Final answer:
While a 'lust serial killer' has specific behavioral patterns, including sexual gratification motives, the use of creative weapons or detailed backstories can contribute to narrative depth but is not a definitive sign of such patterns. Scott Falater's defense of homicidal sleepwalking—killing while in a sleep state—introduces a rare and different concept which touches on deeper brain-behavior relationships that may lead to violence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'lust serial killer' implies a certain pattern of homicidal behavior which is characterized by a compulsion to kill based on sexual gratification. While a weapon that is in some way connected to the killer's psychological makeup or character can add depth to the narrative, it's not inherently indicative of a lust serial killer's behavior. The backstory of a killer, if well-developed, can help explain why they might have become disturbed and consequently, provide insight into their motivations for killing. The portrayal of the victims' terror is critical to conveying a realistic representation of the impact of the killer's actions.
In the case of Scott Falater, we see an atypical scenario where his defense argued he killed his wife while sleepwalking, with previous childhood episodes supporting this claim. Although this is considered a homicidal sleepwalking defense rather than a traditional pattern of a serial killer, it raises interesting questions about the interplay between mental states and violent behavior. It is worth noting that psychological and neurological research, such as the work of Saxena, Bota, & Brody (2001) and Shih, Belmonte, & Zandi (2004), does contribute to understanding potential brain-behavior relationships that could be at play in such rare cases.