Vanessa Richardson

That, and he always brought one with him while robbing banks. The fact that Israel Keyes was a burglar, bank robber, and an arsonist, in addition to a serial killer, is often treated as a footnote in stories. The FBI says Keyes admitted to burglarizing between 20 to 30 homes across America, and his arsons and bank heists may have been directly linked to his murders.

That, and he always brought one with him while robbing banks. The fact that Israel Keyes was a burglar, bank robber, and an arsonist, in addition to a serial killer, is often treated as a footnote in stories. The FBI says Keyes admitted to burglarizing between 20 to 30 homes across America, and his arsons and bank heists may have been directly linked to his murders.

The arsons, presumably to destroy evidence and burn remains. The bank robberies, to fund his life and travels. and also because it felt good.

The arsons, presumably to destroy evidence and burn remains. The bank robberies, to fund his life and travels. and also because it felt good.

The FBI has officially connected Israel to two bank robberies, one in Tupper Lake, New York in 2009, and another in Azle, Texas in 2012, shortly after murdering Samantha Koenig. But they believe he was responsible for many more. The exact number? No one knows for sure. Israel says it was less than a dozen banks. He quotes a similar number of murder victims.

The FBI has officially connected Israel to two bank robberies, one in Tupper Lake, New York in 2009, and another in Azle, Texas in 2012, shortly after murdering Samantha Koenig. But they believe he was responsible for many more. The exact number? No one knows for sure. Israel says it was less than a dozen banks. He quotes a similar number of murder victims.

This is Special Agent Jolene Godin, one of the investigators present during his interviews.

This is Special Agent Jolene Godin, one of the investigators present during his interviews.

But there's no way to know for sure. Israel could have been toying with investigators or outright lying. He's certainly never straightforward in the interviews. They can be incredibly frustrating to listen to. We mentioned in our last episode that Israel originally told FBI agents he wanted the death penalty taken off the table. But at some point, he does a 180.

But there's no way to know for sure. Israel could have been toying with investigators or outright lying. He's certainly never straightforward in the interviews. They can be incredibly frustrating to listen to. We mentioned in our last episode that Israel originally told FBI agents he wanted the death penalty taken off the table. But at some point, he does a 180.

To die and to avoid a media circus.

To die and to avoid a media circus.

It's hard to reconcile that statement with everything else we know about Israel, how he treated other daughters and sons. It's the kind of statement that doesn't fit neatly into our perception of serial killers. There's empathy, concern, maybe some shame as well, which is perhaps fitting because Israel, based on everything we know about his crimes, worked tirelessly to sidestep expectations.

It's hard to reconcile that statement with everything else we know about Israel, how he treated other daughters and sons. It's the kind of statement that doesn't fit neatly into our perception of serial killers. There's empathy, concern, maybe some shame as well, which is perhaps fitting because Israel, based on everything we know about his crimes, worked tirelessly to sidestep expectations.

In addition to studying other serial killers, he watched a lot of CSI and criminal minds. He read books by famous FBI profilers like Mindhunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. He studied his opposition, the people who'd one day try to put him behind bars, how they worked, what they thought of people like him.

In addition to studying other serial killers, he watched a lot of CSI and criminal minds. He read books by famous FBI profilers like Mindhunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. He studied his opposition, the people who'd one day try to put him behind bars, how they worked, what they thought of people like him.

And he used that to mold himself into something both old and new, something unexpected. Maureen Callahan, the author of American Predator, said that Israel had an unprecedented M.O. with zero victim profile and a mode of travel that rendered him undetectable. But so much of what we know about Israel Keyes and his crimes comes from his own words. and his words don't always match his actions.

And he used that to mold himself into something both old and new, something unexpected. Maureen Callahan, the author of American Predator, said that Israel had an unprecedented M.O. with zero victim profile and a mode of travel that rendered him undetectable. But so much of what we know about Israel Keyes and his crimes comes from his own words. and his words don't always match his actions.

The same Israel who asks to be executed, who acts unfazed by his capture, tries to take matters into his own hands in May 2012.

The same Israel who asks to be executed, who acts unfazed by his capture, tries to take matters into his own hands in May 2012.