Killer Instinct | FULL EPISODE | The FBI Files

Serial Killer Terrorizes Washington D.C. Area

Overview of the Crimes

• A series of lethal carjackings are reported in the Washington D.C. area, indicating a pattern of violence linked to a serial killer.

• The killer targets lone victims during nighttime, primarily those who own cars, showcasing his methodical approach and elusiveness.

Initial Investigation

• On November 13, 1991, police respond to shots fired at a car dealership in Silver Spring, Maryland; two victims are found—one deceased and another critically injured.

• Detective Ed Day emphasizes the urgency of gathering information quickly due to the time-sensitive nature of homicide investigations.

Victims and Motive Exploration

• Investigators learn that both victims were janitors working late at the dealership; they had no known enemies or motives for being targeted.

• Despite initial assumptions about robbery as a motive due to the crime scene's location, nothing was stolen from either victim or the dealership.

Evidence Collection and Analysis

• The investigation reveals that neither victim's personal vehicle is missing; thus, robbery is ruled out as a motive.

• The critically wounded man dies nine days later without regaining consciousness, eliminating potential eyewitness testimony that could have provided crucial evidence.

Ballistics Examination

• During an autopsy, bullets recovered from the victims become key pieces of evidence; ballistics expert Joe Capera analyzes them for connections to other crimes.

• Capera concludes that all bullets were fired from the same gun—a Ruger .357—indicating a single shooter involved in multiple incidents.

Further Developments in Homicides

• With no clear motive established from personal backgrounds or relationships of the victims, detectives shift focus back to examining potential failed car theft scenarios.

• Detectives theorize that during an attempted theft, one victim may have tried to escape leading to their murder when control was lost by the assailant.

Connection Between Cases

• Three months later, another homicide occurs involving psychology professor Dr. Shaheen Hastriudi; her body is found in Bethesda with signs pointing towards a fatal carjacking.

Unsolved Homicides and Connections

Overview of Recent Homicides

• A detective recalls a recent homicide that occurred a month before the murder of Histrudi, where the victim was shot in the head with a large caliber gun. The victim's keys were found near his body, despite him not owning a car.

• Investigators question whether car theft was the motive behind this case or if it connects to other shootings. They decide to investigate further due to apparent links between cases.

Ballistics Evidence and Patterns

• Ballistics expert Joe Capera conducts a cross-comparison examination of bullets from four homicides, concluding they were all fired from the same weapon, indicating a pattern among the cases.

• Despite connecting these homicides through ballistic evidence and potential motives related to car theft, investigators struggle to understand why the killer chose unarmed victims who posed no threat.

Profile of the Suspect

• Detectives suspect they are dealing with an extremely violent and unpredictable criminal who may still be operating in Montgomery County, where he feels most comfortable committing crimes.

• Authorities believe that stopping this individual is crucial as he is likely to strike again; however, they lack clues for identification.

Importance of Ballistic Evidence

• The only solid connection to the murders is through ballistic evidence. Authorities aim to keep details about bullet matches away from media attention to prevent the suspect from disposing of his weapon.

Bank Robbery Connection

• A man wearing a stocking mask robs a bank in Chantilly, Virginia. Witnesses report seeing him flee in a late model white vehicle matching one stolen from Histrudi's case.

• Investigators trace license plates linked to stolen vehicles but find discrepancies that leave open possibilities regarding their connection to ongoing investigations.

Surveillance Footage Insights

• Detectives request surveillance tapes from the bank robbery which reveal that the robber carried a revolver similar in make and caliber used in previous homicides, raising suspicions about his identity as potentially being connected to multiple crimes.

• FBI Special Agent Robert Coffey notes that video footage showing both the robber and his handgun was shared regionally in hopes of identifying him through public assistance.

Dye Pack Evidence

• Information released indicates that money stolen during the robbery may be covered in red dye due to dye packs activated during escape. This dye stains money permanently making it identifiable later on.

Discovery of Stolen Vehicle

• Police discover an abandoned vehicle bearing stolen plates linked back to Histrudi’s car shortly after the robbery. Blood stains found inside provide critical evidence for investigation purposes.

