A sadistic homicide.

Sadistic homicides are probably more common than would be expected from reading the literature, where only a few cases are mentioned. Most forensic pathologists and forensic psychiatrists have had experience with one or more cases, but they do not usually share their experience with their colleagues. This article describes in detail a typical mutilation pattern. Also, the clinical description, including the psychiatric evaluation, of the perpetrator is presented. Not infrequently, the perversion develops gradually as in the present case, and the perpetrator is known to the police for minor sex crimes before the final sadistic homicide. This observation must be kept in mind if society hopes to stop the sadistic perpetrator prior to his final crime.