Jennifer Chase's Blog, page 131

The Difference Between a Mass Murderer and a Serial Killer

Yesterday we were all horrified by yet another incident of senseless murder in our country. This time, a 48-year-old man named George Sodini walked into a neighborhood gym just outside of Pittsburgh with at least two handguns hidden in his gym bag. He walked into an aerobics studio, opened fire, and left four people dead and at least a dozen injured before killing himself. A review of his recent internet postings show that Sodini was despondent with his life and had been planning this heinous a

I decided to take some time off from writing my 2nd novel and...

I hope you all enjoy,

Jennifer

Who Earns the Title of "First Serial Killer"?

Realistically, it is impossible to give someone the title of "First Serial Killer." There are no written records to know if a particular caveman terrorized members of the neighboring tribes tens of thousands of years ago. Certainly, we know of brutal leaders throughout history who have been responsible for the deaths of countless people living within their borders, but we consider these dictators in another category altogether. Whatever violence may have been committed throughout the centuries,

College Men and Women Equally at Risk for Violence

In my book Compulsion, the victims of violent crime are women and children and the perpetrators of heinous acts such as rape and murder are men. Certainly when we think of the serial killers like the ones who leave a trail of terror during a journey that leads to the climax of Compulsion, our most common perception is that the criminals are men. The facts indeed show that men are usually the ones who participate in this type of criminal activity. However, when it comes to violence, are men or wo

Emily's Crime Watch – Tip #7

It's summer! Time for a vacation!

The weather is warmer and we're spending more time outdoors and getting together with family and friends. Many of us are planning a vacation or a few days of rest and relaxation out of town.

This is a great time of year, but unfortunately it brings out more of the criminal element too. We are concentrating on fun in the sun and relaxation instead of crime prevention. And this is what opportunistic criminals look for in their victims.

Emily has some great crime

Police Ride-Alongs Jump Started My Research for Writing Crime Fiction

One of the most exciting and rewarding experiences that I've had as a crime fiction writer was the opportunity to participate in a police ride-along. I have observed patrol, K9, and detective investigative duties for various police agencies throughout the state of California.

For those of you that aren't familiar with a police ride-along, it's a program through city and county law enforcement agencies that allow adult citizens to accompany and observe police officers out on patrol.

The main purpos

Forensic Nurses Must Pay Attention to Every Detail

How familiar does the following scene sound to those of who you regularly watch television crime dramas such as Law and Order: Special Victims Unit? The detectives are assigned to a new rape case and rush to the hospital at which the victim is unconscious and clinging to life. One of the officers grabs the nearest doctor or nurse and asks, "Did you complete a rape kit?" If other examinations or cleaning of the patient was allowed to occur before any possible evidence of a rape or other violent

Crimes Increase with Summer Weather

I hope that everyone is enjoying the quickly disappearing days of summer. I feel so fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the country during this time of year. As you know if you are a regular reader of this blog, I consider photography a serious hobby and I enjoy posting the images I capture for you to enjoy from time to time. Summer is a great time to grab a camera and head outdoors! For most of us, summer is also a time for vacations to the beach or mountains, lazy afternoons lounging

Top Forensic Books on my Bookshelf

Recently, a few people have asked me about non-fiction books that I would recommend for reading more about crime scene investigation and serial killers. Here are some of the top books that I refer to often in my work and I also find them extremely interesting.



Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques

By Richard H. Walton



This is a great book that outlines actual cases and how to conduct cold case investigations. You really view homicides in a different light. I would recommend t

How Important is Impression Evidence?

"There is no branch of detective science that is so important and so much neglected as the art of tracing footsteps", simply stated by the fictional detective character, Sherlock Holmes, from "A Study in Scarlet" written in 1881.

How important is impression evidence?

The most direct answer, it is extremely important to any crime scene investigation.

I find the various types of impression evidence to be a fascinating study in crime scene investigation. This is the one area, with exception to the s