History Main / SerialKillerBaiting

* In ''Series/{{Tracker}}'', an alien serial killer, who was voluntarily infected with a virus as an assassin, is in a MateOrDie situation because of it. Human women he's having sex with die thereafter. Mel insists on being bait to lure the killer out. The operation does not go smoothly. Because of a mistake by his ally Nestov, Cole doesn't notice the moment Mel goes missing. He barely manages to reach their location in time and to save Mel from being raped and infected. When, later, Mel's alien heritage is revealed, this is also a source for FridgeHorror as Mel would have suffered a fate worse than the human victims.

* ''Series/WireInTheBlood'': In "Torment" the team is looking at an utterly bizarre case of murders involving prostitutes being bled to death that exactly resembles a previous killing spree committed by a convicted mental patient. In an attempt to be proactive, DC Paula McIntyre volunteers to pose as a prostitute hoping to bait the killer. Unfortunately it goes horribly wrong and ends with the killer somehow abducting Paula [[spoiler: as in reality both killing sprees are being masterminded by Vice Officer [[DirtyCop DI Shields]] who knew all the details of the sting]].

* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': Played for laughs in "Mac Is a Serial Killer": Fearing that Mac is sneaking out to murder local blonde women (he's actually in a secret relationship with Carmen, a transsexual woman), Dennis and Dee decide to try catching him with Dee posing as a prostitute... which ends with her nearly being recruited by a strange pimp named Pepper Jack, and Dennis having to trade a ''Series/FraggleRock'' Thermos to get her back.

* WPC Helen Bradford is sent undercover to act as bait for the Vampire Killer in ''Film/ScreamAndScramAgain''.

* ''Series/{{Monk}}:'' In [[Recap/MonkS5E15MrMonkAndTheReallyReallyDeadGuy "Mr. Monk and the Really, Really Dead Guy,"]] the FBI and police decide the murderer in this case is a serial killer targeting street musicians. To draw the killer out a second time, Randy poses as a street musician, but the whole thing is PlayedForLaughs. Randy's such a DreadfulMusician, Lt. Stottlemeyer jokes that someone besides the their serial killer might try to kill him, [[OffingTheAnnoyance just to shut him up]]. Then when someone finally does approach Randy, and the police swarm in to arrest him, it turns out he was just trying to give him some money. [[spoiler:Ultimately the bait turns out to be a complete waste of time, as the murderer just [[SerialKillingsSpecificTarget made his work look like a serial killer's doing to distract the police from his actual target]], who could be more easily linked to him.]]

* In ''Film/TheFinalGirls'', one of the rules of [[TrappedInTVLand the horror movie]] is that the serial killer always [[DeathBySex shows up right when someone's about to have sex]]. Even a woman taking her top off is enough. So the protagonists set a trap, and the slutty party girl starts [[YouCanLeaveYourHatOn dancing]] to lure him in.

Acting as bait [[WhoWillBellTheCat is risky]], however volunteers [[WhyAreYouLookingAtMeLikeThat can]] or ''[[GotVolunteered will]]'' be found. Who is suitable will depend on the killer's [[ThemeSerialKiller target group]]. In many cases, the task will fall upon [[TheChick a female]] team member who often has to [[DirtyHarriet dress up as a prostitute]].

* ''Series/WireInTheBlood'': In "Torment" the team is looking at an utterly bizarre case of murders involving prostitutes being bled to death that exactly resembles a previous killing spree committed by a convicted mental patient. In an attempt to be proactive [[TheChick DC Paula McIntyre]] volunteers to pose as a prostitute hoping to bait the killer. Unfortunately it goes horribly wrong and ends with the killer somehow abducting Paula [[spoiler: as in reality both killing sprees are being masterminded by Vice Officer [[DirtyCop DI Shields]] who knew all the details of the sting]].

* In the Creator/RogerCorman sexploitation movie ''Stripped to Kill'' and its sequel a serial killer is killing strippers, so a policewoman [[DirtyHarriet becomes a stripper]] to lure him out.

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'': In one episode [[TheBait Felicity]] tries to bait "[[SerialKiller Dollmaker]]" with her beautiful skin by putting on skin cream he used to select his victims. He takes the bait.

* In ''[[Literature/CircleOfMagic Shatterglass]]'', part of Tamora Pierce's The Circle Opens Quartet, a serial killer stalks the female yaskedasi, or members of the entertainment class. Quite a few police officers (of both genders, but mostly women) go undercover as yaskedasi, but this is played straight when someone else comments that the grimly staring few who can't dance, juggle, or sing really stick out.

!!Examples
%%in alphabetical order

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

-->'''Sadie:''' You really have a thing for girls with short hair. Fortunately for everyone, I look great in a pixie cut.
-->'''[=McKayla=]:''' She does.
-->'''Sadie:''' All it took was a few boys to set the trap.
-->'''[=McKayla=]:''' Do you know how many handjobs this girl had to give? Like, thirty.

