We're moving you wherever you're needed.
And you will be needed everywhere.
You must tell me what I can do for you that can make this work.
A specialised unit would be good.
How about one more person to start with?
You must be Erika. Erika.
Captain Bothes. And you are Doctor Pistorius.
Who is this? Robert Ressler.
Mr Ressler, what an honour.
Your work is impressive, Micki.
To the best of my knowledge, Mr Barnes is lying.
The detectives don't seem to like it.
They think I'm interfering.
Well, that's because we chase ghosts.
We're concerned with thoughts, not deeds.
Deeds are how detectives are taught to understand their work.
Well, maybe someone should teach them differently.
Maybe that someone should be you.
We'll give you a pay review every six months.
That's what my boss told me two years ago.
Let's see how we can change that.
Come on. Get up.
(WOMAN MUMBLES AND PROTESTS)
Hey. Hey. Now walk.
Walk.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
Over there.
(WHIMPERS AND STRUGGLES)
Hey! Hey!
(SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY)
No.
No! No, no, no, no!
(FEARFUL WHIMPERS)
(SHRIEKS)
(SCREAMS)
(SHRIEKS AND PROTESTS FADE)
(GASPS)
Got a spare 800? For what?
Hey, man, my cousin's selling two tickets for the semis.
Tell him he's a greedy bastard. You can pick them up for 200.
Ask the captain. Maybe he'll go for it.
Hey, Captain?
You're supporting the national team, yeah?
You think I give a shit about the rugby with everything going on?
See what's happening in the press?
You see what we're up against?
Sorry, Micki. We've got 15 dead bodies.
Not a single suspect.
Brigadier says you have a brilliant instinct.
OK. I'll be looking at what you've put up here later.
Might need some work.
Look, I know how much pressure you're all under.
This is the biggest murder investigation we've ever had.
Yeah. OK, well, I will start with some general observations.
With Nyameka, the killer strangled her with a bra,
and then left it on her chest.
But it's not the right size for it to belong to her.
But it is the right size for it to belong to Brenda,
who was killed prior to Nyameka,
which suggests the killer could be transferring underwear
from one victim to another.
Like the jewellery.
When she was found, Pretty was wearing a necklace
her family say didn't belong to her.
Yes, but it's been confirmed it did belong to his previous victim.
Um. He could be using the jewellery of one victim to entice another.
He also covered this woman's face with her panties.
Why?
It's an indication of depersonalisation.
He has nothing but contempt for these women.
OK. And we're looking for links.
All of our victims are aged between 20 and 30
and none of them are prostitutes.
He could be targeting women who specifically don't work the streets.
And we have some similarities in the way he killed them.
Uh... Apart from Gloria.
But she was strangled, too.
Yes, she was. I'm referring to her son.
His body was found just 500 metres from where she was dumped.
Yeah, he wasn't found until eight days later.
The lab said he could have died from exposure.
He wasn't murdered.
So, he must have been with his mother when she was taken away.
(PHONE RINGS) Exactly.
There is something unusual in the killer taking Gloria
if she was with her child...
Captain.
A body's been found in Onderstepoort.
They think it's one of ours.
Micki, Erica, you can come with me.
That was quick.
Such a weird position.
No, he's done that on purpose. Look.
So, he's placed her on her front, so he could bend her legs back
to tie the rope from her ankles to her neck.
Then when she got tired and her legs went down,
the rope pulled.
She strangled herself?
Eventually.
I think he watched her die a horrific death.
Can we make sure forensics check for semen around the body?
So, we have Brenda found in January...
..Emily in March...
..Aphiwe in April...
May...
The time of death of Emily is...
Ah, six weeks before Brenda.
Oh, she died first. Um...
Of course, her hands are tied at the front. Oh, my God. OK.
(NUMBER DIALS)
Yeah, Erica?
Hi. Sorry, it's so early. Um...
I think I have something.
We need to look at the victims in a different way.
Not in the order of when they were found,
but in the order of when they were killed.
The methods of bondage looked random and confusing.
That's why the team wasn't sure it was the same guy.
But look...
If we put them in the order of when they died,
we can see a progression.
First, the hands are left untied.
Then he started to tie them at the front.
