S8 Ep.5: Confessions

Summary

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Mind of a Monster: The Cross-Country Killer

Episode 5: Confessions
Host: Dr. Michelle Ward
Release Date: February 10, 2026

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Episode Overview

This explosive fifth chapter dives into the confessions of serial killer Israel Keyes after his arrest for the abduction and murder of Samantha Koenig. Using exclusive access to FBI interviews, host Dr. Michelle Ward reconstructs the chilling process by which Keyes first confessed, the disturbing recuperation of Samantha's body, and the psychological games Keyes played to maintain a sense of power. Investigators, psychologists, and those close to Keyes and his victims offer firsthand insights, painting a harrowing portrait of a man living a double life and the investigators racing to uncover his secrets.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Turning Point – Keyes Decides to Talk

• Timeline: March 2012. Keyes has been arrested, originally denying any involvement in the Koenig case.
• Power Play: Keyes insists on speaking only to Detective Dahl, a female detective, as his way to control the interview process.

  “He has something everyone wants: information that only he has. And he’s going to enjoy it.” – Dr. Michelle Ward (04:29)

• Mood Among Investigators: Surprise and excitement that Keyes is willing to talk, despite initial skepticism from his attorneys.

  “I was in shock that his attorney was going to let him talk to us … and that he was going to tell us what happened to Samantha.” – Detective Jeff Bell (05:10)

2. The Confession and Body Recovery

• Keyes gives Up Samantha’s Location:
  • Keyes requests a map and provides directions to where he disposed of Samantha’s body in Matanuska Lake, 40 miles from Anchorage.
  • Method mimics local ice fishing practices, a detail the FBI verifies during recovery.

  “He did what is very common up there … except in the sled he had … pieces of Samantha wrapped up and weighted down.” – FBI Agent Bobby Chacon (10:07)

• The Search and Emotional Toll
  • The dive team finds the body, exactly as Keyes described.
  • Investigators recall the emotional burden of informing Samantha’s father.

  “It was with a very heavy heart. And there is really not much more you can say. But I think there’s no other case that touched me like this did.” – Detective Slavomir Markowitz (12:34)

3. Breaking Pattern and Psychological Deterioration

• Uncharacteristic Risk: Unlike previous kills, Keyes abducts and murders Samantha close to his home and family.

  “I had never done anything that brazen before.” – Israel Keyes (19:45)

• Adrenaline Addiction and Escalation:
  • Keyes ignores his own “rules,” acting on impulse.
  • Discussion of how risk became central to his methods.

  “Remember, risk was his cocaine.” – Detective Jeff Bell (21:01)

• Loss of Control:
  • Increased drinking, changing family dynamics, and financial instability are all discussed as factors in Keyes’ escalating erratic behavior.

  “He just had no more control. And so I think he went crazy.” – Josh Hallmark (31:16)

• Psychological Split:
  • The line between his two lives—family man and killer—blurs.

  “Within minutes of killing Samantha, Keyes is waking up his daughter to take an early morning flight. They’re going on vacation.” – Dr. Michelle Ward (29:26)

  • Keyes himself references Ted Bundy’s struggle to separate his own personas, highlighting the relatable fracture.

  “In the last few years he had a really hard time controlling himself and separating his two lives.” – Israel Keyes (31:32)

4. Manipulation and the Game of Confessing

• Transactional Interrogations:
  • Keyes trades information for privileges (e.g., a cigar, a Snickers bar, coffee).
  • Investigators are forced to build rapport, navigating the balance between gaining information and feeling complicit.

  “He was in charge. I’m not going to sit here and tell you we pried all this information out of him. We got the information because we were able to build a rapport and a trust with him.” – Detective Jeff Bell (45:30)

• Keyes’ Motivation:
  • Keyes claims he wants the death penalty, using details about his crimes as leverage to barter for a swift execution.

  “What Israel Keys wanted in return was the death penalty. I want an execution date. I want this whole thing wrapped up and over with as soon as possible.” – Detective Jeff Bell & Israel Keyes (43:15 – 43:29)

• Regret After Sharing:
  • Once Keyes has confessed, he loses pleasure in his secrets.

  “Any high he gets from reliving his stories quickly dissipates, and he no longer gets any satisfaction from it.” – Dr. Michelle Ward (47:29)

5. Details of Samantha Koenig’s Murder

• Keyes’ Own Words: Keyes offers a methodical account of the abduction, assault, murder, and cover-up, interwoven with moments of chilling banality.

  “She knew at that point. She said, ‘Please don’t rape me.’ I put my head right up to her ear and I said, ‘You knew this was coming.’” – Israel Keyes (26:33)

• Grisly Deception: After returning from vacation, Keyes stages a “proof of life” photo by thawing Samantha’s body and manipulating her eyelids with thread.

  “He braids her hair … but her eyelids won’t stay open, so he stitches them in place.” – Dr. Michelle Ward (39:08)

6. Aftermath – Capture and Courtroom Scene

• Breakout Attempt: Keyes secretly disables his ankle restraints with patient ingenuity, attempting an escape during a crowded courtroom session.

