Dennis Rader, the notorious BTK murderer who eluded capture for more than 30 years until his arrest in 2005, did not fit precisely into the FBI's method for profiling serial killers on the basis of crime scenes.

And Aileen Wuornos, the Florida prostitute executed in 2002 for slaying seven men during a two-year period in the early 1990s, did not fit at all because the database of convicted serial killers used by the FBI in developing their profiling method did not include women.

The cases of Rader and Wuornos were among the topics explored during a panel discussion led by Charles Scott, a UC Davis forensic psychiatrist, at last week's annual meeting of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Chicago.

'Inherent limitations'

Scott discussed the way the bureau develops the personality profiles used by investigators in serial murder cases. He studies alternative profiling methods, such as one developed by a crime writer that uses motive to sketch a female offender's likely character traits.

"The FBI profiling method has many positive attributes, but it also has some inherent limitations," Scott said.

Scott, associate professor of clinical psychiatry with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, was one of four panelists in the talk, dubbed "Serial Killers: From Cradle to Grave." It was one of many events slated at the meeting, which ran Oct. 26 through Oct. 29.

The annual conference covered the major issues facing forensic psychiatrists.

Scott has extensive experience in legal psychiatric issues. He directs the psychiatry department's forensic case seminar, which trains psychiatrists in criminal and civil psychiatric evaluations, including assessments on insanity, competency to stand trial, personal injury evaluations, medical malpractice and danger assessments. He also serves as psychiatric consultant to the Sacramento County Jail and directs his department's forensic psychiatry residency program, overseeing training and education in landmark mental health law cases.

The purpose of the panel discussion was not to critique the FBI, Scott said. Instead, it was to acquaint forensic psychiatrists with how the bureau profiles serial killers, defined as someone who has killed at least three times.

"Often, forensic psychiatrists are not trained in how the FBI does its analysis," Scott said.

Such training is important, Scott said, because forensic psychiatrists can play "an important collaborative role" with law enforcement when it comes to profiling. To support his view, Scott cited a study that found psychiatrists were more accurate than police in profiling murder suspects.

To an FBI agent, the crime scene is the key. "The FBI would say the crime scene is like a fingerprint," Scott said. Interpreted properly, "it is likely to identify the kind of offender who would do this."

According to Scott, the bureau categorizes murder crime scenes as either organized or disorganized. An organized crime scene is one in which the killer exerted careful control of the environment and left little evidence behind.

This suggests a well-educated and socially competent suspect. In a disorganized crime scene, things are left in disarray and evidence is plentiful. This suggests a murderer with a low level of education and social competence who may habitually use alcohol or drugs.

The problem, Scott said, is that crime scenes often have both organized and disorganized components. Take Rader's first crime scene, when he killed Joseph and Julie Otero and their two children on Jan. 15, 1974. There was clear evidence of advance planning and the murderer's domination of the environment — Rader both strangled and suffocated his victims, forcing them to pass out and then allowing them to revive somewhat "as a way to extend their death," Scott said.

When the FBI develops profiles of serial killers, Scott said the bureau is relying on interviews its investigators have conducted with 36 convicted sexual or serial murderers. Scott said a shortcoming with the database is that it does not include a single female serial killer.

Consequently, its applicability to someone like Wuornos, portrayed in the 2003 movie Monster by Charlize Theron, "just isn't there," Scott said.

David Ong is a senior public information officer for the UC Davis Health System.