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Infant abductors
A W Burgess1, A G Burgess, E B Dowdell
1University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
|September 1, 1995
Summary
Kidnappers detailed four infant abduction phases, from planning to discovery. Motivations included personal and interpersonal pressures, with force levels varying from none to lethal.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- Infant abduction is a rare but severe crime.
- Understanding offender motivations and methodologies is crucial for prevention and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the distinct phases involved in infant abduction.
- To explore the underlying motivations driving abductors.
- To characterize the range of force used during infant abductions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of admitted kidnappers' accounts.
- Identification of sequential phases in the abduction process.
- Categorization of abductor motivations and force levels.
Main Results:
- Four key phases were identified: setting the stage, planning, abduction, and post-abduction discovery.
- Primary motivations cited were personal and interpersonal pressures.
- The use of force during abduction varied significantly, from non-violent to lethal.
Conclusions:
- Infant abduction is a complex process with identifiable stages.
- Understanding abductor psychology and situational pressures is vital for law enforcement and child protection.
- The spectrum of force employed highlights the unpredictable danger involved.