Former nurse turned FBI profiler reveals why the most lethal killers lack remorse

Candice DeLong began her career as a psychiatric nurse at Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago before an FBI agent encouraged her to join the bureau. Over a 20-year span she investigated violent crimes, contributed to the operation that captured the Unabomber, and later spoke with numerous convicted murderers for television. Her interviews consistently revealed that the most lethal killers are psychopaths who recognize their deeds yet feel no remorse, allowing them to repeat offenses.

Although many murderers experienced abusive or neglectful upbringings, DeLong argues that the pivotal factor is the lack of guilt after the first murder, especially when early crimes go unpunished. This emotional detachment drives behaviors such as revisiting crime scenes or keeping victim souvenirs to relive the act. She cautions that while most incarcerated killers are not monstrous, certain individuals should never be released due to the risk of reoffending.