“I’m Not a Serial Killer:” Exploring Identity and Boundary-Setting in the Narratives of a Serial Homicide Offender

By Karen Holt

A dearth of research examines the perceptions of serial homicide offenders directly through qualitative interviews. The current study presents a case study analysis of serial homicide offender, Harold David Haulman. The concept of serial homicide as understood by the offender himself is explored, with the focus on what it means to be a “serial killer” and the acceptance or rejection of that label. Findings revealed that Haulman both actively resists stigma while at times leaning into the “serial killer” label, a label he constructs by drawing from the popular criminological and larger cultural narratives of serial murder.

Deviant Behavior, 1–14. 2025.