  “He wore the metal off of it … then he takes the cellophane and ties the chain back to the other cuff so it looks like they’re connected.” – Detective Jeff Bell (49:58)

• Stark Reminder: The scene demonstrates Keyes’ resourcefulness and ongoing capacity for deception, even in custody.

  “It’s a scene that reminds us just how resourceful, how patient and how determined Keys can be … and it’s a stark warning to those in charge of keeping an eye on him.” – Dr. Michelle Ward (50:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Power of Confession

  “He’s getting to brag. He’s getting to, you know, be the boogeyman he’s always wanted to be. And I think he starts talking too much. And then immediately regrets it.” – Josh Hallmark (28:31)

• On Police Investigation

  “He described the police officers in Anchorage, us as ants in a frying pan … we were throwing mud at the wall, trying to figure anything, and we had nothing.” – Detective Jeff Bell (40:46)

• On the Investigators’ Approach

  “You had to cater to him … you had to play the game.” – Dr. Michelle Ward to Det. Bell (45:39 – 46:04)

• On Informing the Family

  “I’m sorry, James, no. We found Samantha’s remains and she’s dead … but it still, you know, doesn’t bring Samantha back.” – Detective Slavomir Markowitz (11:52 – 12:34)

• Keyes’ Chilling Demeanor

  “He was very matter of fact about what he did to Samantha … telling us the murder and sexual assault of somebody like he was telling a story.” – Detective Jeff Bell (26:15)

• Reflecting on His Double Life

  “Most of the time, Keyes isn’t a serial killer. He’s a respected handyman, a good father, a talented outdoorsman—and he’s very, very good at hiding his dark side.” – Dr. Michelle Ward (24:28)

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Timestamps for Pivotal Segments

• First Confession Begins: 03:26
• Keyes Gives Map to Body Location: 06:34
• FBI Dive Team Recovers Body: 09:14 – 11:03
• Emotional Impact on Investigators: 11:38 – 12:39
• Details of the Abduction: 16:41 – 19:45
• Risk and Escalation Discussion: 20:08 – 21:15
• Killing and Aftermath in the Shed: 22:39 – 29:26
• Psychological Deterioration & Motivators: 29:41 – 31:16
• Confessing and Manipulating Interrogators: 41:38 – 45:39
• Loss of Satisfaction After Confession: 46:53 – 47:29
• Keyes' Courtroom Escape Attempt: 47:52 – 50:44

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Final Observations

The episode masterfully balances harrowing detail and expert analysis, offering a rare look at both the monstrous psychology of Israel Keyes and the emotional toll on those seeking justice for his victims. The chilling accounts—some matter-of-fact, others emotionally charged—shine light on a psyche unraveling, the necessity of calculated investigative rapport, and the thin line between ordinary life and inconceivable evil.

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Next Episode Teaser
Investigators chase new leads tied to Keyes’s secret “kill kits” and possible victims in New York, hinting that the web of his violence is even more widespread than known.

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Podcast: Mind of a Monster: The Cross-Country Killer — “Confessions” is produced by Arrow Media for ID. Hosted by Dr. Michelle Ward.

Transcript

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[Dr. Michelle Ward]

This podcast explores disturbing content with themes of murder, torture and rape. Listener discretion is advised. Previously on Mind of a the Cross Country Killer.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

You see fear in her eyes, you see her arms raised. Then suddenly you see a person jumping through the window.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

From ID and Arrow Media, I'm criminal psychologist Dr. Michelle Ward, and this is Mind of a Monster, the Cross Country Killer. Chapter five Confessions. Our exact words were, we've got our guy. Israel Keys is a deadly predator who strikes from the shadows, brutalizes and butchers his victims, and then covers his tracks so efficiently that no one knows he's out there getting away with it. He might be a little weird, but he was just always so polite. He's kind of like a Jekyll Hyde type.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

He says that he wishes he could help us, but he doesn't have any information about Samantha Koenig.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

It's March 30, 2012, and Israel Keys has spent over two weeks in custody. The investigation into missing 18 year old Samantha Koenig is nationwide news, but Anchorage PD has so far drawn a blank. And Keyes denies any knowledge of her abduction. The only charge investigators can throw at him is the illegal use of her ATM card. Until he makes a shocking announcement, he's ready to talk.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Okay, Israel, I know you've been advised of your rights. Several times I tell you that anything that you say today can and will be used against you.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

I've been digging into the FBI interviews with Israel keys, rearranging those 40 hours of confessions into a chronology of his life. But in this chapter, we're going to focus on the very first time Keith sits down with a roomful of investigators and goes on the record.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I don't know. I'll tell that whole story, but I might not tell it right now. Is there a reason you don't want to tell it now?

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

Yeah.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Can you tell us what that is?

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I already know who I want to tell that story to. What's her name? Ricky. Police Detective.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

So. So you want to tell Mickey, Detective Doll.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I'll tell her the rest of the details. In other words, if you want to, if you want to know all of them, why do you want to.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Why do you specifically want to tell her?

