Interviews with convicted serial killers and mass murderers often draw significant attention. There’s a morbid curiosity that drives many to try and understand why these individuals commit such awful crimes. But what’s even more fascinating are the times when murderers give TV interviews before they’re caught. These interviews offer a chilling glimpse into how these cold-blooded killers sometimes fake emotions that normal people would genuinely feel.
Here are 10 convicted murderers who gave TV interviews before their arrest, revealing a dark side of human deception.
Stephen McDaniel
Stephen McDaniel, a Mercer Law School graduate, was interviewed about the disappearance of his neighbor, Lauren Giddings. Initially, McDaniel offered possible explanations for what happened to his “friend.” About a minute into the interview, the reporter informs him that a body was discovered during the investigation.
McDaniel pauses, sits on the grass, seemingly to collect his thoughts – a reaction many mistook for grief. He continues the interview, showing clear signs of panic, realizing his freedom was about to end. Hours later, police searched McDaniel’s room, noting his erratic behavior and excessive water consumption. Evidence eventually linked him to the crime. After 10 months in custody, he confessed to strangling and dismembering Lauren and was sentenced to life in prison.[1]
Matthew Haverly
Matthew Haverly was interviewed outside his Bradford County home in June 2018 after a body was found in a nearby creek. Haverly casually speculated about what might have happened, suggesting the body could have been dumped after a “hit.” He even expressed concern for his mother’s feelings about the situation.
Despite his theories and concern, Haverly knew exactly what had happened because he was responsible. The victim was his mother, who died of blunt force trauma before being dumped in the creek. Haverly claimed to have no memory of the incident and pleaded “no contest” to charges including involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with all appeals for early release denied.[2]
Brian Hawkins
In 1993, Brian Hawkins, along with Curtis Culver and his sister Shannon, abducted and murdered Frank McAlister in Northern California. Frank’s car was found abandoned with significant blood evidence, suggesting foul play. With little other evidence, the investigation went cold for nearly 25 years.
In January 2018, KRCR interviewed Brian Hawkins, where he confessed that he and his accomplices lured Frank to an isolated area, stabbed him to death, and robbed him. Hawkins claimed God wanted him to confess, turning himself in and repeating the story to the police. He said his life had been ruined by the crime.[3]
Dennis Rader
In 1991, Dennis Rader, the BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) killer, was interviewed about animal attacks for his job as a dog catcher. At the time, he had already committed at least 10 murders in Kansas. Rader’s position as a compliance officer fueled his need for control, and his status as a commissioned officer likely added to his sense of invulnerability.
Rader taunted authorities and media with letters and poems. Eventually, his arrogance led to his downfall when he sent a floppy disk to a local news station. Metadata on the disk identified him as the BTK killer. In August 2005, he was sentenced to 10 life sentences, without the possibility of parole.[4]
Ian Huntley
On August 4, 2002, 10-year-old friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared in Soham, UK. The search gained national attention. Ten days later, journalists reconstructing the girls’ last movements stopped outside Ian Huntley’s house. As the caretaker at the local school, he was the last known person to see the girls alive.
The video shows Huntley calmly explaining his fictional account of the last time he saw the girls. A few days later, he and his girlfriend Maxine Carr were arrested on suspicion of murder. It was revealed that Huntley lured the girls into his house, then murdered them. He received two life sentences, and Carr was sentenced to three and a half years for conspiring to obstruct justice.[5]
Gerard Bayden Clay
Gerard Bayden Clay faced news cameras in Queensland, Australia, to plead for his wife Allison’s safe return after she was reported missing in April 2012. Three days prior, he had murdered his wife and dumped her body on a creek bank in Brisbane. It took authorities another week to discover her remains.
Clay was initially only a suspect. It took two weeks for police to complete their investigation after a canoeist found Allison’s body. Clay was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse. He was found guilty two years later and sentenced to life in prison, despite claiming innocence. The investigation revealed Allison’s life was insured for over half a million dollars, and Clay had a mistress, leading to the theory that he wanted a new life without his wife.[6]
Chris Watts
On August 13, 2018, Shanann Watts and her two children were reported missing. The next day, her husband Chris appeared on Denver TV channels pleading for their safe return. However, his emotional response seemed lacking for a man whose family was missing.
The day after the interview, Chris Watts was arrested for murdering his wife, two children, and unborn child. He was having an affair and killed his family after an argument about divorce. He confessed after failing a polygraph test and received five life sentences without parole.[7]
Margaret and Neil Archer
Margaret and Neil Archer, a mother and son, made TV appeals for the safe return of Neil’s girlfriend, Jody Meyers, whom they had already murdered and buried under a concrete floor in their shed.
The video reveals their efforts to deceive the police, media, and public, but they also exposed their crime by using Jody’s credit cards and cellphone. Detectives found Jody’s remains under a freshly poured concrete shed floor. Neil received 22 years for murder, and Margaret was sentenced to six years for helping cover up the crime.[8][9]
Miles Evans
Miles Evans, a UK army truck driver, appeared on TV to plead for the safe return of his nine-year-old stepdaughter, whom he had smothered to death. He participated in searches for the girl despite allegedly knowing her fate.
Experts analyzed Evans’ body language in the video, noting he was being deceptive. He was convicted of murder in 1998 and sentenced to life in jail, though he maintains his innocence. The prosecution declared him a callous killer who sexually abused and murdered his stepdaughter, Zoe. She died from asphyxiation after being gagged and was found partially buried near her home.[10]
Kristi Abrahams
Kiesha Abrahams, a six-year-old girl, lived with her mother Kristi and her mother’s partner, Robert Smith. Kiesha suffered months of abuse before being killed by a blow to the head from her mother.
Kristi reported her daughter missing and continued the charade for eight months, even appearing on TV with her ex-husband to answer questions. In the TV appeal, Kristi tearfully pleaded for her daughter’s safe return, knowing Kiesha’s body was buried in a shallow grave. Kristi was sentenced to 22 years for murder, and Robert Smith was jailed for at least 12 years for his part in the abuse.[11]
These cases highlight the disturbing ability of murderers to deceive and manipulate, even while under public scrutiny. The chilling contrast between their public pleas and their heinous acts leaves a lasting impact.
What do you think about these interviews? Leave your comment below.
