Publications and Research

Interviewed fire setters/arsonists throughout the United States as part of a continuing study of serial arsonists begun by the NCAVC in 1990; principal researcher and author of a study of bombers and bombing-related offenders sponsored by the NCAVC and Central Missouri State University; author of a study of bomber organizational characteristics at the NCAVC and Virginia Commonwealth University; engaged in a study of arson filicide. Doctoral dissertation explored the relationship between serial arson motivation and fire-setting behavior. Current study of serial arson behavior and motives with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, National Center for Explosives Training and Research, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime.

Grants

• —Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice
• —Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice
• —Office of Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice

Publications

• —Fire and Arson Investigator, Journal of the International Association of Arson Investigators

1. 01

   Kelm, K. L. (2025). Structured professional judgment in fire investigation. Manuscript submitted for publication.

2. 02

   Kelm, K. L. (2023). Criminal investigative analysis. Kendall/Hunt.

3. 03

   Kelm, K. L. (2016, June 13–17). Measures of association for serial arsonist behaviors and motives [Paper presentation]. International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship Annual Meeting and Training Seminar, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA, United States.

4. 04

   Kelm, K. L. (2016, July 8–9). Examining arson criminal profiling: Serial arson behaviors as predictors of arson motivation [Poster presentation]. Northcentral University Commencement, Phoenix, AZ, United States.

5. 05

   Kelm, K. L. (2016). Examining arson criminal profiling: Serial arson behaviors as predictors of arson motivation. (Publication No. 10116208) [Doctoral dissertation, Northcentral University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

6. 06

   Kelm, K. L. (2014, May 12–16). Criminal profiling epistemology: Knowledge management and divergent paradigms [Paper presentation]. International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship Annual Meeting and Training Seminar, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA, United States.

7. 07

   Kelm, K. L. (2013, January). Behavioral investigation of the arsonist: Observing offense behavior part 3 – the crime scene. Fire and Arson Investigator, 63(3), 12–22.

8. 08

   Kelm, K. L. (2012, July). Behavioral investigation of the arsonist: Observing offense behavior part 2 – the criminal. Fire and Arson Investigator, 63(1), 49–53.

9. 09

   Kelm, K. L. (2012, April). Behavioral investigation of the arsonist: Observing offense behavior part 1 – the crime. Fire and Arson Investigator, 62(4), 24–30.

10. 10

    Kelm, K. L. (2003). Classifying bomber characteristics using crime scene indicators: Application of an organizational taxonomy [Master's thesis, Virginia Commonwealth University]. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.30957.72166

11. 11

    Sapp, A., Huff, T., Kelm, K., Tunkel, R. (2001). Behavior and characteristics of bomb-related offenders. National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime. Quantico, VA. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.3808.6246