By the time we get to these victims,
he started tying their hands at the back.
He's getting better with how he's restraining them.
Yeah, but... Oh. Um...
Can you get someone to fax these to Mr Ressler?
See when he wants to meet.
We've got a situation near Boksburg prison.
We've got to head there now.
Another body?
It's not just one. It's a whole fucking field of them.
What...?
How many? Six so far.
(MAN SHOUTS)
Seven now.
There's another one down there.
They're at various stages of decomposition.
Like they were... They were brought here at intervals over time.
How long since the first one was dumped?
They're not exactly sure yet, but some of them are badly decomposed.
Found some bones out this way.
The first two they brought in were a lot more fresh.
He's getting more confident.
Keeps coming back. Yeah.
He stepped up his mission.
So, why so close to that?
Do you think it's deliberate?
Possibly. If he spent time there.
We need to speak to the relatives.
Find out if they know who the victims were in contact with
in the days leading up to their deaths.
I'll draw up a list. Thanks.
Just excuse me.
OK.
(PHONE RINGS)
Hello.
Yeah.
OK.
(EXHALES)
They found semen at the scene in Onderstepoort.
Yeah.
He was probably masturbating while she was choking herself.
(SIGHS)
You alright?
How is any sane person supposed to make sense of that?
I don't know.
Did you know Mandela asked to visit Boksburg?
Yep.
I gotta go.
Meeting Mr Ressler.
I'll see you later.
(HUM OF CHATTER)
Micki. Hm? Oh, Mr Ressler.
Robert, please.
It's so great to finally meet you in person...Robert.
The commissioner tells me you're having a tough day.
Hm. I'd say that's an understatement.
Thank you so much for coming and for agreeing to help.
Well, based on your observations, I'm not entirely sure you need it.
Oh. That is very kind of you but...
No, it's always useful to have another point of view.
I mean, the police side...
..it's so forensic.
And whoever's killing these women, it...
It feels like there's so much more going on.
Well, let's start with the basics, then.
Do you think the killer is using the same MO for all the women?
Yes.
So, these women were all killed where they were found.
And same for the victims at Boksburg Prison.
Looks like he's walking her up to the other corpses
while she's still alive.
Intimidating each one before he kills her.
How do you see him getting her there in the first place?
Um... By enticing her?
Yes. Makes her believe he's a decent guy.
I've... I've been thinking about the location, too.
Do you think he chose his graveyard within sight of the prison
on purpose? Possibly.
(EXHALES SHARPLY) Sorry, the...
The AC here is not quite what it is back home.
Oh, my God. I'm so sorry.
I've not even offered you a drink.
Oh, it's fine. I don't drink when I'm working.
OK., Water is fine.
You stay here. I'll go and get it.
Another glass of red?
Are you sure? Of course.
OK. Thank you.
MALE REPORTER: President Mandela has promised all possible support to police
hunting for the alleged Boksburg serial killer.
FEMALE REPORTER: Arriving by helicopter,
President Mandela was met by about 30 members
of the Vosloorus ANC Women's League,
who demanded that the police intensify their investigations.
MANDELA: I came here to give support to the police...
..in their difficult jobs.
We must remember now that these are no longer the enemy police,
they are our police.
If we cooperate with them, give them the information
that they will be able to make a breakthrough.
I will give them every support which they need.
We need the support.
But you're going to tell me the killer's enjoying all this attention?
Some killers like to think of themselves as notorious.
It's fuelling him now.
Seeing the president there will make him jump for joy.
But what's motivating him, though?
Well, hate.
And I think he's scarred by a trauma when he was small.
Does he have to have a trauma?
Isn't he just evil?
A serial killer is not born like that.
They become killers as a consequence of childhood damage.
They're killing strangers to express their anger.
Could the same man who killed all the women in Atteridgeville be responsible for Boksburg?
Yes. What about Cleveland?
Look...
OK, we're looking for someone who's got time on his hands,
possibly self-employed.
He's got money.
He needs it to dress well.
And he's charming.
Thinks of himself as popular. There's an arrogance to him.
His profile sounds very similar to Selepe.
Well. Yes, but...
Well, a profile describes a personality, not a person.
And a serial killer can have the same personality as another.
OK. Where was I?
