Investigators are asking the community to broaden its description of the serial killer from a white or Hispanic male to a dark-complected white male, a man of mixed heritage or a black male, said the task force spokeswoman.
Though the Multi-Agency Homicide Task Force originally said the offender is a white or Hispanic male, Baton Rouge Police Department Cpl. Mary Ann Godawa said the task force obtained this new information after canvassing the neighborhood around Carrie Yoder’s home after she was reported missing.
Godawa would not say if the task force has used outside sources to determine the race of the offender.
“We will use every resource available, but I am not at liberty to say,” Godawa said.
Yoder is the fifth known serial killer victim. She was linked to the murders of Gina Wilson Green, Charlotte Murray Pace, Pam Kinamore and Dene Colomb through DNA March 14.
Louis Schlesinger, an associate professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, said it is common for serial offenders to kill within their own race, but not all offenders follow the same pattern.
Godawa said tips called into the tipline should not just reflect a white male and a white truck, the vehicle police said a witness saw exiting Whiskey Bay the night before police found Kinamore’s body.
“We are not eliminating prior witness statements involving white males driving white trucks,” Godawa said. “We are simply asking the public not to limit the information they share with the task force based on a subject’s race, ethnic background or vehicle.”
She said over time a person can dispose, alter or borrow a vehicle.
Godawa said people should compare an individual’s behavior to the behavior described in the profile.
The profile says the individual does not handle rejection well and has problems with women in his life. He also may display impulsive acts that are motivated by the need and desire for immediate satisfaction, pleasure or relief.
The profile also describes the individual as someone who hates to lose control or the sense of power and blames others for what happens to him. The individual also is determined and mission-oriented.
Schlesinger said a profile only helps narrow the range of suspects based on a set of guidelines.
He said people should not eliminate anyone because they do not specifically fit the profile.
Patricia Cornwell, a former crime reporter for the Charlotte Observer and best-selling fiction author, said profiles are dangerous because they may make someone not consider a person right in front them.
“People should be looking for anyone anywhere,” Cornwell said.
Cornwell was in Gretna, La. signing her newest book “Portrait of a Killer: Jack The Ripper — Case Closed.” The proceeds from her book will go to a reward for the person who helps find the serial killer. She said she became involved in the case after meeting Kinamore’s family in October.
Schlesinger also said most sexual offenders or serial murderers plan out their crime and therefore do not leave their DNA. He said because this offender has left his DNA it shows he may not be able to control himself and is arrogant.
Cornwell said the offender may leave his DNA because he does not care and may want the crimes linked.
He also said serial offenders abduct and kill a person and dump the body in the areas they know.
“The chances of this person having a connection with LSU is very high,” Schlesinger said. serial offenders often start with prostitutes because they are willing to follow the individual, but it is possible the offender’s confidence has risen, and he has moved on to other victims.
Schlesinger said victims can be older than the offender because they are easier to overcome and overpower.
Cornwell said people are the eyes and ears of any investigation, and most crimes are solved by people. She also said students can be the key to finding this individual.
“They need to treat this just like war,” Cornwell said. “This is terrorism in their area. No one is immune.”
She said it is important for people to ask ‘what if?’ “If you start thinking that way, you can start teaching yourself things. It doesn’t mean you have to be paranoid; it is being smart,” Cornwell said.