Criminal Activity Analysis: A Sociology Report and Case Study

This sociology report analyzes a criminal activity involving the murder of Valerie Reyes by her ex-boyfriend. The report details the event, including the discovery of her body in a suitcase and the subsequent arrest of the suspect. It applies social control theory to understand the crime, suggesting that the breakdown of social bonds contributed to the act. The report also explores the public reaction to the crime, highlighting the brutality and its impact. The analysis reflects on the insights gained from studying criminology, emphasizing the understanding of human psychology and risk factors associated with criminal behavior. The report concludes by summarizing the key aspects of the case, the relevant criminological theories, and the implications for understanding and potentially reducing criminal activity.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note:

1
SOCIOLOGY
Introduction:
Over the decade the incidents of criminal activity have increased exponentially. The
purpose of the paper is to investigate a criminal activity for gaining an understanding of the
criminological is taking place in the United States. This paper will argue about one such criminal
activity, the relevant criminological theory, and the reaction of the event in the following
paragraphs.
Discussion:
Description of event:
Valerie Reyes, a 24 years women were murdered brutally and her body was a body was
found bound in a suitcase in Connecticut suburban on 5th February 2019 at morning 8:15. Her
mother reported her disappearance to the New Rochelle police department. The Greenwich
police suggested that she was last seen on January 29 and the missing report was submitted on
30th January. The investigators saw her ATM card was still under on 29th January and after
that, she went missing. She was bound at feet’s and knees and her hands were bound behind her
back with her back. Her ex-boyfriend was arrested and charged with one count of kidnapping
and murder. This news is related to the class of criminal justice because it is identified as one of
the recent criminological issues which raise awareness against the criminal justice required to
reduce the criminal activities. This issue catches the attention because of the murder pattern of

2
SOCIOLOGY
the criminal and the severity of the murder. The criminal brutally murdered his ex-girlfriend and
kept her body in a suitcase.
Criminology theory:
In the current context, the most applicable theory is social control theory. The social,
control theory proposes that people generally conform to social norms due to social bonds such
as attachment, commitment, involvement, and beliefs. Because of this kind of social bonds
people do not commit the crime. They only engage in delinquent acts when these bonds are
broken. In the current context, the murder was committed by an ex-boyfriend when the
attachment or involvement of the love relationship was the fade away. In the current context, the
murder was committed by an ex-boyfriend when he thought of being deprived of his rights on
her ex-girlfriend. However, although these theories are most suitable for analyzing the prime
motivation behind the murder, the assessment of the motivation behind committing the crime is a
subjective matter. Therefore, this criminal activity helped to understand the human psychology
behind committing any crime and it will help to identify the risk factors of committing the crime
in the real world context.
The overall reaction of the event:
The overall reaction of the event is filled with remorse because of the degree of brutality
a criminal can reach to commit a crime like killing a woman who was his ex-girlfriend ad once

3
SOCIOLOGY
there were involved in the love relationship. Consequently, lack of attachment or deprived of
attachment gave criminal motive to commit a brutal murder and keep the body in the suitcase. It
activity further reflects that human being is only obeyed social norms because of social bonding
they create with other individuals in the population.
The reaction is shaped by what was learned in the class because this investigation of criminal
activity provides a clear understanding of the human psychology behind committing any crime
especially a crime like murder. The gaining understanding of human psychology assists to gain
an understanding of the risk factors of committing the crime.
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, this paper explored a criminal activity such as the murder of 24
years women committed by her ex-boyfriend. She went missing from 29th January and her body
was found in a suitcase on 5th February at morning 8:15 am. Her boyfriend was arrested by
polices on the charge of murder. Two theories can be applied in the current context and these
theories are social control theory and relative deprivation theory. The criminal activity gives the
understanding of human psychology which further helped to reduce criminal activity.

4
SOCIOLOGY
References:
Dienst, J., &Santina, M. (2019). Ex Arrested in Murder of Woman Found in Suitcase: Cops.
Retrieved from https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Arrest-Made-in-Death-of-NY-
Woman-Found-Dead-in-Suitcase-505720041.html