Yes. So, he's driving an expensive car
to match his nice jewellery, his flashy-looking watch.
He knows how to talk to women.
He's got experience.
He's probably been in a long-term relationship at some point.
What about his appearance?
Uh, we're looking for a black male, late 20s to early 30s
with a history of sexual offences, probably rape.
Sexually-motivated killers don't just randomly start murdering.
They start off assaulting first.
Remember when Micki switched the order of the victims
in which they were found to the order that they died?
Exactly. He's gaining more and more control.
Are you OK?
I need to speak with someone urgently.
Please come with me.
(PHONE RINGS)
Hello.
ERIKA: Aphiwe Mthembu's mother's just called in.
We're just waiting for her to come across to murder and robbery.
Apparently, someone's been in touch claiming to be the killer.
(SIGHS)
He'll be calling the papers next.
To say what? Something inflammatory about us.
To goad us on how he's getting away with it.
Give the press more to talk about.
I'll be with you in an hour. It's OK.
Ruan said you're entertaining Mr Ressler.
Yeah. He's a good man. He won't mind if we've got a lead.
It's sorted.
I told Ruan that Jerry and I will come in and speak with her.
OK.
When I interviewed Jeffrey Dahmer,
he was talking about eating human muscle.
And when I asked him if he cooked it first he said,
"Of course I cooked it."
Like that?
As if it were completely normal.
Edmund Kemper was the same.
You know how much he hated his mother?
Apparently, she screamed at him for most of his life.
Exactly.
He told me that after he killed her, he cut out her vocal cords
and he put them in the kitchen sink's waste disposal.
He said that when he switched it on, everything just flew out at him.
And then he...
He casually turned to me and said,
"Jesus, the bitch just wouldn't quit!"
(LAUGHS) Oh, my God.
I should tell these stories to the captain.
Well, yeah. Is he struggling?
I think so, sometimes.
And this press really does not help. Yeah.
You could do something about it.
Get hold of the investigation as your own.
Deflect the bullshit. How?
Call a press conference.
Take control, Micki.
And then put all your energy back into catching the killer.
Can you talk us through what he said?
Not very much.
I had to hang up.
He told me...
..that she tried to stop him.
Take your time.
He said...
"Hello, Bertha.
"You don't know me.
"I killed Aphewe.
(EXHALES EMOTIONALLY)
I was too shocked to think.
I thought someone was being cruel.
Do you think it's really him?
There's a possibility.
Why would someone do that?
Did Aphiwe get in touch with anyone before she died?
Maybe an old boyfriend? Maybe someone new?
Anyone at all?
There was someone.
She told me she was going for an interview.
Do you remember where?
No, but she said it was with someone who worked with a charity.
Human something, I think.
She would have been offered the job, you know.
Every time she went for a new position...
..she got it.
(SIGHS HEAVILY)
So, we got a lead,
from a blue handbag they found at Boksburg.
Victim was a Zandi Joy Malembe.
They've traced where she worked.
Where?
Back office of an insurance company at Beyers Park.
OK. Um... We've got a room of journalists waiting.
Can you go? Of course, yeah.
Thank you.
You alright?
Fourie just told me we've got Mandela's people
phoning about updates every day.
So, expect them to use that at the press conference.
Cap. There's been an assault on a young girl.
Her father found his friend trying to have sex with her.
They brought him in last night.
And now he's in his cell shouting about him being part of a war
and he's using a German accent. Yeah. So?
He says he killed them all.
Killed who? The women.
OK. Take him to point out where he dumped the bodies.
If he gets it right, call us immediately.
No, he won't. Sounds like he's playing mad.
Come on. We should hurry.
(SIGHS HEAVILY)
OK.
(CLAMOURING)
Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for coming.
I know it's hot. We'll try and get through all your questions.
I'm Captain Ruan Krotz.
Captain Micki Pistorius.
Mr Robert Ressler.
Alright, we'll try get your questions.
Let's play nice. First...
(JOURNALISTS CLAMOUR)
Is it true that you have a suspect?
We can't confirm that yet.
But... We need you to call this number.
If anyone has any information they think might help,
they should call us immediately.
Women need to know how dangerous it is out there.
