Some of the world’s most notorious murders are the subject of “It Takes a Killer,” which investigates the crimes from the perspective of the killers, trying to get inside their minds and determine their motives. Leading homicide investigators and experts from such agencies as the FBI and Scotland Yard take a look at the evidence pulled from crime scenes and profile the killer’s behavior to try to piece together the details of each murder, explaining when, why and how each criminal committed the crime. For the wannabe detectives watching the show, the experts also reveal how the crime was solved — which often requires authorities to think like a killer.
The Craigslist Killer
Aug 7, 2016
Three women who advertised erotic services on Craiglist are assaulted, on of them is killed; surveillance video and witness reports match a man who no one would ever suspect to be a killer.
Chandra Levy
Aug 7, 2016
When government intern Chandra Levy goes missing, detectives discover she may have been having an affair with a senator; a man in jail claims he has information
Jodi Arias
Aug 14, 2016
When a deadly sniper terrorizes the DC area for weeks, frantic police put out an APB for a white van, but the FBI has a theory that there might be more than one sniper, and they're not driving a white van.
A Treacherous Triangle
Aug 14, 2016
When a young man is brutally murdered in his home, the only suspect with a motive is his ex-girlfriend, who claims she hasn't seen the victim for months; detectives uncover evidence, and phone messages that tell a different story.
Phil Spector
Aug 21, 2016
When an aspiring actress is found dead in the home of a legendary music producer, he claims it was suicide. But as detectives piece together the crime scene, study the pattern of blood splatter, and the position of the weapon, they zero in on their suspect and a history of bizarre behavior.
Deaths In The Family
Aug 21, 2016
When three members of the same family die of mysterious causes, police being to suspect they have been poisoned. Detectives exhume bodies and confirm the presence of antifreeze, but who is the poisoner, and why? The secret almost dies when a fourth family member is poisoned, but survives.
Bind, Torture, Kill
Aug 28, 2016
A killer terrorizes Wichita, Kansas, preying on random people and families, tying them up, and strangling them. But then the killer goes quiet. When he resurfaces decades later, police find a way to lure him to reveal his identity - and it's a man no one suspected.
The Ghost Of Baton Rouge
Aug 28, 2016
When a series of women are murdered in Baton Rouge, police draw a profile and begin DNA testing a segment of the city's population - white men. But when one victim survives, she tells detectives they're on the wrong trail. The killer isn't white.
Stephanie Lazarus
Sep 4, 2016
When a newly married woman is killed at home, police believe it's a robbery gone wrong. But 20 years later, an LAPD officer opens the cold case file and sees the crime in a new way. The murder was staged to look like a robbery and the killer could actually be a cop - from the same department.
The Casanova Killer
Sep 4, 2016
When four women are killed at different times in different states after going home from a bar with a handsome young man dressed like a cowboy, detectives don't realize the murders are linked together. When they do, their killer is on the run and the manhunt is on.
The Green River Killer
Over 20 years four-dozen women are murdered in Washington State, many of them prostitutes, and five of the victims are found in the Green River. The notorious killer evades identification for decades, despite being arrested twice.
A Wife Goes Missing
When a mother of two is reported missing, five days after her disappearance, her husband becomes the chief suspect. But is his affair with the nanny enough of a motive to kill? And where is the body?
Stalker Strikes
When a law school student is strangled to death in her bed, detectives discover that someone had been secretly watching her for months. Not only did he videotape her through her second story window, but she knew him extremely well.
The Mutilator of Baton Rouge
A geeky clerk turned prolific serial killer flies under the radar for years, piling up bodies as cops investigate another serial murderer operating in the region.
The Vampire Teens
A group of high school outcasts are on the run through the Southeastern United States after their leader commits a savage double homicide. Cops finally catch the thrill-seeking teens, only to find out they're a makeshift vampire cult.
The Preacher, His Mistress and Murder
A minister, his wife, and a mysterious suicide. When a wife and mother overdoses in a small Texas town, almost no one suspects foul play.
The Sadist of San Luis Obispo
A sexual predator on early release from prison turns the quiet town of San Luis Obispo into a hunting ground, preying on young, unsuspecting, college age women.
The Bladerunner
An Olympic hero shoots his girlfriend at his home in the middle of the night. Has he mistaken her for an intruder or is it all part of a precisely calculated plot to get away with murder?
