Hitchhiking Dangers: A Closer Look at Sexual Homicides

Hitchhiking is often depicted as dangerous, especially when it comes to sexual homicides. But have you ever wondered why? Researchers have just started to dig into this topic, comparing hitchhiking victims with those involved in sex work. The results? Offenders see hitchhikers as easy targets for abuse and theft. These attackers aren't necessarily driven by sadism or sexual deviance, but many have criminal records and mental health issues. They often use weapons.The environment of hitchhiking makes it easier for offenders to find victims. Unlike sex workers, who are usually targeted in isolated places, hitchhikers can be picked up anywhere. This accessibility makes hitchhikers a tempting target. On the other hand, victims in the sex trade are driven to unknown locations. Their attackers show more sexual preoccupations, sometimes using foreign objects and engaging in postmortem activities. This points to different profiles for those who target hitchhikers versus those who target sex workers.