No one understands a serial killer like a serial killer.
The premise helped inspire the fictional "The Silence of the Lambs," and now it fuels the real investigations on "Dark Minds," the new Investigation Discovery series that premieres Wednesday night.
On it, crime author M. William Phelps and criminal profiler John Kelly revisit unsolved serial-killer cases with the help of "13" -- a convicted killer heard only over the telephone. (Pictured: Phelps, left, with Kelly.)
Phelps, a former consultant on "Dexter," has a personal stake: His own sister-in-law was murdered by a serial killer in 1996.
Also read: 'Dexter' Finale: Writers Considered 'Incest' Storyline for Years
In the premiere, Phelps and Kelly call on "13" for insight into the Valley Killer, who viciously murdered seven women in the 1980s in Vermont and New Hampshire.
One victim, seven-months-pregnant Jane Boroski, was stabbed 27 times but she and her baby miraculously escaped. She joins Phelps and Kelly in the premiere.
Phelps and Kelly -- who works with law enforcement as the founder of S.T.A.L.K. (System to Apprehend Lethal Killers) -- talked to TheWrap about why the identity of their "Hannibal Lecter" will remain a mystery to viewers and about Hollywood's most and least realistic depictions of serial killers.
In the show, we only hear "13's" voice on the phone. Is that to protect him, because he would be in danger if his fellow inmates knew he was helping law enforcement?
Phelps: I don't care about his safety. What I care about is him not getting any type of glory out of this. I don't want him to have his name used. I don't want anything that he's done to be known. I just want him to be a voice of reason, a voice of insight. Period. Through the eight episodes, "13" has become, really, an invaluable part of this, because he's given insight that nobody else could give.
Also read: 'Dexter's' Jennifer Carpenter: It's Time for Deb to Figure Dex Out
Kelly: When we're dealing with "13," we're dealing with a sociopath/psychopath who's decided, after working with me for many, many years, that he wants to try and redeem himself in some way. He's never, ever going to get out of prison. There's no way he's ever getting back on the street. Part of keeping him anonymous, a major part, is because he's taking a chance. I mean, if other inmates where he's at see him helping law enforcement, there's a very good chance that there's going to be an attempt on his life.
Do you feel he's sincere in wanting to redeem himself?
Kelly: I believe there is some sincerity there. I really do, because if he wanted to, he could have said, "I want people to see who I am." Being anonymous goes against this real pathological, narcissistic behavior that these guys all have. And he certainly has it.
