Criminologist professor at Big Ten college offers warning to students as police probe possible serial killer

Biblical Context

The reported deaths directly involve the biblical prohibition of murder and the obligation to protect people who are vulnerable or easily overlooked. Exodus 20:13 establishes the prohibition against murder, while Genesis 9:6 grounds the seriousness of taking human life in the fact that human beings bear God’s image. These passages apply to the alleged violence itself, although the article does not establish who caused every death or whether every death was criminal. The victims’ homelessness also makes Psalm 82:3-4 and Proverbs 31:8-9 especially relevant. Both passages call for defending the weak and ensuring justice for people who may lack power or social standing. That principle does not prove a particular motive, but it speaks directly to the concern that vulnerable victims may be targeted or receive inadequate protection. Scripture’s concern is not limited to preventing violence; it also includes truthful judgment and accountable public authority. Romans 13:1-4 describes governing authorities as responsible for restraining wrongdoing, which provides a general framework for the police investigation and the pursuit of justice. Because the investigation remains incomplete, biblical principles of justice should not be used to declare a suspect guilty before evidence is established. The relevant biblical connection is therefore ethical and judicial: the value of human life, protection of the vulnerable, and impartial investigation—not a claim that a specific prophecy is unfolding.