On October 16, 1997, Giorgio Centanaro’ s lifeless body was discovered inside his apartment (Genoa). He was an 58-year-old ex businessman that used to gamble in most of the gambling houses spread all over Genoa city. His death was considered for natural causes (infarct). Eight days later, on October 24, 1997, Maurizio Parenti and his young wife Carla Scotto (they got married just three weeks before) were murdered by a .38 calibre gun. Both of them have been shot several times. They were tied up by the offender (there was evidence of restraints used, handcuff and tape). From the safe box 5 precious watches and a big amount of money were missing. The crime scene involving the Parentis was their own apartment (Genoa). On October 27, 1997, Bruno Solari and his wife Maria Luigia Pitto, an old couple of jewellers, have been shot several times inside their apartment (Genoa). This, as the former homicide, was considered a felony murder (property crime- armed robbery-was considered the primary motivation for felony murder, with murder as secondary motivation) ‘cause from the safe box, even this time, all the jewellery was missing. On November 13, 1997, ( 15 days later), Luciano Marro, a money-changer working in Ventimiglia, has been shot multiple times to death inside his own office. From the safe box 45 million lira were missing. On January 25, 1998, Giangiorgio Canu, a night-watchman 52-year-old, has been shot inside one of his operative area’s buildings ( located in one of Genoa’s suburban areas). On March 15, 1998, things suddenly changed: the naked lifeless body of Bodejana Almerina (alias Stela Truja), a young Albanian prostitute, was discovered in one of the several hills nearby Genoa (Varazze). She has been shot only once behind the right ear. There was no evidence of sexual assault or physical aggression on victim’ s body. Three days later, on March 18, 1998, in an isolated area nearby Pietra Ligure’s General Hospital S. Corona, Ljudmila Zubskova, a young Russian prostitute, has been shot to death once in the same way as the former, even though in this occasion the victim was fully clothed when her body was discovered. On March 20, 1998, Enzo Gorni, another money-changer working in Ventimiglia, has been shot multiple times inside his own office during closing time. Even in this occasion the unknown murderer has completely emptied the safe box ( 30 million lira).
On March 24, 1998, the lifeless bodies of Massimo Gualillo and Candido Randō, two night-watchmen in service, were discovered inside the garden of one of Novi Ligure’s biggest villas. Both have been shot several times by a .38 Special calibre gun. But this time someone succeeded in surviving: Jiulio Castro (alias Lorena), a 24-year-old transex, even though seriously wounded by the offender ( he has been shot twice at the abdomen) managed to survive by pretending to be already dead. When he was questioned by the police he said: " He wanted to kill me… he looked so weird…I’m sure he’s the same who killed all the other young women…". Then he helped the police artist to compose a suspect sketch. But the high risk to be identified was not sufficient to stop the offender’s craving for killing. In fact few days later, on March 29, 1998, Evelyn Esohe Endoghaye (alias Tessy Adobo), a 27-year-old Nigerian prostitute, has been murdered by an unknown offender. The cause of death is always the same: she has been shot multiple times by a .38 Special calibre firearm. But it’s not finished yet. On April 12, 1998, Easter’s day, on the Intercity train 631 Genova-Venezia, Elisabetta Zoppetti, a 32-year-old hard-working nurse, has been shot once to the head inside one of the train’s bathrooms. After the homicide the killer simply disappeared once again. Two days later, on April 14, Mema Valbona (alias Kristina Kwalla), another young Slav prostitute, has been murdered with the same .38 Special firearm used for all the other past homicides. The Modus Operandi was the same, too. On April 18, another young woman, Maria Angela Rubino, has been killed on another train. Even in these case she has been shot once behind the left ear while she was inside one of the train’s bathrooms. At this point the "serial killer alarm" was not only a gruesome hypothesis considered by the Law Enforcement Agencies anymore. On April 20, 1998, the AGIP gas station located between Arma di Taggia and Imperia was the last crime scene’s theatre. The victim this time is Giuseppe Mileto, a the 51-year-old service station attendant. He has been shot multiple times by the offender. After the homicide the killer simply disappeared with the day’s taking (2 million lira)
On May 6, 1998, Donato Bilancia has finally been apprehended.
