Where have all the serial killers gone?

Where have all the serial killers gone?

Author: ABC Australia July 19, 2025 Duration: 32:07

The backpacker killer. The Claremont killer. Ted Bundy. The crimes serial killers commit linger in our memories for decades.

But when was the last time you heard about an active serial killer in the news?

In our final episode of Criminal Psychology, we probe the lead-crime hypothesis, find out about 'chemical castration' and ask — where have all the serial killers gone?

And a heads up that this episode explores some heavy themes including sexual assault, child abuse, suicide and murder. It also contains the names of Aboriginal people who have died. Please take care while listening.

If you've got more questions for our forensic psychiatrist Dr Rajan Darjee, please send them to us! We're going to make a special mail-bag episode featuring your burning true crime questions. Get in touch by emailing us at mind_rn@abc.net.au with the subject line "criminal psychology question".

Guests:

Dr Rajan DarjeeForensic psychiatristClinical Director, Forensic Behavioural Assessment and Consultation Services

Dr Xanthe MallettCriminologistAssociate Professor of Criminology, Central Queensland UniversityCo-Director, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence ResearchPodcast co-host, Motive and Method

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Emrys Cronin

More information:

The lead-crime hypothesis: A meta-analysis

Support resources:


Ever wondered what's really happening inside your head? Each week, All In The Mind from ABC Australia ventures into the complex landscape of human thought and feeling. This isn't just a dry science lecture; it's a thoughtful exploration of the experiences that shape us, hosted by curious minds who know how to tell a compelling story. You'll hear conversations that bridge the gap between scientific research and the messy reality of daily life, delving into topics as diverse as the mechanisms of memory, the challenges of breaking an addiction, or the ethical puzzles posed by artificial intelligence. The discussions are grounded and accessible, making the inner workings of the brain relevant to anyone interested in health, behaviour, or simply understanding themselves a little better. By tuning into this podcast, you join a community considering how our mental universe influences everything from our personal fitness to our social connections. It’s a weekly opportunity to pause and reflect on the fascinating forces-both biological and psychological-that drive what we do and who we are. The production brings together expert insights with genuine human stories, creating a space where complex ideas about the mind and behaviour are unpacked with clarity and depth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 251

All In The Mind
Podcast Episodes
The confusion about concussions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:03
Concussions are hard to diagnose, often get missed, and don't always get taken seriously.And if you're not a professional athlete, it can be surprisingly hard to get clear information on how to manage and recover afterwa…
Managing your emotions so they don't manage you [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:16
Avoiding your emotions is generally a recipe for disaster — but Ethan Kross makes a case for occasional 'strategic' avoidance.He’s a professor of psychology from the University of Michigan, and he’s appeared in some of o…
Do people really behave differently in a crowd? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
Panicky. Irrational. Impulsive. These are the traits that have long been associated with crowd behaviour.But modern crowd science suggests that’s an incomplete, if not inaccurate picture.From crowd crushes to terrorist a…
Why do we love collecting? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
Whether it's stamps, figurines, antiques or toys, plenty of people love collecting. But why?What are the psychological drivers behind the hobby? How much is marketing influencing us, and is there a risk of collecting tur…
Ads, sports and games: how gambling infiltrated Australian culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:45
If you're watching sport or browsing social media, odds are you will come across gambling ads. If you work in an office, you might've joined Melbourne Cup or footy tipping comps.In Australia, it can feel like gambling is…
A different kind of grief — what true crime pods often overlook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:56
For years, psychologist Patricia Harney avoided true crime podcasts and documentaries. They hit too close to home.Recently she's been testing the waters, and noticing these whodunnit shows often leave out a crucial eleme…
Love us? Hate us? Take our short audience survey and tell us! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
All in the Mind is doing its first-ever listener survey — can you tell us a bit about who you are and why you listen? We'd love to understand you better!We’ve kept the survey snappy — it's only seven questions. We’re esp…
The silicon shrink – the worrying side of AI in mental health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
Chat bots as therapists. Apps that can track your mood and behaviour, offering earlier detection of psychiatric illness.There's a lot happening at the nexus of mental health and AI – some of it promising, some of it peri…
Dissecting the brain - live at the World Science Festival Brisbane [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:37
The brain might be an undiscerning blob that makes up just two per cent of your body, but what it does for you is extraordinary.How much about the day-to-day workings of the brain do we fully understand, and what does th…