How to Recognize Early Warning Signs of a Serial Killer

What if we knew far in advance which kids could turn out to be serial killers when they grew up? If you knew when Ted Bundy was a toddler that he was going to grow up to murder young women, do you think that we would have a better chance to prevent him? The trouble with this theory is that not all serial killers follow the same exact pattern . There are, however, a number of early warning signs suggesting potential trouble. Familiarize yourself with these, and you might save lives by getting your child help before it is too late.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A very observant eye
• <br>Involvement in your child's life

1. Serial killers often start out their "careers" by maiming, harming, and torturing small animals. In extreme cases, they have been known to spend hours inflicting a slow death on animals when they are young. This act is a form of control, and allows them the power they crave and feel they can not get elsewhere. This is a very serious early warning sign. Do not think they will outgrow this phase.

2. Another signal that something may be wrong is wetting the bed far into their teens. This is by no means a guarantee of anything, but if it is present along with other signs, then you may want to look into it. Better safe than sorry.

3. In their teenage years, serial killers will often be caught peeping. This is a precursor to future violence in many cases. Ted Bundy spent years peeping before escalating into the violent predator that he became.

4. Many serial killers will be very anti-social at a young age. While some will be extremely social when they mature, they generally are loners as children. If a child seems to withdraw from society and school, look into why. This is very important.

5. One of the biggest signs of future violence is a fascination with fire. The act of having the power to destroy things is reflected in an early serial killer by burning things down in many cases. This is a very common trait among known serial killers. Arson is a serious sign. Do not ignore it.

Tips & Warnings

• One of the most consistent things you see in a serial killers past is a history of being abused as a child. Almost invariably, a serial killer had one or both parents beat them, ignore them, or sexually abuse them.
• <br>Another lesser known problem is a mother who is overly protective. Some mothers are over protective in a harmless way, while others take it to the extreme. Not all kids who are overly protected will be serial killers but some will. It is an interesting notation in the world of studying serial killers and their histories.
• Do not take this article as medical advice. It is simply some general knowledge about serial killers.
• <br>None of these signs alone are a signal of future violence. They should be considered by professionals.
• <br>If you are unsure about your child, contact a professional.

Who Can Help:

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[askaconvictcom]

on 11/16/2008 I have been studying, reading about, and researching serial killers. I have to say you have touched upon most of the signs. True all of these signs can be present and the person could not be a serial killer. One you may have missed is the fact that a large portion of serial killers suffer from head tramas as childern. Don't let people who don't know what they are talking about get you up set. If you would like living Serial killer addresses visit my page

[rodneysouthern]

on 10/25/2008 Dagda
You obviously did not read the article. I made it very clear that this CLUSTER of signs can be very serious and should be checked out. Arson is a serious issue, and it is not "normal" to be fascinated by setting things on fire where people and the child themselves could be harmed. I am not talking about the child that plays with matches once or twice. This information was very well researched and unless you think you are smarter than the FBI experts, I would be hesitant to throw around accusations. I never said that these things makes a child a serial killer. I said that these are common traits in known serial killers. Read the article next time.

[Dagda]

on 10/20/2008 Children who are "anti-social" are often subject to different personalities and mannerisms that make them unable to connect with children around them, something typically caused by victimization. These children should be helped, but they are by no means typically dangerous in the least, and again, the label you've applied to them is damning as any I've seen.

Honestly, before you put parents in a terrified frenzy, you really should do your research, or, at the least, don't pretend to be an authority. Let's just hope nobody reads your articles, or you may have hurt some very good kids.

[Dagda]

on 10/20/2008 I really, really hope nobody reads this seriously. Because you have fed them such a load of bullshit that has not been seen in ages. You give a list of ridiculously qualified "warning signs" to a confused and fearful public, and expect it to help? How many boys "peep," as you called it? Do all of them grow up to be serial killers?

We have so few of them throughout history, and even fewer in the US, but everyone wants to know what "leads to it."

Many, many young boys, and a good number of young girls, are fascinated by fire. It's a beautiful thing, and worth spending a time getting lost in, but you have attached a deeply frightening negative connotation to it. Bedwetting into late adolescence can be a sign of any number of a ream of issues; these kids typically should be checked out by a psychologist, but NEVER under such a perjorative label as "possible future serial killer." Child

[favefive]

on 7/21/2008 Good to know...sadly a lot of the reasons stem from bad experiences during childhood. This artricle can help detect this serious problem early on.