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Jack The Ripper Mo Analysis

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MO, Modus operandi is specific to the killer’s patterns and routines. A “signature” is different from the MO in that the signature “is the expression of underlying need of the offender and can be both a way to link crimes and to draw inferences about the psychological needs of the offender” (Gerbeth). Turvey, however, points out that the signature and the MO can intersect: “Signature and MO needs may be satisfied by the same behavior.” As such professionals are able to determine if similar cases are perpetrated by the same offender by the presence of a signature. “As a science, it is still a relatively new field with few set boundaries or definitions. Its practitioners don't always agree on methodology or even terminology” (Winerman). There is debate among analysists whom argue that the MO remains constant throughout an offender’s serial ‘career’ and that it is the signature that evolves. The other side of the argument advocates for the opposite: being that the MO evolves and the signature remains constant. No matter the argument, the MO and signature is part of an offender’s basic profile comprising the offender’s methods of selection and execution. …show more content…

Special Agent Douglas was provided with basic background information relative to each of the Ripper’s canonical five murder cases. It is stated in the report that the information provided was not as thorough and as such Douglas filled in missing information with certain probable assumptions. The analysis addressed the following areas: profile of victims; medical examiner’s findings; crime and crime scene analysis; offender traits and characteristics; pre- and post-offense behavioral patterns; investigative and proactive techniques; and interrogation

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