Date of Award
Spring 5-2017
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Program
Urban Studies
Department
Planning and Urban Studies
Major Professor
Stich, Bethany
Second Advisor
Gladstone, David
Third Advisor
Kiefer, John
Fourth Advisor
Wigginton, Michael
Abstract
This case study discusses rape theories by performing a case study of a convicted serial rapist, hereafter referred to as “Carl Criminal.” This pseudonym has been used throughout this research effort in order to avoid the additional contributing to the celebrity status of the true rapist who has committed these vicious sexual assaults. Locations have also been changed in order to prevent contribution of further clues that may help identify the rapist and avoid embarrassment, humiliation, and further mental anguish for the rape victims.
On January 18, 1999, Carl Criminal, a 38-year-old white male Sheriff’s Deputy with a local sheriff’s office was arrested and initially charged with five counts of aggravated rape. The charges were later amended to include a sixth charge of aggravated rape. At the time of his arrest, Carl Criminal was a veteran law enforcement officer for over nineteen years and had served as a plainclothes sergeant with the Juvenile Division. Carl Criminal’s arrest ended an extensive years-long rape task force investigation into a series of rapes that occurred between 1986 and 1997. Carl Criminal, upon being interviewed at his place of incarceration, admitted that he committed eleven rapes during the period of his criminal activity while serving as a sheriff’s deputy.
This research project explores Carl Criminal’s history and chronicles his career as a law enforcement officer and as a rapist. The project represents a searched for possible explanations, causation, and motivation for his criminal behavior. This study attempts to dissect his aberrant behavior and analyze potential causes related to his nurturing. Furthermore, the study examines his relationships and attempted to discern early patterns of social deviance. Carl Criminal himself stated, “I wish someone could tell me what’s wrong with me.” This research study attempts to furnish answers to his question.
This case study explores Carl Criminal’s current thoughts regarding the trauma he brought to his victims’ lives. Carl Criminal lamented the pain he now realizes his victims experienced. The research identified incidents in Carl Criminal’s youth that may now serve as markers to assist in identifying potential criminal behavior in the lives of other adolescents.
Recommended Citation
Fernandez, Ricardo E., "A Case Study of a Six-Time Convicted Serial Rapist: The Search for Explanation" (2017). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2320.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2320
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.