Robert Keppel is Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, specializing in violent crime, murder, and rape investigations, police operations and procedures and case linkage (signature and MO analysis, criminal profiling, and homicide solvability) Best known for his work tracking serial killer Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway (aka the Green River Killer), Keppel is currently researching homicide, homicide solvability and child abduction murder.
Title:
Associate Professor, Criminal Justice
Educational Background:
Ph.D. Criminal Justice, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
M.A. Adult Education, Seattle University, Seattle, WA
M.A. Police Science and Administration, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
B.S. Police Science and Administration, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Summary of Expertise:
violent crime, murder, and rape investigations
use of force
police operations and procedures
case linkage (signature and MO analysis, criminal profiling, and homicide solvability)
Current or Recent Research:
Keppel is currently conducting solvability research and researching homicide, homicide solvability and child abduction murder.
Books or Significant Articles Published:
"Forensic Pattern Recognition: From Fingerprints to Tool Marks," with Katherine Brown and Kristen Welch. (2006)
"Investigative Case Management for Missing Children Homicides," with Katherine Brown, Joseph Weis, and Marvin Skeen, Washington State Attorney General's Office. (2006)
"Offender Profiling" (2006)
"Child Abduction Murder: An Analysis of the Effect of Time and Distance Separation of Murder Incident Sites on Solvability," with Katherine Brown, Journal of Forensic Sciences. (2006)
"The Jack the Ripper Murders: A Modus Operandi and Signature Analysis of the 1888-91 Whitechapel Murders," with Joseph Weis, Kathy Brown, and Kristen Welch, Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling. (2005)
"The Rarity of Unusual Body Dispositions of Victim Bodies: Staging and Posing," Journal of Forensic Sciences. (2004)
"The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt the Green River Killer" (2004)
"Offender Profiling: Readings in Crime Assessment and Profiling" (2004)
"The Psychology of Serial Killer Investigations: The Grisly Business Unit," with William Birnes. (2003)
"Serial Offenders: Linking Cases by Modus Operandi and Signature," In Stuart H. James and Jon J. Nordby (editors), Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques. (2003)
"Murder: A Multidisciplinary Anthology of Readings," with Joseph Weis. (2002)
"Serial Murder: Future Implications for Police Investigations" (2000)
"Investigation of the Serial Offender: Linking Cases through Modus Operandi and Signature," in Joseph Schlesinger (ed), Serial Offenders: Current Thought, Recent Findings. (2000)
"Signature Homicides: A Report of the 1984 Cranbrook, British Columbia Cases," Journal of Forensic Sciences. (2000)
"Profiling Killers: A Revised Classification Model for Understanding Sexual Murder," with Richard Walter, Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. (1999)
"Profile of a Predator: Child Abduction Murder by a Stranger," with Joseph Weis and Kenneth Hanfland, in Joseph G. Weis and Robert D. Keppel (eds.), Murder: A Multidisciplinary Anthology of Readings. (1999)
"Murder: A Multidisciplinary Anthology of Readings," with Joseph Weis. (1999)
"Signature Killers" (1997)
"Case Management for Missing Children Homicide Investigation," with Joseph Weis and Kenneth Hanfland. (1997)
"Murder: A Multidisciplinary Anthology of Readings," with Joseph Weis. (1997)
"Signature Murders: A Report of Several Related Cases," Journal of Forensic Sciences. (1995)
"The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt the Green River Killer" (1995)
"Arson Enhancement to the HITS Program: An Answer to Collecting, Storing, Analyzing and Sharing Arson Information," Newsletter of the Washington State Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators. (1995)
"Time and Distance as Solvability Factors in Murder Cases," with Joseph Weis, Journal of Forensic Sciences. (1994)
"HITS: Catching Killers in the Northwest," with Joseph Weis, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. (1993)
"Improving the Investigation of Violent Crime: The Homicide Investigation and Tracking System," with Joseph Weis, Research In Brief, National Institute of Justice. (1993)
"An Analysis of the Effect of Time and Distance Relationships in Murder Investigations," University of Washington, Doctoral Dissertation. (1992)
"Serial Murder: Future Implications for Police Investigations" (1989)
"Tracking and Sharing Homicide Evidence," Washington Law Enforcement Executive Journal. (1989)
Introduction for "BUNDY: Confessions of a Killer," Michaud, Steven and Aynesworth. (1989)
Current or Recent Professional Memberships, Activities or Awards:
charter member, International Homicide Investigator's Association
fellow, American Academy of Forensic Sciences
charter member, Washington Violent Crime Investigator's Association
Specific Subjects or Issues Faculty Expert Can Knowledgeably Discuss:
- serial murder investigations
- serial killers and rapists
- murder investigations
- rape investigations
- signature and MO analysis
- use of force
- police organizations and operations
- criminal profiling
- homicide solvability
Courses faculty expert teaches:
Principles of Criminal Investigation
Advanced Criminal Investigation
E-Mail:
rkeppel@newhaven.com
