Robert K. Ressler | Biography

Robert K. Ressler is one of foremost authorities on the criminal mind. As a young man, Ressler enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1957. He served two years in Okinawa, Japan. He left Army service to attend college at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. During school, he was active in the Army ROTC unit at Michigan State. Upon graduation in 1962, Ressler received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Army's Military Police Corps. While still on active duty, Ressler returned to Michigan State to earn a Master of Science degree in 1968. While in the Army, Ressler was a Provost Marshall, Criminal Investigation Supervisor (CID), Military Police Operations and Intelligence Officer. He served with distinction and received many honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf clusters, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Ressler left active duty in 1970 at the rank of major. He continued to serve his country in the Army Reserves, commanding the 1074th Theater Army Support Group and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. After 35 years of service, he retired from the Reserves in 1992, having attained the rank of colonel.

On February 2, 1970, Ressler joined the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) as a special agent. Initially, he was assigned to investigations of thefts, fraud, pornography, and organized crime. In 1974, he was appointed as a supervisor and assigned to the Behavioral Science Unit as an instructor in criminology. During his FBI career, Ressler instructed agents and other law enforcement personnel in criminology, abnormal criminal psychology, hostage negotiation, threat assessment, criminal personality profiling, crime scene assessment, and criminal investigative analysis. He was instrumental in creating the renowned FBI program, Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP) and was its first director. VICAP is dedicated to assisting law enforcement agencies in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of violent serial killers. VICAP collects, organizes, and analyzes data related to violent crimes, particularly murders. From this information the agency creates profiles for use in investigations of these crimes. To assist in the development of this program, Ressler began to interview and assess known serial killers. Ressler intensively interviewed and analyzed such infamous killers as Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, Charles Manson, and David Berkowitz (the "Son of Sam" killer). From these interviews, Ressler garnered invaluable insight.

Based on his experience and extensive research into the criminal mind, Ressler wrote, Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives (1988) and The Crime Classification Manual (1992). He co-authored his autobiography, Whoever Fights Monsters in 1992 and also Justice is Served (1994) and I Have Lived in the Monster (1997). His real life experiences and books have inspired many books and movies, including The Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, Copycat, and X Files.

Ressler retired from the FBI on August 31, 1990 but continued in his pursuit to understand to abnormal criminal minds of serial killers and their apprehension. In 1990, he formed a consulting company, Forensic Behavioral Services, and served as its director. The company was dedicated to training, lecturing and consultation for both law enforcement and private individuals in the area of violent criminal offenders. Ressler testified as an expert witness in criminal matters and his services and expertise were sought worldwide.