by Ray Smithies
‘Gentlemen, first I will give you some insight into the various antisocial disorders for consideration. Then we will analyse these choices and finally we will isolate the appropriate category and explain how our resources should deal with this challenge. By all means ask questions as we progress through this briefing.
‘With regards to the case in question, we must start by asking ourselves what we know about our adversary. It all started with a parkland murder and then the death of Jake Reynolds, followed by Ruth Evans. Their assaults and the killing spree progressed to the vicious attack at Peterswood, a catastrophe on the Molly Bloom, the kidnapping of Brigit O’Neill and finally this deplorable act yesterday inflicted on certain syndicate members. Their pattern of violence continues to gain momentum, which in itself is of great concern and suggests that the thrill to kill takes on a new life each time a new murder is carried out. It’s highly probable that a certain individual and an accomplice are responsible for the more sadistic acts. It is likely that the Scorpio hierarchy issued the orders but did not have the stomach to participate directly in such brutal atrocities. It is therefore my intention today to focus upon those individuals who instigate and administer such cruelty.
‘There is overwhelming evidence to suggest the main culprit is none other than Brad Morgan, who has a history of sadistic violence. This particular person represents an enormous threat to the constabulary and therefore is the very individual we will concentrate on. It is likely that our second culprit is the one they call Charlie. He is violent and intimidating by nature, but unlike his counterpart he will remain within his comfort zone and not explore the greater pleasures of unmerciful foreplay. This character is somewhat of a follower. He would also participate in such cruelty but he would rarely become the instigator of sadistic rituals. Having said all that, we will now try to put Brad Morgan into some perspective.’
‘Why not the profiles of the Keeper and the Piedpiper?’ questioned Marsh, who was of the opinion these two warranted inclusion.
‘Because these two only issue orders and it would appear they are not the ones who carry out the dirty work. It is this very aspect we need to address.’ responded Angus Martin.
The psychologist’s audience had become enthralled with proceedings. His speech was clear and not rushed. He continued with his briefing.
‘So what do we have here? In particular, what type of killer is Brad Morgan? Is he a serial killer or mass murderer? An organised or disorganised homicidal maniac? We have gathered certain evidence, have some idea of his characteristics and we can speculate to a degree on the man’s idiosyncrasies. For instance, he has a noticeable twitch when aggravated.
‘Let’s look at the characteristics that define a mass murderer. My experience and research into individuals over the past twenty years has shown this category is almost exclusively male with a passion for firearms. They are generally loners and their notable psychopathology trait is paranoia, which is normally either - or both - a depressive psychosis or paranoid schizophrenia. There have been numerous case studies whereby schizophrenics have demonstrated antisocial aggression some years prior to displaying their potential. These groups of people are likely to be suicidal and to possess the characteristics to murder both family members and friends.
‘By contrast a serial killer will repeat his actions, which are generally motivated by reason. These undertakings may come from political or organised crime for the motivation of excitement in its various forms, or greed. Like the mass murderer, this group is also psychotic and can have paranoid schizophrenic signs. It would also include the sadistic psychopath whose appetite may encompass both younger women and children.’
‘What’s the underlining difference between the two?’ asked Burke.
‘The serial killer will murder and terror will prevail again at some future date,’ Martin said. ‘The duration is likely to be within no set timeframe. The mass murderer will lay dormant for their entire life and then something snaps within to carry out his dreadful deed on a particular day. The mass murderer does not generally reflect on what has happened and possibly couldn’t care if he survives the callous act or not. On the other hand the serial killer will do his utmost to survive, quite often leading the authorities on a merry chase. Case studies have revealed that victims have been tortured to prolong the serial killer’s moment of pleasure.’
‘Angus, you made reference to both organised and disorganised homicidal maniacs before. Could you elaborate on these aspects for the men?’ Bailey asked.
‘Of course. These categories emphasise their methods, and their personalities or characteristics. You will pick up some parallels that separate mass from serial killer. In the case of disorganised offenders, these are individuals who seize the opportunity to commit murder when the situation presents itself. They are not likely to plan the assault in advance. Generally murder is swift and with compelling reasons, given this type of offender lacks the confidence required to lure his victim to a desired location. Therefore it is imperative that to control the situation he will attack instantly and generally from behind to maintain the element of surprise and minimise the level of resistance.
‘His crime scene is generally left in disarray, with an abundance of clues left behind for the authorities to gather and analyse. Victims of disorganised killers are generally subjected to extreme violence. Often the body or bodies are left behind in full view. This type of criminal generally lacks the required social skills of today’s society and is often sexually inexperienced. Chances are he is poorly educated and has a record of being unemployed for long periods at a time. Possibly he has few friends, if indeed any, has low self-esteem and takes little interest in the outside world.’
‘So how does the organised criminal differ?’ Burke asked.