* ''Literature/{{Maigret}}'': In "Maigret Sets A Trap" a serial killer is menacing Paris. Chief Inspector Maigret announces that he already caught the culprit and lets several female officers pose as bait to lure the killer out. The whole operation is considered highly risky and born out of desperation. After an officer survives an encounter with the killer, the killer leaves behind key evidence that leads Maigret to him. The story has been adapted to screen multiple times, including as the first episode of ''[[Series/{{Maigret2016}} Maigret]]''.

* ''{{Series/Highlander}}'': In the Episode "See No Evil" a serial killer called "The Scalper" goes after blond women. Duncan recognizes the killings as a [[UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper copycat]] crime inspired by an immortal serial killer he decapitated decades ago. When the police tries to bait the killer with a blond woman, this backfires as the killer goes after another victim instead and nearly kills her. Duncan uses his knowledge of of the original killer's modus operandi to set up a trap with Tessa as bait. The killer tries to escape and is eventually run over by Tessa in Duncan's car.
* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': Played for laughs in "Mac Is a Serial Killer": Fearing that Mac is sneaking out to murder local blonde women (he's actually in a secret relationship with Carmen, a transsexual woman), Dennis and Dee decide to try catching him with Dee posing as a prostitute...which ends with her nearly being recruited by a strange pimp named Pepper Jack, and Dennis having to trade a ''Series/FraggleRock'' Thermos to get her back.

* ''Series/TheMentalist'': In the second episode, "[[Recap/TheMentalistS1E2RedHairAndSilverTape Red Hair and Silver Tape]]," Jane links the VictimOfTheWeek - a teenage girl with red hair - with another redhead who was kidnapped previously but not harmed. Reasoning that the first girl was a practice run and the attack was botched, he sends redheaded team member Grace Van Pelt as bait and stakes out the motel room where he expects the culprit to take her. The ploy with Grace misses, but Jane still catches both culprits sneaking a ''different'' redhead into the motel room.

* In ''{{Series/Tracker}}'', an alien serial killer, who was voluntarily infected with a virus as an assassin, is in a MateOrDie situation because of it. Human women he's having sex with die thereafter. Mel insists on being bait to lure the killer out. The operation does not go smoothly. Because of a mistake by his ally Nestov, Cole doesn't notice the moment Mel goes missing. He barely manages to reach their location in time and to save Mel from being raped and infected. When, later, Mel's alien heritage is revealed, this is also a source for FridgeHorror as Mel would have suffered a fate worse than the human victims.

[[folder:Music]]

* ''VideoGame/Persona2 Eternal Punishment'': In "Tatsuya's Scenario," police officer Shiori Miyashiro [[spoiler:calls the JOKER and asks him to kill her, in hopes that she'll be able to arrest him and connect him to a cold case of murders that was also committed by him]]. Luckily for her, she told Anna about the plan, who in turn calls Tatsuya, and he manages to save her.
* ''VideoGame/Persona4'': After [[spoiler:Mitsuo Kubo]] confesses several murders, [[spoiler:Naoto Shirogane]] is still not convinced and decides to lure the murderer out by becoming bait. After [[spoiler:she appears on T.V.]], [[spoiler:Naoto]] is kidnapped and appears on the Midnight Channel. As it turns out, [[spoiler:Mitsuo Kubo]] was indeed a copycat killer only responsible for [[spoiler:one]] of the murders.

* ''WebAnimation/{{mashed}}'': In "Secret History of Sonic and Tails," Amy becomes suspicious of the [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident accidents]] that killed Knuckles and Shadow, supposedly caused by malfunctioning phones and jet shoes. Setting herself up as bait allows her and Sonic to catch Tails in the act of rigging her hammer to explode.

** In "Strip Strangler," the CSI team are hunting a serial killer called the "Strip Strangler" who would rape and then strangle his victims to death and target tall, female brunettes. Sarah Siddle offers to act as bait to draw him out as she matches his victim preference.

A SerialKiller is on the loose, leaving behind a trail of corpses. However, no evidence is ever left behind and the police is grasping at straws. As the police can't stand by any longer or as [[VigilanteMan citizens start to take the law into their own hands]] an ingenious plan is devised: baiting the killer by dressing up [[TheBait someone]] as a suitable target.

** In "Strip Strangler", the CSI team are hunting a serial killer called the "Strip Strangler" who would rape and then strangle his victims to death and target tall, female brunettes. Sarah Siddle offers to act as bait to draw him out as she matches his victim preference.
** In "Skin in the Game", [[DirtyHarriet Morgan goes undercover as a prostitute]] trying to find a serial killer. However this [[GoHorriblyWrong goes horribly wrong]] as Morgan is abducted.

