10 Most Shocking FBI Agent Interviews

10 Most Shocking True Crime FBI Agent Interviews

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at ten of the most disturbing interviews involving FBI agents.

Jim Clemente on JonBenét Ramsey

Retired FBI profiler Jim Clemente dissects the JonBenét Ramsey case with a fierce intensity. In the CBS miniseries “The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey,” Clemente and a group of other experts analyze the Ramsey case with a chilling eye for detail. He physically walks viewers through the tragic timeline and forcefully dismantles the inconsistencies in the story, like the infamous ransom note. Watching a seasoned behavioral analyst reconstruct one of America’s most haunting unsolved mysteries right before your eyes makes for gripping television, and it shows you exactly why these guys are the pros.

Candice DeLong on the Psychology of Murder

The formidable Candice DeLong was a former Head Profiler at the FBI’s San Francisco division, and she brings a no-nonsense perspective to her on-camera interviews. Appearing on countless news programs and starring in her own show “The Deadly Type”, her blunt delivery has made her a true crime TV icon. Having hunted monsters like the Unabomber, DeLong doesn’t mince words when describing the perpetrators that she has pursued. Instead of romanticizing these criminals, she ruthlessly dissects their cowardice, raging narcissism, and brutal detachment. Her razor-sharp commentary slices right through the myths and glamour surrounding serial killers, giving audiences a heavy dose of reality when it comes to true crime.

Gary Noesner on the Waco Siege

Former FBI Chief Hostage Negotiator Gary Noesner takes us straight into the explosive pressure cooker of the Waco siege in this interview with Megyn Kelly. He recounts talking to David Koresh throughout the historic ordeal and realizing with creeping horror that the cult leader was actively preparing his followers for a destructive end. Hearing the raw frustration and psychological burden from the man tasked with talking Koresh off the ledge makes for incredibly poignant footage, and it serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating human cost when federal law enforcement collides with extreme fanaticism.

Jim Fitzgerald on Ted Kaczynski

Forensic linguist Jim Fitzgerald dives deep into the twisted brilliance of the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, bringing an academic edge to the true crime genre. Featured heavily in specials, podcasts, and news interviews, Fitzgerald is a naturally gifted storyteller, and his talents are on full display in this episode of “Cold Red Podcast.” Fitzgerald sits down with fellow FBI agent Raymond Carr to recount the story of how they caught the Unabomber. It’s a full hour of dense information, but it gives viewers a fascinating insight into how exactly the FBI caught a reclusive bomber. It’s essential listening for anyone even remotely interested in criminal profiling and investigative work.

Jolene Goeden & Israel Keyes

In 2012, FBI agent Jolene Goeden sat down with serial killer Israel Keyes to discuss his heinous actions. The FBI personally uploaded the series of interviews, and Goeden herself later met with ABC to recount the details of the confession. Both outlets provided all the sordid details that you could possibly ask for. Keyes is completely detached, recounting the murders of several people like he’s talking about last night’s dinner. It’s a horrifying glimpse into the mind of a psychopath, highlighting the fact that they simply don’t think about human lives in the ways that most people do.

Mary Ellen O’Toole & Gary Ridgway

This agent’s many sit-downs with the Green River Killer are deeply jarring, and perhaps not for the reasons you may think. Ridgway confessed to murdering dozens of women, yet O’Toole explains how “normal” he appears. Her sharp and analytical delivery underscores the darkest part of the case - that serial killers aren’t as “dramatic” as the movies make you think. He had a family, he spoke politely, and he even brought his son’s toys into his car to fool victims into thinking he was a kind family man. O’Toole’s composed, expert breakdown of such extreme sociopathy highlights the profound disconnect between the killer and his actions, and seeing such a notorious figure like Ridgway in person always makes for a surreal experience.

Jack Garcia on the Gambino Crime Family

Legendary undercover agent Jack Garcia shifts the focus from serial killers to the Mafia with a number of electrifying sit-downs. Having spent 24 years infiltrating criminal organizations, Garcia’s interview with “60 Minutes Australia” proves that he survived on pure nerve. Operating deep inside the Gambino family as heavy-hitting gangster Jack Falcone, Garcia’s animated storytelling pulls you right into the paranoid underworld. He vividly describes the anxiety of wearing a wire around ruthless capos and the paranoia that he still lives with as a surviving rat. If you want a riveting story, Garcia’s larger-than-life personality and engrossing anecdotes deliver gripping suspense that feels straight out of a Scorsese film.

Robert Ressler & Jeffrey Dahmer

The late Robert Ressler, the man who helped coin the term “serial killer,” carries the heavy authority of someone who spent his life studying murderers. And it was Ressler who had the unfortunate task of assessing Jeffrey Dahmer’s sanity. Their interviews were captured on audio, and they depict not a raving lunatic, but a man who is unnervingly polite. Hearing Dahmer talk, you wouldn’t think this was the man who was responsible for some of the most grotesque murders in American history. But then you hear him talk about drilling holes into people’s skulls and turning them into zombies and you’re reminded of just what a monster he truly was.

Bill Hagmaier & Ted Bundy

Bill Hagmaier’s emotional deep dive into the final days of Ted Bundy is uniquely devastating. Hagmaier was the only man Bundy trusted before his execution. He sat down with Hagmaier for a number of interviews between 1984 and 1989, their conversations spanning over 200 hours. What started as a psychological chess match eventually evolved into a complex dynamic where Bundy referred to Hagmaier as his best friend. They talked about the developmental process of a serial killer, the role of violent media, Bundy’s own crimes, and even other active serial killers of the time (like the aforementioned Gary Ridgway). It was basically a real life “Silence of the Lambs.”

John Douglas & Ed Kemper

John Douglas is considered the father of behavioral science, being a pioneer in the field of criminal profiling and serving as unit chief in the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. His exploits were dramatized in “Mindhunter,” which is based on Douglas’s book of the same name from 1995. Conducted in the late ‘70s, the interviews between Douglas and serial killer Ed Kemper are a watershed moment in the history of criminology, with Douglas learning valuable insights regarding a killer’s psychology, motivations, and intelligence. And yes, the content is understandably horrible, considering the extent of Kemper’s crimes and his own admissions towards them. Interviewing Kemper fundamentally changed how the FBI approached interrogations, and none of the other interviews on this list would be possible without them.

Could you do what these guys do? Let us know in the comments below!