Crime Expert Analyzes Clues From Anadarko Pastor's Murder

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

UNDATED -- As new details emerge about the minister murdered in Anadarko, a crime expert gives insight into what the scene of the crime could possibly reveal about her killer.

Police say 61-year-old Carol Daniels' body was posed. Experts say there are three reasons killers leave the body in an unnatural position.

The most common is sexual fantasy or to give the killer sexual pleasure. Next is the anger-retaliation motive, where someone does it to get back at the victim.  And finally, the motive of posing the body may be to confuse investigators - to make the scene look like one thing, when it's actually about something else.

Knowing which reason is behind the killer clues can give investigators insight into the killer.

Police are not saying how Pastor Carol Daniels' body was posed. It is a key piece of evidence only the killer will know, which could be critical during interrogations.

Related Story 8/27/2009: Authorities: Killed Staged Pastor's Body

Vernon Geberth has written dozens of books on the many facets of homicides including an 800-page text that is widely known as "the Bible" of homicide investigations.  A copy of it sits in detective units across the nation, including Tulsa's.

Geberth can't talk specifically about Pastor Daniels' case, but can generally discuss the clues left at the scene.

First, the posing of her body.

"If the body was posed, I can state unequivocally, it's extremely rare circumstances," said Vernon Gebreth, crime author and expert.  "Less than one percent of all homicides present sexually posed victims."

Experts say posed bodies are more likely to be women and often include sexual assault. Police have not released any information concerning sexual assault in Pastor Daniels' case; however, the autopsy diagrams show her left breast was severely injured, which Geberth says is sexual in nature.

"I do see mutilation to the breast, so I have to assume it's a sexual presentation, the cutting to the throat is also interesting, because it's sexual as is strangulation," Geberth said.

When a body is left in an unusual position, it's more likely a "hands on" means of killing the victim like stabbing or beating. Pastor Daniel's cause of death is multiple sharp force injury.

The diagrams show what look like defensive wounds on her hands, and her neck injury was devastating, possibly to the point of near decapitation.

These types of clues together could help focus the investigation.

"The first thing I would be looking at is the sex offender," said crime expert and author Vernon Geberth.

Understandably, this type of information is difficult for people to hear, especially Daniels' family and friends.

However, it is the same information that may help investigators zero in on a motive and with that, the killer, which is now the goal.