The Gainesville Ripper
An evil ex-con on the run for attempted murder sets up camp in Gainesville, Florida. But, he's not satisfied just hiding out. This seasoned killer's blood lust cannot be controlled.
The Con Artist Killer
Mother and son crisscross the United States, pulling off every scam and con imaginable. But when these criminal masterminds graduate to multiple homicides, they're finally caught by the long arms of the law.
A Woman Scorned
Oct 14, 2016
A promising young attorney is shot and killed in a jealous rage by an obsessed, on-again off-again girlfriend. But can she convince the jury that she's the victim and get away with murder?
The Fast Food Killer
Oct 14, 2016
A short order cook with aspirations of country stardom falls on hard times. With his dreams crushed, he returns to what he knows best - stick ups - only this time his armed robberies result in a ruthless spree of killing fast food workers.
Murder for Millions
Oct 15, 2016
A millionaire inventor rolls the dice with a much younger fiancee. But he'll soon find out that she and her secret boyfriend have played him for his money and the price of this game is his life.
Author of Death
Oct 15, 2016
Out on parole, an ex-con turned published author goes on a 24-hour killing spree. But when he unknowingly leaves one of his victims alive to identify him, cops who launch a multi state manhunt and bring him to justice.
A Son Snaps
Oct 15, 2016
After years of abuse, a high school valedictorian snaps, viciously stabbing his mother in the family's garage. He almost gets away with her savage murder, except for a couple small inconsistencies in his alibi that reveal his true plans.
Trailer Park Tragedy
Oct 15, 2016
A bizarre lover's triangle turns lethal and a mother of two suddenly disappears. Cops investigate the missing person's case but soon discover it's the coldest murders committed by two jilted ex-lovers.
A Fugitive and a Killer
Oct 15, 2016
When one bodybuilder wants what another bodybuilder has, the end result is a murder-for-hire. The muscle-bound mastermind goes on the lam for nearly a decade only to resurface half a world away.
The Happy Face Killer
Oct 15, 2016
A long-haul trucker with a lust for killing crisscrosses the country looking for his next victim. Police don't connect any of this serial murderer's crimes until he slips up and takes out someone from his inner circle.
Partners in Evil
Oct 15, 2016
Two ex-marines join forces for one sole nefarious purpose - to abduct women and keep them a sex slaves. This evil duo carries out their "operation" with military precision, unafraid to kill innocent civilians along the way.
The Venomous Veterinarian
The disappearance of a decorated military man stumps law enforcement and shocks a central Texas community. But once investigators did into his home life, they uncover a vicious murder plot involving his veterinarian wife.
In Search of a Kill
A drug abuser out on a joy ride kidnaps then kills an innocent coed in Oregon. Investigators spend months attempting to solve what they believe is a missing person's until the perpetrator strikes again 1400 miles away.
Terror on the Strip
A serial killer with a history of serial rape terrorizes Tampa, Florida's red light district, targeting women of night at random. This killer gets away with murder for months, only to be brought to justice by the one victim he let go.
Master Bob
A Michigan town in disbelief after a well-respected real estate entrepreneur becomes the prime suspect in his wife's murder. The investigation into the homicide uncovers a sordid tale of double lives.
The House of Horrors
A former army medic devises a sick plan to kidnap women, impregnate them and keep them in his basement as part of a personal baby farm. When the plans turn to actions, women experience the hell of a veritable house of horrors.
A Wolf in Woman's Clothing
The murder of a millionaire doctor's wife sets off a massive manhunt throughout New England. Law enforcement quickly locates the suspected killer only to find out he has a history of not only violence but also cross-dressing.
Murderous Miranda
An unemployed teen mom and her new husband concoct a plan to kill an innocent man they meet on Craigslist. The end result is a vicious stabbing that sends shock waves through a small Pennsylvania community.
The Slavemaster
A father, husband and businessman by day transforms into a sadomasochistic by night. This veteran con-man lures unsuspecting women with a web of lies and empty promises only to trap them in a world of sex slavery and murder.
An Opportunity to Kill
A wayward ex-marine drifts through central Oregon, off everyone's radar. He's homeless and forgotten about, committing petty crimes here and there, until one day he spots Amyjane and gets the urge to kill.