‘This individual takes care in planning his objective. Unlike his counterpart, this individual will have above-average intelligence, most likely be well educated and have stable employment. He is sexually competent, he most definitely would keep in touch with media coverage and it is highly probable he comes from a sound family background. He will avoid the threat of identification, and cautiously choose a location that is generally isolated and removed from any possible observation. At times he may seek a specific target and will go to extraordinary lengths to acquire this victim, who could be a certain gender, age or occupation. He initially may even take his intended victim into his confidence prior to carrying out the intended murder.’
‘Two very different personalities,’ acknowledged Forbes, ‘but are there any notable similarities?’
‘The organised criminal has a high level of confidence and may even decide to assist with police enquiries,’ Martin explained, ‘since he has the ability to change his behaviour to suit the need and thus dissolve any possible suspicions by even volunteering as a witness. There are nonetheless two similarities between these two very different individuals. Historically they both have very few friends; however, the disorganised killer is alone because he is socially unacceptable and has an inferiority complex, whereas his organised counterpart chooses to be a loner since he’s of the opinion he’s superior to all others. The other similarity is that both extremes may decide to return to the crime scene to reinforce their fantasy.’
‘Angus, what other aspects should we bear in mind?’ asked Bailey.
‘A further aspect for consideration is the addiction to violence these types of criminals yearn for. This violence and cruelty can become so enjoyable it becomes their prime objective. Our research indicates that quite a number of these seriously disturbed and violent criminals possess above average IQ’s. As a result - and it’s a disturbing trend for the authorities to address - these killers continue to learn from past mistakes in addition to refining their methods on the proviso their psychological requirements are fulfilled. It therefore becomes increasingly difficult for the victim to escape and at the same time there’s less likelihood of the culprit being apprehended by the law. This disturbing trend I speak
of becomes apparent since it is the authorities’ objective to not only arrest these criminals but, more importantly, to catch this serial killer at the developmental stages of their career.’
‘So where’s the connection with the criminal having a psychopath disorder?’ asked Parnell.
‘Possibly the one notable characteristic of psychopaths is their distinct lack of remorse or guilt for the despicable acts they carry out. Unfortunately these people have no constraints or what the rest of the general public would call a conscience. Violence is simply their desired way of life.’
‘Regarding the visual presence of these people, do they have any giveaway signs that we should be aware of?’ asked Carpenter.
‘Good question. The psychopath is indeed a very perplexed individual, given he has a mental disease which is camouflaged by fact that he appears sane. He may give the impression of being in a healthy and sound frame of mind. Unlike schizophrenics, the psychopath is in touch with reality and conditioned in his objectives. He has neither hallucinations nor delusions, which is common with other mental disorders. This individual is fully aware of his actions and the authorities accept that these are deliberately chosen.’
‘But the psychopath must be aware that his actions are of a sinister nature’ said Forbes.
‘Of course he does, but he just doesn’t care about the consequences,’ Martin responded. ‘This type of killer does not respect the emotional side of things, and he does not recognise fear or respect feelings such as anxiety and nervousness. It is his inability to recognise fear that allows him to carry out these horrendous undertakings. Many killers perform violent acts and in the process of the assault lose control of the situation, whereas the psychopath’s reaction is one of calm and calculated precision.’
‘Which Morgan has demonstrated more than once,’ said Forbes.
‘Just to elaborate on this absence of emotion,’ Martin continued, ‘the psychopath lacks the ability to learn the difference between right and wrong. The rest of us during the course of a lifetime learn from our mistakes and the probable consequences or punishment for our errors. The psychopath is missing this link and is not daunted by the possibility of reprisals or some sort of penalty. Intellectually he is aware of his evil doings, but he does not react in the way that the general public would. He chooses to ignore society’s moral underpinning, be it parental guidance, peer pressure or the law of the land.’
‘So where do we slot Brad Morgan into all of this?’ Whittaker asked.
Martin’s face momentarily registered a slight smile. He appeared encouraged by the continual questions, nodding favourably following each contribution. ‘Then let’s consider some of these attributes that qualifies Morgan to be unrelated from your mainstream criminal lot.’
The psychologist ticked off the points on his fingers. ‘The guy shows no remorse. This was evident following the Molly Bloom tragedy. His actions are well planned and calculated. He never rushes or has impulsive reactions. He is well educated, confident and arrogant, and he maintains awareness of media coverage. Generally he will select the location - as was the case with the three syndicate members - and strike when motivated by reason. He is an instigator of sadistic violence who will most likely have an array of arsenal at his disposal. He strives to survive and would enjoy taunting the authorities when the situation arises. He is totally aware of his behaviour and does not appear to have any traits of paranoid schizophrenia. He is undoubtedly a loner by choice and believes he has superior intellect to the rest of us. He therefore is categorised as being an organised killer.’
‘Which brings us to the question of how our resources should deal with the challenge,’ said Graeme Bailey.