1.2. Chronology of main events and criminal records in Donato Bilancia’s life.
In the following pages I will try to examine in detail each of the following leading points concerning Donato Bilancia’s criminal and homicidal behavioural patterns:
Table 1. Informations about victims and aggression’s place and timing.
Victim’s name and main occupation |
Aggression’s place and timing |
|
10/15/1997 |
Giorgio Centanaro. retired, ex businessman, heavy gambler. |
He’s been murdered inside his apartment early in the morning (2-3 a.m.) |
10/24/1997 |
Mr. and Mrs. Parenti. Mr. Parenti was a videopoker installer and a heavy gambler. Mrs. Parenti used to work as a shop-attendant. |
They have been murdered inside their own apartment. The aggression took place early in the morning (4-5 a.m.). |
10/27/1997 |
Mr. and Mrs. Solari . Both jewellers (they were retired but used to work at home). |
They have been murdered inside their apartment. The aggression took place at 6,30 p.m. |
11/13/1997 |
Luciano Marro. Money-changer. |
The aggression happened inside the victim’s office in Ventimiglia at 7-7,30 p.m. (closing time). |
01/25/1998 |
Giangiorgio Canu. Night-watchman. |
He has been shot to death inside one of his operative area’s buildings ( located in one of Genoa’s suburban areas). The aggression took place early in the morning (2-3 a.m.). |
03/15/1998 |
Stela Truja alias Bodejana Almerina, a 25-year-old Albanian prostitute. |
She has been shot to death in one of the several hills nearby Genoa (Varazze). The aggression took place early in the morning (3-4 a.m.). |
03/18/1998 |
Lijudmila Zubskova A 23-year-old Russian prostitute. |
She has been murdered in a hidden place near Pietra Ligure’s General Hospital. The aggression took place early in the morning (3-4 a.m.). |
03/24/1998 |
M. Gualillo e C. Randō Both nigth-watchmen. Lorena Castro alias John Zambiano A 25-year-old transex. |
The triple aggression (fatal for both the night-watchmen) took place inside the garden of one of Novi Ligure’s biggest villas, at 1-2 a.m. |
03/29/1998 |
Evelyn Eshoe Enddoghaye alias Tessy Adobo A 28-year-old Nigerian prostitute. |
She has been shot to death in an isolated area located between Varazze and Cogoleto ( nearby Genoa). The aggression took place early in the morning (2-3 a.m.). |
04/03/1998 |
Luisa Ciminiello, a 47-year-old Italian prostitute that used to meet her clients at home. |
The armed robbery took place inside the victim’s apartment located in Sanremo, around 5 p.m. |
04/12/1998 |
Elisabetta Zoppetti A 32-year-old professional nurse. She was married and had a 4-year-old child. |
She has been shot once to the head inside one of the Intercity 631 Genova-Venezia’s bathrooms. The aggression took place around 3 p.m.. |
04/14/1998 |
Mema Valbona alias Kristina Kwalla A 22-year-old Slav prostitute |
She has been murdered nearby Pietra Ligure motorway exit. The aggression took place early in the morning (3-4 a.m.). |
04/18/1998 |
Maria Angela Rubino A 32-year-old maid and baby sitter. |
She has been murdered inside one of 2888 Genoa-Ventimiglia train’s bathrooms. The aggression took place around 11 p.m. |
04/20/1998 |
Giuseppe Mileto A 51-year-old gas station-attendant. |
He has been murdered inside the gas station office. The aggression took place around 11 p.m. |
The crime assessment stage involves the reconstruction of the sequence of events and the behavior of both the offender and the victim. This reconstruction of how things happened , how people behaved, and how they planned and organized the encounter provides information about specific characteristics to be generated for the criminal profile. Assessment are made about the classification of the crime, its organized/disorganized aspects, the offender’s selection of a victim, strategies used to control the victim, the sequence of the crime, the staging (or not) of the crime, the offender’s motivation for the crime and crime scene dynamics (see table 2). Observations like these can offer important insights into an offender’s personality.
