Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 13:56:51 -0400

From: David Bergdahl bergdahl[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]OAK.CATS.OHIOU.EDU

Subject: "serial killer" vs. "spree"



For example: in the following passage both are used. My intuition is that

spree is ill-chosen because it suggests the killing done in a single act

as Richard ? killing all those nurses or a gunman openning fire in a

McDonald's. Serial also suggests to me a string of murders in the same

locale. What's distinctive here is not the sexual orientation of the

murderer and his victim--which may be accidental--but that the murders are

located in spots so far apart with no apparent "logic" to them, other

than Richard Pryor's famous rendition, "They was home."



*** Miami police seek serial killer in Versace murder



Police and the FBI hunted an alleged serial killer and male prostitute

they believe murdered fashion king Gianni Versace as royalty, stars,

friends and admirers mourned the man who dressed the world's beautiful

people. Versace was shot twice in the head on the steps of his Miami

Beach mansion by a lone gunman Tuesday morning. Miami Beach Police

Chief Richard Barreto said lawmen were searching for Andrew Cunanan,

27, already wanted in connection with four previous murders during a

two-week, cross-country killing spree that began in Minneapolis in

April. For the full text story, see

http://www.merc.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=3954852-c26

Versace house joins grisly roster of murder sites, For the full text

story, see http://www.merc.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=3950759-205



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David Bergdahl Ellis Hall 114c Ohio University / Athens

Associate Prof Fall Qtr office hrs: 9 TTh & by appointment

English Dept tel: (614) 593-2783 fax: (614) 593-2818

bergdahl[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]oak.cats.ohiou.edu

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~bergdahl

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