The case of William Devin Howell emphasizes the importance of the deeply rooted nature of serial killers, which needs to be articulated as these offenses constitute the crux of criminology. A period of terrorism perpetrated by Howell, and specifically aimed at women in the New Britain area in the early 2000s, provides a refined and illustrative context for the study. This essay is based on the terrain of criminology, applying a taxonomic system as a viewpoint to determine what kind of serial killer the growth of Howell can represent. In particular, this study attempts to reveal some essential underlying causes concerning his heinous crimes by closely examining the crime patterns, criminological factors of the case, and the characteristics of the suspect.
Identification of Serial Killer Type
William Howell conforms to the “Anger-Excitation Rapist Murderer” prototype among the four serial killer categories established by Keppel and Walter (1999). It is the product of his characteristic classification method; it shows his desire for control, mastery, and domination rather than establishing power, settling scores, or gaining a sense of security (Keppel & Walter, 1999). What “Howell” does demonstrates a profound necessity to exert control through psychological and physical torture, distancing him from a cluster of other motivations–power-assertive, power-reassurance, and anger-retaliatory which lead to killing.
However, Howell does not show characteristics of a Power-Assertive type of serial killer who ultimately commits the crime to show his superiority and leave a characteristic signature of power (Keppel & Walter, 1999). Unlike these criminals, however, the motivation of dominance through the symbols or the trophies was not about the actions of the Howell. Moreover, the classification of Howell does not fit with the Power-reassurance model. The kind of killers who do this strive to legitimize themselves and often engage in dialogues or leave something that seems to them as a way of reaching out to their victims (Keppel & Walter, 1999). While Howell did not show any tendencies to look for validation or reassurance from his victims, he was still an aggressive offender. Additionally, in the case of Howell, the modus operandi of his crime was highly different from that of Anger-Retaliatory murderers who have a vendetta against a specific group or individual whom they consider responsible for their problems. Howell’s victims were not singled out based on a retaliatory personal agenda, nor was he held accountable for his problems as a community member as a community member.
It is the careful detailing, coordination, and psychological terrorism of Howell’s victims that demarcate his fitting into the “Anger-Excitation” category. He employed the systematic method to cover up, as opposed to direct denial or admission of guilt, coupled with mentioning a significant period of evasion (Keppel & Walter, 1999). It can only point to the need for ultimate control and success rather than mere retaliation or a quest for reassurance. This in-depth analysis highlights the need for the understanding of particular psychological and behavioral peculiarities of Howell as a serial killer type that sets him apart from other killer types, finally proving the appropriateness of the “Anger-Excitement Rape-Murderer” appellation in this case.
Dynamics, Homicidal Pattern, and Suspect Profile
Dynamics
The criminal behavior of William Devin Howell is a product of many-dimensional interactions of psychological, social, and environmental processes. One of the characteristics of antisocial personality disorder is the emotionality of Howell. It is manifested through a lack of empathy and disregard for social standards (Keppel & Walter, 1999). With such a childhood experience in an unstable family and a body of abuse, chances are high that he is also vain, boastful, and arrogant. Moreover, his history of substance abuse only aggravates his capacity for violence, causing him to make irrational decisions and intercept himself.
Socially, Howell uses manipulation and deception in her interactions with others. He could use a friendly and inviting exterior to hide his real motives, through which he wins the confidence of his targets (Altimari et al., 2015a). Using this ability as a tool, Howell controls his environment and possibly his crimes. Moreover, the transient nature of Howell’s life and the absence of stable relationships have further enabled him to avoid being traced, complicating the authorities’ mandate of locating Howell.
Increasingly, the environmentally charged crimes of Howell manifest on the backdrop of geographical and situational factors found in the New Britain area. The prevalence of drug abuse and poverty in the area is high, creating a pool of victims who are at a heightened risk of exploitation. Howell takes advantage of these weaknesses by targeting vulnerable women on the fringes of society, who are often not missed or lack the necessary attention from law enforcement agencies when they go missing (Altimari et al., 2015a). Moreover, the transience of Howell’s lifestyle enables him to fit into different sets of environments. The authorities, therefore, find it hard to link his wrongdoings.
Homicidal Pattern
Howell’s operations are driven by manipulating and controlling his victims. He commonly prefers to hunt defenseless women and approaches them with offers of either drugs or affection. After he gains their trust, Howell uses a series of methods to establish himself as the champion and the controller, like physical violence, coercion, and psychological manipulation (Keppel & Walter, 1999). His crimes are composed of periods of prolonged torture or mistreatment that depict the sadistic and the need for control.