A Treacherous Triangle
Two prominent doctors, two towns apart, entangled in a passionate rivalry for the same woman's affections. When one loses, he exacts the ultimate revenge, hiring a friend to take out the opposition.
Doctor Death
For more than a decade, a genius doctor with a homicidal hobby gets away with murder at hospitals across two continents. Cops race against incredible odds to track him down just before he takes his next job and kills...again.
The Jigsaw Man
Terror strikes London, England as severed body parts start showing up at random locations across the countryside. Police must piece together the human jigsaw puzzle in order to track down the perpetrator.
Fit to Kill
A beautiful brunette is killed and left inside a burned out luxury car in the high desert. At first, it seems as though the perpetrators have gotten away with murder.
Redneck Retribution
A scorned mistress exacts the ultimate revenge, hiring a group of derelicts to kill the wife of her lover. When the heat comes, she plays the victim and denies any involvement.
Seduced to Death
An evil seductress targets two Georgia police, bleeding them dry, then killing them for their life insurance benefits. This black widow gets away with murder for years before law enforcement untangles her web of seduction.
The Toy Box
state employee wreaks havoc on Southwestern New Mexico, abducting women then keep them captive in his homemade torture chamber, the toy box.
The Acid Lady
A loving father vanishes without a trace in central California, setting off a feverish missing person's investigation. Cops follow the trail of clues and discover that their missing person isn't missing at all.
Killer Cabbie
A serial killer lays siege to Jacksonville, Florida, strangling young African-American women to death then callously discarding of their bodies.
A Random Rampage
A wayward son from a lawless home goes on a 24-hour shooting spree, killing five people from two separate families in two different states.
The Devil Next Door
When a friendly woman without an enemy in the world is savagely murdered inside her rural Louisiana home, cops suspect her killer is an ex-lover.
Enforcer of Death
A British landlord offers free rent to a female "enforcer" if she'll take care of his troublesome tenants. The only problem is she ends up murdering a tenant and the landlord himself.
The Keyes to Murder
A self-taught serial killer crisscrosses the country at random, targeting victims of opportunity and murdering them with stashed weapons and tools he calls "kill kits."
If the Walls Could Talk
The mysterious disappearance of a surgeon's wife sparks a feverish homicide investigation, which quickly goes cold. It takes law enforcement 15 years before they can gather enough circumstantial evidence to bring her killer to justice.
Homicide in the High Desert
When the soon-to-be ex-wife of a prominent investment banker dies inside her home, it initially appears as though she suffered an accidental fall. Yet law enforcement discovers it was no accident but an act of rage by a desperate man.
Bonded in Murder
A street preacher and his teenage protégé run an Internet scam to rob unsuspecting men, steal their identities, then dump their dead bodies in the woods. The scheme works multiple times until one of the marks escapes.
Of Vengeance and Murder
A destitute criminal terrorizes central Florida, robbing middles aged men, executing them and disposing of their dead bodies in random wooded areas.
The Honeybee Killer
A mentally unstable man goes on a two-hour shooting spree, killing one man and wounding two others. Cops have no suspects in that homicide, until the shooter resurfaces to rob a tanning salon.A mentally unstable man goes on a two-hour shooting spree, killing one man and wounding two others. Cops have no suspects in that homicide, until the shooter resurfaces to rob a tanning salon.
The Bad Son
A gunman attempts to take out an entire family one by one as they enter their house. It takes law enforcement nearly two years to crack the code behind the murders only to find out they were masterminded by someone too close for comfort.
Killer Rabbi
When a rabbi's wife is murdered inside the family's New Jersey home, it looks like a robbery gone wrong. After years of chasing down leads, police catch a break, in the form of a co-conspirator.
Murderous Ambition
When a husband and his pregnant wife are shot leaving a child birthing class, police are lead to believe it's a random act of violence. But after weeks of eliminating false suspects, cops lock in on the real perpetrator.
Spoiled, Rotten, & Ruthless
After three members of an affluent family are mowed down inside their home, law enforcement locks in on a primary person of interest.
A Split Personality
When a woman is gunned down in the parking lot of her therapist's office building, it looks like a random act of violence. But security footage and eyewitnesses quickly reveal that the murder is part of a larger scheme. Stars
The Poughkeepsie Predator
A serial killer lays siege to upstate New York, targeting women of the night, one by one. Law enforcement investigates the cases for nearly two years, until they find out the perpetrator has been living amongst their dead bodies.