* ''Series/{{Endeavour}}'': Convinced that the police are not doing enough to catch the "Towpath" serial killer in "Zenana", students and teachers at Lady Matilda's college set up a trap: one student acts as bait then the others swarm the attacker. During his ensuing escape the attacker is run over by a car and mortally wounded. [[spoiler: Unfortunately the attacker turns out to be a [[JackTheRipoff copycat killer]], leaving the real killer free to carry on]].

* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': played for laughs in "Mac Is A Serial Killer": fearing that Mac is sneaking out to murder local blonde women (he's actually in a secret relationship with Carmen, a transsexual woman), Dennis and Dee decide to try catching him with Dee posing as a prostitute. Which ends with her nearly being recruited by a strange pimp named Pepper Jack, and Dennis having to trade a ''Series/FraggleRock'' Thermos to get her back.

* In the ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' episode "Demons", Stabler goes undercover to try and catch a paroled serial rapist who targets teenage girls. At one point during the operation, the cops send one of their junior officers out dressed like a teenager to try and bait the rapist. While he stops and gets close to her, he decides not to take the bait.
* ''Series/TheMentalist'': In the second episode, "[[Recap/TheMentalistS1E2RedHairAndSilverTape Red Hair and Silver Tape]]", Jane links the VictimOfTheWeek - a teenage girl with red hair - with another redhead who was kidnapped previously but not harmed. Reasoning that the first girl was a practice run and the victim was botched, he sends redheaded team member Grace Van Pelt as bait and stakes out the motel room where he expects the culprit to take her. The ploy with Grace misses, but Jane still catches both culprits sneaking a ''different'' redhead into the motel room.
* ''Series/{{Monk}}:'' In [[Recap/MonkS5E15MrMonkAndTheReallyReallyDeadGuy "Mr. Monk and the Really, Really Dead Guy"]], the FBI and police decide the murderer in this case is a serial killer targeting street musicians. To draw the killer out a second time, Randy poses as a street musician, but the whole thing is PlayedForLaughs. Randy's such a DreadfulMusician, Lt. Stottlemeyer jokes that someone besides the their serial killer might try to kill him, [[OffingTheAnnoyance just to shut him up]]. Then when someone finally does approach Randy, and the police swarm in to arrest him, it turns out he was just trying to give him some money. [[spoiler:Ultimately the bait turns out to be a complete waste of time, as the murderer just [[SerialKillingsSpecificTarget made his work look like a serial killer's doing to distract the police from his actual target]], who could be more easily linked to him.]]

* ''Series/WireInTheBlood'': In "Torment" the team is looking at an utterly bizarre case of murders involving prostitutes being bled to death that exactly resembles a previous killing spree committed by a convicted mental patient. In an attempt to be proactive [[TheChick DC Paula McIntyre]] volunteers to pose as a prostitute hoping to bait the killer. Unfortunately it goes horribly wrong and ends with the killer somehow abducting Paula [[spoiler: as in reality both killing spree's are being masterminded by Vice Officer [[DirtyCop DI Shields]] who knew all the details of the sting]].

* ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' supplement ''Acute Paranoia'', adventure "The Harder They Clone". In the BackStory of the adventure, a researcher was infected with a mind-altering virus and became a serial killer. The Computer orders a member of the Troubleshooter team to act as bait to lure the murderer out, while the rest of the Troubleshooters stand by to kill him.

* ''VideoGame/Persona2 Eternal Punishment'': In "Tatsuya's Scenario", police officer Shiori Miyashiro [[spoiler:calls the JOKER and asks him to kill her, in hopes that she'll be able to arrest him and connect him to a cold case of murders that was also committed by him]]. Luckily for her, she told Anna about the plan, who in turn calls Tatsuya, and he manages to save her.

* ''WebAnimation/{{mashed}}'': In "Secret History of Sonic and Tails" Amy becomes suspicious of the [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident accidents]] that killed Knuckles and Shadow, supposedly caused by malfunctioning phones and jet shoes. Setting herself up as bait allows her and Sonic to catch Tails in the act of rigging her hammer to explode.

* A [[DirtyHarriet female police officer posed as a prostitute]] to bait the "Green River Killer". Thereafter they arrested Gary Ridgway, who later turned out to be the killer, on charges related to prostitution. Unfortunately they didn't gather enough evidence to convict him until almost two decades later. By then Ridgway murdered at least 71 women.
* [[https://boingboing.net/2017/03/08/suspected-serial-killer-caught.html Shane Shindler]] was caught in Las Vegas after policemen put a bait mannequin looking like the homeless men he murdered.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/Persona4'': [[spoiler:After Mitsuo Kubo confesses three murders Naoto Shirogane is still not convinced and decides to lure the murderer out by becoming bait. After being interviewed by a TV show she is kidnapped and thrown into the Midnight Channel. As it turns out, Mitsuo Kubo was indeed a copycat killer only responsible for one of the murders.]]