On Tuesday night, George Sodini executed a terrible plan. He opened fire at an aerobics class in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, and shot 12 women, 3 fatally, before turning the gun on himself. This was not a spontaneous attack: he had mapped out his plan in painstaking detail in notes kept in an online diary. Those notes now provide a stark look at the mind of a killer. Dr. Michael Welner, a forensic psychiatrist and adjunct law professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, who studies killers, joins us with a look at the psychological profile of a mass murderer.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!