Choosing a victim is vital in Howell’s homicidal pattern. His victims, though, are the individuals who are more likely to be neglected by law enforcement, including drug addicts or transients. Howell utilizes the other characters to fulfill his need for domination and control (Keppel & Walter, 1999). Furthermore, the target victims of Howell may be selected by his validation and superiority needs because he is satisfied in his submission of those he thinks are weaker or inferior.
The behaviors demonstrated in Howell’s crimes feature deliberate planning and implementation. He proceeds step by step with caution in order to prevent him from getting noticed; he discards any evidence and transfers locations in such a way as to stay out of the reach of the police (Keppel & Walter, 1999). Howell’s adaptability and capacity to evade capture implies a level of craftiness and intelligence to confound the authorities even more.
Suspect Profile
In the case study, Howell has the traits of a cunning and manipulative guy with a history of antisocial conduct. He is probably knowledgeable; thus, it will be difficult for him to be detected and the victims to be manipulated by him. Howell’s transient lifestyle and lack of stable relationships imply a tendency towards impulsivity and an indifference to the consequences of his actions that look beyond the immediate future.
Further, Howell displays some narcissist attributes as they get gratified from exerting power and control over others. His presence of inhuman normalcy while performing terrible actions exhibits that he has no sympathy towards his victims (Altimari et al., 2015b). Moreover, a history of substance abuse by Howell could cause his delinquency and overreaction, thus increasing the probability of violence. Howell’s suspect profile echoes a picture of a formidable and evasive threat capable of causing significant damage. Knowing his psychological composition and behavioral profile is crucial for law enforcers when arresting him and stopping him from more massacres.
Justification of Analysis
Howell’s Characteristics and Content Integration Concept
The ” Anger-Excitation Rape-Murderer” type of the selected serial killer is supported by the information in the documents, meaning that it fits perfectly with the tactics of William Devin Howell and his character. Howell’s offenses represent a constant effort to dominate and control his victims, and the recurrent nature of this type of behavior indicates his tendency toward the “Anger-Excitation Rape-Murderer.” type.
The crimes of Howell are portrayed as thoroughly and systematically planned and performed, with the primary aim of showing power and control over his victims (Altimari et al., 2015b). It significantly mirrors the core features of the “Anger-Excitation Rape-Murderer” type, which pays relatively more attention to the offenders’ attempt to exert power and authority over their victims for their benefit. Howell’s capacity to avoid law enforcement authorities for a long time reveals that he is a master at commanding and controlling his environment. It gives the impression that he is also an outstanding professional in hiding himself from the notice of others.
Additionally, the serial killer’s homicidal patterns and the type of victims he murdered support the classification of Howell as an ‘Anger-Excitation Rape-Murderer.’ He singled out people who cannot defend themselves easily, especially addicts and prostitutes, whom he believes are easy game for him (Howard, 2018). The premeditated targeting of victims helps Howell play upon their weaknesses and overpower them, which is a means of Howell realizing the need for power and control.
Conclusion
In conclusion, analyzing the life story of William Devin Howell, one can see that the typology of serial killers is a source for understanding patterns in criminal behavior. The oppressive regime of Howell, epitomized by his predatory selection of the weak women residing in New Britain, constitutes a chilling paradigm of the maze that surrounds the phenomenon of serial murder. Dismantling Howell’s dynamics, designs, and suspect profile, this discussion has illuminated the sinister intentions and behaviors propelling his horrific crimes. Thus, knowledge of the deeper typologies of serial killers will prove instrumental in improving our effectiveness in identification, apprehension, and prevention strategies in the fields of criminology and law enforcement.
References
Altimari, Alaine, Griffin, & Dave. (2015a). “A MONSTER INSIDE” / NEW BRITAIN SERIAL KILLER: HC-HC-HOWELL-NEW-MUG.
Altimari, Alaine, Griffin, & Dave. (2015b). LOSING TRACK OF A SUSPECT: IN YEAR VICTIMS VANISHED, MAN AVOIDS POLICE; CASE OF NEW BRITAIN BODIES.
Howard, A. (2018). His Garden: Conversations With A Serial Killer Paperback.
Keppel, R. D., & Walter, R. (1999). Profiling Killers: A Revised Classification Model for Understanding Sexual Murder. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 43(4), 417–437. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624×99434002
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