Confronting a Serial Killer Season 1 Episode 3 Behold The Monster

In episode 3 of Confronting a Serial Killer, titled “Behold The Monster,” host Jillian Lauren continues her exploration into the case of Samuel Little, one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. Little, who has been convicted of killing 50 women, has been willing to speak with Lauren on the condition that she keep his location a secret.

Through interviews with law enforcement officials and survivors, Lauren uncovers more details about Little’s crimes and his patterns of behavior. She learns that Little had a penchant for targeting vulnerable women, often those who were involved in sex work or struggling with addiction.

As Lauren delves deeper into Little’s past, she examines the role that race played in his crimes. Many of his victims were Black women, and some authorities believe that Little specifically targeted women of color because he thought they would be less likely to be missed or reported missing. Lauren also speaks with survivor Mary Louise Smith, a Black woman who was brutally attacked by Little in the 1980s. Smith shares the trauma she endured and the difficulties she faced in getting authorities to take her case seriously.

The episode takes a closer look at the investigation process and the challenges investigators face when trying to solve crimes committed by serial killers. Lauren speaks with former Detective Mitzi Roberts, who worked on the Little case and helped to close some of his cases. Roberts discusses the tactics used to gather evidence and identify victims, as well as the strategies employed to keep the investigation moving forward despite setbacks and obstacles.

Throughout the episode, Lauren struggles with the complicated emotions that come with trying to understand someone as monstrous as Little. She talks with psychologist Dr. Scott T. Meier about the psychology of serial killers, exploring how someone like Little could commit such heinous acts while still appearing to be a normal person on the surface. Lauren also examines the concept of trauma bonding, looking at how Little was able to manipulate and control his victims even as he was physically harming them.

As she continues to confront Little and explore his crimes, Lauren faces uncomfortable truths about herself and her own past. She grapples with questions of agency and consent, exploring the power dynamics at play in Little’s crimes and how they relate to her own experiences as a survivor. Through it all, she remains committed to uncovering the truth about Little’s crimes, and to giving a voice to his victims and survivors.

Overall, “Behold The Monster” is a thought-provoking and emotional episode that sheds light on the complexities of serial killer investigations and the impact of trauma on survivors. Through interviews with experts and firsthand accounts from those impacted by Little, the episode offers a nuanced and compassionate look at a case that many might simply dismiss as too horrific to understand.