Use potassium chloride as a murder weapon
An injection of liquid potassium chloride destabilises the body’s equilibrium of sodium and potassium, eventually leading to heart failure. What makes this method so devious is the fact that, even after your victim’s death, their sodium and potassium levels will equalise, meaning it will be impossible for investigators to figure out how they died. It’s also extremely unlikely that forensics experts will detect the puncture mark from your hypodermic syringe.
Don’t tell a soul
Killers often get caught because someone rats on them. This might be because they’re trying to avoid getting sentenced to prison as an accomplice to murder, or simply because their conscience gets the better of them. The best way to avoid getting snitched on is to make sure there isn’t a soul in the world who knows what you’ve done. Don’t tell anyone about your plans, and definitely don’t tell anyone once you’ve gone through with them.
Never revisit the scene of the crime
Serial killers are often drawn back to the scenes of their crimes out of a desire to relive the experience, but even “normal” murderers often can’t help revisiting the site of their murder. This is often due to wanting to snoop on the police investigation, or out of an urge to make sure no incriminating evidence was left behind. However, it’s always a terrible idea, as getting linked to the murder scene is the first step towards getting caught.
Don’t Google ‘how to get away with murder’
When cops have a suspect in their sights, one of the first things they’ll check is their internet search history, and it should go without saying that Google searches for ‘how to get away with murder’ are likely to be pretty damning in court. It’s also not as easy to clear your search history as you might think. If you absolutely have to look up something related to killing online, use an internet cafe far away from both where you live and where you’re planning to carry out the murder.
Leave your phone at home
Police can use your phone’s inbuilt geotagging technology to see everywhere it’s been, and if they can place you in the vicinity of the murder at the time it took place you’ll get a fast pass to the top of the suspect list. Turning off location services isn’t going to be enough, either. The only surefire way to make sure your phone can’t land you in investigators’ sights is to leave it at home before you do anything nefarious.
Use a bolt action rifle
It’s almost impossible to kill up close without leaving a treasure trove of forensic evidence, but firearms have their drawbacks too. Shell casings can easily be traced by police, and often serve as the first link in a chain of evidence that traces back to you. Whilst in theory you could collect any shell casings, in reality this might not be possible. Bolt action rifles don’t immediately discharge their shells after firing, so – as long as you can get the job done with a single bullet – you won’t need to worry about the casing being found by police.
Flee to a country with no extradition agreement
If you don’t mind setting up a new life somewhere foreign, the most foolproof way of evading punishment for a murder is to flee to a country which doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the country you’re from. If you plan it well you can be in your new home before the body is even discovered. This is a big commitment though, as the authorities will quickly put two and two together, meaning you can never return to your country of birth.
If you’re killing for revenge, leave a long cool-down period
If someone has wronged you and you decide that the only way to rectify the situation is to take their life, you should to leave it as long as possible before you carry out your plan. The first thing detectives will do when investing a murder is try and establish a motive, so you need to leave it so long that no one could possibly think the killing had anything to do with whatever incident stirred your thirst for revenge in the first place. This could be years, depending on the severity of the sleight.
Use a rare toxin
If you’re searching for a dastardly murder weapon, you need look no further than the animal kingdom. Mother Nature has evolved an arsenal of lethal toxins and venoms, many of which can be extracted and used for criminal purposes. The advantage of using a rare toxin – such as textrodotoxin, a lethal compound found in the livers of puffer fish – is that most investigators won’t think to test for them.
Visit someone’s home for legitimate reasons before you murder them there
Trying to murder someone without leaving forensic evidence at the scene of the crime is extraordinarily difficult. A potential workaround is to establish a valid reason for your DNA to be there. Spending time at your victim’s house before you commit the deed – for example by helping them out with DIY – will reduce suspicions when physical evidence linking back to you is found at the murder scene.
