Trophy Taking

A trophy is in essence a souvenir. In the context of violent behavior or murder, keeping a part of the victim as a trophy represents power over that individual. When the offender keeps this kind of souvenir, it serves as a way to preserve the memory of the victim and the experience of his or her death.

The most common trophies for violent offenders are body parts but also include photographs of the crime scene and jewelry or clothing from the victim. Offenders use the trophies as memorabilia, but also to reenact their fantasies. They often masturbate or use the trophies as props in sexual acts. Their exaggerated fear of rejection is quelled in front of inanimate trophies.

Ritualistic trophy taking, as is found with serial offenders, acts as a signature. A signature is similar to a modus operandi (a similar act ritualistically performed in virtually all crimes of one offender), yet it is an act that is not necessary to complete the crime. For example, a modus operandi would be strangulation using a rope (specific method to kill an individual), but a signature may be postmortem mutilation of the victim's face (not necessary in the commission of the crime, but occurs at the same time as the crime). Trophy taking is one type of signature. Some of the most shocking have been seen in the cases of serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, and Jerome Brudos.