Table 2. Offender’s Modus Operandi and approach/assault style ( from the offender’s confession report)
Victim’s name |
Offender’s Modus Operandi and approach style |
G. Centanaro |
"I knew him well.. I followed him to where he used to live (Genoa). Once I waited for him till late (2 a.m.) near his building and, as he was closing the main door, I manage to enter with him. I ‘ve brought my gun with me but I couldn’t use it ‘cause the spot was too little and I was afraid the noise of the shot would have been too loud. So I decided to suffocate him with a pillow but before I used a adhesive tape (that I’ve brought with me) to control him. Then I removed the tape. (…) As I’ve already said , I just wanted to kill him, that was my only goal. There were about 500.000 lira on the table, but I did not want money. I remember that I gave him a nip on his testicles to control if he was still alive and he lost some urine… I’ve left the body straight head in front the apartment’s door.. I wanted everybody to know he’s been murdered." |
Parenti/Scotto |
" I knew both well, specially Mr. Parenti and I knew he used to go around with a personal bodyguard. I’ve been waiting for him several nights to control his moving. One of those nights I decided it was the right time to strike him and I waited for him till 4 a.m. When his bodyguard was gone I tried to get close to him striking up a conversation. I remember that I told him I’ve got something to show him in a plastic handbag (I’ve got with me, where I put an adhesive tape and a pair of handcuffs). He did not seem to suspect my real mind. We entered together and immediately after he closed the main door I revealed my mind and I started to threaten him with my gun and I handcuffed him. Then I put the adhesive tape on his mouth and I told him not to yell ‘cause other companions were already inside his apartment with his young wife to keep her quiet. . so I entered with him. His wife was still sleeping. I asked him to give me all the money he had at home and he answered that it was inside the safe upstairs. Then his wife awoken and I threatened her too with the gun. Then I forced him to give me the safe’s combination and I made them sit in front of the safe. I completely emptied the safe (13 million lira and 5 Rolex watches). Then we went downstairs to their bedroom. I told him what I thought about him after what happened at the gambling house and I struck him with the firearm butt straight face and I fired at his head using a blanket as a silencer . Then I fired at his wife but first I tied up her legs and arms together with the tape." |
Solari/Pitto |
" I knew them both. I thought they were the right persons to set the 5 watches that I took from Parenti’s safe. But something went wrong. They were pretty afraid and did not want to have anything to do with me. They were both pretty old. I had to shot at both ‘cause they could have identified me. I took some jewellery, too. There was their maid but she was in another room. If she had seen me I would have to kill her too. Anyway I didn’t plan to kill them.. it was a mess and I had to do it." The young maid confirmed the killer’s tale during her deposition on court. |
Luciano Marro |
" I studied the robbery’s plan before. I ‘ve done several on-the-spot investigation at closing time in order to observe the money-changer’ s habits. It was not easy to strike him. Once I decided it was the right time. I entered as he was sweeping the floor on the client’s side, the only moment it was possible to strike him. I entered the office and I threatened him with my gun. Then I ordered him to empty the safe and to give me all the money but he tried to react and I shot at him multiple times . I could not leave him alive ‘cause he could recognised me. Then I just went away with my car." |
Giangiorgio Canu |
"I knew him and, as all the other night-watchmen, I simply did not like him (in the past Bilancia was caught red-handed by a night-watchman and for that reason he spent several years in jail). I surprised him as he was in service inside one of his operative area’s buildings. I shot at him several times. Nobody has seen what happened.. I was pretty sure about it". |
Stela Truja |
"I made her get in my car. She was working in an area called Foce ( one of the main prostitutes’s ways in Genoa). . I offered her a big amount of money for a sexual intercourse at home in order to gain quickly access to her . then I took her to an isolated area nearby Genoa’s hills that I had seen and controlled before and considered suitable for a killing. I made her fully undressed and immediately after I made her get out the car.. she was pretty afraid and didn’t want to get out so I took her by the hair and I dragged her out. Then I made her fall on her knees and shot at her head once. Then I left her there and went away". |
Lijudmila Zubskova |
" She was working in Albenga. I made her get in my car by offering her a big amount of money for a sexual intercourse at home in order to gain quickly access to her. Then I took her to an isolated area (where I made an on-the-spot investigation before) behind Pietra Ligure’s Hospital. … I made her get out the car and immediately after I made her fall on her knees and I shot at her head once. Then I simply went away". |
