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Defining Violence: Definitional Discrepancies Definitional Complexities
In the Introduction to this article I noted that some cases do not fit the classical definitions of a Serial, Spree Killer or Mass Murderer, due to inconsistencies in how the terms are applied.
The definition of a Spree Killer who completes their Spree within a 30 day period can become problematic when we consider particular examples of Serial Killers, who, for whatever reason completed their actions within the period of a single month.
Example: Richard Chase
One classic example of this is the American Serial Killer Richard Chase ‘The Vampire of Sacramento’. Chase murdered 6 people in Sacramento, California before he was apprehended by police and is usually referred to as a Serial Killer. If we apply the definition of a Spree Killer as someone who completes their Spree within a 30 day period then Chase fulfils this criterion; his first murder was committed on December 29th 1977 and his last murder was committed on January 27th 1978.
Chase fulfils the technical criteria for both a Serial Killer and a Spree Killer.
He is however usually regarded as an example of a Serial Killer and I would concur that he fits the psychological profile of a Serial Killer much more than a Spree Killer.
