Red Head Killer Profile
Sex: Male
Rationale: The killer only preys on females, and serial killers almost always target the opposite
sex or those they feel sexual attraction to unless it is a comfort killer. The killer was able to
overpower the victims, attacking up close with bare hands. Along with this, the distance between
the roads and location of the discovered bodies is significant (dozens of yards away and up or
down gradients to the dump sites without drag marks or use of any mechanical advantage),
which shows that the killer had to have enough strength to carry the bodies over broken ground,
indicating a larger and stronger male’s ability to overpower a smaller and weaker female. There
has been no recorded instance of a female serial killer who used physical strength or up-close
methods of killing. Females are almost always comfort killers that use poison, rarely using
weapons (guns, knives, axes, etc.), which give a female power over a male, to kill. Females
almost always kill people they know; in this situation, the suspect is killing unknown people.
Also, assuming the killer is a commercial truck driver; nearly all in this time period were male.
Age: DOB no later than 1962 but no earlier than 1936
Rationale: Nearly all serial killers begin their murders in their late teens or early to middle 20’s,
the age in which most mental disorders often manifest themselves and are diagnosable (not that
some do not begin to display certain signs of disorders at younger ages). The killer would need to
be relatively full grown in order to accomplish the killings since they were committed with bare
hands. A teenage boy still not fully physically mature would most likely not feel comfortable
using only his hands against a fully physically developed female. The killer must also be of or
above the legal age required to possess a commercial driver’s license in order to carry out the
killings at such a long distance (working on the assumption that the suspect was a truck driver).
The upper end of the age range would be 48 at the time of the last known victim. There comes a
time when age/health/strength will become a limiting factor in killing with your bare hands and
moving adult bodies over a distance. We feel that around 50 would be the time period that would
begin to limit his physical ability to no longer conduct the crimes in the same way.
Height: 5’9”-6’2”
Rationale: The killer must be average height or taller in order to overpower the victims (most of
which fall into the average height ratio for women) efficiently. It would not be practical for the
killer to attack someone bigger and taller due to the fact that bare hands were used to kill. If the
killer had to carry victims to the dump site, the suspect would need to be able to hoist them and
carry them without leaving evidence of the body’s movement (drag or carry marks). A limit on
height/size is necessary because if a trucker was inordinately large, the suspect may frighten a
potential victim or draw unwanted attention at the truck stops, restaurants, and rest areas that
truckers frequent.
Weight: 180-270 lbs.
Rationale: The killer must be average to above-average weight in order to have the confidence
that needed to overpower the victims and move the bodies with only brute strength. It is likely

 Red Head Killer Profile
the killer has a muscular build because of the method of killing and disposing of the bodies.
Since the suspect is considered to be a truck driver, which is often sedentary, extra weight
(especially in an older suspect) would be suspected. Weight also factors into the successful
methods of killing (strangulation, suffocation, and blunt force trauma). We can also conclude
that since the suspect is most likely from or living in the South for a long period of time, and the
South is the consistently rated as the most overweight section of the contiguous U.S., that there is
a higher chance that extra body weight is carried.
Where does he live/work: On or around Interstate 40/Knoxville, TN region
Rationale: A job as a truck driver most assuredly requires the suspect to frequently travel
Interstate 40. All of the murders trend along the I-40 corridor or along roads that branch off from
the interstate such as I-75 and I-81. We feel that many of the possible Jane Does outside of the
main six are from areas that do not fit this pattern and can thus be excluded. The only victim that
is not found along an interstate is the Wetzel County, West Virginia, victim who was only found
along a state highway. We do recognize the difference in this one part of the MO, but we also
feel that this was most likely the first known victim by looking at police data from the crime and
estimations about time of death. It would not be that unusual to find a small change in MO after
the first victim, which does not indicate a change in signature. That road still connects two major
cities in West Virginia, and the victim was seen possibly hitchhiking from one of those.
Knoxville appears to be at the geographical center of the murders and also has I-40 going
through it as well. We feel that anywhere along the I-40 corridor running from Knoxville to
Nashville is a possibility; there are more bodies found along interstates that connect through
Knoxville (Campbell, Knox, and Greene County victims). We feel that the killer either lives in a
close proximity to Knoxville or works out of there as part of a job. Nashville is another
possibility; however, unless there are unknown victims that would shift the geographical center
of the killings, we feel that Nashville only appears to be a possibility because of its proximity to
I-40 and size.