Enzo Gorni |
" It was as the former money-changer’ s homicide.. I just had to wait the right moment to strike him, during closing time. Then I entered, I threatened him with my gun, I forced him to open up the safe and to give me all the money but he tried to react and I unloaded the shots at him…Then I went away". |
M. Gualillo |
" Even this time I’ve been on the spot before and I decided that was suitable for my next homicide. I noted that the villa’s gate was not closed in the right way so I opened up the gate and entered the villa’s park in order to control the place. Then I exit. I met the transex nearby and made him get in my car as I made in all the former prostitutes’s murders. I carried him to that place . I told him that the villa was mine and I pretended to open the gate, then I entered and I parked my car with the passenger ride’s door blocked up by a tree so the transex could not have got away. I had my gun with me. I ask him a oral intercourse but I didn’t want to use a condom so he did not want to make sex with me…and, while I was forcing him to have sex with me, suddenly, two cars came in. They were two night-watchmen. I tried to keep the transex quiet but he told them that I was sexually assaulting him . They asked me what I was doing about there and that I couldn’t keep on staying there ‘cause it was private property. I told them that we were just going away but the transex was keeping on yelling against me. Then one of them told that before getting away we had to wait for him ‘cause he had to call the head office. So I decided that it would have been better to stop him. I shot at him twice and then to the other one that was still in his car either. Then I tried to reach the transex that tried to escape by concealing himself among the bushes.. I shot at him twice at his abdomen but he was still alive. Then I heard some moanings coming from the two night-watchmen.. they were still alive. There were just 5 shots left on my pocket.. I came back to my car and I loaded the gun again. Then I shot the two men once again. Then I tried to shot at the transex three times but I missed him. He tried to fight back but he fell down when I struck at his face with the gun butt. I believed that he was dead. ..then I went away". The young transex confirmed the killer’s tale during his deposition on Court. |
Tessy Adobo |
"I made her get in my car. She was working in an area called Foce ( one of the main prostitutes’ s market ways in Genoa) as the first prostitute I’ve murdered. . I offered her a big amount of money for a sexual intercourse at home in order to gain quickly access to her . then I took her to an isolated area nearby Genoa’ s hills that I was patrolled before and considered suitable for a killing. I had a sexual intercourse with her and then I made her get out the car.. she was pretty afraid and didn’t want to get out so I took her by the hair and I dragged her out . she tried to escape so I shot at her knee first. Then she fell on the ground and I shot at her head twice. Then I left her there and went away". |
Luisa Ciminiello |
Bilancia did not talk about this offence in any part of his confession. It’s L. Ciminiello by herself to denounce what happened inside her apartment (where she used to meet her clients) on April 3, 1998, when she noticed the extraordinary resemblance between the serial killer suspect sketch (published everywhere) and the man that assaulted her. |
Elisabetta Zoppetti |
" I got in the train at Genoa’s main station (Principe). After a while I noticed a woman sitting in the first class wagon. I did not know who she was…I’ve never seen her before. Few minutes later she went to the bathroom taking her handbag with her. I waited for a while then I decided to enter the bathroom (with a special key I had with me) and to kill her. I remember that she started yelling but I covered her head with her jacket and then I shot at her head once. I took her handbag looking for her train ticket ‘cause I haven’t got mine. Then I put the handbag inside the wagon she was travelling in. Then I got out the train at Voghera station. I got in the train ‘cause I wanted to kill a woman.. even if I did not touch her ..I didn’t want to have sex with her.. I just wanted to kill her… as a part of my criminal plan… I’ve got nothing left to say about that". |
Mema Valbona |
" It was a copycat homicide.. as the other ones with the prostitutes. I made her get in my car. She was working in Albenga. . I offered her a big amount of money for a sexual intercourse at home in order to gain quickly access to her. Then I took her to an isolated area nearby Pietra Ligure’s motorway exit, a place where I’ve been before to check it out and considered suitable for a killing. First we had sex together and immediately after I made her get out the car.. she was pretty afraid and didn’t want to get out so I dragged her out . Then I made her fall on her knees and shot at her head once. Then I left her there and went away". |
