How Crime Works: Insights from a Former Police Detective

🔍Serial killers are individuals who have killed three or more people over a period of 30 days or more.

💡Serial killers often have an aura of respectability and positioned status in life.

🔎Investigation of serial killers involves profiling, analyzing crime scenes, and building a picture of the offender.

🧩Identifying potential suspects and collecting evidence, including DNA, is crucial in solving murders.

📺Social media and technology play a significant role in modern investigations, providing valuable information about suspects.

How are serial killers arrested?

—Serial killers are arrested like any other criminal, with reasonable grounds for arrest and careful planning to secure evidence.

What happens if a serial killer is not caught?

—If a serial killer is not caught, they may continue to offend and remain unidentified for many years.

Why are some serial killers not convicted for all of their crimes?

—Serial killers may be prosecuted for a limited number of crimes due to lack of evidence or victims being mistaken for other offenders.

How do investigators determine if a suspect is lying?

—Determining if a suspect is lying involves a combination of evidence analysis, behavior observation, and careful interviewing techniques.

Do serial killers have specific characteristics?

—Serial killers can exhibit traits like psychopathy, narcissism, and cognitive distortion, but not all individuals with these traits become killers.

00:00Mark Williams-Thomas, a former police detective, shares insights into how crime works and his experience investigating notorious cases.

03:18Serial killers are defined as individuals who have killed three or more people over a period of 30 days or more.

05:19Investigating serial killers involves profiling, analyzing crime scenes, and building a picture of the offender.

10:09Collecting evidence, including DNA, is crucial in solving murders and linking suspects to crime scenes.

14:32Modern investigations rely on social media and technology to gather information and track suspects.