‘In summary,’ Martin said, ‘you have your Brad Morgan profile. You now have a clearer insight as to the makeup of this individual, but the question is how to approach the matter. I cannot give instructions on how this team should conduct the remainder of the case, for this is not my area of expertise, but what I can do is to provide some pointers on what to look out for.’
Paul Marsh interjected, believing his question was relevant to the psychologist’s summary. ‘Does this Brad Morgan person project any weaknesses, inconsistencies or vulnerable aspects that the police can take advantage of?’
‘Most certainly,’ Martin replied, ‘and this is an interesting point. Our subject does possess certain flaws which may lead to his eventual downfall and arrest. First let’s consider his emotional state, which is contrary to your classic psychopath. We have witnessed on at least two occasions - the Molly Bloom and Esplanade Hotel - that the guy does in fact have a short fuse and will explode when under pressure. Given this scenario, we could say our subject is a perfectionist who needs and relies on total control of the situation at all times. Take away this comfort zone, even for a short moment, and his anxiety levels will increase dramatically, to the point where irrational thought will override any well-planned and calculated purpose. Provoke this individual and his defences become vulnerable.’
‘And his other liability?’ queried Forbes.
‘His second weakness is his inability to remain in isolation between serial outbursts. What I mean is, Brad Morgan continually resurfaces within the community, on one occasion at Tom Harrison’s house and there have been numerous times at the Esplanade. He’s been seen by countless people who have witnessed his outbursts at the hotel without the aid of disguise. This occurs when he’s been provoked or something’s been amiss with an intended drug transaction. Contrary to the serial-cum-organised killer who will do his utmost to remain undetected in order to survive, this individual chooses to circulate in the vicinity of the crime scene, apparently oblivious to his own immediate threat.’
Martin paused for emphasis. ‘Do not underestimate the role of both the Keeper and the Piedpiper. They may be considered figureheads with respect to these atrocities, but their influence and eventual decision-making will have a major impact on the remainder of this case. The weakness in their chain is undoubtedly Morgan himself, whose arrogance alone will tempt the killer to reappear somewhere in Pedley. Detective Marsh witnessed the exchange at the Esplanade that night so it’s unlikely we’ll see repeat of this activity. He may be obtuse, but he’s not stupid. Charlie will remain out of sight, since historically he’s a night owl who conducts his business in obscure locations and never in the open.’
‘And Charlie’s identity remains somewhat vague,’ said Forbes.
Dismissing the detective’s comment, the psychologist continued. ‘Morgan was undoubtedly the chief instigator with respect to yesterday’s atrocity, but by the same token Charlie would’ve been a willing participant given his own lust for violence. Morgan provided the ideas in addition to the tools used to carry out their torture campaign. Charlie would have assisted, under guidance from Morgan, with the erection of the three makeshift racks and cosmetics. It’s highly likely that both inflicted the lacerations prior to and following execution. By definition Charlie is the disorganised killer, who, without assistance from Morgan, would most likely have been unable to carry out yesterday’s atrocity. This was planned mayhem, including the logistics required to transport the racks and bodies for ultimate display. Charlie, by comparison, would have been more comfortable with a hit-and-run concept.’
‘So, how do you propose we tackle this problem?’ asked Marsh.
Again Martin paused. He deliberated as if in search of the right words.
‘You will need to increase the patrols of known haunts where Charlie conducts drug deals. I would view this approach as a priority. Concentrate your resources on Morgan and Charlie who are by nature more vulnerable to exposure. The Keeper and the Piedpiper will surface all in good time, for they are the protected species and present a more difficult challenge to flush out and ultimately prosecute. If an early arrest of Morgan or Charlie can be achieved, then not only would it be a major breakthrough, but the resultant disruption and vulnerability it places upon their inner sanctum could be astronomical. Sudd
enly infiltration becomes a viable proposition.
‘Experience and research has taught that when dealing with individuals such as Morgan and Charlie, an interesting personality profile emerges. These men are control freaks who relish their role of dictating a situation. Eliminate their defences, such as weaponry or group support, and we see a dramatic change in behaviour. These traits could include becoming insecure or withdrawn. It could be a simple mannerism or possibly even cowardly or childlike conduct. The key issue here is that we find ourselves dealing with a susceptible personality who is more likely to be a vulnerable individual. Take either of these two into custody and have them subjected to an intense interrogation and you may see some level of cooperation.’
‘Interesting point,’ said Forbes.
‘A bit like a sheep in wolf’s clothing,’ added Carpenter.
Martin recommenced his summary. ‘So again I reiterate by saying that above all other influential and remaining aspects of the case, you need to be focused on these two people for reasons I have already explained. The Keeper and Piedpiper, being your jewels in the crown, will come in due course, but in order to reach these two you will need to expose their subordinates. It’s a bit like the domino effect: if you knock down the first tile the rest will follow. Contrary to what I’ve already advocated, do not lose sight of Brigit O’Neill’s disappearance and this so-called underground network that I’ve been briefed about.’