Maria Angela Rubino |
" I remember that it was during night time. First I’ve been at the Sanremo’ s casino where I lost big money. Then I reached the nearby station and got in the first train available. On the train I saw a young woman. I remember that I felt a sudden, irresistible impulse to kill her. . after a few minutes she went to the bathroom. I waited for a while and then opened the bathroom’s door with my special key. She had no time for fighting back. It took just few second to kill her. I shot at her head once using her jacket as a silencer. I remember that I felt pretty excited by her black underwear so I locked the bathroom’s door and I ‘ve masturbated myself using her clothes to clean up when I was finished… I got out the train at Bordighera station but I used the wrong door so the system alarm went on and one of the train controllers asked me what I was doing at the wrong side but I answered that I lived nearby and just walked away. Then I caught a cab in front of the station and came back to Sanremo where I left my car". |
Giuseppe Mileto |
" I reached the gas station to fill it up but I had no money with me. I ask the station attendant to give me some motor oil too in order to make him enter the little office where the cash-desk was. Then I showed him my gun and ordered him to give me all the money. I decided to kill him ‘cause he had seen me straight in the face and could have recognised me. I shot at him several times, I don’t remember how many. I took the money (around 2 million lira) and went away with my car". |
Table 3. Cause of death/trauma + evidence of physical/sexual assault (informations from autopsy reports)
Name |
Cause of death/trauma |
Wounds patterns |
Evidence of physical/sexual assault |
Centanaro |
Mechanical asphyxia |
absent |
Both absent |
Scotto/ Parenti |
Several firearm wounds |
Head and abdomen |
No evidence of sexual assault |
Pitto/Solari |
Several firearm wounds |
Head and abdomen |
No evidence of sexual assault |
Marro |
Several firearm wounds |
Head and abdomen |
No evidence of sexual assault |
Canu |
Several firearm wounds |
Head and abdomen |
No evidence of sexual assault |
Truja |
A single firearm wound |
Head |
No evidence of sexual assault even though the victim’s body was discovered fully undressed. |
Zubskova |
A single firearm wound |
Head |
No evidence of sexual assault |
Gorni |
Several firearm wounds |
Head and abdomen |
No evidence of sexual assault |
Gualillo/ Randō |
Several firearm wounds |
Head and abdomen |
No evidence of sexual assault |
Lorena |
Two firearm wounds (abdomen) and a blunt instrument wound (face) |
Face (with the firearm butt) and abdomen |
The transex declared to have been sexually assaulted by the offender , who wanted to force the transex to have a oral intercourse without using a condom. |
Ciminiello |
Assente |
Absent |
No evidence of sexual assault |
Adobo |
Ferite multiple da arma da fuoco |
Head and right knee |
From autopsy report it resulted that the victim had a sexual ( with vaginal penetration) intercourse with the offender prior to the victim’s death. In spite of this, no evidence of sexual assault has been reported. |
Zoppetti |
A single firearm wound |
Head |
No evidence of sexual assault |
Kwalla |
A single firearm wound |
Head |
From autopsy report it resulted that the victim had a sexual ( with vaginal penetration) intercourse with the offender prior to the victim’s death. In spite of this, no evidence of sexual assault has been reported. |
Rubino |
A single firearm wound |
Head |
No evidence of sexual assault on victim’s body even though trails of semen were found on victim’s right shoulder and thigh, no semen was found elsewhere ( after the murder the offender confessed to have been masturbated using victim’s clothes to clean himself). |
Mileto |
Several firearm wounds |
Neck and abdomen |
No evidence of sexual assault |
The weapon, a .38 calibre Smith&Wesson (with Lapua Patria C 358 wad cutter munitions), has been always brought to the crime scenes and removed by the offender after the completion of the crime(it’s been recovered inside the offender’s apartment after he was apprehended). The presence of handcuffs and tape in the Parentis double murder reflects a methodical approach with a semblance of order existing prior to, during, and after the offence. Specially in the former aggressions all the evidence (fingerprints, footprints, etc.) has been removed. Almost all the crime scene reflected a overall controlled, planned appearance. In the 4 prostitutes homicides there are at least two crime scenes involved with the killing: the local of initial contact and the scene of death (that is the body disposal site too). Also missing from these crime scene were the handbags belonging to the 4 victims (these items did not have much extrinsic value, but, maybe, to the offender they commemorated the successful endeavour and offered proof of his skills). The locations for death/disposal was always an area familiar to the offender (he confessed to have always made a on-the-spot investigation prior to the crime).
