Behavioral Profiling in the Golden State Killer Investigation: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The Golden State Killer hunted victims across California from 1974 to 1986. He committed violent crimes in multiple jurisdictions as he escalated from burglary to rape to serial murder. His offending evolution and shifting geography made it difficult for police to connect his crimes, leading to the assumption that different criminals were involved. Over time, therefore, nine separate behavioral profiles were generated for the various investigations. This case study is a comparative analysis of these profiles, their behavioral domains, and specific predictions. Accuracy, consistency, and utility are assessed, and an analytic framework is provided for future assessments and research.