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Because that's the way I am.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

From the very first meeting, Israel Keys asserts control. He demands to speak to a female detective, and he says, maybe I'll tell you. Maybe, maybe I won't. And what he's exercising here is his final bit of power. He has something that everybody else in the room wants. It's information that only he has. And he's going to enjoy it because he knows it's the last opportunity in his life to exert some power and control. So he's not going to tell the whole story until Detective Dahl is present, but he will answer some of their questions. One of the investigators who is in the room with Keys is Anchorage PD Homicide Detective Jeff Bell. I ask him what the mood is like among the attorneys and investigators.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

We're all very excited that we actually are going to get an opportunity to talk to Israel Keys. I was in shock that his attorney was going to let him talk to us first of all, we were shocked that he was sitting down with us and that he was going to tell us what happened to Samantha.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

We understand you're not going to tell us everything, but the one thing I do need to know before I leave here today is how you killed her. Why? Well, that's what we, that's one of the things we agreed when we came back, right? I, I mean, it doesn't really matter how it happened. I'm saying that, yes, I was responsible. So you were responsible for what? I need you to tell me. For her being deceased at this moment?

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

Yes.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

So you killed her?

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[Dr. Michelle Ward]

So Israel's been tight lipped since his arrest. Why the sudden change of heart?

[Detective Jeff Bell]

That's a good question. And I, you know, we never really got to that. And I do think he understood that we were going to ultimately find out he was responsible for the kidnapping and probable death of Samantha because of the mass amount of evidence that he had on his computer and physical evidence at his house. But I also think that he in some way wanted to tell the story.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I mean, maybe just to start, I think everybody really wants to know where her body is.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Keys requests a map and then points to a spot in the middle of Matanuska Lake, 40 miles east of Anchorage.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

So what are they going to find when they go out there? Ice fishing spot, it's about 40ft deep. Was it a hole that you cut or was the hole there? No, it was a hole I cut.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

I cannot imagine how harrowing it is to be tasked with recovering the body of a missing young girl. So I'm going to talk with the FBI agent in charge, Bobby Chacon.

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

I was on the 405 freeway heading home to Long Beach. Los Angeles traffic is really horrendous on a Friday. And I got a call from my program manager at Quantico and he said, I need you in Alaska and I need you there now.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Tell me what you learn as you're driving home in traffic.

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

There was a 18 year old girl missing and they had arrested somebody in Texas that was believed to have abducted and murdered her. They said he gave up the location where the girl is and she's in a lake. She's at the bottom of a lake north of Anchorage.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

You have an 18 year old girl's body to recover. How much is that playing on your mind?

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

I'm flying up there and I was just going over the plan in my head. The fact that we were going to recover an 18 year old girl who had been murdered. It doesn't play into your head? At that point in time because, you know, we have a job to do. I get into Anchorage myself on Sunday and once we got everybody together, we got a briefing by the evidence response team leader at the, at the Anchorage field office. It was really at that time that they first told us that Samantha had been dismembered and cut into five pieces.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

We know Keyes is remorseless, practical and highly skilled. So although the thought of him dismembering Samantha is awful, I'm not shocked. We don't know whether it was something he had done before, but I suspect it was and I suspect he did it for practical purposes rather than pleasure. If he's transporting a body and he doesn't want to attract attention, then these are the lengths he will go to do it. Monday, April 2, 2012 the FBI dive team leaves Anchorage, traveling inward toward Madanuska Lake.

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

There are snow capped mountains in the distance. It's the most bluest sky day you can think. It's sunny. I had never been up there before. I had seen it on tv, sure, but boy, when you see it for the first time in person, it's like you're living in a National Geographic scene.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

As you're driving to the lake, what are you hoping to find?

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

As gruesome as it might sound, we're hoping to find Samantha at the bottom of that lake and not for any other reason other than to, you know, let her family go on and process what has happened. Because if we don't find her, they're not going to know. It could still be a horrific ending, but they're not going to know that.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Bobby's team reaches the lakeside and heads out on snowmobiles across the frozen water.

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

Israel had said that when he disposed of Samantha in the lake, he did what is very common up there is ice fishing at that time of year. And to ice fish what they do is they use a sled, they bring all their gear out to a certain point on the lake, they set up a little kind of pop up tent and then they drill a hole. And so they sit in there in their little tents and they fish. And so that's what he did, except in the sled he had, you know, pieces of Samantha wrapped up and weighted down with like fishing line and weights.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

The FBI locates the fishing hole that Israel used to sink Samantha's body to the bottom of the lake. Israel and Bobby Chacon sends a robot mounted camera into the ice cold depths.

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

That's when for the first time, it's clear we see a human foot in Front of the picture.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Samantha's body is exactly where Israel Keys described.

