Home      Login

Abstract: 

This article examines criminal asphyxiation, a form of violence that is both deadly and disproportionately present in sexually motivated crimes. Depriving a person of oxygen, whether causing unconsciousness or death, is associated with rape, sexual sadism, domestic abuse, and other interpersonal crimes. The author, an expert on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting asphyxiation cases, explains how the tactic is used by sexual predators to fulfill motivations within the framework of their psychopathology, ranging from coercion to control and power to sexual gratification. Research on asphyxiation has been comparatively limited and focused primarily on the strangulation in nonsexual aspects of domestic abuse. As a result, legislation, funding, and research has excluded one of the most significant intersections that could provide powerful information in the prevention of serial rape and sexually motivated killers. This article, and the work of RESPOND, seeks to advance our understanding of this intersection, and provide an evidence base for overcoming some of the most common defenses in sexual violence and sexually motivated killings of women.

Keywords: Criminal Asphyxiation; Asphyxiation and Sexual Arousal, Assault, and Homicide; Targeting Marginalized Victims

Affiliations:  1: RESPOND Against Violence.