Pondering victimology, and reading this article:
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/profiling/victimology/2.html
This stood out to me:
The offender was dubbed the "Granny Rapist" by the media, for reasons which should be obvious ...
In examining the victimology in this case, the victims' ages and current living arrangements meant that the odds of this occurring by chance were very slim indeed, suggesting that the victims had been pre-selected. It was felt that older victims had been selected because they were more easily controlled and were less likely to have visitors at those early morning hours. Also, the fact that he had stolen a set of keys, duplicated, then returned them signalled his intention to return at a later date ...
<bbm>
Bear with me ... I recently had occasion to call LE about a person who arrived at my home.
I had not heard a knock or heard the doorbell, but my big male shepherd was barking loudly. I got to the door
within about 30 seconds, and there was a fellow outside the gate (which is about 15 feet from the door). As this stranger started to enter the gate, I put my hand up in a "stop" signal (maybe even said "don't come in"), but he entered anyway (he knew I had closed the door and the dog was inside). First thing he said "I see you have an alarm .. is it working"? Long story, but we had words, and i sent him on his merry way, then called LE about a suspicious character.
I know the officer who arrived, and
my dogs did not bark when he opened the gate, but did as soon as he rang the bell. We concluded that suspicious dude had come in the gate, knocked once or rang the bell ... and took off outside the gate AS SOON AS HE HEARD A BIG DOG.
Audrey's neighbours dogs were heard barking. Why did nobody hear Audrey's dogs barking wildly at a stranger, let alone as she was being attacked? IMO, Audrey's dogs would have barked loudly at a stranger -- and a stranger would have left. This example reaffirms to me that Audrey and her dogs knew her attacker. Maybe the dogs barked somewhat until they recognized the vistor or Audrey told them it was okay ... just good ol' whozit.
In order to target or "pre-select", you have to know something about your target. I believe Audrey's attacker knew she lived alone, knew she would not have company, knew she had dogs, knew she would get the dogs under control, etc. and I don't think Audrey's case was a crime of opportunity.
PS: My vehicle, parked in the driveway outside the gate, was stolen a few days later. Not a peep from the dogs who were in the bedroom at the back of the house. It was recovered, trashed, dude arrested when he came back to the trashed vehicle, LOL ... dummy. I don't know yet if it is the same guy who was at my house.