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

And so when we got Samantha to the surface, as is our normal practice, we had a moment of silence. Everybody does whatever they do, whatever their faith is or whatever they do, don't do. It's not. It's just a moment of silence. I often say this. I have to prepare our divers. I said, look, when we have a really good day, someone else is going to have a really bad day.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

With the body identified, head of the investigation, Detective Slavomir Markowitz, has the unenviable task of informing Samantha's father.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I called and asked him if he's at home, if I can visit him.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

You'd been with him, hoping, with him, alongside him the entire time?

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Yes. Yes. I never lost hope that we would find her.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

And now you have to tell James that hope is gone.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

FBI heard they had a Victim Liaison Coordinator, an FBI agent that went with me. We entered, we sat down with him, and then I told him, no. I'm sorry, James, no. We found Samantha's remains and she's dead. And then we told him, we have a suspect. He confessed, he's going to be charged. But, you know, that's not much help. Of course, it's a big thing for survivors, you know, to know that there is someone in custody. But it still, you know, doesn't bring Samantha back.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

This is the first time I've gotten emotional this entire time.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

It was with a very heavy heart. And there is really not much more you can say. But I think there's no other case that touched me like this did.

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[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

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[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

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[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

What's going on? We haven't worked a case in years. I just bought my car at Carvana.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

And it was so easy.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Too easy.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Think something's up? You tell me. They got thousands of options, found a great car at a great price, and.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

It got delivered the next day.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

It sounds like Carvana just makes it.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Easy to buy your car, Hank.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Yeah, you're right.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Case closed.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Buy your car today on Carvana. Delivery fees may apply. The way Israel Keyes hides Samantha's body in a frozen lake bears some consistency with his established patterns. But the distances covered are far less than his other murders. Everything happens close to home, most notably the abduction itself. I want to know why.

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

You'Re going.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

To get the abridged version.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

What does that mean at Israel Keys request? Detective Dahl is now present, but Israel has another complaint.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I'm going to leave out some stuff. There's too many people in there. Some of the stuff is very personal. I don't feel comfortable with telling it to a lot of people. Well, why don't we do this? Let's start and we'll see where we end up.

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[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

When did you first meet Samantha Comey? Never met her. Never even seen her before. So why did you go to the Common Grounds called Shop on that night at that time? Cuz they were open late.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Although key sounds flippant, he's most likely being honest. It's in keeping with his M.O. that he had never seen Samantha before and that he chose the coffee stand ahead of time.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I had my police scanner on and I had it in my ear and there was something else going on on the other side of town. So I knew there weren't going to be any cops in that area. There wasn't a lot of traffic. It was starting to snow. When you went in there to the Common Grounds coffee stand, did you. You intended to take her? No, I was open at that point, cuz I didn't know who was going to be there. I mean, I was pretty determined that I was at least going to rob the place. Honestly, it was kind of like a spur of the moment thing. The way it happened, I. When I robbed her, she was, you know, very cooperative and I don't know, I just even, I guess you could say against my judgment. I just kept going with it. Even though I had already told myself that if whoever was there didn't have a car, that I wasn't gonna do anything more than. And rob him and tie him up.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

He uses the words against my judgment. And I told myself so. He's in conflict with himself from the start. Part of him wants to stick to a plan and not deviate from his trusted practices. She doesn't have a car parked outside, so he shouldn't abduct her. But he overrules the part of him saying stop. The plan was a robbery. But in the moment he changes the plan.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I was just on a real adrenaline rush. I thought I could just walk her right down the street. There were people standing right in front of my truck. I kind of had her pinned against the door. And like I say, there were people. I had the.22 and I was. I think she knew right then that I was serious because I told her, I said, I don't want to hurt you, but this.22 is loaded though don't make me.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Keys points out that there are potential witnesses to the abduction at various points throughout the night. Something he has previously been so careful to avoid.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I had never done anything that brazen before.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

This offers a clue as to why Keyes breaks his pattern and takes a victim right near his home. Was he no longer getting the excitement he craved from his established way of doing things? I asked Detective Bell what he thinks. Why do you think he took those risks? Because they're different from his other crimes.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Well, what makes this crime stand out is the public nature of the scene in which he took Samantha from the coffee stand itself is on probably one of the top two or three busiest roadways in Anchorage. Even though it was obscured from the road by snow, Israel took huge risk in thinking that he's going to be able to walk across the street, abduct somebody, escort her across the street, through the parking lot of a busy restaurant at that, that time of night, which is where he parked his truck. So the risk was tremendous. But I also think that the risk was part of his adrenaline rush that he got by committing these crimes.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Right. I think you're absolutely right.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Yeah. Remember, risk was his cocaine.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Escalation is a pattern we see in many serial killers. The need for greater stimulation more frequently. Like an addict, Keys needs to keep increasing the dose of his hit to experience the same high.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

So you sent the text messages? Yeah. There was one to her employer? Yep. And to her boyfriend? Yeah, I guess. Anyone else? No. After that, I pulled the battery out of the phone. Can't track it as far as I know. Why not just shut it off? I'm paranoid. So after that, where did you take Samantha? I think that was the last thing I did before I went to my house.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

