when you catch him —and I have no doubt you will — he’ll be wearing a double breasted suit.Buttoned” (p. 46).As a result of Brussel’s profile, the police narrowed their investigation toan individual they had suspected: George Metesky, a former employee ofConsolidated Edison, who was unhappy with the company for a variety ofreasons. When they went to arrest Metesky, they found that he fit Brussel’s