What Happened to Jana
The search for an adored local businesswoman who vanished without a trace quickly morphs into a homicide investigation after police discover microscopic evidence inside the woman's home and car.
The Grimm Sleeper
A merciless killer terrorizes South Los Angeles during the 1980s then appears to go dormant for 14 years only to resurface in the most hideous way possible.
Dreaming of Murder
A woman's clairvoyant dream leads cops in coastal Florida to the body of a dead woman hidden in the bushes on a pristine beach.
Bodyparts in My Pocket
A serial killer crisscrosses the state of California, leaving a trail of dead bodies in random location. Law enforcement cant catching the dangerous sociopath, until he show us at a police station with a victim's body part in his pocket.
Menace to Society
A serial predator targets men at gay bars, leaving a trail of dead bodies along the southeastern United States. Cops struggle to play catch up, until the perpetrator leaves behind a key piece of evidence at a crime scene.
The Burial He Wanted
The disappearance of a wealthy retiree in South Florida quickly turns from a missing person's case to a full blown homicide investigation focused around an unexpected perpetrator and her convoluted plan to get away with murder.
The Green Widow
The murder of a man inside his suburban Los Angeles home sets off a chain reaction of murder, conspiracy, and furious cover ups, which ultimately point back to a mastermind who's in it for the money.
The Snitch Who Kills
Law enforcement investigates a series of unsolved murders in the state of Colorado over the course of a year, only to realize all the seemingly isolated incidents all point back to a single FBI informant.
Blood Thicker Than Marriage
Cops investigate the apparent carjacking of a husband and wife in East Los Angeles, California only to discover that the ambush was a ruse, carried out by cousins, to kill the husband for insurance money.
Too Late to Say Sorry
A triple homicide in small town Maine rocks a community and destroys a family. It doesn't take police long to piece together the elements of the crime, and its ruthless cover-up, which point back to a perpetrator close to home.
Mad Maksim
A disgruntled man snaps and goes on killing spree, terrorizing the entire borough of Brooklyn, New York. Cops track the killer's trail of victims for more than 24 hours before they finally hunt him down across the city.
he Clear Lake Murders
Four young adults are gunned down inside an affluent home in a quiet suburb of Houston, Texas. Police investigate the quadruple homicide for three years before arriving at a coldblooded killer with a convoluted motive.
Cheat, Kill, Deny
A central California community is rocked when a pregnant wife vanishes without a trace on Christmas Eve. After months of tireless investigation, and conversations with a critical informant, cops make two grisly discoveries.
Brothers in Arms
A bloodbath inside a Beverly Hills, California mansion sparks a high publicized investigation. After months working the case, law enforcement uncovers the secrets of a family so deep in turmoil that a coldblooded murder plot was
Down in Flames
The discovery of a burned body on the side of the road in Dallas kick starts a furious race to find a killer. With surveillance footage and a string of eyewitnesses, it takes local police less than 72 hours to identify the perpetrator.
They'll Never Find Her Body
A dedicated mother disappears from suburban Los Angeles, leaving behind three kids and a husband she planned to divorce. Law enforcement quickly determines she's been the victim of a homicide.
Mother Knows Death
A homicide at the intersection of a teenage daughter and her boyfriend who can't get out from underneath a mother's overbearing eye. Once cops unravel the twisted web of lies, they uncover the shocking truth behind a murder plot.
Rage and Anger
The random murder of a woman in Central Montana sends law enforcement on the hunt for a killer. Using a network of informants and good old fashioned methods the authorities track down the mentally unstable man behind the motiveless crime.
A Preference for Poison
When a Southern California high school teacher suddenly dies, it appears his death was due to natural causes. But once law enforcement starts looking into his widow, they uncover her treacherous past and preference for using poison to kill.
Mrs. Wrong
A heartbroken millionaire marries a much younger woman who turns out to be Mrs. Wrong. The end result is a shotgun blast to the stomach and a lethal dose of poison.
Blood on the Chef's Apron
When a chef's wife goes missing from Southern California, it initially appears she may have voluntarily walked away from the life she knew. Yet, after months of investigation, detectives uncover she was the victim of a ruthless homicide.