The first significant decision he's ever made 14 years prior was to become two separate people. Also, the killer must never have any connection to the victim. But with Samantha, he completely loses sight of this and loses control. He's now creating all of these connections, taking her in his car, using her phone to text her boyfriend. And in the most surprising break from his previous patterns of behavior, Keys drives around anchors for a while before deciding to take Samantha home. While ex girlfriend Kimberly and his 10 year old daughter sleep inside the house, Keys ties up his victim in his shed.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

He did not, you know, put anything in her mouth or any type of gag on her. He just instructed her that he, that if anybody, the police were called to his location, that he would hurt her family. He assured her that this was just a ransom thing. And once he got money, he was going to let her go. Then he left. And he went to pick up her ATM card and her ID from the truck at her home. So he left her multiple times alone, where he believed that he had convinced her that as long as she did what. What he said, that she would ultimately end up being okay.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Hmm. That's so sad. So Samantha is keeping quiet while just yards away, Keez's ex girlfriend is asleep. A woman who is the very antithesis of dangerous. She's a healthcare worker with a normal social life and who in this moment, is babysitting Keys's daughter. It's so horribly tragic to picture the three of them so close to each other and yet totally unaware. Each of them, to varying degrees, a victim of Keys manipulations. I want to hear from the former girlfriend, Kimberly again.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

When was the last time you were in the shed?

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

He's always had it locked.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

He built it when we rented a.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Place downtown on 12th Ave, and he's.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Always had it locked.

[FBI Agent Bobby Chacon]

What's he keeping there?

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

I think tools and stuff.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Even though it's your house, he doesn't give you a key. You ever been in the shed? Yeah, like a long time ago. And they were like, just tools and.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Screws and nails and stuff like that.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

But that was a long time ago.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

It's easy to imagine that if we were in Kimberly's shoes, that we would know that we wouldn't be fooled. But we have to remember that most of the time, Keys isn't a serial killer. He's a respected handyman, a good father, a talented outdoorsman, and he's very, very good at hiding his dark side. The only person who knows he's a serial killer is Israel Keyes himself. Detective Bell questioned Keyes about his relationship with Kimberly.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

He said that the reason she was ideal for him doing what he did was they had separate lives. Essentially, they vacationed separately. She wasn't into his business, he wasn't into hers. He didn't ask her questions, she didn't ask him. And I'm assuming that's why he felt comfortable having Samantha out there and sexually assaulting and killing her while they're sleeping inside, literally 30ft away.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

And just like with the courier story, Keys has perfect recall of all the details. Details that include the horrendous moments he brutalizes and murders Samantha.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I took a 36 inch cable tie and I put it around her neck.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Samantha doesn't scream for help. She's hopeful that her kidnapper is telling the truth and that once he has the ransom money. He will release her.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I unscrewed the rope from the wall and had her lay down on the floor on the mat.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

And.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Took two more pieces of rope.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Israel's giving you all of these details. How is he presenting them to you?

[Detective Jeff Bell]

He was very matter of fact about what he did to Samantha. He was very detailed and unapologetic about what he had done and was telling us the murder and sexual assault of somebody. Like he was telling a story.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

She knew at that point. She said, please don't rape me. I put my head right up to her ear and I said, you knew this was coming. And she started to nod and she started to cry a little bit. Then after it was over, she was, you know, she was. I don't know, I guess she say she was resigned at that point. And she started asking me if I was going to kill her.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

There's much more to Keez's description of Samantha's death. It's both dreadful and banal. But I want to replace something he said at the start of the interview.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Some of the stuff is very.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Personal.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I don't feel comfortable with telling it to a lot of people. You're gonna get the abridged version.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Keys tells the investigators that he's going to leave out the more personal details. But what did he leave out? He goes into a second by second replay of exactly what he did to Samantha. And I wonder whether his intention to hold back can't be upheld because the excitement of reliving his crime becomes too much. I speak with investigative journalist Josh Hallmark. Do you think he enjoyed reliving some of these crimes? Sharing them? He says at one point, I don't want to share these. But do you buy that?

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

He says two things. He says, I don't want anyone to know about any of this. And then I think in that same interview, he says, I've never talked about this stuff before. Feels weird to talk about it. And so I think it's the internal conflict of I want my victims to just be mine. But also, I've never been able to talk about that, this with anyone. And I finally get to. It's fascinating.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

He says he's going to give an edited version, but then he doesn't.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

He's talking about things he's never gotten to talk about. He's getting excited. He's reliving the experience. He's getting to brag. He's getting to, you know, be the boogeyman he's always wanted to be. And I think he starts talking too much. And then immediately regrets it.

