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The Missing Missing

Toward a Quantification of Serial Murder Victimization in the United States

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Although early attempts to estimate the number of serial murder victims in the United States varied greatly and were exaggerated, current estimates may actually underestimate the number of serial murder victims. This study provides extrapolation from existing databases including missing persons, unidentified dead, and misidentified dead to estimate uncounted serial murder victims. In addition to providing lower and upper estimates of possible victims from these sources, this article also provides a methodology for counting "the missing missing"—missing persons who were never reported as missing and some of whom may be serial murder victims. By counting various sources of possible hidden serial murder victims, the addition of a lower estimate of 182 and an upper estimate of 1,832 additional annual serial murder victims in the United States is suggested.

Key Words: serial homicide victims • missing missing • unidentified dead • missing persons • extrapolation

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Homicide Studies, Vol. 11, No. 4, 319-339 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1088767907307467


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Quinet, K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?