
Some of the world's most notorious murders are the subject of "It Takes a Killer," which investigates the crimes from the perspective of the killers, trying to get inside their minds and determine their motives. Leading homicide investigators and experts from such agencies as the FBI and Scotland Yard take a look at the evidence pulled from crime scenes and profile the killer's behavior to try to piece together the details of each murder, explaining when, why and how each criminal committed the crime. For the wannabe detectives watching the show, the experts also reveal how the crime was solved -- which often requires authorities to think like a killer.

A drug abuser out on a joyride kidnaps then kills an innocent coed in Oregon; investigators spend months attempting to solve what they believe is a missing persons case until the perpetrator strikes again 1400 miles away.

A serial killer with a history of serial rape terrorizes Tampa, Florida's red-light district, targeting women of the night at random, getting away with murder for months, only to be brought to justice by the one victim he let go.

A well-respected real estate agent becomes the prime suspect in his wife's murder; the investigation reveals a scandalous private life and a murder-for-hire scheme involving a mentally handicapped handyman.

A former army medic devises a sick plan to kidnap women, impregnate them and keep them in his basement as part of a personal baby farm.