... 2000). One of the difficulties associated with research in this area is the fact that, in USA, national crime statistics on the number of sexual/serial homicides aren't maintained; indeed even homicides with "distinctly overt signs of sexual motivation" aren't grouped separately but are "included under the general category of homicide2" When one considers the fact that, in many cases, the sexual motives behind homicide aren't overt and obvious, it isn't surprising that they mightn't be recognised by the authorities; in fact they can be "frequently rationalized and denied by the offender as well3" Sexual motives may be expressed in other, less obvious ways; Revitch (1965) observes that, in many cases, particularly brutal and murderous assaults may serve as substitutes for the sexual act itself. It is almost as if the act of aggression "satisfies" the sexual component of the murder. And Banay (1969) confirmed the idea that "hidden sexual forces ...

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