The Hulu documentary “Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer” examines the life and legacy of an 87-year-old researcher and nurse.
Key Takeaways
- Ann Burgess, born in October 1936, is a pioneering criminologist who helped establish modern psychological profiling.
- She’s married to Dr. Allen G. Burgess, with whom she has four children and co-authored the “Crime Classification Manual.”
- Nowadays, she continues investigating cold cases and teaches at Boston College.
A Pioneering Career
Ann Wolbert Burgess, born in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1936, has become a legend in the field of criminology.
Her journey from nursing to criminal profiling has left an indelible mark on how we understand criminals’ minds.
Burgess’ fascination with human behavior began early. As a young girl, she assisted her uncle, a country doctor, in delivering babies.
This early exposure to medicine led her to pursue nursing, a decision that would ultimately shape her groundbreaking career.
“I was fascinated by human behavior and the variations that you can have,” Burgess once said. “I could not learn enough.”
Ann Burgess
A Partnership In Life And Work
While Burgess’ professional achievements are well-known, her personal life has been equally fulfilling.
She married Dr. Allen G. Burgess, a former associate professor at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration.
Together, they’ve raised four children – three sons and a daughter.
Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer is an evocative spin on true-crime https://t.co/04tGWNBdNo pic.twitter.com/2oD1NMTS5M
— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) July 9, 2024
The couple’s collaboration extends beyond family life.
In 1997, they co-authored the bestselling “Crime Classification Manual“ with FBI agents John Douglas and Robert K. Ressler, cementing their place in criminology history.
A Legacy Of Lifetime
At 87, Ann Burgess shows no signs of slowing down.
She continues investigating cold cases with her “Super Sleuth Club,” which is formed with psychiatric nursing colleagues from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.
They meet monthly via Zoom to examine cold cases.
Likewise, she inspires the next generation of criminologists by teaching at Boston College as a professor of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.
Students from her classes say they examine several past and ongoing cases and often incorporate former law enforcement members and actual victims into their field of study.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ann Burgess’ work inspired the character of Wendy Carr in the Netflix series “Mindhunter.”
- She is also the consulting producer for the new Hulu docuseries “Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer.”
- Anna currently focuses on threat assessment to prevent mass casualty events like school shootings.
