Wecht Institute to Explore Serial Killers in ‘Hunting the Hunters’ Symposium

Public fascination with serial killers like Ted Bundy or the Golden State Killer is the impetus behind the theme of the latest symposium by the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law. Hunting the Hunters: An Interdisciplinary Investigation into Serial Killing will be held from Wednesday, Sept. 11, to Friday, Sept. 13, in the Power Center Ballroom.

Hunting the Hunters: An interdisciplinary Investigation Into Serial Killing

“Given the public’s growing interest in serial killers, we are excited to bring such a distinguished group of speakers to Duquesne to explore this topic,” Ben Wecht, Wecht Institute program administrator, said. “It’s long been our tradition to educate professionals and the public about the critical role of the forensic sciences in the investigation and prosecution of challenging cases; and this event will perpetuate that tradition.”

Open to the campus community and to the public, the symposium will explore motivations and methods of famous serial killers, including Bundy and Dennis Rader, also known as “The BTK Killer.” Other topics to be addressed include why most serial killers are men, reasons the insanity defense rarely succeeds in serial killer cases and the distinguishing characteristics of serial killers versus “spree” killers.

Among the symposium presenters are:

  • Ann Wolbert Burgess, psychiatrict nursing pioneer whose work inspired the character of Dr. Wendy Carr in Netflix’s popular television series Mindhunter
  • Jerry Clark, former FBI agent who led the investigation into Erie’s “pizza bomber” case
  • Julie Grant, Court TV co-anchor and former assistant district attorney for Allegheny County
  • Katherine Ramsland, author of Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader and director of the M.A. in Criminal Justice program at DeSales University
  • Kathy Kleiner Rubin, one of Bundy’s two surviving victims.

Additional presenters include legal experts, psychologists and criminalists who will share their unique perspectives on understanding, identifying, capturing and prosecuting serial killers.

Hunting the Hunters has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 14 hours of Substantive CLE credit. Duquesne is offering 14 contact hours for nurses, social workers and psychologists. This course also has been approved by the Pennsylvania Coroners Education Board for eight hours of continuing education.

Duquesne University full-time faculty, staff and students can attend the symposium at no cost by contact the institute at wechtinstitute@duq.edu. Space is limited.

For more information, including costs and the program agenda, and to register, visit the symposium website at https://duq.edu/serialkillers.