Criminal Minds2005

Aaron Hotchner:
We suggest that you think of this unsub not as a slasher but as an arsonist. Because the gratification he's getting isn't from the physical act of murder, but from the public's reaction to it.

Emily Prentiss:
Arsonists draw attention to themselves through the fires they set. The locations they choose are highly symbolic to them. While this unsub will never set an actual fire, he has the same psychosis as one who does.

Dr. Spencer Reid:
Our unsub fits that model. His locations have been pillars of the community. The victims he picks aren't as important as the effect of killing them outside of your favorite restaurant or place of worship.

Derek Morgan:
By picking locales with the highest visibility, he's creating the highest level of fear in that neighborhood, which reinforces his feeling of power.

Detective Jake Moreland:
Yeah, but arsonists don't set out to hurt people. This guy clearly does.

Derek Morgan:
That's true. And this unsub definitely falls in the category of sociopath.

Emily Prentiss:
His victims are there only to achieve his goal. He doesn't have the ability to empathize with them. To him, they're just... tools for him to use, no different than a can of gasoline and a match.

David Rossi:
But even how he kills tells us something. Slashing a throat is a messy, visual act. It's designed to create attention, just like a fire.

Dr. Spencer Reid:
Arsonists are often mission based. They need to make sure their first fire has burnt out before they set another one. They're also highly disciplined and focused. If conditions aren't right to set a fire or, in this case, slash a throat, they'll move on.

Aaron Hotchner:
In addition to his need to kill, he has self-control. He has a short cooling off period because he's enjoying what he's doing. This in turn feeds his ego and keeps him covering his tracks.

David Rossi:
This makes him even more dangerous. If he gets frustrated, encounters too many obstacles, or suffers a blow to his narcissistic ego, he could go on an all-out rampage.