Motive to kill: Mission (but cannot rule out a lust (sexual) component)
Rationale: There is evidence that the killer could be motivated by a mission, thrill, or
power/control. We feel that a Mission Oriented motive is the most likely motive. We have
excluded lust as a singular motive since murders of this motivation usually involve overkill and a
sexual nature to the crime including rape, object penetration, and necrophilia. We cannot totally
exclude lust as a possible motive as the victims were found nude or partially clothed, and most of
the victims (who all have similar physical features) were most likely in the sex industry of
prostitution.
We also do not feel that it is a thrill killer because they often perform aberrant sexual actions
upon the victim, use a weapon to torture the victim, rape the victim, and usually perform object
penetration.

 Red Head Killer Profile
We also do not feel that it is a power/control killer because there is almost always evidence of
victim torture before death, binding of the victim including ligatures, aberrant sexual activity,
rape, object penetration, and necrophilia.
We feel that this killer is most likely a Mission Oriented unsub due to the fact the killer’s motive
matches best with the characteristics of a mission killer. After using a table produced by law
enforcement to narrow the motives of serial killers by using characteristics of their crimes,
Mission Oriented scored a 13 out of a possible 15 (while Thrill scored 11 and Power/control
scored 10 of 15). There were no signs of rape, necrophilia, torture, binding of hands / feet, or
torture weapons, ruling out almost all other categories besides mission.
Mission Oriented killers often see their victims as a means to accomplish an end. Most of the
time these killers attack elements of society that they see as undesirable or harmful to society,
thus convincing themselves they are “helping save society by cleansing it of undesirables”.
These often lead them to killing prostitutes, homosexuals, homeless, etc. The victims in this case
were most likely prostitutes and the suspect may feel a duty to “clean the world of ‘trash’”. There
are only three areas that the mission hypothesis does not totally correlate with the expected
results: movement of body after death, strangling as a cause of death, and rape of the victim
We feel the body movement can be explained by several factors. First, many mission oriented
killers are often mentally troubled (suffering from schizophrenia or paranoid schizophrenia).
Because of this, they do not move bodies as they actually believe they are doing good instead of
breaking a law. Obviously our killer knows laws are being broken, taking extensive precautions
to cover any trace of identity. The suspect appears to not only be mentally sane, but also at least
average to above average intelligence.
Often times mission killers do not use strangulation as the cause of death. Our killer used
strangulation on some victims but also used suffocation and blunt force trauma to the head as
causes of death. We feel that this is not a serious problem with our killer.
With many mission killers there is often sexual assault or rape of the victim. This is not present
in our killer, but the suspect does leave victims nude or partially clothed. We feel that this
mindset of seeing the prostitutes as dirty and evil may prevent sexual contact with his victims,
although some pleasure is extracted from undressing the bodies and leaving them exposed.
Occupation: Truck Driver
Rationale: The killer must travel frequently; as all of the bodies, except one, were found next to
interstates (with the one being beside a major highway between moderately large cities within a
state). Commercial truck drivers have a larger radius for travel than most other jobs. The
commercial freightliner would provide more concealment and space to hide/transport bodies
over multiple days (as evidence suggest a couple of the bodies were not dumped until several
days after their death) giving the suspect frequent access and opportunity. A truck stopped beside
the interstate is totally normal and would not call as much attention as a car stopped beside the
interstate would.

 Red Head Killer Profile
The Motor Carrier Regulatory Reform and Modernization Act, more commonly known as the
Motor Carrier Act of 1980, was a law that deregulated the trucking industry. Since the law was
passed, the number of new firms increased dramatically. By 1990, the number of licensed
carriers exceeded 40,000, more than twice that of 1980. Combined with the Staggers Act (1980),
intermodal freight transport surged, expanding 70 percent between 1981 and 1986. This caused
tens of thousands of more jobs to open up in the trucking industry, which possibly could have
caused the unsub to be employed in one of these new jobs, thus providing the opportunity to kill
as never experienced before. Possibly this new exposure to the prostitution trade as a truck driver
could have been the trigger that fueled the mission oriented motive for killing.
