? No sign of victim putting up defence – on entry of attacker into hotel room, or during the actual assault ? Recreation of the Hangman card from the Tarot deck ? Estimated time of death: between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
? Minimal forensic evidence found at crime scene – female tissue in male genitals matched to escort, see ‘Sexual and Ritualistic Influences of Crime Scene v. Emotional Dynamics’ below. Lipstick residue: properties identified to major brand, but insufficient to create a DNA profile. All blood deposits found were matched to the victim ? Crime scene cleaned down by killer or someone else
? No forced entry
? Dressing table in hotel room moved; see earlier notes on framing of killing ? Hotel-room curtains pulled back allowing light from car park. For commonality and diversities between Dublin and Paris killings, see analysis below ? Depiction of both the Hangman card and the Hermit card at both scenes recreated in finite detail and reproduced through mirrors ? Other factors: victim advised his wife he had a late business dinner in town, making it necessary for him to stay at the Earlbrook overnight – no business meeting recorded at victim’s office Crime Inferences
? Crime scene: organised
? Use of sedatives rendering the victim immobile – broadening the physical characteristic of the attacker to include a female or someone physically weaker than victim ? Degree of planning: high
? Hotel room, offering killer privacy and time to carry out killing and creation of crime scene undisturbed ? Lack of forced entry – either the attacker had a key, or the victim allowed the killer in willingly ? Possibility of attacker being known to the victim based on no obvious struggle: medium-high Alternative: attacker perceived as harmless – for example, a member of hotel staff ? Attack savage, frenzied and fast
? Aftermath, scene recreation – calm and prolonged
? Killer has murdered before
? Tarot cards: the Hangman (Rick Shevlin), the Hermit (Pierre Laurent), each a card of the Higher Arcana – possible card spread. Q: Is the killer the Querent or the Reader of the spread?
? Emotionally charged attack points to sole killer
? Effectiveness and efficiency of murder –
(a) gaining access without forced entry
(b) immobilising victim
(c) severity of attack
(d) creation of final crime scene with minimal forensic traces – indicates individual with planning, high motivation, calmness of execution, ability to detach and clear focus on task in hand; high intelligence, 95–100 percentile ? Creativity – (a) an understanding of shape and form
(b) attention to detail
(c) ability to visually re-create ? Minimum of two victims across two jurisdictions; explore work and recreational aspects of travelling between jurisdictions ? Time span between victims indicates potential stressors prior to killings ? Killer is on a progressive path
? Killer is capable of repeat and heightening attack
? Murders offer some form of payback – possibly revenge, emotional loss, failed relationship, desire for dominance, fetish desire and/or means of re-enactment ? Tarot card recreations – message/signature/context still unknown ? Italian murder, if positively connected, opens up possibility of multiple victims per attack ? Drive – emotionally based and obsessional
Sexual and Ritualistic Influences of Crime Scene v. Emotional Dynamics
? Sexual fetishes illustrated at Dublin crime scene
? Paris victim known to have masochistic tendencies
? Dublin victim possibly at early stage of S&M – willing to give and receive pain ? Dublin victim: explore prior involvement in group sexual activity ? Self-harming/desire for sight of blood by Dublin victim possibly developed by previous sexual partner/relationship ? Dublin victim known to have had extra-marital affairs, including use of escorts ? Sexual involvement with both victims demonstrates an ability on the killer’s part to adapt sexual behaviour based on the needs of their partner – see note re sexual grooming Commonality and Diversities between Dublin and Paris killings
? Each a frenzied attack with the use of a large knife ? Diversity in age of victims – mid-twenties v. mid-forties ? Link to art in both cases – art dealer v. art student ? Successful financial businessman v. student
? Location of both murders: hotel rooms
? Depictions of Tarot cards: Dublin victim, naked, body positioned and tied like the Hangman card on hotel bed; Paris victim, wearing monk’s habit, like the Hermit card, lantern by body, found on floor of hotel room, 2005. Rome victim 2006: awaiting further details ? Slash and puncture wounds found on both victims
? Cause of death: Dublin murder, exsanguination; Paris murder, asphyxiation ? Slash markings on face of Dublin victim v. untouched face on Paris victim ? Lipstick residue found on lips of Rick Shevlin v. no record of same at Paris killing ? Time span 2014 v. 2005/2006
Conclusions
? Killer: female
? Known to victims; possible previous relationships