Most Evil

Brutal killers. What motivates their heinous crimes? One man goes face to face with violent criminals to unlock the minds of the most evil. In this hour, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Stone uses one-on-one interviews to gain insight into the motives, methods and minds of murderers. What caused these people to commit brutal acts of violence? Can their own words give us insight into the nature of their crimes?

Gangs. They lure members with promises of respect, money and power. From armed robbery to murder, they are responsible for some of the most brutal crimes. What drives gangsters to kill? Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Stone examines the world's deadliest gangsters, delving into the cases of psychopathic mafia hitman Richard Kuklinski; Paul and Herman Petrillo, who operate a deadly Philadelphia murder ring; Ervil LeBaron, a polygamist Mormon leader who runs his church like the mafia; and Ismael Cisneros, whose affiliation with street gang MS-13 leads him to murder one of his best friends. Dr. Stone speaks face-to-face with Joseph Salcedo, a Los Angeles gangster whose participation in a retaliatory murder landed him behind bars. Using his scale of evil, Dr. Stone analyzes each killer's vicious acts to determine who is most evil.

Women who kill. They often target those closest to them; partners, family members, friends. Columbia forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Stone uses his scale of evil to understand the minds and motives of women who commit murder. Do women kill less than men, or does the stereotype of being the gentler sex enable them to get away with more heinous crimes? Dorothea Puente cared for elderly alcoholics in her home and killed them with poison one by one; Judy Neelley kidnapped and tortured young women; Betty Broderick, the perfect housewife and mother, gunned down her ex-husband when he left her for a younger woman. Dr. Stone's examination of murderous women highlights who is most evil.

Scheming killers. Liars and con artists who deceive their families, their friends and the public. They use their intelligence to get away with murder. What drives these manipulating minds and who is most evil? Dr. Michael Stone is evaluating the cases of individuals who have planned and schemed to commit heinous crimes. Diane Downs blames a hitchhiker for shooting her children, but a surviving daughter says her mother pulled the trigger. Michael Swango was a brilliant doctor with a dark fascination. He is suspected of killing up to 60 patients. John Robinson fooled his family and community into thinking he was an upstanding citizen and entrepreneur. In reality, he was profiting from the deaths of vulnerable women. Dr. Stone then travels to Georgia to interview Martha Ann Johnson, who was convicted of killing her daughter in an attempt to get her husband back. How do schemers fool the people around them and what makes them different from other killers?

Charles Manson's name is synonymous with evil itself. Almost forty years after the Tate-LaBianca murders, history's most infamous criminal still inspires fascination and fear. But Manson himself never killed anyone. Instead, he convinced young, middle-class men and women to commit unthinkable acts of violence. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Stone speaks with two of Manson's followers to gain insight into his power: Catherine Share, known in the family as "gypsy," and Barbara Hoyt, a follower who nearly became Manson's next victim. Vincent Bugliosi, the man who put Manson and his most devoted followers behind bars, retraces his investigation into Manson and his motives. With his scale of evil, Dr. Stone investigates what gave Manson his incredible powers of manipulation . . . and why his name still generates such fear.

Revenge is one of the more common motives for murder. Much less comprehensible and much more dangerous are killers who are not content with eliminating the object of their hatred. Seeking out anyone who reminds them of the enemy, they kill again and again. "Mad Dog" McCafferty killed three people to avenge his son's death. Anatoly Onoprienko, abandoned in an orphanage by his father, sought out revenge on any happy family he encountered. What accounts for violent vengeance? Dr. Stone probes the science of revenge to profile these killers, looking for clues that might shed light on their motives.

Some killers seek credit for their crimes. They play cat-and-mouse games with police, leave calling cards at crime scenes, and even send letters to newspapers. In each case, the quest for infamy leaves a devastating trail of destruction. From New York City's infamous "Son of Sam" to the terrifying spree of the DC Snipers, what causes some people to choose murder as a means to notoriety? With groundbreaking science on the origins of malignant narcissism, Dr. Stone profiles three murderers whose need for glory and control led them to incredible evil.

From the 1995 sarin nerve gas attack in Japan to the Manson murders, some of the most horrific cult killings were carried out not by the cult leaders who planned them, but by willing followers. How do these members become so entrenched in cult thinking that they become active participants in evil? Dr. Stone unearths the psychology of persuasion and indoctrination by interviewing surviving cult member Tim Carter, one of only three to survive the 1978 Jonestown massacre. And he'll meet face-to-face with Ron Luff, serving a life sentence for his part in the cult murders of the Avery family. Is there something psychologically unique to violent cult members, or can any one of us be drawn in?

Featuring cutting-edge science that may finally reveal the neurological cause of violent schizophrenia, three delusional minds are profiled. Though most schizophrenics never become violent, some of the world's most notorious crimes have involved people whose bizarre breaks from reality have pushed them to murder. Some, like Bob Mullin, who killed 13 people, even hear voices commanding them to kill.

What happens in the mind of jealous lovers turned into enraged killers? From impulsive crimes of passion to the terrifying revenge spree of Andrew Cunanan, killer of world-famous fashion designer Gianni Versace, Dr. Stone unravels how the psychology of love can become the psychology of murder. The FBI deputy director who led the Cunanan manhunt, leads viewers through his search for an unstoppable killer consumed by jealous rage.

Is there a recipe for creating a serial killer? An explanation for why someone would commit such heinous acts? Science has long avoided the concept of evil – until now. Researchers are unlocking the mysteries of violence, by probing the forces of nature and nurture. Using shocking examples of brutal crime, "The Science of Murder" explores whether killers are forged in abusive homes, or if some people are actually wired to be cold-blooded. In their examination of the most violent killers, these scientists confront a controversial question: could any of us be capable of evil?

What lies in the mind of the psycho killer? Ed Gein robbed graves to harvest the skin of his victims. Arthur Shawcross strangled prostitutes and ate their remains. Gary Heidink tortured six women in his basement for months. In each case, these killers claimed they were unaware of what's real and what's imagined. What triggered their violence? To understand their atrocities, we will examine the real science of psychosis and meet one of these killers face to face.

More than 90 percent of murders are committed by men. But what motivates the women who are driven to kill? Most female murderers kill those closest to them, like Mary Beth Tinning, who admitted to smothering at least some of the nine children who mysteriously died in her care. A neurologist who studies the structure of the brain finds striking differences in one region of the brain between men and women. Is this a clue to their different capacities for violence?

"Killer Lies" looks at recent history's most deceptive killers, including Susan Smith, who claimed her sons had been kidnapped, and John List, who slaughtered his family and then mysteriously disappeared. From Nathan Bar-Jonah, a suspected cannibal-murderer, to the notorious BTK killer, we'll examine these criminals who terrorized their own communities. With breakthrough imaging science, we will peer into the minds of these impulsive liars and serial predators to explore why deception is such a dangerous weapon in the hands of the most evil.