Dr. Ann Burgess is the mother of four in Newton, Massachusetts. She is also an expert in teaching FBI agents how to introduce serial killers.
Burgess is a professor of psychiatric nursing at Boston College Nursing School. Her incredible story is now the subject of Hulu's documentary.
She began interviewing rape victims in the 1960s, and that was not done.
Burgess, 88, told WBZ-TV: “It’s not popular.
Her husband worked in the computer industry, obtained a pilot license and flew back and forth to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
"I'm taking care of the kids when traveling between Boston and Quantico," Burgess said.
But what she gathered from these interviews, and their revelation of the killer’s ideas, changed everything. Burgess began to see behavior patterns – men engaged in small crimes were often raped and often escalated to murder.
"Thinking drives behavior, it's not the other way around. So you have to get into what's happening in your mind. It's not easy," she said.
As media coverage of serial killers exploded in the 70s and 80s, from "Sam's son" arrive Ted Bondythe FBI brought her in. Agents have always adhered to the “fair fact, lady” style of investigation, but now they need Burgess and her academic expertise. What she got was a record interview with serial killers for hundreds of hours. She started to see these patterns again.
But talking to authority in a room full of men presents challenges historically at the time. How long did it take her to get them to listen to her theories?
Burgess smiled and said, "For a long time. I don't think some of them even got it." Burgess said with a smile. She is trying to change a way of thinking about sexual assault and murder that has been wandering in many situations since the Victorian era. "They're not ready yet," Burgess said.
Her story of working in the FBI behavioral science unit is the subject of Hulu documentary Planner: Think like a killeris streaming now.
She is candid about the kind of sexism she faces, but she also admits she is happy to have FBI agents talk about public profiles in public while staying in the background.
"Yes, I like to stay behind the scenes, and that's what I do at the academy," Burgess said.
But it’s also out of fear that a serial killer may follow her or her family.
"I bought the gun. I practiced. I got the perfect shot and got the bull market every time, so I felt good about it."
Her work has taken her into high-profile cases. She is an expert Brothers Menendez'For the first trial, she mastered the behavior pattern Bill Cosby and women.
"She had this vision for all kinds of different aspects of crime analysis," said Steven Constantine, vice president of marketing and communications at BC Nursing School. "It became popular before doing so."
Constantine encouraged her to write a book about her experience, which led to a documentary. He said she has a huge cultural influence.
"She also inspired a lot of these characters, (Law and Order) SVU," Constantine said. "So, none of these pop cultures explicitly said they were her, so it's nice that she had the opportunity to tell her story in her own words."
He noted that when you see the female FBI agent of her time in a movie or TV series, it is Dr. Ann Burgess.
In "Silence of the Lamb," FBI agents of Clarice Starling's boss are one of the agents Burgess works with. Hannibal Lecter is “a combination of three of the worst serial killers we have”, she said.
Now, Burgess works with her granddaughter analyses the school shooter. Together, they compile the data based on what the school shooter wrote in the manifesto. Motivation always includes complaints, Burgess said.
"What is the complaint? Then they started to research and develop plans," Burgess said. "The enforcement is like this, and I think they've made great strides in terms of no fatal cases."
She hopes that data can create profile technology to help teachers and teams spot a disturbing sign early before the tragedy. She also seeks to resolve unsolved murders in the Native American population
Burgess also trains nurses to look for signs of rape in memory and dementia care homes, a growing problem. She believes that even if the women who are victims are nonverbal, nurses and families should note when they stop eating or attending group events. This could be a sign of abuse.
The legend still teaches at the age of 88 and has a waiting list for class.
Burgess smiled and said, "I said, when my assessment came, my assessment at Boston College didn't exceed the average teacher's case, and then I'd better consider another job."
In other words, she will look for patterns.
Burgess smiled and said, “I’m looking for patterns.”