[Podcast Advertiser / Narrator]

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[Dr. Michelle Ward]

And I think this failure to control what he said, saying in the interview room is actually just an artifact of his impulsivity getting the better of him.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Once he's in the high is when he loses control. And we see that time and time again. I think with the couriers, he lost control multiple times. He screwed up big time with Samantha. That got him arrested because he was just out of his mind. How long did it take you to die? It was taking a while. And I remember thinking, I still have to shower. I had to make sure all the bags were packed and fed the dogs.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

And here's the final, utterly grotesque detail about that night. Within minutes of killing Samantha, Keys is waking up his daughter to take an early morning flight. They're going on vacation.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

What was your plan? You were getting on a plane and her body was in your shaft. What were you thinking? I was thinking it was 20 degrees outside and I didn't have anything to worry about. She was on the tarp and on the foam mattress sleeping bag, and I wrapped it all around her and then opened up the lower cabinets and put her inside.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

The two separate Personas that Israel Keys has spent years cultivating seem to be almost converging. Israel. The serial killer is switching into Israel the family man. Like that. One moment the serial killer's wrapping up Samantha's body in a tarp, then seconds later, the father is making sure his daughter has packed her luggage. Josh Hallmark and I talk about why things unraveled in such an extreme way.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I think it's because, A, he was losing control. The ability to sustain the high for long periods of time, as you mentioned, was waning all of a sudden. Had his daughter living with him full time. He was broke, so he couldn't travel as much. His girlfriend had just left him, and he's drinking.

[Podcast Advertiser / Narrator]

Right.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Kimberly had said that was one of the reasons that she broke up with him is he wasn't working anymore. He was sitting around drinking and playing video games all day. His behavior was becoming erratic. And that was in such contrast to the life she was living as, like, a medical professional who was white collar and traveling and had a strong community and great friends and owned her home. And.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Yeah, so those factors you're mentioning are incredibly important because his life is falling apart.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

He just had no more control. And so I think he went crazy.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

When Keys was later asked whether he identified with any of the serial killers he had read so much about, he had something pertinent to say about Ted Bundy.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

He was able to separate two different aspects or whatever you want to call his personality. And I know that in the last few years he had a really hard time controlling himself and separating his two lives. If you want to call it that.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

He's talking about Bundy, but he could be talking about himself. Depression, drinking and his changing family dynamic are certainly factors that extend explain Keys's loss of control. But I think something else acted as a trigger for this particular night of recklessness. He's going on vacation. He's taking a Cruise with his 10 year old daughter, and unlike previous trips, he knows he won't have the opportunity to murder. So he has this uncontrollable urge to do something before they leave.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

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[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

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[Podcast Advertiser / Narrator]

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[Dr. Michelle Ward]

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[Podcast Advertiser / Narrator]

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[Dr. Michelle Ward]

You might know us as openphone. My dad is a business owner and growing up, he always kept his ringtone super loud so he'd never miss a customer call. That stuck with me. When we started Quo, our mission was to help businesses not just stay in touch, but make every customer feel valued, no matter when they might call. Quo gives your team business phone numbers to call and text on your phone or computer. Your calls, messages and contacts live in one workspace so your team can stay fully aligned and reply faster. And with our AI agent answering 24. Seven, you'll really never miss a customer. Over 90,000 businesses use quo. Get 20% [e-mail] business. That's quo.com business and we can port your existing numbers over for free. Quo. No missed calls, no missed customers. With Israel Keys taking a family vacation while the body of a murdered teenage girl lies in his shed, it sounds like he has spiraled completely out of control. I want to speak with someone who was in actual contact with him during this period. A loyal customer of Keyes Construction. My name is Georgia Perry and I. I'm just A few days ago, turned 77 and I moved to Anchorage in 2000 to teach at Bartlett High School. How did you end up connecting with Israel Keys? I was looking for kind of a carpenter, handyman, and I called a couple and he's the one that showed up. Did he seem normal to you? Yeah, he did outstanding work. He was reasonably priced, you know, and he was hard worker. I mean, he didn't take breaks or anything. He just worked on through till he got it done. Did you trust him? Yeah. Yeah, he did fantastic job. He was very good at what he did, and I believe he definitely took pride in it. What was the last conversation you had with him? I called. I may have just texted him. Can't remember now. Got a window. And I'm wondering if you've got some free time that you can come and work on it. You've, you know, you've worked for me before. And his basic answer that I remember was, well, I'm on vacation right now and I'll be returning home in a week or two and I'll contact you when I get back. I says, okay, great. Even though he appears to be falling apart, Keys is still holding together this double life. Did it make sense to you that your handyman was a killer? No, not at all. I could not believe. I could not believe it at all. I was in total shock. I didn't feel any aggression or anything. He just. It was kind of a quiet, shy, maybe a bit of an introvert type. The people who know the good side of Keyes have no sense at all that his mask is slipping. On February 17, 2012, Israel Keyes gets back from his vacation. The body of Samantha Koenig is still in his shed, frozen from the Alaskan winter air. Her disappearance has been big news for nearly three weeks. But the finger of suspicion points elsewhere. If Keyes disposes of the evidence now, he will surely get away with murder. But he doesn't. Instead, he decides to fake a ransom note in order to make it look authentic. He thaws out Samantha's frozen body so he can take a supposed proof of life photograph. Once again, he goes into painful detail.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I have a lot of work to do trying to figure out how I was going to position things, trying to make it look like she was still alive. Biggest problem I had was with her face. I think I used two or three tubes of foundation. And then after that I had to go over it with a couple other colors in different areas because, I mean, at first it just looked like she was painted. I had to add in some red and, I don't know, different stuff, different places.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

