Abstract
Wade Myers presents a comprehensive and fascinating examination about juveniles who commit sexual homicide. Juvenile Sexual Homicide is a unique contribution, in that it is the first empirical, systematic study ever conducted on this population. Sexual homicide is understood as a murder that has an identifiable sexual component connected to the act, often demonstrated by either an overt behavior or having symbolic significance. Although the act of sexual homicide is a rare event, Dr. Myers painstakingly identified and studied 16 male juveniles who committed at least one sexual homicide. The text is intended, in part, to identify and understand the psychopathology, personality, and behavioral characteristics within a group of 16 male juveniles. The book is divided into three sections, beginning with a general discussion regarding the scope of the research and presents the methodology used to gather, analyze, and interpret the findings. Section two examines the juvenile's behaviors, taking into account the various criminal aspects identified, and applies the known case data to psychiatric and psychological diagnoses, particularly focusing on the juvenile's personality structure and psychopathic characteristics observed. The text concludes by providing the reader with a typology of these offenders, and devotes a chapter to elderly female victims, an increasing concern for law enforcement.
