ABSTRACT
While a number of different definitions of sexual homicide have been used over the years, Chan and Heide (2016, p. 2) suggest that it can be defined simply as “a homicide that is committed with an apparent or underlying sexual motivation”. With this definition in mind, there are no empirical studies of the principles of crime linkage or its practice with sexual homicides. This chapter, therefore, begins by summarizing the current status of the field in terms of theories and research. It then goes on to describe the various research methodologies used and their limitations, thereby enabling the reader to critically consider the research on crime linkage conducted to date with sex offences and homicides. Having reviewed this literature, explicit consideration is then given to what inferences could be drawn about the likely ways in which consistency and distinctiveness might be expressed in the serial offending of sexual homicide offenders, based on what is currently known about them. Finally, we give a practitioner’s point of view of the practicalities of linking sexual homicides using crime scene behaviour, and the type of research agenda that is needed going forward.