We feel the truck driver hypothesis is more likely than others who travel for their jobs like
salesmen, nurses, etc. The reason is that suspects kill and dump where they feel comfortable.
Salesman may travel the interstates, but most of their interaction with people is away from the
interstates in town and business areas. If they desired to kill prostitutes, they would acquire them
in the cities. If the killer were a traveling member of the health care community, he/she would
most likely acquire victims in and around health care facilities. Many serial killers have killed
patients and those in facilities for the aged, and if this killer were a member of the health care
community, he/she would most likely follow that pattern.
Race: White
Rationale: All of the victims are Caucasian; it is most common for serial killers to kill victims of
the same race (over 90% do). Most killers are comfortable killing victims of the same race as
they often are found in areas that are racially homogenous to themselves and do not stand out
when acquiring victims. The percentage of African American truck drivers in the 1980’s was
presumably lower than the average percentage for African Americans in other jobs as trucking
did require some form of certification to qualify for the job. It would also be much less
suspicious in the south, which still experienced overt
racism, for a white to acquire white victims. It would therefore be much less suspicious if the
perpetrator were white and the same race as his victim.
Personal relationships: Yes, possible long-term relationships
Rationale: The killer shows all of the signs of being an organized killer by acquiring, killing, and
dumping bodies in separate states. He also lures victims instead of just killing them where they
are found. Therefore, it is most likely that the suspect is at least average to slightly above average
in his intelligence and understands basic police techniques, which has aided his ability to remain
undetected. His above average IQ helps to understand that these desires are not normal and must
be hidden, using what Harvey Cleckly referred to as “the Mask of Sanity”. He makes those
around him feel that he is normal and makes others feel at ease in his presence even though
underneath he has a brutal desire to kill. He gets prostitutes and hitch hikers to go with him
(although they are more willing to do so) even members of those communities will not go with a
person that appears violent, strange, or just “off”. This ability will likely lead to heightened
communication skills which may lead him to being perceived as having an awkward sense of
innocence, but an approachable demeanor. Organized killers are often capable of serious or long

 Red Head Killer Profile
term relationships (Ted Bundy was engaged, Dennis Rader was married, etc.). However, if he is
choosing a job such as truck driver, it shows that he does not do well with conforming to societal
expectations of having an ever present boss with lots of conformity and rules. This killer will
most likely have been involved with serious relationships including girlfriends (even long term)
and possibly even a wife. He will also probably have close friends that after being told, may have
seen some warning signs (like sudden rage or rants against his victim type) but will most likely
be surprised that he was responsible for so many violent and brutal acts.
Relative Location of Residence: Around Knoxville or Nashville
Rationale: Knoxville may be considered the center of the crimes if the Wetzel County victim is
included. If the Wetzel County is not included, Nashville is the geographic center. It is likely the
suspect resides in one of these cities for access to the multiple dumping sites and the access to
interstates and roads. We do feel that the Wetzel County, West Virginia, victim may be
exhibiting unusual signs as it was mostly likely the first victim.
What Kind of Car: 18 wheeled semi or commercial cargo transport
Rationale: The killer must possess a large enough vehicle to store the victims (as several were
held for a couple of days after death before they were dumped). The victims were also most
likely killed inside of the semi (which would fit travel habits and assumed occupation) as well.
Serial killers typically kill where they feel comfortable, and a truck driver would feel more
comfortable on the interstate. Semi-trucks provide privacy by shielding the passenger side from
road view when pulled off the side of the road. The
semi also does not draw as much attention as any other vehicle when pulled off the side of the
interstate. Most of the victims were seen near truck stops near the interstate and a semi-truck is
the least noticeable of all vehicles in those locations.
Religion / Religious Motivation / Affiliation: Possibly Christian
Rationale: The killer is likely to live in or around the “Bible Belt”, in which the percentage of
evangelical Christian adults is over 50% in most parts. Those numbers of practicing evangelicals
were also higher in the 1980’s than present. Nashville is also known as “The Buckle” of the
Bible Belt. If the killer resides in this state, he is likely exposed to large amounts of Christianity
from his family and society even if he or his family is not devout. It would not be abnormal to
find, even in homes where the members were not extremely devout, a Bible on the table, Bible
verses used as wall hangings or decorations, the use of Christian teachings for significant rituals
like marriage and funeral services, and trips to church, especially on Easter or Christmas. Most
Christians also believe that according to Biblical teachings, premarital sex and sexual
relationships outside of the husband-wife arrangement are sinful. This may feed into the negative
views on prostitutes and bolster the theory of a mission oriented killer.
