A chilling and thought-provoking evening awaits the Jamestown community as renowned criminologist and serial killer expert Dr. Scott Bonn presents a 90-minute live lecture exploring the psychology behind some of the world’s most notorious murderers.

The event will be held on April 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Reiland Fine Arts – DeNault Auditorium.

Admission is free, but tickets are required and can be obtained through the UJ Box Office at (701) 252-3467 ext. 5435 or in person at Reiland Room 130.

A Deep Dive into Criminal Psychology

In this compelling presentation, Dr. Bonn draws from his extensive firsthand work with violent offenders and his academic research to examine the psychological forces that drive serial killers to repeatedly offend. He discusses how traits of psychopathy and sociopathy differ, and how personal fantasy systems can shape violent behavior.

Throughout the lecture, Dr. Bonn references his interactions and research involving infamous criminals including:

  • Dennis Rader
  • David Berkowitz
  • Jeffrey Dahmer
  • Ted Bundy
  • Rex Heuermann

He also shares insights from communications and profiling work involving individuals such as:

  • Colin Ferguson
  • Jodi Arias
  • Pamela Smart

Understanding the Fascination with True Crime

Beyond the crimes themselves, Dr. Bonn also explores why society is so captivated by true crime stories and what that fascination reveals about human psychology. The presentation concludes with a live Q&A session, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions about criminal behavior, profiling, and investigations.

Sponsored by the University Community

This event is sponsored by the University of Jamestown Convocation Committee, Faculty Development, the UJ Writing Center, and the Knights of Columbus.

Note: Due to mature subject matter, this presentation is recommended for adult audiences only.