Ask the "Mindhunter," a former FBI criminal profiler, your questions.

This was an amazing and intriguing hour tv special. I hope that there will be additional shows that follow this premiere. The "Mindhunter" concept was thought provoking, captivating, and educational. Mr. Douglas is not only a natural behind the camera and an interesting story teller he is a witness to the evil that exists in our society. Everyone should watch this show to learn how to protect their families from predators and violent criminals.

Has there ever been any psychic who's insight was helpful on a murder case?

 I'm really not aware of any psychic who had a direct effect in the solution of a case. In New Jersey there was the late psychic Dorothy Allison who once had a TV show explaining her contribbutions in some investigations. I think there are some people who have this unique ability but I personally have not crossed their paths. In a way, it's like criminal profiling. One may call themselves a criminal profiler but what does that mean? We are not all created from the same twine of cloth. There is no substitute for experience...and experience in my business means interviewing hundreds of violent offenders and working with investigators in thousands of cases.

Getting back to your original question, I will not dismiss someone who claims to be a psychic...just show me how you , as a profiler, contributed to an investigation. The same goes for someone who claimes to be a criminal profiler...how many cases have you worked, how many inmates have you interviewed, what cases have you directly assisted law enforcement in the solution of their cases?

All the best

John D

I had gotten a website from the show a while back that let you look up free prision records for anyone that has ever been locked up. What is this website as I have lost it.

Thank you~

Dallas

I'm sorry but I don't know off hand what that website would be . If you know the offenders name and the state where he perpetrated a crime you could serach the Department of Corrections in that state and come up with his exact location.

Thank You

John D

I have read all of your books and am a great fan.  Based on your knowledge of the case, do you have an opinion as to whether Jeffrey MacDonald, convicted of the 1979 murder of his wife and two children, is innocent or guilty?  I'd love to know what you think.  Thanks!

About two years ago I reached out to MacDonald's wife asking her if I could interview her husband in prison. At first she seemed in favor of the idea until she realized what my background was and that was the end of it. She never called back. I'm sure the attorney's told her to stay away from me. I remember early on in my FBI career I was presented with the case facts and I personally thought at the time the case/crime scene was mishandled. I would love to interview MacDonald after first reviewing the entire case because if he would lie during the interview I wouldn't be able to challenge him. I'm currently involved with the West Memphis Three case and when I was asked to review the case by the defense I said, I would, but I also advised them that I may find their clients guilty. They still wanted me to look at the case. When I reviewed the case I was disgusted with what law enforcement concluded, and that was, that the three accussed teens perpetrated a satanic homicide. It troubles me that all three teens are now adults in prison with one of them, Damien Echols on death row. I despise all killers but particularly child killers but in this case they have the wrong people.

I drew the same conclusion in the JonBenet Ramsey case when I provided an analysis for the defense and years later for the new District Attorney. My conclusion...the Ramsey's were innocent.

When I'm  asked to do a case I always say, "I work for the victims".....and that's the truth.

I gave you more then you asked for in a response Keli.

All the best

John D

Mr. Douglas, I sadly missed Mindhunter last week but did catch the story of  Caylee Anthony, I am wondering what your opinion is about the mother involved with this and why she is obviously lying about everything.

Hi Karri.

I wouldn't want to speculate on this case without having any of the case information to include the method and manner of death.

Hopefully you will be able to see "Mindhunter" again  if or when MSNBC decides to re-air it.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday and even better New Year!

John D

Hello, Mr. Douglas.  I saw "Mindhunter" and thought it very instructive.  Is there any chance of purchasing a copy of the documentary shown on MSNBC?  I teach graduate psychology and it would really be of interest.  Thanks.

Hi Dr. Douglas.

I was just wondering if you had any thoughts on the presentation of the FBI's fictional "Behavioral Analysis Unit" (based on the BSU) on the show "Criminal Minds," specifically, the process and other facets of behavioral analysis as they are portrayed.

Further, do criminal profilers use the observational skills and logical processes that are featured on "The Mentalist," "Psych," and the upcoming "Lie to Me"?

If you do not regularly watch these shows, could you possibly give me an opinion on the portrayal of criminal profiling in the media in general?

Thanks so much for your time!

Sincerely,

Rebecca L.

Hello Mr Douglas,

Thank you for your time.

I'm 31 yrs. old and what most would call a "late bloomer". I didn't want to dedicate myself to school unless I was sure of what I wanted to do. One day about a year ago, I picked up a book in the library on a Criminal Profiler.