Process of Elimination
A vicious custody battle ends when one of the parents vanishes without a trace. Law enforcement investigates the usual suspects only to uncover a seemingly premeditated murder and a sickening attempt to cover it up.
Of Disbelief and Death
A controversial family of atheists walks away from their life's work without warning. When law enforcement stops investigating the disappearances, an intrepid journalist picks up the torch and hunts down a mastermind hell-bent on revenge.
Lethal Payback
Cops in suburban Fort Worth, Texas investigate a brutal killing at a construction site. After months of interviews, extensive forensic analysis, and a massive process of elimination, homicide detectives finally track down a suspect.
The Son of Sam
A deranged man, with an unforgettable nickname, terrorizes New York City in the late 1970s, leaving a trail of dead and wounded in his wake. This killer operates with impunity for nearly 13 months until a parking ticket lead to his capture.
A Coldblooded Cover Up
Police in rural Minnesota investigate the murder of a missing woman whose body was dumped next to an abandoned farmhouse. After a year of investigation, and with the help of some unlikely informants, they narrow down the suspect pool.
An Axe to Grind
A husband and wife are savagely attacked by an axe wielding murderer. When the wife survives, but loses her memory of the attack, police must rely on the evidence to see if her pre amnesia identification of the killer proves true.
Six Degrees of Serial Murder
A transient turned serial killer uses Louisiana's capital city as his private hunting, leaving a trail of dead women over a three-year span. Cops struggle to stop him, until he leaves a survivor and brings him to justice.
Fatal Secrets
The mystery of a soccer mom moonlighting as an escort who disappears from Western Colorado. It takes homicide detectives nearly seven years to unravel a horrific cover up perpetrated by a suspect they'd identified from the outset.
Killer Handyman
The brutal murder of a recent widower inside his North Dakota home. Law enforcement quickly uncover evidence that reveals the homicide is part of a desperate plan from a person almost too close for suspicion.
Rhode Island Ripper
Women in a working-class Rhode Island town begin mysteriously disappearing. Cops investigate and discover the dark obsession of a serial killer nobody suspected.
Cleveland Killer
A damaged man turns Cleveland, Ohio into a hunting ground as part of a twisted plot to exact revenge on the women who hurt him. After 10 months of terror, can cops bring him to justice?
New Orleans Massacre
A merciless triple homicide in New Orleans, Louisiana leaves law enforcement with puzzling clues. But as they piece together the mystery, they quickly realize there's way more to the murders than a robbery gone wrong.
The Missing Pendant
The murder of a grandmother in the suburbs of Cincinnati sends a small-town police department into a furious hunt for a killer. It takes nearly a year until a piece of jewelry as unique as a fingerprint brings the murderer to justice.
The Informant
In Southern California, law enforcement hunt for a serial killer who is targeting elderly women within a few mile radius. After weeks of searching, a survivor comes forward with a description that blows the case wide open.
Bayou Strangler
A serial predator terrorizes Southeastern Louisiana strangling men to death and disposing of their bodies like trash. This deranged killer gets away with murder for nearly a decade until a potential victim escapes his clutches.
Cold Storage Killer
Police follow the trail of a young Californian woman who vanishes without a trace. Authorities work the missing person investigation for years until a random encounter turns them onto a chilling discovery and an even colder criminal.
Nameless in New Jersey
The discovery of a Jane Doe underneath a New Jersey bridge kick starts an intensive investigation to figure out who she is and how she died.
Targeted Teacher
The murder of a respected college professor sends shock waves through suburban Richmond, Virginia. Cops investigate the homicide nonstop until evidence reveals a cold-blooded killer's premeditated plot.
Lone Star Killer
A church-going mother with no known enemies suddenly disappears from Northeastern Texas. As cops investigate the missing persons case they uncover a serial predator from the shadows and rush to stop him before he kills again.
Missing in Minnesota
The clock is ticking as police in northern Minnesota rush to rescue a kidnapped college student. It takes NASA technology for law enforcement to uncover the identity of the abductor, who turns out to be a serial predator.
A Killer Hand
The slaying of a casino worker in Las Vegas, Nevada sends panic through Sin City. When cops investigate beyond the bright lights of the strip, they uncover a murder conspiracy that is months in the making.
