Crime Expert Analyzes Clues From
Anadarko Pastor's Murder
Posted: Aug 28, 2009 1:17 PM
EDT Updated: Aug 30, 2009 7:02 PM EDT
The medical examiner's autopsy results have been
released on Carol Daniels.
Crime
expert and author Vernon Geberth suggests a possible motive for Carol Daniels'
death.
By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6
UNDATED -- As new details emerge about the minister
murdered in Anadarko, a crime expert gives insight into what the
scene of the crime could possibly reveal about her killer.
Police say
61-year-old Carol Daniels' body was posed. Experts say there are three reasons killers leave the
body in an unnatural position.
The most common is sexual fantasy or to give the
killer sexual pleasure. Next is the anger-retaliation motive, where someone
does it to get back at the victim. And finally, the motive of posing the
body may be to confuse investigators - to make the scene look like one thing,
when it's actually about something else.
Knowing
which reason is behind the killer clues can give investigators insight into the
killer.
Police are
not saying how Pastor Carol Daniels' body was posed. It is a key piece of
evidence only the killer will know, which could be
critical during interrogations.
Vernon Geberth has written dozens of books on the
many facets of homicides including an 800-page text that is widely known as
"the Bible" of homicide investigations. A copy of it sits in
detective units across the nation, including
Geberth can't talk specifically about Pastor
Daniels' case, but can generally discuss the clues left at the scene.
First, the posing of
her body.
"If the body was posed, I can state
unequivocally, it's extremely rare circumstances," said Vernon Geberth,
crime author and expert. "Less than one percent of all homicides present
sexually posed victims."
Experts say
posed bodies are more likely to be women and often include sexual assault.
Police have not released any information concerning sexual assault in Pastor
Daniels' case; however, the autopsy diagrams show her left breast was severely
injured, which Geberth says is sexual in nature.
"I do see mutilation to the breast, so I have
to assume it's a sexual presentation, the cutting to the throat is also
interesting, because it's sexual as is strangulation," Geberth said.
When a body
is left in an unusual position, it's more likely a "hands on" means
of killing the victim like stabbing or beating. Pastor Daniel's cause of death
is multiple sharp force injury.
The diagrams
show what look like defensive wounds on her hands, and her neck injury was
devastating, possibly to the point of near decapitation.
These types
of clues together could help focus the investigation.
"The first thing I would be looking at is the
sex offender," said crime expert and author Vernon Geberth.
Understandably,
this type of information is difficult for people to hear, especially Daniels'
family and friends.
However, it
is the same information that may help investigators zero in on a motive and
with that, the killer, which is now the goal.