SAN FRANCISCO, California – Jana Monroe, a former FBI agent, was left shaken after receiving a phone call from Edmund Kemper, also known as “The Co-Ed Killer.” This encounter with the notorious serial killer, known for his chilling monotone voice and lack of emotion, had a lasting impact on Monroe.
In the early 1990s, Monroe, a member of the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit at Quantico, Virginia, found herself face-to-face with Kemper. “He left me shaken,” Monroe admitted. “He didn’t seem human. That monotone voice – it’s very chilling. He just didn’t seem human.”
Monroe, who was the model for Clarice Starling in “The Silence of the Lambs,” recently wrote a memoir titled “Hearts of Darkness: Serial Killers, the Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI.” The memoir explores the challenges she faced in the male-dominated Bureau, as well as the deeply disturbing cases she has encountered throughout her career.
Kemper, known for his towering 6’9″ frame, committed his first murder at the age of 15. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Kemper was released from a maximum-security hospital and went on an 11-month killing spree in the ’70s, resulting in the deaths of eight people, including his own mother.
Reflecting on Kemper’s intelligence and lack of conscience, Monroe expressed her shock at his cold and emotionless demeanor. She also revealed that Ted Bundy, one of the nation’s most infamous serial killers, refused to speak to female investigators, showing his disrespect for women.
Monroe hoped to shed light on the cases she studied over the years, providing insights into the mysterious psychology of serial killers. She emphasized that serial killers often do not fit the stereotypical image in people’s minds, as they can often appear normal and engage in social interactions.
The book, according to Monroe, aims to help people understand the unsettling allure of serial killers and why they continue to fascinate the public.