The Toolbox Killer

It is a well done documentary. But I had difficulty getting through the murder details, so just skipped when the details got to graphic. The main interviewer, Laura, was psycho herself. All her giggling on the phone made me physically sick. You can say this was for some greater good but I call BS. Her 'connection' to this sick sadistic killer and visiting him while pregnant? Then talking to him while in labor, sending pictures of her SON and asking him to be an honorary uncle? OMG this woman should be ASHAMED of herself, but instead she is proud of putting her goals before her son. Look how empathetic and non-judgemental I am!!!! Can you imagine sending your kid's picture to a serial killer and ask him to be his her uncle? She never once condemns a man who tortured young girls with items from a tool box in the worst way imaginable, let that sink in. His murders were so horrific the investigator killed himself over it. She actually buys into his remorse when he's dying as something other than self-pity and manipulation. And she states she was sad when he died because he was an authentic friend? God I hope no one in law enforcement employs this woman. Thank God for the voice of the FBI profiler (who is a bad-a** lady) and the prosecutor, or I wouldn't have been able to get through this tripe. One star for each of them.

In order to understand the mind of anyone, one must cultivate a relationship in order to step into their mind. In this particular case, it wasn't the most popular or well liked person on the block. However, this kind of psychology and work is necessary and critical. To physically step into the cell of death row at San Quentin and successfully cultivate a relationship with Bittaker and Norris along with stepping into their mind is exactly what Laura Brand did. She started building this relationship over the phone and even after being shunned at first, Laura simply wasn't going to take no for an answer. I give her ten stars for being able to get the location of the victims remains that even the FBI wasn't able to successfully do. This wasn't an easy task, but she did it and she did it well. I look forward to reading her book because the show barely touches the surface of all the work she's done on this case. The families of the victims are lucky she is giving them a voice, a voice these sadistic serial killers thought would be silenced until they met Laura Brand. Expect to see more of her amazing work in the future.

The story of the toolbox killer(s) is sick --- the retelling of it in this documentary...is not. Gruesome and confident, the toolbox killers terrorized the Redondo beach area in the late 70s.

The crimes of Bittaker and Norris were brutal and there are plenty of details and images in this doc that will be upsetting for some viewers. It's a well-made doc and certainly shows compassion for the victims and family/friends of victims too. One interesting aspect is how the criminologist was able to get Bittaker to talk when he had refused to do that before. Her approach was successful.

Laura Brand was able to break through the mind of one of the most sadistic serial killers to date. Her ability to gain his trust blew my mind and it will blow yours.