Medical History / Physical Wounds: Defensive wounds from victims

 Red Head Killer Profile
Rationale: The killer may have possible scars or marks on his body from the victims trying to
defend themselves (known as defensive wounds). Since the suspect kills victims with bare hands
and close contact it would be likely they scratched, clawed, slapped, and bit in an attempt to save
their lives. This would not require medical attention and s often easily explained away as side
effects of the job as a trucker loading and securing cargo. The suspect may have some medical
history of injury from heavy lifting, insomnia or sleep issues and elevated blood pressure (from
job pressures, use of energy drinks, and use of insomnia pills such as “no Doze” or “White
Crosses”). He may also have a later history of high cholesterol from the frequent consumption of
fast food or greasy diner food and sedentary job. Back problems, or blood clots may arise from
elongated periods of rest and the suspect may be slightly overweight, all a byproduct of his job.
Family History: Unstable Home, Absent Father, Domineering Mother
Rationale: It is likely that the killer grew up in an unstable home. The family members may have
abused drugs or alcohol which led to an increasingly unstable home which included fights
between adults, angry outburst, etc. There could also be a heightened chance that the suspect
grew up with a mother of undesirable characteristics as females are targeted. Having a frequently
absent or not intimately involved father also most likely contributed to the suspect’s attacks.
Right or Left Handed: Right handed
Rationale: The majority of the United States is right-handed so it’s safe to assume the suspect is
as well. There is no evidence that suggests left-handedness, and the percentage of left-handed
people in
America is only twelve percent. This rationale may have more support with access to ME reports
on victims as they were either strangled, suffocated, or had blunt force trauma as cause of death.
A right handed unsub would generally leave more physical damage to the left side of the body.
IQ: 100 +
Rationale: The killer is organized and nearly all organized serial killers have historically had
IQ’s in the average to slightly above average range. It is suspected that the crimes were
committed in a different place than the bodies were dumped. When bodies are taken from the
original crime scene and disposed of in other places, this almost always indicates an organized
killer. Considering that none of the original crime scenes (including place of abduction or death)
are known, it is almost assuredly an organized offender giving credence to the rationale of an
average to above average IQ.
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Rationale: Serial killers tend to target the gender they are attracted to, and this suspect only
targets females. Also over 98% of the population surveyed in the 1980’s was listed as
heterosexual. It is true that we feel the perpetrator seems to be mission oriented due to the fact
he/she is killing possible prostitutes because they are often deemed “dirty” or undesirable. This
may not assure that he is heterosexual by himself, but he at least feels comfortable in the

 Red Head Killer Profile
situation hiring a female for sexual activity, which we feel almost assuredly makes the suspect
heterosexual.
Criminal History: Possible Solicitation
Rationale: Victims are suspected prostitutes/transients and estranged from their families. Due to
the fact victims go unreported for very long periods of time (as long as thirty-five years), and
were picked up on the side of the road, it can be inferred that the victims are estranged from their
families. Prostitutes are also very popular with truck drivers, so the killer may have been cited
before for similar occurrences. He made sure to pick victims that probably would not be missed.
There also may be some history of various common variety criminal activity such as public
intoxication, angry outburst, etc. Considering the suspect is a truck driver, it would not be
unlikely that traffic citations associated with his job were acquired.
Build: Thick, Stocky
Rationale: The perpetrator is able to strangle, suffocate, and bludgeon the victims with physical
superiority. There is no evidence of any physical weapons; meaning the killer is confident
enough to attack the victim without a weapon. He is also physically able to carry bodies to the
side of the interstate. Along with the fact the assumed lends itself to short period of physically
demanding labor, all of these characteristics combine to give an average to above average
(athletic, stocky, slightly overweight) build.
Mental Health: No History
Rationale: Similar to the majority of organized serial killers, the perpetrator operates in a manner
that does not draw suspicion. The killer is able to keep “the mask of sanity” despite being
mentally disturbed, so there is most likely no reported history of mental health issues with the
killer, however, there may be a history of depression, alcoholism, etc. in the family as is found
with most serial killers.