Read Online Criminal Poisoning: Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys by John H. Trestrail - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: John H. Trestrail
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TRADITIONAL WEAPONS
Certainly one of the main advantages of poison over the more traditional weapons is that it is invisible as a weapon. One might therefore consider it a “stealth” weapon. The unsuspecting victim never sees it coming and, therefore, cannot provide any form of reasonable defense to the attack.
34
Criminal Poisoning
In effect, a poison is a “chemical bomb.” It does not explode with an external violent force, but, nonetheless, like an explosive, it destroys the internal natural workings of a victim’s physiology. It could be reasonably hypothesized, therefore, that a poisoner would show some of the same characteristics one would find in the profile of a bomber. Bombers are usually Caucasian, male, underachievers, nonathletic, cowardly, neat and orderly, meticulous, loners, careful planners, and nonconfrontational (either physically or psychologically); possess average to above average intelligence; and have inadequate personality (Meloy & McEllistrem, 1998).
Usually no trauma or visible signs of a poison’s effects are found on a victim’s body, because the body kills itself physiologically via a chemical short circuit. This allows the poisoner to choose what symptoms he or she wishes the victim to exhibit, based on the chemical and toxicological nature of the poison selected. The victim has no protection as long as he or she eats, drinks, and breathes. Of course, if the poisoner could get the victim to stop these essential natural body processes, there would be no need to administer the poison. However, we must all carry out the processes of eating, drinking, and breathing, so we are all essentially vulnerable to the attack of a poisoner.
A poison is a silent weapon. There is no noise like that of a gun being fired; therefore, a poison could be considered the ultimate silencer. Unlike for a shooting, in which the shot could be heard and reported by someone, it would be impossible to find a witness who could state that he or she heard the sound of a cyanide molecule going off in the dead of night. In addition, in an attack carried out with a gun, there is always the chance that some innocent bystander could become injured or killed. However, poison allows the careful-planning poisoner to carry out very precise targeting on a victim while leaving nearby bystanders unharmed and unaware that the crime has even been attempted or perpetrated. Thus, a highly skilled poisoner could murder a single individual at a large banquet without being detected.
Certainly a poison allows the poisoner to overcome easily a physically or mentally stronger person by invading that person’s defense zone. The poisoner therefore may be physically or psychologically nonconfrontational. For example, a petite wife could easily overcome the brute strength of an abusive spouse, and a weaker-willed husband could overcome the abusive personality of a more domineering spouse.
If the first attempt to poison is unsuccessful, this type of weapon provides a chance for the poisoner to try again, because the victim is still unaware that an initial attempt at murder has even been made. In addition, unlike with more traditional weapons, the poisoner is unlikely to be disarmed of the poison and have the weapon used against him or her. Poison is also very easily Types of Poisons
35
overlooked at the death (crime) scene, because it is often appears like any natural substance that is usually found in the environment. With this type of weapon, it is quite possible to make a murder look like suicide, or a suicide look like murder. Furthermore, for the poisoner who might be squeamish at the site of blood or gore, or who is concerned about having to clean up the scene of the murder, there is no such messy component to the crime of poisoning.
With this type of murder, there is a certain degree of depersonalization: in the mind of the poisoner, he or she merely sets the trap; it is the victim who actually springs it. This rationalization
Certainly one of the main advantages of poison over the more traditional weapons is that it is invisible as a weapon. One might therefore consider it a “stealth” weapon. The unsuspecting victim never sees it coming and, therefore, cannot provide any form of reasonable defense to the attack.
34
Criminal Poisoning
In effect, a poison is a “chemical bomb.” It does not explode with an external violent force, but, nonetheless, like an explosive, it destroys the internal natural workings of a victim’s physiology. It could be reasonably hypothesized, therefore, that a poisoner would show some of the same characteristics one would find in the profile of a bomber. Bombers are usually Caucasian, male, underachievers, nonathletic, cowardly, neat and orderly, meticulous, loners, careful planners, and nonconfrontational (either physically or psychologically); possess average to above average intelligence; and have inadequate personality (Meloy & McEllistrem, 1998).
Usually no trauma or visible signs of a poison’s effects are found on a victim’s body, because the body kills itself physiologically via a chemical short circuit. This allows the poisoner to choose what symptoms he or she wishes the victim to exhibit, based on the chemical and toxicological nature of the poison selected. The victim has no protection as long as he or she eats, drinks, and breathes. Of course, if the poisoner could get the victim to stop these essential natural body processes, there would be no need to administer the poison. However, we must all carry out the processes of eating, drinking, and breathing, so we are all essentially vulnerable to the attack of a poisoner.
A poison is a silent weapon. There is no noise like that of a gun being fired; therefore, a poison could be considered the ultimate silencer. Unlike for a shooting, in which the shot could be heard and reported by someone, it would be impossible to find a witness who could state that he or she heard the sound of a cyanide molecule going off in the dead of night. In addition, in an attack carried out with a gun, there is always the chance that some innocent bystander could become injured or killed. However, poison allows the careful-planning poisoner to carry out very precise targeting on a victim while leaving nearby bystanders unharmed and unaware that the crime has even been attempted or perpetrated. Thus, a highly skilled poisoner could murder a single individual at a large banquet without being detected.
Certainly a poison allows the poisoner to overcome easily a physically or mentally stronger person by invading that person’s defense zone. The poisoner therefore may be physically or psychologically nonconfrontational. For example, a petite wife could easily overcome the brute strength of an abusive spouse, and a weaker-willed husband could overcome the abusive personality of a more domineering spouse.
If the first attempt to poison is unsuccessful, this type of weapon provides a chance for the poisoner to try again, because the victim is still unaware that an initial attempt at murder has even been made. In addition, unlike with more traditional weapons, the poisoner is unlikely to be disarmed of the poison and have the weapon used against him or her. Poison is also very easily Types of Poisons
35
overlooked at the death (crime) scene, because it is often appears like any natural substance that is usually found in the environment. With this type of weapon, it is quite possible to make a murder look like suicide, or a suicide look like murder. Furthermore, for the poisoner who might be squeamish at the site of blood or gore, or who is concerned about having to clean up the scene of the murder, there is no such messy component to the crime of poisoning.
With this type of murder, there is a certain degree of depersonalization: in the mind of the poisoner, he or she merely sets the trap; it is the victim who actually springs it. This rationalization
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