Are you connecting Boksburg to the Atteridgeville and Cleveland murders?
We're not going into any details on any connections just now.
Captain... Captain Krotz...
Captain... Sir, you needed the help of Dr Pistorius
because your team had no leads.
We're not here to speculate about my team.
My work takes me to many different departments. Next question.
Yeah, but you've got the FBI here. You've got the FBI.
Surely that says something.
We're both profilers.
(CLAMOURING)
So, are you then playing down your failings in all of this?
Listen, we're here to make sure that the public is vigilant.
People want to know who is the monster
that dragged in the president.
President Mandela came to show his support.
But if you think that these six bodies found in Cleveland
are connected to a new murderer,
where does that leave you with Selepe?
Again, please can we not speculate?
Two killers can operate at the same time.
Their boundaries can overlap.
Let's keep the focus on what's going on now,
keep our citizens safe and find this killer.
But what we're actually asking...
Ladies and Gentlemen...
Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you very much.
No further questions. Thank you. No further questions.
(JOURNALISTS CLAMOUR)
Time waster didn't pick a single scene.
Works for the courts, has massive debts.
You were right, Micki.
We're charging him with attempted rape.
So, one of Zandi's colleagues said she had a meeting
with a man working for Youth Against Human Abuse.
Aphiwe's mother said she was meeting with someone
from a charity called Human something.
He was trying to poach her. Said he could get her more money.
She never came back.
We got a name yet?
Moses Sithole. An address?
There was a patrol car two blocks away.
We sent them in, but he was gone.
He hasn't been seen in a week.
The landlord gave them this.
He left behind his driver's license. We took a copy.
What do you think we should do?
Release this photograph.
Draw him in.
Moses? You still owe me.
But Buli is here.
Not the money.
I need you to get me a gun.
You'll have to come to my work tonight.
What time?
I start at 11.30.
I'll be there at midnight.
(PHONE RINGS)
MAN: (OVER PHONE) I did it.
It's him.
Erika.
OK, yeah.
Hello.
It was me.
Can you prove it, that you did it?
There's a body out there.
You missed her.
Who?
Patience.
Where is she now?
The old sports ground in Germiston.
You can see the rail tracks from the west stand.
Walk directly towards them, you'll get to a bridge.
She's underneath.
I didn't kill the boy.
Which boy? Gloria's son.
He ran off when I was talking to her.
I love children.
I'd never kill a child.
(PHONE LINE GOES DEAD)
So, what did he sound like?
Articulate. Calm.
Like he's loving the attention.
Well, this is his lifeblood now.
Do you think he'll call again? Yep.
When? Any time.
It's a game of cat and mouse.
I'll cover the phones tonight.
(FLIES BUZZ)
ERIKA: Do you know who it is?
I think it must be Patience.
Sir, I need to speak to someone about my cousin.
He's asking for a gun and he's dangerous.
Can you give me his name?
Moses. Moses Sithole.
(PHONE RINGS)
Hello? MAN: Captain.
We've had a tip on Sithole.
He's arranged to meet his cousin at 11.30 tonight,
to pick up a gun at an office complex in Boksburg.
I'm en route.
What's the time?
It's late. Where's this guy?
Uh, I'm meeting someone.
You got an appointment?
Uh... No. My cousin, Sidney.
He works in the underground unit.
Can we give him your name?
Police! Stop!
(GUNSHOT)
Why didn't you call me?
It was late.
We had to act in the moment.
(SIGHS) Well, at least he's still alive.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
Coffee?
Brilliant.
Please. Thank you.
I want you to speak to him.
Me? Hm.
It's a good experience. You'll be fine.
We know he wants to confess.
He already said so on the phone.
OK.
You sure she's up to this?
(BREATHES RASPINGLY)
They tried to kill me, you know.
The police.
(WINCES)
What are you doing here?
I'm here to talk to you about what you've done.
You already know.
(SPITS)
They arrested me for rape.
In 1989.
(SIGHS)
(BREATHES HEAVILY, BED CREAKS)
I thought I would be in there forever...
..but they let me go.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
Hey.
Don't you ever walk away from me when I'm talking to you.
Bitch.
He's getting off on it, in front of me.
He tells me they arrested him for rape, the sick fuck.
