Abduction is a frightening crime for both the victims and the parents alike. The panic and helplessness that comes with the knowledge that your child is missing is overwhelming. Child molesters, who abduct, can be defined by four criteria. The age of the victim they take (child), Motivation for abduction (molestation), Type of offense (abduction), The Relationship between offender and the victim.
From a motive perspective, abductions can be divided into six broad categories.
Nontraditional - Where very young children are abducted predominately by a woman to fill a perceived void in the offender's life.
Ransom - Children abducted to obtain financial benefit from the victim's family.
Profit - children abducted to obtain financial benefit from a third party.
Sexual - children abducted primarily for the sexual gratification of the offender.
Killing - Children abducted to be killed by the offender, for some individuals, the act of killing itself brings arousal and / or gratification.
Miscellaneous Criminal - Children abducted for a wide variety of reasons related to criminal activity. Common examples include crimes such as stealing a vehicle with a child in it, taking a child hostage to facilitate escape, abducting a child in retaliation for a personal or criminal disagreement or to prevent testimony in court.
Why do some child molesters abduct their victims and others do not? In theory it could be determined by the motivation for the abduction or by specific acts performed during or after. The true nature of motivations and behaviors may not always be clear and obvious. Seemingly "non-sexual" behaviors (i.e., abducting, inflicting pain, killing, etc.) can be in the service of sexual needs and brings sexual arousal and / or gratification in and of themselves. Seemingly "sexual" behaviors (i.e., vaginal or anal intercourse) can be in the service of non-sexual needs and may, in fact, be actually motivated by power and / or anger.