DNA Match Confirmation

• Technicians extract DNA samples from blood found within Histrudi's vehicle which match his profile, confirming connections between various crimes committed by their suspect.

Understanding Motives

FBI Task Force Investigates Gunman

Multi-Agency Collaboration

• Several FBI agents, including Special Agent Robert Coffey, are part of a task force focused on apprehending a gunman. The FBI's role involves collaboration with various agencies to consolidate investigative efforts.

• Montgomery County Homicide Detective Ed Day emphasizes the importance of this multi-agency approach as it enhances resources and information sharing among jurisdictions.

Understanding the Suspect's Crime Pattern

• Investigators identify a pattern where the suspect steals cars at gunpoint, kills victims, and then uses those vehicles for bank robberies. They begin researching past unsolved cases with similar patterns.

• A previous incident is identified involving a maintenance man who was accosted by a masked gunman demanding car keys. The victim narrowly escapes after being shot.

Evidence Collection and Analysis

• Investigators gather evidence from the carjacking scene, including a bullet fragment lodged in the victim's arm. Ballistics expert Joe Caperra explains that even fragments can provide crucial ballistic evidence.

• Although the bullet fragment matches other recovered bullets, investigators struggle to identify their suspect due to insufficient hard evidence from abandoned vehicles.

Behavioral Insights into the Suspect

• Authorities note that the suspect exhibits boldness and confidence during crimes, remaining at crime scenes longer than expected which raises concerns about his commitment level.

• Investigators believe he has a vengeful personality, feeling wronged by his victims and resorting to excessive violence during carjackings without clear rationale.

Challenges in Apprehending the Suspect

• The use of unnecessary violence during carjackings puzzles authorities; they question why he would kill when it poses greater risks compared to robbing banks.

• The suspect cleverly exploits jurisdictional boundaries by committing crimes across multiple areas, complicating police investigations as no single department can see his entire crime pattern.

Vehicle Recovery Issues

• Each time he abandons stolen cars, he leaves them unlocked with keys visible. This practice complicates recovery efforts as other individuals often drive these vehicles away before forensic evidence can be collected.

• Investigators continue searching for additional unsolved carjackings linked to bank robberies in Virginia while analyzing behavioral patterns of recent incidents involving female victims.

Victim Accounts and Survival Strategies

• In one case near other theft locations, a woman is confronted outside her doctor's office but complies with demands for her keys. Her compliance may have been critical in ensuring her survival during this encounter.

Investigation of a Bank Robbery Suspect

The Initial Crime and Theories

• Investigators are puzzled by the suspect's decision to spare a woman during a bank robbery while killing others, leading to various theories about his motives. They consider racial dynamics, suggesting he may harbor malice towards Hispanic or foreign individuals.

• Another theory posits that the suspect lost control during the crime, with murder being a means to regain it. This highlights the psychological aspects of criminal behavior.

Predicting Criminal Behavior

• The task force aims to anticipate the suspect's next moves, focusing on patterns in his crimes rather than random carjackings. They realize that following each carjacking, a bank robbery typically occurs.

• By identifying which banks he targets and understanding his travel routes, investigators hope to catch him in action after a robbery. This strategic approach emphasizes proactive law enforcement tactics.

Analyzing Crime Patterns

• In spring 1992, FBI and local police analyze crime scenes for patterns, using aerial photographs to identify escape routes and consistencies in the suspect’s behavior. Their goal is to find logical connections among seemingly random incidents.

• A significant finding reveals that all robbed banks are accessible via major roadways, prompting investigators to shift their focus from predicting strikes to intercepting escapes post-robbery.

Implementing Tactical Plans

• Special Agent Robert Coffey outlines a plan involving multiple jurisdictions' law enforcement agencies working together as a net around potential escape routes after bank robberies occur. This collaboration is crucial for effective response times.

• Officers will monitor for carjackings matching the suspect's modus operandi (MO) and prepare for rapid deployment if a bank is robbed shortly thereafter, showcasing an organized tactical response strategy.

