Conclusion

Courtney admits to killing Brooke because she fought against being raped. Sexual assault can be due to frustration, rage, or a desire for power. Flaws in the criminal justice system and issues in the human mind contribute to why people kill. The brain structure of a serial killer is different, affecting impulse control, decision-making, and empathy. Genetics and traits like lack of empathy and hostility towards women are common in rapists. Brooke's case highlights the tragic reality of targeted attacks on women. In Courtney's guilty plea, he admitted that he hadn't intended to kill Brooke from the start. He had only done so because of how hard she fought against being raped. Dr. A. Nicholas Groff describes sexual assault to be either a discharge of frustration and rage or as an aggressive reaction. When a victim is resistant to advances made on them, the assailant may respond with abusive physical retaliation. This behavior is a result of rage or from finding pleasure in dominating and being in charge of the situation with an overall sense of conquest. Brooke's story is a tragic one, one that is all too familiar. There seems to be two major pieces of the puzzle as to why people kill. The first that Audrey briefly discussed is the flaws within the criminal justice system. In a conversation our interviewer had with Audrey after recording, Audrey explains in length how the children within juvenile detention that she's worked with are only seen as pains to the people who are supposed to help them integrate back into society. She spoke of how children would want better education and better resources to help them stop the cycles that they find themselves going in and out of the system, yet they would never receive it outside of volunteers like Audrey who genuinely care for these kids. Would Courtney have abducted Brooke if the criminal justice system focused on helping him get reintegrated back into society and helping him with his early behavioral issues? The second piece of the puzzle is in the human mind. James Garbarino, a psychology professor at Loyola University, Chicago, says that the ultimate goal is never to excuse or justify the crime, only to explain it psychologically and socially. Neuroscience studies on the brain of a serial killer reveal that their brains are actually structured differently than that of a normal person. The prefrontal cortex of the brain is what controls our impulse control, empathy, and decision-making. In the brain structure of a serial killer, however, the prefrontal cortex is actually smaller. This means that there is less activity up there as well. These abnormalities of the brain cause issues with impulsivity, decision-making, and empathy. On top of that, there are also studies showing abnormalities in the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that deals with processing fear and aggression. Abnormalities in the amygdala cause issues in regulating their emotions and can cause violent behavior. Sometimes genetics can play a role in the making of a killer. Courtney's ulterior motive for abducting and murdering Brooke Wilberger will always truly remain unknown. As prosecutor Teresa Watley said in a statement, You don't start grabbing people in broad daylight off a street and grab them into your car when you're almost 40. That's not how the criminal mind works. Although the motives of sexual assault vary, studies show that there are few common traits that rapists share. Lack of empathy, narcissism, and feeling of hostility towards women. Accounting for Courtney's prior history of assault, this seems to fall into place. Sadly, Brooke and many other women have found themselves caught in the middle of these types of targeted attacks, leaving tragic and unsettling Aurora in their wake.