I don't think women actually think they can reform the murderer. Its an excuse they use because they are turned on by men who just do things irrational, like stealing and killing. They don't want to admit they find it appealing sexually, so they make up an excuse, but the real reason is they are sexually attracted to men who are violent.
This is why women who are beaten, actually enjoy it to some degree. I don't care what people say or how they respond to this, this is a general universal truth. So many women are beaten every day, yet how much if it is actually reported and why don't the women just leave the situation?
Its not that they aren't powerless, in today's world women are more empowered than ever before. So they don't have to put up with this, but they do. And they do because they are sexually attracted to it, and use the 'I'm powerless to my BF/husband' excuse, or the 'I can fix the murderer' excuse.
When women make up excuses to be around a guy, its because they are attracted to that guy.