West Palm Beach, Fl – Forget what you see in movies and on TV about serial killers and how they're caught. A new podcast interview reveals the true realities of investigating these criminals and highlights the crucial role of the FBI. This revealing discussion is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the show's website.
A serial killer, or serial murderer, is defined as someone who kills three or more people over a period, driven by psychological gratification. The FBI identifies motives like anger, thrill-seeking, financial gain, and attention-seeking. Serial killers often have specific victim profiles, such as demographic traits or gender. The FBI meticulously analyzes these patterns to track down the killers and understand their motives. Despite being distinct from mass murderers, spree killers, or contract killers, serial killers can share traits with these other types of criminals.
The term "serial killer" is credited to former FBI special agent Robert Ressler, who used "serial homicide" in a 1974 lecture at the Police Staff College in Bramshill, England. Ann Rule's book "Kiss Me, Kill Me" credits LAPD detective Pierce Brooks with coining the term and creating the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) system in 1985.
Criminologist Ernst Gennat first used the German term "Serienmörder" ('serial murderer') in 1930 to describe Peter Kürten. Peter Vronsky, in his book "Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters" (2004), notes that while Ressler popularized "serial homicide" in 1974, the terms "serial murder" and "serial murderer" appeared earlier in John Brophy's "The Meaning of Murder" (1966) and a 1967 Washington, D.C. newspaper review.
Every day, law enforcement officers across America respond to murders. Each homicide case is tragic, but serial murders are particularly heartrending and difficult to comprehend. For years, investigators, academics, mental health experts, and the media have studied serial murder, from Jack the Ripper in the late 1800s to the sniper killings in 2002, and from the “Zodiac Killer” in California to the “BTK Killer” in Kansas. These diverse groups have long attempted to understand the complex issues related to serial murder investigations. Until the Serial Murder Symposium, there had been few attempts to reach a consensus on these issues.
The FBI is committed to understanding these horrific acts. The FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime stands ready to assist state, local, and international partners. The FBI believes the best way to combat any threat — be it terrorism, gang violence, or serial murder — is to combine knowledge and resources with those of its partners and to work as a team. Partnerships formed through efforts like the Serial Murder Symposium are crucial in this endeavor.
Michael Harrigan, a retired FBI agent, military veteran, and former police officer from Connecticut, is the featured guest in the podcast. He discusses the FBI's role in investigating serial killers, sharing insights from his career and highlighting the differences between police work and FBI operations, from desk work to field dangers, spanning from Quantico to Washington, D.C. Harrigan delves into the lesser-known aspects of the FBI’s role in investigating and arresting serial killers.
After retiring from the FBI, Michael Harrigan is now a key figure at the Pax Group LLC. His experiences and expertise offer a unique perspective on the complexities of investigating serial killers.
For an in-depth look into the FBI’s role in arresting serial killers, listen to this insightful interview on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the show's website.
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