He braids her hair the way he used to do to his sister's hair back in the woods of his childhood. But her eyelids won't stay open, so he stitches them in place.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

So I think it took about five or six pictures before I finally had one that only showed what I wanted.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Satisfied with the photo, he finally disposes of Samantha's body. There is no evidence that Keys ever interacted with the bodies of his other victims after he killed them. He certainly didn't talk about it, so why go to this much trouble? I'm not sure at this point whether he's still extending the high from committing the crime or if he's actually so desperate for money that this seems like a legitimate opportunity. But there's something else at play that adds a new dimension to the way Keys experiences his crime.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Was all over the news. He said most of the crimes he committed prior to the couriers was barely a blip, if any, about what he had done. So I don't think it bothered him to tell the couriers. I think he, he was fine with being the only one that knew what he did. And then he found out how much adrenaline he got from a lot of people knowing.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Whilst the family of Samantha are hopeful that she'll be found alive. The police keep searching for clues and reasons. She was taken from the common grounds. I got to keep my spirits up and know that my heart still feels her and. And she'll be here.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

He's admitted that he got a kick out of following the news of the courier's disappearance. And Samantha Koenig's abduction is much bigger. It's more dramatic, and it's happening right on his doorstep.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

He just, you know, he described the police officers in Anchorage, us As ants in a frying pan, like, trying to figure out what he did. And he got an overwhelming response from him. I mean, he just loved the fact that we were just. We were throwing mud at the wall, trying to figure anything, and we had nothing.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

So was Keys addicted to the news cycle, or had he simply lost control? I think he's at the point where every action he takes, he justifies in his head is right and rational. When he starts using Samantha's ATM card, he's not thinking he might get caught because nothing he's done up to this point has ended in his capture. So why would this. How did Keys continued use of the ATM card help the investigation along?

[Detective Jeff Bell]

It's. It's what solved the crime. I mean, there's no doubt. It's what got him caught.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Were you surprised to learn that this guy was Samantha's killer?

[Detective Jeff Bell]

I can tell you that nobody in that investigation thought a serial killer had taken Samantha Koenig, cut her body up and put her in a lake out in the Matsu Valley.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

April 3, 2012. News breaks that Samantha Koenig's body has been found and her killer is behind bars. But as we know, this is just the start of Keys's confessions, as he himself says he has lots more stories to tell.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Well, okay, that's. Here's the deal. I know what you have because I know you have the computer. I know as time goes by, the longer I'm in the system, the longer the investigation goes on. You're going to keep finding things. You're going to start to connect dots. I'm only going to give you the dots that I know you're going to eventually connect. You're a smart guy. I get it. I get it. But I'm not going to talk about those things unless I'm gonna get what I want.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

I wanna know what happens in that interview room after Keyes tells investigators that he's a serial killer. And Detective Jeff Bell was present at every meeting.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

I don't think any of us thought we were gonna be talking to him. You know, 47 times or however it.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Ended up in this room is a very interesting symbiotic relationship happening. You guys want something from Israel Keys and he wants something from you.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Simply put, the information that we wanted from Israel Keys was who he killed and where. What Israel Keys wanted in return was the death penalty.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

I want an execution date. I want this whole thing wrapped up and over with as soon as possible.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

And he wanted it within a year, which we all know is. Is impossible.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

The two sides find themselves in a holding pattern. Keys doesn't want to give away his secrets without an execution date. As the attorneys try to work out some way of satisfying his request, the investigators engage him in conversation each time, hoping that something new slips out.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

First of all, do I get a cigar today?

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

And so Keys trades a bit of his childhood history for a good cigar. Details of the courier murders for a Snickers bar.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

I can tell you that sometimes we didn't really have a plan of what we were going to talk about, but there was a process in talking to him. He was be transported to the FBI building and we would get him a Americano ready for him every time.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Sometimes he discloses other crimes he got away with.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Honestly, I've always kind of thought of myself as more the bank robber type because I can get the same adrenaline rush off of that kind of thing. The bank robberies were more of a. Like a challenge because it was, you know, not like you can do one and not be noticed.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

But other times, Israel and the investigators just talk.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Like I say, I shot a couple deer with the other guns. I started doing conventional waving. Are you talking blacktails or whitetails or mule deer? Well, we had all three. We had all three in Eastern Washington, but it was mostly white tables. Yeah. Bring me up on poaching churches.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

I mean, I get a lot of questions about that. Why we kind of catered to him in that. I mean, you. He was in charge and I'm not.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

You had to cater to him.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that we were in charge and that we pride out all this information out of him. You know, we got the information we got because we were able to build a rapport and a trust with him that he was. Gave us the information that he was comfortable giving us. And I, I think if we had we played hardball and done things differently, we wouldn't have even got what we got. And so I feel like we did it the way we, the way we had to do it.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

This approach is likely the best Course of action for the investigators. Israel Keys does hold all the cards, and he's a psychopath, so there's no point trying to appeal to his emotions or more morals. He will take the full knowledge of his crimes to the grave unless there's something in it for him. So the investigators have to exploit the fact that he relishes in reliving those moments and enjoys having an audience for it. How did you feel having to forge this relationship with a serial killer?

