Motives in a Triple Spree Homicide

Abstract

Juries, criminologists, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and the lay public like to know the motive for a murder—especially when there are unusual features such as multiple victims, extensive injuries, or unexplainable acts to the bodies. However, many times the motive is not readily available from the murderer because he does not confess or he does not consciously know why he killed. The following case describes the analysis of multiple motives in a triple spree homicide committed in a very short time frame. Robbery was the primary motive for the first victim and sexual homicide was the motive for the second and third victims.

Keywords:

• sexual homicide
• elder homicide
• crime scene
• spree homicide
• stressors
• motivation
• robbery

The authors are grateful to Assistant District Attorney Linda Ford; the Office of the New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney; Larry Shipley, Clerk of Carroll County Circuit Court—Westminster, Maryland; Nancy Mueller, Clerk of District Court (#10-02) of Maryland for Carroll County; and Lt. Gregory Johnston, Maryland State Police—Westminster Barracks for their assistance with records concerning the cases of Steven Santos. Additional recognition is due to the June 14, 2002, Baltimore Sun, quoting Prosecutor Clarence “Buddy” Beall III.

Excerpts on the Carmine Calabro case are from Ressler and Shactman (1992).