The Consult: Real FBI Profilers

Writer and researcher Michael Butterfield joins retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley to answer listener questions about the Zodiac Killer case.Michael is the host of the podcast Zodiac: A to Z and the author of the new book The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America's Most Elusive Murderer. You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/84-profiling-the-zodiac-killer-part-listener-questions/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part 4 of our series on the Zodiac Killer, we continue our discussion with Zodiac expert Michael Butterfield for a deep-dive discussion into the personality and behavioral characteristics of the infamous, unidentified serial killer. We explore what may have been beneath the mask of calculated manipulation and deadly intent.Michael is the host of Zodiac: A to Z and the author of a new book The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America’s Most Elusive Murderer.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/83-profiling-the-zodiac-killer-part-4/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writer, researcher, and podcaster Michael Butterfield returns for Part 3 of our discussion on the Zodiac case. In this episode, we discuss the murder of Paul Stine, a cab driver who was shot and killed by the Zodiac on October 11, 1969, in San Francisco.Michael is the host of the podcast Zodiac: A to Z and the author of the upcoming book The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America’s Most Elusive Murderer, scheduled for release on May 6, 2025.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/82-profiling-the-zodiac-killer-part-3/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writer, researcher, and podcaster Michael Butterfield returns for Part 2 of our discussion on the Zodiac case. In this episode, we focus on the chilling attack at Lake Berryessa on September 27, 1969. The victims were college students Cecelia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell. While Bryan survived, Cecelia tragically succumbed to her injuries.Michael walks us through the details of this attack and how it differed from the earlier shootings. We discuss what the killer’s behavior may reveal, and how it fits within the broader pattern of attacks attributed to the Zodiac.Michael is the host of Zodiac: A to Z and the author of the upcoming book The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America’s Most Elusive Murderer, scheduled for release on May 6, 2025.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/81-profiling-the-zodiac-killer-part-2/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writer, researcher, and podcaster Michael Butterfield joins us to examine the series of murders attributed to the person who called himself the Zodiac. Michael has dedicated 30-plus years to investigating this case. In this episode, we discuss the earliest known attacks: the December 20, 1968, murders of Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday on Lake Herman Road in Benicia, California, and the July 4, 1969, shooting of Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau at Blue Rock Springs Park in Vallejo, California. (Michael survived.)You can listen to Michael's podcast, Zodiac: A to Z, a deep-dive series that methodically examines the Zodiac Killer case, exploring each suspect, clue, and theory with a focus on separating fact from speculation. Michael also has an upcoming book titled The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America's Most Elusive Murderer, scheduled for release on May 6, 2025.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/80-profiling-the-zodiac-killer-part-1/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We answer listener questions about our analysis of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/79-profiling-the-murderer-of-hae-min-lee-listener-questions/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our analysis of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, exploring her victimology and risk level. We then conclude with our assessment of the offender’s characteristics and motive.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/78-profiling-the-murderer-of-hae-min-lee-part-2/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We begin our examination of the murder of 18-year-old Hae Min Lee, who disappeared after school on January 13, 1999. Nearly a month later, on February 9, her body was discovered in Baltimore’s Leakin Park. In this episode, we break down the circumstances of her disappearance, the crime scene, and the autopsy. Through an in-depth discussion of behavior, we analyze what it reveals about the offender and their possible motive. Part 1 of 2.You can follow The Consult on social media: X/TwitterInstagramFacebook For additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/77-profiling-the-murderer-of-hae-min-lee-part-1/ Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and senior polygraph examiner George Olivo joins The Consult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the polygraph. With years of experience administering polygraphs, he explains how they really work, their strengths and limitations, and the myths that have surrounded them.For more information about George Olivo and his services, please visit his website: https://georgeolivo.com/You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/76-the-polygraph-with-retired-fbi-agent-george-olivo/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jason Usry, host of the new podcast Inconceivable: The Story of Temujin Kensu, joins The Consult to discuss his investigation into the 1986 murder of Scott Macklem. Temujin Kensu was convicted of the crime, but many believe he was wrongfully convicted. Jason approached the case with an open mind, initially assuming Kensu’s innocence before uncovering more complex truths. This episode explores his journey, his visit to Michigan, and conversations with those involved.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.