Then he told me they released him.
OK. You're fine. Take a deep breath.
Hello, Moses.
My name's Captain Pistorius.
I know who you are.
Why did they release you?
Good behaviour.
I was a model prisoner.
I used to sing for the choir.
After they released me...
..I started Children Against Human Abuse.
To reunite children with...
..with their families.
Tell me what else you've done...
..apart from the rape.
You want my life story?
I want you to tell me about the women you've killed.
What makes you think I'll do that?
Well, you called us.
I know you want to talk.
You said on the phone you wanted me to arrest you.
Maybe.
Just speak to me.
You can tell me anything you want.
Tell me why you wanted a gun.
I wanted to meet you.
But I needed to protect myself.
If they were going to shoot me, maybe I can get them first.
Yeah.
See?
You do want to talk to me?
Tell me what you did, Moses.
I killed the first one after my release.
How many more did you kill?
I killed all of them.
Like I said when we spoke.
Did you do it alone?
What do you mean?
Did you have an accomplice?
No.
Why did you do it, Moses?
When they arrested me for rape...
..they took me to an ID parade.
She picked me out.
That bitch.
Just like my mother.
Tell me about her.
After my father passed...
..she couldn't cope with us.
So, she took me to the police station.
And she said...
..if you ever tell anyone that you're related to me...
..I will kill you.
So, they took us to the orphanage.
Me and my brothers.
And then they moved us again.
But I ran away because I did not want to be there.
I only raped the pretty ones.
Hurt has been my daily bread.
Hurt has been my prayer.
Hurt has been my feelings all the time.
Every hour.
Every minute. Every second.
Every day.
Every week.
Every month.
Every year.
(CHUCKLES) He hates women.
From when he was in prison for rape.
That's why his victims all look similar,
like the woman who accused him.
And for the women he left at Boksburg...
..he could see the prison while he was killing them.
That's the instinct the Brigadier told me about.
You should listen more to him.
It's never too late to open your mind to something new.
A weaker man would have doubted his ability,
now you had to come in.
If we don't doubt ourselves, we're not doing our best work.
For the record,
I don't think it's bullshit, the psychology stuff.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Well done, guys. Well, done, guys.
No, no, no, no.
Just one drink. Just one, Erika.
No. Next time?
Next time, I promise.
Great job. Cheers.
Bokke! Bokke!
You're not going with them?
Not today.
You deserve a drink. You've worked hard.
You should go and let your hair down.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah, I can't.
Um, there's all some stuff going on with my parents.
Are you OK?
My mum's not well.
Do you want to talk about it?
No, I'd rather not.
Well, if you're free tomorrow, you can always come to my sister's.
It's just a braai but it'll be fun.
And bring your man.
Thanks. Um, it's really kind.
Come here. Well done.
Thanks, Micki.
Enjoy. OK.
I saw a baboon.
You saw one? You nearly got killed by one.
I wanted to take a photograph to show my wife,
but Micki was worried about the traffic
coming around the corner. No, no, no.
I was trying to tell him how dangerous those little bastards are.
Oh. Um...
Would you excuse me for just a minute?
Sure.
Hello. Hey.
How's things with your mum?
She's comfortable today.
Thanks.
Yeah. I mean, some days are better than others,
but please don't ask me if I want to talk about it,
because today is about you. OK.
Chip in a teacup? Yeah. Thanks.
Why are you here alone?
Steve's probably still out drunk somewhere, I think.
Like the rest of the country, huh?
Hey. What a result, ey?
I know right? That dropkick in extra time. Stransky's my hero.
Oh, you should meet Mark.
I'm not 14.
Oh, come on. Stop it.
He's really nice. I don't care.
Thank you. Thanks.
Just getting your dad some water.
How'd you know him? I don't. We just met.
I'm staying with Annika. We were friends back in college.
What did you study? Law.
Hm. Intelligent.
Well, you're ticking all the right boxes here.
I work for a wine company now.
That's a shame.
You were just starting to get my attention.
What about you?
I heard something about killing people.
(CHUCKLES) It's complicated.
Are you sneaking out back?
It's not sneaking away when no one notices because they're drunk.
I'd notice.
Captions by Red Bee Media (c) SBS Australia 2024