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Unsatisfied with the usual schemes I differentiate four primary motives for serial murder: Sexual, Material, Emotional, Virtual. The fourth family of motives "VIRTUAL" was added to cover those cases, where the motive(s) stay mysterious. The codes for Motives and Serial Killer Types are used throughout the site.

					Sample Case
Primary Motive	Specification	Code	Serial Killer Type	Codes	Single	Couple	Team

	Sadism/Thrill	SST	Sexual Sadist	SD		BRADY & HINDLEY
SEXUAL	SATISFACTION	SSA	Sexual Predator (heterosexual)	SPe	CHASE Richard Trenton	CLARK & BUNDY
			Sexual Predator (homosexual)	SPo
			Pedophile (heterosexual)	PDe
			Pedophile (homosexual)	PDo
	Compensation	SCO	Sexual Predator (homosexual)	SPo	BUNDY Robert
	Compensation	SCO	Prostitute Killer	RK

	Advantage	MAV	Black Widow	BW
			Black Widow (infanticide)	BWi
			Bluebeard	BB
MATERIAL	MONEY	MMN	Baby Farmer	BF
			Black Widow	BW	BLAUENSTEINER Elfriede
			Black Widow (infanticide)	BWi
			Bluebeard	BB		BECK & FERNANDEZ
			Angel of Death	AD
			Robber	RB
	Contract	MCO	Profi Killer	PR

	Attention	EAT	Angel of Death	AD
	Attention	EAT	Black Widow (infanticide)	BWi
EMOTIONAL	POWER	EPW	Angel of Death	AD	ANGELO Richard	WOOD & GRAHAM	WAGNER et al
	Hate/Revenge/Mission	EHR	Racist	RC	CHRISTOPHER Joseph
			Prostitute Killer	PK	HANSEN Robert
			Cult Killer	CK			MANSON Family

	Insanity	VIN	all Types
VIRTUAL	UNDISCLOSED	VUD	all Types
	Vision/Voices	VVS	all Types		BERKOWITZ David