That was it.

Most everything that drew her to the choice to become a Profiler, had drawn me. Before I picked up the book I'd just thought that I was weird and had crazy interests that I could only talk about to a selected few. I could trace these interest back to my childhood....Sitting and reading mystery novels, and researching information to solve cases (real and fictional) with my Grandmother (who was also probably happy to be able to talk to someone about her interest and not feel weird about them).  I had no idea that there was even such a thing as a Psychological Profiler. I was ecstatic then and I am ecstatic now. I can't begin to imagine all that I will experience. I only know that a great deal will be necessary to be as good as I expect to be in my career.

I started at University of Phoenix in August on my BA in Psychology, and I read a great deal on the subject but I am still very lost. Some write saying that one needs to be a Forensic Psychologist to become a Profiler. Other Forensic Psychologist write that they don't want to be connected with the Profiler because Profiling is not a "true" science....I'm basically just getting a bunch of back and forth. I'm trying get away from all of that but I keep running into the same type of stuff so I'm a little lost. I am pretty sure that I want the focus of my BA stand as Psychology but, I am confused about which path to take (Masters and PH.D) to go in the direction of Psychological Profiling. Do you have any suggestions?

Hi Rebecca,

Happy New Year! I do not watch the shows you mentioned and particularly "Criminal Minds" because I'm told they have used used many of the cases and information contained from my books to present something "original" to the viewer. Therefore, they don't have to pay the piper for an original cutting edge show..

The key to criminal profiling is to know your enemy and to become proficient you must talk with the enemy. That's what I love about this MSNBC show that I'm doing because it's educational to not only me but the general public at large. In fact, if I do more shows for MSNBC or any other venue I want the public to see more of the raw footage of violent offenders who have not one single shred of remorse for their victims. The public should know about victim selection, pre and post offense behavior, precipitating stressors, early childhood development etc.

"To understand the artist one must look at the art work...to understand the criminal one must look at the crime." It is still very frustraing to me that decisions are made relative to probation and parole from "experts" who really don't understand the crime itself and the criminal personality.

I hope to one day have a show that delves into my life and how the work impacted myself and those closest to me...much like what I wrote about in "Mindhunter".

Thank You Rebecca for your question and have a great new year!

God Bless

John D.

Karri, If there is one single item that will make you good at understanding the criminal personality is to conduct interviews of violent offenders from an investigative perspective. You gather as much information regarding the offenders early childhood and their overall upbringing. You ask questions relative to victim selection, pre and post offense behavior ect...and other information that I already mentioned in my previous note to you. I would also enroll in classes such as criminal psychology, forensic psychology, and forensics. See if your local medical examiner will allow you to look over his or he shoulder as they conduct autopsies. See if your local police will allow you to tag along so you understand their overall perspective as investigators and how their work impacts their lives. Lastly, talk to victims and survivors (family members who were impacted by the crime against their loved one). Join a victim support group in your community and listen to victims and surviving victims and how their lives were changed and what they're trying to do to cope and survive so that they may one day live a "normal" life.

Take care

John D

Hello-

I just watched "Mindhunters" for the first time, 3/15/2009. It caught my attention when I heard the first serial killer you spoke with talk with absolute zero affect in his voice.

Having lived (unknowingly) with a sociopath/psychopath with NPD for years (and being around him as he progressed further into what he is) I was struck with how these people you were interviewing function. The void of emotion as they spoke was dumbfounding. But I instantly recognized what these people are; no conscious, selfish beyond belief, emotionless (yet ironic) adrenaline junkies, ruining people's lives (even taking them) with absolutely no remorse. But the real problem is that they are unredeemable. I agree with you in that all we can do is identify them and lock them up. I never imagined that I would believe that remedy.

(No disrespect intended to your invaluable work in any way at all, but) I am frustrated that people do not realize that you do not have be an extreme serial killer to be a sociopath (coupled with narcissism all too frequently). Good books like Martha Stout's "The Sociopath Next Door" exist on that front but sadly most people do not understand.

What I find is that you don't necessarily need to be a serial killer to do much damage as a sociopath/narcissist. It is also frustrating that TV/movies so grossly misuse the terms sociopath/psychopath that they have lost their meaning and people that generally watch these shows believe these shows to be correct. They don't realize that sociopaths are common. but extreme ones, i.e serial killers, while horrific, are not nearly as prolific. Robert Hare, whom I am sure you are familiar with, writes in his book that there about 200 "Jeffrey Dahlmers" in our population. I think that there may actually be more, but I am amazed that there are as many sociopaths/NPD people around and while they may not neccesarily murder, what they do is close enough in terms of ruining lives (having lived through it, almost, personally). I do not mean to diminish in any fashion the horrific crimes these extreme sociopaths/narcissists commit. I just wish more people understood how prevelant they can be in everyday life.

