Homicide Case Studies
Homicide Case Studies is a first-of-its-kind text, offering readers more than 30 case studies drawn from real-world homicide cases that include the often-overlooked context and complexities faced by victims, offenders, law enforcement, attorneys, jurors, and correctional personnel.
From investigating different forms of homicides to deciding what charges should be filed, weighty decisions about homicide cases must be made by professionals. This book provides nuanced scenarios and critical thinking questions that put readers in the role, giving them the ability to apply what theyve learned to make well-thought-out and just decisions concerning each case. Students learn through the Andragogical approach fostering an individualized learning experience that bridges the academicprofessional gapfinally providing an answer to the question When am I going to use this?
This book is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students in criminal justice, as well as scholars, policymakers, and others with an interest in the rich and complex world of criminal homicide.
Kyle A. Burgason is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Director of Graduate Education in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Iowa State University. His research interests include policing, ethics in criminal justice, race and crime, criminological theory, structural and cultural context of violent crime and victimization, capital punishment, and optimal foraging theorys applications to crime. His recent work has appeared in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Crime Prevention and Community Safety, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Innovative Higher Education, SN Social Sciences, and International Journal of Law and Psychiatry.
Mark Ruelas is currently a PhD student in Sociology and Criminal Justice at Iowa State University. He retired from law enforcement in Southern California after serving for 25 years. Mark earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from California State University, Bakersfield, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine. He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute. Mark is a Marine Corps veteran and was awarded the Medal of Valor at his agency.
Thomas T. Zawisza is an Assistant Professor at Lasell University. His main research interests include using eye-tracking technology as a medium to study burglar target selection, investigating distance and direction of crime and victimization, and how non-disastrous natural phenomena affect crime patterns, such as the relationship between weather patterns and crime and solar eclipses and calls for service. His most recent works appeared in the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, Crime Prevention and Community Safety, and the Journal of Contemporary Criminology.
Cover image: Getty Images
First published 2022
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2022 Taylor & Francis
The right of Kyle A. Burgason, Mark Ruelas and Thomas T. Zawisza to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Kyle, Burgason A., author. | Ruelas, Mark, author. | Zawisza, Thomas T., author.
Title: Homicide case studies / Burgason A. Kyle, Mark Ruelas & Thomas T. Zawisza.
Description: 1 Edition. | New York, NY : Routledge, 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021038623 (print) | LCCN 2021038624 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Homicide--Case studies. | Violent crimes--Case studies. | Violent deaths--Case studies.
Classification: LCC HV6515 .K95 2022 (print) | LCC HV6515 (ebook) | DDC 364.152--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021038623
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021038624
ISBN: 978-0-367-46304-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-45704-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-02805-5 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003028055
To my mother:
Beverly Burgason
This book is dedicated to the memory of Jim Pollock, who years ago took a young officer under his wing and taught him several fundamental investigative tools of the trade. My family and I are eternally grateful for your friendship. There are many others that need to be acknowledged, as all have played a significant part in the events that are depicted in this book. Ernie Halcon, Mike Laggart, Jorge Field, Hans Gutknecht, George Hughley, Brad Clemmer, and Eddie Hernandez displayed immeasurable investigative and tactical expertise in the field. Finally, I am eternally grateful to my family Susana, Lexy, Rick, and Sarah, Tom, and Luis. Your patience, love, and support throughout the years has meant the world to me.
Mark Ruelas
To my wife Brittany and my children Theodore, Owen, and Lorelei, thank you for supporting me through my endeavors over the years, even if it was from afar.
To Dan and Mary, my dad and mom, for always being there. My only regret is that mom did not get the chance to read a copy of this book before she passed. I hope you are resting easy.
To those who offered their guidance along the way: Jeff Walker without whom I would not have enjoyed a career in academia; to Marcus Felson and Mary Eckert for late night talks while house sitting and for offering to assist in any way that you can; and to Kelly Frailing for collaborating on many projects and listening to my ramblings at conferences.
Finally, to my co-authors, Kyle Burgason and Marco: Kyle, without you this project would have not been possible. Marco Ruelas, it truly has been a pleasure to meet you, and I wish you luck in earning your doctorate!
Thomas Zawisza
Matt DeLisi
Homicide is a subject that reveals both brutal simplicity and bizarre complexity in terms of its theoretical explanation and legal resolution. In some cases, the immediate cause of a homicide is one of the seven deadly sins, especially those involving wrath, greed, lust, and envy. Historically most homicides were cleared by arrest and prosecuted as murders because the offender, motive, and other factors were clear and obvious. Other homicides have no clear explanation, or denote factors that invoke numerous theoretical or substantive models. Some homicides that appear obvious are not successfully prosecuted, and currently, a large proportion of homicides are never cleared by arrest. Some murders are solved easily, others never are. Unfortunately, most books on homicide fail to capture the simplicity and complexity of this topic. Until now.
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