Which term describes the killing of two or more victims in separate incidents over time?

• A. Anger retaliation rapist
• B. Serial murder
• C. Spree murder
• D. Mass murder

Answer: (B)

Two or more victims killed in separate incidents over time is serial murder. The defining feature is the time gap between killings, which creates a pattern of multiple incidents rather than a single event. Serial killers often have a cooling-off period between murders and may exhibit a consistent method, ritual, or motive across separate encounters, sometimes spanning months or years. In contrast, spree murder involves several victims in a short period without a cooling-off interval across multiple locations, and mass murder involves many victims in a single incident at one location. The term “anger retaliation rapist” isn’t a standard category used in homicide typologies, so it’s not applicable. Thus, the description fits serial murder.