Criminological Theory
CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY IN RELATION
TO EDMUND KEMPER AND HIS CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOUR THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE
CRIMES HE COMMITTED.
NAME: DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
COURSE: MSC CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
MODULE: CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY
MODULE CODE: SOCY70518
LECTURER: JAMES TREADWELL
DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
SOCY70518
1
,Criminological Theory
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Abstract Pg 3
1. Background of Edmund Kemper Pg 3
1.2. Timeline of Kemper’s murders Pg 4-5
1.3. Trial Pg 5
2. Cognitive theories Pg 5-6
3. Psychoanalytical theory. Pg 7
4. Biological Theories Pg 7-8
The proposition that Edmund Kemper
freely and rationally chose to
commit crime Pg 8-9
6. Conclusion. Pg.9
References. Pg 10
DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
SOCY70518
2
,Criminological Theory
1. ABSTRACT
There are many theories in relation to human behaviour, from those that
believe all behaviour is learned; that a human’s behaviour is a product of
their environment, to theories that implore on the importance of early
childhood experiences and the implications that may arise when they
reach adulthood. These theories are useful in understanding the factors of
what motivates criminal behaviour. Taking into account Edmund Kemper,
there are three rationales that will be studied in reference to his case such
as cognitive theories in relation to the rational theory, the psychoanalytic
theory and cognitive theories. said this twiceThis essay will apply these
theories to Ed Kemper who is also known as the ‘co-ed killer’. Relevant
concepts will be defined and applied to his case and his homicidal
behaviour. His imbalanced mind and personality disorder along with his
upbringing will be taken into account.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF EDMUND KEMPER
Ed Kemper’s mother was an alcoholic from he was a young child and he
became the crux for all his mother's failures. At the age of ten, his mother
forced him to live in the basement of their home. Once she became
aware that he had killed the family cats, at the age of fifteen and stored
their body parts in the backyard, she feared that he was capable of
harming her or his siblings due to his aggressive behaviour increasing
with the decapitating of his sisters’ dolls. As depicted in (Rosewood, J,
2017 – The Life of the Co-Ed killer – Pg. 20-35). Ed was very close to his
grandparents and visited their house a lot, however he favoured his
grandfather over his grandmother as he perceived her as being just like
his mothe; therefore, their relationship became strained. In August 1964,
he had an argument with his grandmother and shot her dead. Kemper
then killed his grandfather right after. When questioned by police he said
he murdered his grandmother to get a feel for killing and he killed his
grandfather because his wife was dead, as explained by (Becker, R, 2017-
The Brutal Butcher – Pg. 32-41). Kemper was arrested and sent to the
DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
SOCY70518
3
, Criminological Theory
California Youth Authority. Kemper underwent various tests and it was
determined he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia however, he had a
very high IQ. Due to this conclusion, Kemper then was sent to Atascadero
state hospital which was a facility for mentally ill criminals. At the age of
21 in 1969 Kemper was released. He was involved in a motorcycle
accident which left him unable to work, so with his free time, he began
stock piling tools to begin fulfilling his murderous desires which is
represented in the book of The Avenue of the Giants. (Dugain, M, 2012 –
The Avenue of the Giants – Pg. 27-48).
1.2 TIMELINES OF KEMPER’S MURDERS
In May 1972 and 1973, Edmund Kemper had murdered eight women.
Kemper prayed on women that hitchhiked picking them up and taking
them to isolated areas such as the woods where he shot, suffocated,
stabbed or strangled them, with reference to (Kristie, G, 2019- Charming
Psychopaths - Pg. 55-81). Once he had completed the murders, he would
return home with the bodies, decapitate them and engage in sexual
activity with the corpses before dismembering the rest of their bodies.
(Shactman, T, 1992- Whoever Fights Monsters- Pg. 62-79). During his
eleven-month killing spree Kemper murdered five college females, one
high school female as well as his mother and her best friend. Kemper
would go in search for victims in a fit of rage after arguing with his mother
which is detailed by John Douglas in his book Mindhunter. (Douglas, J,
2017 - Mindhunter, Inside the FBI Elite Unit, Pg.21-35). In 1972 May 7th,
Edmund Kemper was driving around his town when he picked up two
hitchhiking college women named Mary Ann Pesce and Anita Luchessa. He
drove around for an hour until he reached a wooded area, it was here that
he stabbed the women to death and placed their bodies in his truck and
returned home. Kemper was stopped by the police for a broken taillight,
but they didn’t detect the deceased bodies in the boot of his car. Edmund
Kemper photographed the bodies before engaging in sexual activity with
them and then dismembering the corpses and abandoning them. A female
DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
SOCY70518
4
CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY IN RELATION
TO EDMUND KEMPER AND HIS CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOUR THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE
CRIMES HE COMMITTED.