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Felt disgusting. A lot of times, you know, after the interviews, I remember going to the poor girl who was transcribing, because all the interviews were transcribed afterwards. And I went up to her and I said, I just want you to know that that's not my me. I'm not that person. I don't think that what he's saying is funny.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

You had to play the game.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

I want her to know that that's not how I was.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Keys takes pleasure in sharing the things he's done, but it doesn't last.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

I feel like that changed for him because he felt a sense of loss after telling the story to someone else. Part of his psyche and his motivation for doing what he. He did was he's the only one who knew he was doing it. And once he told us the details of what he did, he lost the sense of that information. And I think he felt like he lost that victim as his.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

It lost its power for him because he shared it.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

That's right.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

This is very consistent with his behavior. Any high he gets from reliving his stories quickly dissipates, and he no longer gets any satisfaction from it. May 23, 2012. Anchorage Federal Courthouse. Serial killer Israel Keyes appears in court for a preliminary hearing.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

James Koenig was going to be there. We knew that James Koenig was extremely upset, and so we asked the marshals and the Department of Corrections to keep an eye on him.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

This is a big deal in Anchorage, so this courtroom's gotta be packed.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Yeah, absolutely packed.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Israel Keyes sits on the opposite side of the courtroom in leg irons.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

He's not in handcuffs, right, because you don't want to give the appearance that he's guilty or restrained.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

But what nobody realizes is that Keyes has prepared for his appearance by secretly snapping his only restraint, the chain that binds his ankles.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

There was a very pretty young gal. I didn't know who she was at the time, sitting, you know, probably eight or ten chairs to my right, by herself, kind of in. In an area. And he was just staring at her, you know, And I, at the time, I thought for sure he was sexually aroused or aroused in some way by her. How pretty she was. That's what I thought. And so I eventually got up and moved, moved and I sat right in front of her so that he couldn't see her, or at least he'd have to look at me to, to see her.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

It's at this moment when Israel Keys breaks free from his restraints. The chaos is captured by local journal.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

He jumped up from his seat and there's about a three foot pony wall in front of where spectators sit and where he's at. And he jumped that wall a marshall, he got a hold of one of his legs and he essentially fell and ran into my arms, you know. And so we ended up on the ground right there with this marshal. And then of course, the marshals swarm him and they tase him and get him back in custody and haul him out of there.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

So how on earth did he break free?

[Detective Jeff Bell]

You know, he's waiting to go to court, is able to work a grommet. Like, he's literally got the chain on the leg irons and he is just doing that. I mean, can you think about that how many millions of times? He's sitting there for two or three hours just moving that little grommet until he gets it to come out. He wore the metal off of it. They give him a sandwich which has cellophane on it. And then he takes the cellophane and he ties the chain back to the other cuff so that it looks like he's. That they're connected and he's got the leg irons on.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Oh, so he's clever. What did you say to him after you caught him?

[Detective Jeff Bell]

I said, do you really think, you really think you're gonna get away? And he said, well, what I got to lose If I had 1% chance, you know, why not take it?

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

It's a scene that reminds us just how resourceful, how patient and how determined Keys can be. How he has spent 34 years sharpening his survival skills. And it's a stark warning to those in charge of keeping an eye on him. Next time on Mind of a Monster. The Cross Country Killer.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

If that cache is found without being bulldozed over or buried, could potentially lead us to additional victims.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

There are more things I could talk about in New York. A lot of things stood out. So when Jimmy was missing, so was Kees.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

He had told us that he had buried the person along the Rackette river very close to the water. I felt pretty confident that it was her.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

This guy hid kill kits everywhere. So we went back and dug up a bucket with, you know, weapons, condoms.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Bourbon, mind of a monster. The Cross Country Killer is produced by Aeromedia, a Freemantle Company for ID. I'm your host, Dr. Michelle Ward. You can follow our show wherever you get your podcasts. And we'd love it if you could take a second to leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts.

[Podcast Advertiser / Narrator]

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[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

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[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Galactic year 6967-420-428-0085. The war for the spark rages on. Yet one last hope remains. Four ancient warriors are about to take to the stars and take the galaxy by storm. Hey, so here's what you're gonna do.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

You're gonna go to HTTPs.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

They added that colon.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Yeah, gotta check on that.

[Detective Jeff Bell]

Oh, don't we all? I wish.

[Dr. Michelle Ward]

Dungeons and Daddies presents Grandpas and Galaxies. An improvised actual play senior star citizen space Opera adventure. Coming February 10th to our solar system.

[Israel Keys (Serial Killer)]

Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.