Serial sex offenders in Colombia: two case studies from the cities of Bogotá and Cali

Abstract

After illustrating to the reader about the nature of serial sex offenders, this article develops two case studies documented by the Attorney General’s Office for the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Criminal Matters and the National Police, extracted from the lines of investigation implemented by these institutions for years. This research exercise forms a multiple case study that seeks to expand the available knowledge on the subject, making the respective analyses against the nature of individuals who commit this kind of transgressions and their criminal dynamics. The results of different interviews, review of judicial file, application of psychometric tests in two subjects captured and convicted for the commission of sexual assaults of similar characteristics are found. In both cases, the sexual crime is the target of the activity, predominating the use of threat with a sharp weapon; in both cases these behaviors occur after the age of 18, the subject (i) presents 23 victims registered in the judicial system, and the subject (ii) 15 recognized victims; regarding psychological characteristics, both in childhood and adolescence presented problems in compliance with norms, with low tolerance for frustration and macho attitudes.