My frusrtations aside, I give you extreme credit being able to interview these two men while remaining calm, trying to get to truth of the matter. Taking copious notes, I realize I know of another person, that while no where near the cliff these people went over with their obsessions/fantasties, he is much like them; even expressing his desire to take life with a knife as he could feel the life draining from that person. He is not in any kind of position to carry out his desires/obsessions, being very small in stature. I have become privy to his utterly self-centered sexual fantasties (he having written them down). I honestly believe that he is a low-level sociopath with NPD. Never fully capable of commiting/acting on his fantasies but close enough to being one of them that it makes him unredeemable.

think another thing I have noticed is that most of these people, in their arogance. do not believe in God. That would be inconvenient. I think that the only time one of these types of people supposedly believes in a higher power is when it might get them what they want- victims.

You have a new fan, of sorts (with no offense meant), I am interested to watch your series, read your books, etc. My hesistancy is that it is so close to home, in terms of personal experience. I am lucky in that the sociopath I was with (again, unknowlingly, as he was "developing") was the type, once exposed, who basically ran away. Not one to stay and try and control.

"Lucky" is a sad word. I wonder if eventually he would have killed (me). He was "hooked up with" a female sociopath for our entire "marriage." The rage in this person was growing each year. I will rebuild my life, it is mostly a financial ruin (mostly, there are other wounds). But it is a lesson that has opened my eyes to the people around (me). I do not fault any victim (most especially children). But like children, we are far too trusting, always believing these people are redeemable; I think, _wanting— to believe. We can not relate to the horror of what they are and that we are nothing but a means to their evil end. It is, obviously, bone-chilling beyond words.

That is what happened when I caught your show, it was bone-chilling to listen to these killers and their lack of real emotion (not their phoney emotion used to lure us in, pretending that they are really normal), but that shallow effect. I wish I could do more to warn people of what is out there. But like me, people generally only look for the knowledge after the "crime." And we all too often believe it can't happen to me. I can only hope that shows like yours will get someone to recognize a predator/killer in their life. It may be someone you would never imagine.

Thank you for what you do, I can only imagine that is it not easy in any way and the toll it must take on you.

Sincerely,

Rebekah J

Hello Mr. Douglas,

I am a huge admirer. Where would Lawrence Bittaker rank as far as sociopaths go? This guy seems so evil. Not only can I not believe that this man is still alive, but that he is SELLING his drawings and such to the public. Unbelievable. Why is such a despicable man so unknown? Not that he deserves any notoriety. Thank You

Hi Agent Douglas. Before I ask you a question, I'd first like to say thank you for being a dedicated agent who gave hope to so many who lost loved ones at the hands of monsters. Growing up I never considered the personal sacrifices you made to be our lifeline. Even though you never personally were involved in profiling the killer who took my friends The work you did made it possible for me to believe that someday I could figure out who he was and that he would be brought to justice. The state of Louisiana has one of the highest reports of domestic violence cases in the country and it's not unusal that the victim is murdered even after a restraining order has been issued and the offender has been reported several times for being in violation of it . My experience with a stalker leaves me to believe that police officers are not trained in how to deal with these type of situations. Is there a profile of these type of individials or collective data that shows the different types of behavior stalkers use against their victims and if so is this information available to the victims or police. Since most serial killers began as home invaders or stalkers, Why is stalking treated as a civil matter? and why is proving you're the victim of such and gathering the evidence the responsibility of the victim? Perhaps if officers were better trained about stalkers and their ability to make the victim of their behavior look paranoid or stupid the officers would not be as quick to write these reports off as mental cases and it wouldn't be necessary for them to state when a killer is finally caught, "Well we had these reports....". How do you get them to pay attention and why do police have such a hard time admitting that there is a serial killer among us? If there are several unsolved murders and no suspects do they honestly think that people haven't considered that possibility? In my opinion a little fear is better than false hope. And another thing that makes it difficult to capture a serial killer is that people and police have this idea about serial killers and if the person you tell them about don't fit their image then you're treated as if you're the one with the problem. Their perception or lack thereof can cost someone their life, so how do you get them to realize denial doesn't change the fact?