There’s no sign of overkilling on victims’ s bodies. The death scene and the crime scene are always the same. The bodies are left at the death scene in the same position in which the victims were killed. There’s often evidence of sudden aggression to the victim (a blitz style of attack).The executive ritual is rapid, pitiless. There’s no attempt (or only minimal attempt) to conceal the bodies. It appeared to be a set plan of action by the offender for deterring detection. There’s a great effort to remove evidence, such as fingerprints, from the scene.
Table 4. Offender/victim relationship.
Name |
Offender/victim relationship |
G.Centanaro |
The offender knew him well because they used to gamble in the same gambling houses. |
Scotto/Parenti |
The offender knew them both well. He said that he and Mr.Parenti were close friends. |
Pitto/Solari |
The offender knew them both and probably that’s the reason why he managed to approach the two jewellers inside their apartment so easily. |
L. Marro |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
G. Canu |
The offender knew the night-watchman only superficially. He declared to have murdered him because he simply does not like him, as all the other night-watchmen. |
Truja |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Zubskova |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Gorni |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Gualillo e Randō |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Lorena |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Adobo |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Zoppetti |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Kwalla |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Rubino |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Mileto |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Ciminiello |
No relationship came out of the inquiry. |
Table 5. Offender cognitive analysis: primary and secondary motive.
Name |
Primary motive |
Secondary motive |
G. Centanaro |
Revenge killing. (In this case there was a significant event that linked the offender to the victim. Bilancia thought Centanaro (together with Mr. Parenti) was responsible for a big lost of money in a gambling houses he used to attend (that was controlled by Mr. Centanaro and Mr.Parenti). |
|
Scotto/Parenti |
Revenge killing. ( Even in this case there was a significant event that linked the offender to the victim. Bilancia thought Parenti was responsible for a big lost of money in a gambling houses he used to attend (that was controlled by Mr. Centanaro and Mr. Parenti). |
Armed robbery |
Pitto/ Solari |
Armed robbery |
Criminal plan. |
L. Marro |
Armed robbery |
Criminal plan |
E. Gorni |
Armed robbery |
Criminal plan |
G. Canu |
Criminal plan |
Robbery |
S. Truja |
Criminal plan |
Robbery |
L. Zubskova |
Criminal plan |
Robbery |
L. Castro |
Criminal plan |
Robbery |
Gualillo/Randō |
To deter detection. |
|
Tessy Adobo |
Criminal plan |
Robbery |
L. Ciminiello |
Criminal plan |
Robbery |
E. Zoppetti |
Criminal plan |
Attempt to mislead Law Enforcement investigative activity |
K. Kwalla |
Criminal plan |
Robbery |
G. Mileto |
Armed robbery |
|
M. A. Rubino |
Criminal plan |
Attempt to mislead Law Enforcement investigative activity |
Table 6. From crime scene and homicidal behaviour patterns analysis to offender’s personality profiling-generating process.
PERSONALITY TRAITS |
Distinctive clusters of behaviours inferred from crime scene analysis (what the offender did in relation to his offences) |
CALLOUS LACK OF EMPATHY |
This lack of empathy is suggested by his inability to consider victim response to victim’s stress/suffering during the offence. The pitiless executive ritual is always the same in each offence. He appears to plan his murders (especially the former), to target and stalk his victims, to display control at the crime scene and to evidence a total lack of interest in victim response to the situation. |
CONNING/MANIPULATIVE |
This is suggested by behavior that is intentionally deceptive for personal gain. This characteristic can be inferred by the approach style used by the offender to capture the victim. Because the offender was socially adept, he often uses verbal means (the con) to get close to the target victim . He used to strike up a conversation or a pseudorelationship as a prelude to the attack. To further gain access to the victim, he used to dress neatly, either in business or casual attire. This characteristic can be inferred, for example, when:
|
CRIMINAL VERSATILITY |
This characteristic can be inferred when an offender evidences MO behavior that suggests of a competency with criminal activity other than that typically necessary for a given type of offence. In this case the offender evidences typical burglary skills ( he’s been already apprehended for burglary in other occasion in the past) when:
|
FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSABILITY FOR ACTIONS |
This trait can be inferred when an offender blames everyone but himself for what happened. Bilancia seemed to consider his victims as unworthy to go on living on earth, for a reason or another. And in fact, during his confession, he kept on saying that if he was still free he would have targeted and murdered criminal underworld’s biggest exponents. |