Ongoing Surveillance Efforts

• Each morning at 5:00 AM, agents review overnight car theft reports looking for matches with their suspect’s MO before banks open at 9:00 AM; however, months pass without any leads on his whereabouts. This period of inactivity raises concerns about the suspect going underground due to increased scrutiny from law enforcement efforts.

Renewed Activity and Response

• On October 9th, 1992, Baltimore agents report another carjacking involving an armed man fitting their suspect's description; this prompts immediate action from the task force as they believe he may return through their net area soon after committing this crime.

Police Pursuit and Standoff with a Suspect

Initial Encounter and High-Speed Chase

• Officer Klein receives information about a suspect in a black car who is wanted for shooting at an officer in Baltimore. The suspect refuses to pull over, prompting a pursuit.

• The chase escalates as Officer Klein reaches speeds of 90 to over 100 miles per hour while pursuing the suspect from Maryland into Virginia. The suspect aggressively maneuvers through traffic, forcing other vehicles out of the way.

• As the chase continues into West Virginia, Officer Klein has to back off momentarily due to safety concerns for himself and civilians before re-engaging the pursuit.

Confrontation and Tactical Decisions

• After losing control on a small road, the suspect crashes into a curb. Officer Klein approaches with his weapon drawn but notices the suspect leaning towards the passenger seat, raising concern about potential gunfire.

• Officer Klein expresses hesitation about firing his weapon in public due to the risk of hitting innocent bystanders; he acknowledges that any decision made could have lifelong consequences.

• The situation intensifies when the suspect reverses quickly towards Officer Klein's cruiser, seemingly attempting to ram it or strike him directly. This prompts further action from Officer Klein as he follows down an access road where they reach a dead end.

Shootout and Backup Arrival

• In a tense standoff, both parties exchange gunfire; Officer Klein strategically moves positions to avoid being targeted by the suspect's shots while returning fire as well. With backup still minutes away, he fights for survival against an armed assailant in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

• As backup finally arrives after several minutes of intense confrontation, there is relief for Officer Klein knowing he is no longer alone against the heavily armed suspect who had been firing at him repeatedly during their encounter.

Negotiation and Resolution

• Once backup officers are present, negotiations begin with Corporal John Jeffries speaking with the gunman who identifies himself as Alan Newman; he expresses personal issues leading up to this violent incident including relationship troubles and feelings of distress.

• During negotiations lasting approximately 45 minutes, Newman makes an unusual request to speak with his mother which leads police to contact her for reassurance amidst rising tensions between them and him during this standoff situation.

• A breakthrough occurs when Newman emotionally reacts upon hearing details about his favorite cookie from his mother during negotiations; this moment almost leads him to surrender but ultimately does not result in immediate compliance yet creates an opportunity for officers to act decisively against him when he lowers his guard again.

Conclusion of Standoff

• Officers seize their chance when Newman appears vulnerable; they rush in swiftly subduing him effectively ending what could have been a more tragic outcome if left unresolved longer than necessary given how dangerous he was deemed based on prior actions taken throughout this ordeal leading up until now .

Investigation of a Violent Rampage

The Arrest and Charges Against Alan Newman

• Investigators express relief that there is no longer an individual committing violent carjackings across counties, highlighting the significance of their conversation with suspect Alan Newman regarding his involvement in these crimes.

• During the interrogation, Newman displays a cocky demeanor, suggesting he feels confident despite the serious nature of the accusations against him.

Ballistics Evidence and Its Impact

• A ballistics expert conducts tests on Newman's firearm, confirming through unique markings that it was used in multiple murders and attempted homicides, establishing a strong link between Newman and the crimes.

• The ballistics report serves as crucial evidence for the prosecution, providing undeniable proof that could lead to a conviction without much difficulty. This evidence is seen as pivotal in securing a guilty plea from Newman.

Plea Deal and Sentencing

• Faced with overwhelming evidence, Alan Newman opts to plead guilty to all charges rather than risk execution. He receives five life sentences without parole plus an additional 100 years for handgun violations.

Reflection on Collaborative Efforts