NAME: DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
COURSE: MSC CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
MODULE: CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY
MODULE CODE: SOCY70518
LECTURER: JAMES TREADWELL
DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
SOCY70518
1
,Criminological Theory
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Abstract Pg 3
1. Background of Edmund Kemper Pg 3
1.2. Timeline of Kemper’s murders Pg 4-5
1.3. Trial Pg 5
2. Cognitive theories Pg 5-6
3. Psychoanalytical theory. Pg 7
4. Biological Theories Pg 7-8
The proposition that Edmund Kemper
freely and rationally chose to
commit crime Pg 8-9
6. Conclusion. Pg.9
References. Pg 10
DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
SOCY70518
2
,Criminological Theory
1. ABSTRACT
There are many theories in relation to human behaviour, from those that
believe all behaviour is learned; that a human’s behaviour is a product of
their environment, to theories that implore on the importance of early
childhood experiences and the implications that may arise when they
reach adulthood. These theories are useful in understanding the factors of
what motivates criminal behaviour. Taking into account Edmund Kemper,
there are three rationales that will be studied in reference to his case such
as cognitive theories in relation to the rational theory, the psychoanalytic
theory and cognitive theories. said this twiceThis essay will apply these
theories to Ed Kemper who is also known as the ‘co-ed killer’. Relevant
concepts will be defined and applied to his case and his homicidal
behaviour. His imbalanced mind and personality disorder along with his
upbringing will be taken into account.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF EDMUND KEMPER
Ed Kemper’s mother was an alcoholic from he was a young child and he
became the crux for all his mother's failures. At the age of ten, his mother
forced him to live in the basement of their home. Once she became
aware that he had killed the family cats, at the age of fifteen and stored
their body parts in the backyard, she feared that he was capable of
harming her or his siblings due to his aggressive behaviour increasing
with the decapitating of his sisters’ dolls. As depicted in (Rosewood, J,
2017 – The Life of the Co-Ed killer – Pg. 20-35). Ed was very close to his
grandparents and visited their house a lot, however he favoured his
grandfather over his grandmother as he perceived her as being just like
his mothe; therefore, their relationship became strained. In August 1964,
he had an argument with his grandmother and shot her dead. Kemper
then killed his grandfather right after. When questioned by police he said
he murdered his grandmother to get a feel for killing and he killed his
grandfather because his wife was dead, as explained by (Becker, R, 2017-
The Brutal Butcher – Pg. 32-41). Kemper was arrested and sent to the
DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
SOCY70518
3
, Criminological Theory
California Youth Authority. Kemper underwent various tests and it was
determined he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia however, he had a
very high IQ. Due to this conclusion, Kemper then was sent to Atascadero
state hospital which was a facility for mentally ill criminals. At the age of
21 in 1969 Kemper was released. He was involved in a motorcycle
accident which left him unable to work, so with his free time, he began
stock piling tools to begin fulfilling his murderous desires which is
represented in the book of The Avenue of the Giants. (Dugain, M, 2012 –
The Avenue of the Giants – Pg. 27-48).
1.2 TIMELINES OF KEMPER’S MURDERS
In May 1972 and 1973, Edmund Kemper had murdered eight women.
Kemper prayed on women that hitchhiked picking them up and taking
them to isolated areas such as the woods where he shot, suffocated,
stabbed or strangled them, with reference to (Kristie, G, 2019- Charming
Psychopaths - Pg. 55-81). Once he had completed the murders, he would
return home with the bodies, decapitate them and engage in sexual
activity with the corpses before dismembering the rest of their bodies.
(Shactman, T, 1992- Whoever Fights Monsters- Pg. 62-79). During his
eleven-month killing spree Kemper murdered five college females, one
high school female as well as his mother and her best friend. Kemper
would go in search for victims in a fit of rage after arguing with his mother
which is detailed by John Douglas in his book Mindhunter. (Douglas, J,
2017 - Mindhunter, Inside the FBI Elite Unit, Pg.21-35). In 1972 May 7th,
Edmund Kemper was driving around his town when he picked up two
hitchhiking college women named Mary Ann Pesce and Anita Luchessa. He
drove around for an hour until he reached a wooded area, it was here that
he stabbed the women to death and placed their bodies in his truck and
returned home. Kemper was stopped by the police for a broken taillight,
but they didn’t detect the deceased bodies in the boot of his car. Edmund
Kemper photographed the bodies before engaging in sexual activity with
them and then dismembering the corpses and abandoning them. A female
DEMI-NICOLE MCCONVEY
SOCY70518
4
