Robert Ressler
Robert Ressler | |
|---|---|
Ressler in 1986 | |
| Born | Robert Kenneth Ressler February 15, 1937 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | May 5, 2013 (aged 76) |
| Alma mater | Michigan State University |
| Occupation(s) | FBI agent, author |
| Known for | Criminal profiling |
| Military career | |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1957–1962 |
| Rank | Major |
Robert Kenneth Ressler (February 15, 1937 – May 5, 2013) was an American FBI agent and author. He played a significant role in the psychological profiling of violent offenders in the 1970s and is often credited with coining the term "serial killer", though the term is a direct translation of the German term Serienmörder coined in 1930 by Berlin investigator Ernst Gennat. After retiring from the FBI, he authored a number of books on serial murders, and often gave lectures on criminology.