GLIBNESS/SUPERFICIAL CHARM |
This characteristic can be inferred when a verbally facile offender exudes an insincere and superficial charm as part of a con that is used to acquire a victim’s trust in his method of approach in order to gain easily victim confidence. Because the offender was socially adept, he often uses verbal means (the con) to get close to the target victim . He used to strike up a conversation or a pseudorelationship as a prelude to the attack. To further gain access to the victim, he used to dress neatly, either in business or casual attire. |
GRANDIOSE SENSE OF SELF-WORTH |
It can be inferred when an offender evidences an inflated view of himself and his skills. And in fact Bilancia appeared to be indifferent about present or future investigative efforts on the part of authorities to apprehend him. As one of Bilancia friend declared during the trial :" He always used to joke about the serial killer’s homicides. He used to say that the killer was too clever for the police and that he will never be apprehended. Even when the suspect sketch was published everywhere he did not seem worried about that…he looks always the same". |
IMPULSIVITY |
This refers to behavior that is not thought out by an offender , and which does not consider consequences. This characteristic can be inferred, for example, from what happened during the triple aggression of Novi Ligure. In fact, in that occasion, Bilancia seemed to lose control. When he finished his shots he panicked and tried to kill the transex by striking him on the face with the gun butt instead of using one of the two murdered night-watchmen ‘s available firearms. |
LACK OF REMORSE/GUILT |
Remorse and/or guilt are characterised by moral anguish and regret for actions. This trait can be inferred when an offender shows no emotion, anger, delight in the face of victim suffering. In this case, this lack of guilt and remorse can be inferred by the fact that Bilancia appear to be able to engage in extremely violent crimes and, few moments later, to participate in regular, non-violent activities without apparent distress. As regards to this trait, what happened immediately after the Solaris’ s double homicide is highly illustrating: He has been seen by two witnesses to come down calmly the building’s stair, to stop in front of the building’s main door and to ask the two witnesses , in a perfect genuine astonished attire, what happened on the upper floor ‘cause he thought to have heard several shots. He did not show any kind of distress, as the two witnesses declared during the trial. |
POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROL |
This refers to violent, damaging or reactionary behavior that is not controlled , even when the consequences maybe harmful to the offender himself. Specially during the second part of his homicidal series (since Stela Truja’s murder) there are several examples of a poor behavioral control that can be used to infer this trait, but probably the main one consists of what happened immediately after Maria Angela Rubino’s murder, the second woman murdered on the trains. The offender, excited by the victim’s black underwear, confessed to have been masturbated using victim’s clothes to clean himself . This reckless and uncontrolled offender behavior permitted the Law Enforcement Agencies to take a big step forward and to sample the offender’s DNA. |
What are the main aspects that make differ Donato Bilancia’s homicidal behavior from serial killer prototypic patterns as outlined by criminological-investigative literature of the subject?
At first the age factor. He starts to murder when he’s 46-year-old while the average is around ( from international reports) 30-year-old (range 20-40).
To classify a crime as serial using the Holmes and De Burger’s classifying system (1994), we need to consider a series of aspects concerning each of the following points:
Since this complex definition, it clearly results that Bilancia’s homicidal patterns show some important differences:
During the previous pages I tried to focus my analysis on the major personality and behavioral characteristics of a given offender, Donato Bilancia, based primary on the crimes he has committed. This approach involves a behavioral investigative analysis from a law enforcement perspective focused on the identification and apprehension of the offender (while the clinical viewpoint centers on diagnosis and treatment). The analysis program of this work has involved 5 main steps:
The process used is quite similar to that used by clinicians to make a diagnosis and treatment plan: data are collected and assessed, the situation is reconstructed, hypotheses are formulated and the results are reported. Criminal investigative analysis unfortunately usually (even if it’s not our case) does not provide the identity of the offender but it indicate the type of person most likely to have committed a crime having certain unique characteristics.
Criminal investigative analysis has been especially useful in investigating sexual homicides because many of these crimes appear motiveless and thus offer few clues about the killer’s identity.
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