Murder Sheet: A Conversation with William Noguera on Joseph Naso and Profiling Serial Killers on Death Row

Original Air Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: Áine Cain & Kevin Greenlee
Guest: William (Bill) Noguera

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with William Noguera, a former death row inmate turned true crime investigator and author. Noguera shares his personal journey—from his own conviction to his efforts in profiling and extracting confessions from serial killers behind bars, particularly Joseph Naso. The conversation explores life on death row, the criminal psyche, rehabilitation, and the search for closure for victims’ families.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. William Noguera’s Background and Path to Death Row

• Early Life & Trauma: Noguera describes a violent, abusive upbringing, developing keen observational skills out of necessity to survive (08:15–11:19).
  • “At a very early age, six, seven years old, I had to already be intimate with my father's habits ... it becomes what people talk about being a trauma ... it developed character defects.” — Bill Noguera [08:15]
• Descent into Crime: Explains his progression from martial arts prodigy to leading a car theft ring—a pattern rooted in his need for power and control.
• The Crime: At 18, Noguera killed the mother of his 16-year-old girlfriend during a confrontation (11:19–11:51).
  • “There is no justification. I committed a crime and whether I believed at time I was justified doesn't matter. I took a life...” — Noguera [11:13]
• Prison Experience: Became the youngest person on death row in California at the time. Describes the violence and constant vigilance needed to survive among other death row inmates (12:08–16:07).

2. Life and Social Structure on Death Row

• Adaptation & Respect: Survival depended on maintaining respect, knowing routines, and reading potential threats.
  • “The most highly sought after commodity in prison is respect ... The most respected men in prison are those who kill other convicts.” — Noguera [15:26]
• Gangs & Alliances: While ethnically grouped, Noguera avoided joining prison gangs, preferring autonomy and leadership (19:30–21:46).

3. Profiling Serial Killers from the Inside

• Unique Access: As the death row population aged, Noguera was given the job of IDAPT worker, tending to elderly and disabled inmates—including serial killers like Joseph Naso (21:49–24:49).
• Convict Hierarchy: Serial killers, especially those with sexual motives, are "vermin" to other convicts; they are isolated and often targeted.
• Building Trust with Naso: Naso, seeking validation as an artist, latched onto Noguera for respect and recognition. This opened the door to deeper conversations (24:49–24:55).
  • “He needed to hear me tell him he was an artist and his work was phenomenal ... there is a hierarchy ... I was on top ... He was at the bottom.” — Noguera [24:55]
• Investigation & Manipulation: Noguera leveraged psychology, trust, and even staged prison scenarios to gain Naso’s confidence and ultimately extract detailed confessions (29:36–35:36).

4. Insights into the Serial Killer Mindset

• Nature vs. Nurture: Noguera stresses that serial killers are primarily "born, not made"—they’re wired differently from a young age, though environment can influence their signature (25:55–29:15).
  • “Serial killers are born this way ... If serial killers were made because of abuse, you'd have millions of them running around. You wouldn't have 40 to 50 a year killing.” — Noguera [25:55]
• The Naso Confessions: Naso revealed his twisted logic and motives through photographs and conversations, viewing murder as “cleaning” women, driven by misogynistic beliefs (29:36–35:36).
  • “He believes that he cleans them by killing them ... 'The other one, she's clean now. No deception.' Are you telling me she's dead? ‘That's exactly what I'm telling [you]. I clean women.’” — Noguera recalls Naso [32:07]

5. Delivering Justice and Seeking Redemption

• Collaboration with Ken Mains: Noguera partnered with investigator Ken Mains to share Naso's confessions and help identify unknown victims, aiming to bring closure to families (35:36–40:32).
  • “My entire focal point was from the very beginning ... victims, families. We want... closure.” — Noguera [35:45]
• Real Impact: Provided law enforcement with actionable information, even clarifying victim attribution between Naso and other suspects like Rodney Alcala.
• Maintaining Integrity: Emphasizes he never used his investigative work for parole or personal gain, focusing solely on serving victims’ families (41:22–43:15).

6. Rehabilitation and Making Amends

• Personal Responsibility: Noguera explains how taking ownership of his actions was central to his transformation (44:04–47:46).
  • “We make mistakes. It isn't what we do while we're on the ground. It's what we do when we stand up.” — Noguera [44:09]
• Leading by Example: Shifted from surface-level charity to direct mentorship and advocacy on the yard, encouraging others to avoid gang life and pursue rehabilitation.
• Redemptive Purpose: Investigating serial killers from inside became his ‘living amends’—a way to give meaning to his life and bring something positive after his crime (47:46–49:12).

7. Ongoing Work & Projects

• Podcast & TV Show: Discusses his podcast "Death Row Diaries" and upcoming show, "Death Row Confidential: Secrets of a Serial Killer" (Oxygen), where real-time case solving and victim focus are center stage (49:12–51:07).
  • “If you want to know really what a serial killer thinks and does ... this is facts. You have to watch this show.” — Noguera [49:54]
• Book Release: New memoir, "Through the Lens of a Monster," out September 16th, 2025.
• Future Cases: Continues to investigate cold and active cases, now in partnership with law enforcement (51:07–51:54).

8. Advice on Safety and True Crime Consumption

• Critical Listening: Urges audiences to demand evidence and approach true crime content skeptically.
  • “Take with a grain of salt everything they listen to on true crime. You want facts, you want evidence that's solid. You don't want opinions.” — Noguera [52:08]
• Trust Instincts: Stresses the importance of situational awareness, particularly for potential victims, reminding us that predators stalk like animals.
  • “If you go out into a parking lot ... and you feel this tingling, stop ... ask somebody, could you help me walk to my car ... it’s going to save your life.” — Noguera [52:29]
• Social Media & Outreach: Encourages listeners to find his work via Instagram (@DeadBodySociety, @WilliamNogueraArt), his newsletter, and website.

Memorable Quotes

• “If I make a mistake, I die. The stakes are a lot higher [in prison].” — William Noguera [12:36]
• “Serial killers are born ... their environment tweaks their signature, but they were always wired this way.” — William Noguera [26:30]
• “[Naso] would say, ‘I clean women. I take them back to the state of mind before they were influenced by all these things that made them money hungry women that deceive men.’” — William Noguera [32:40]
• “There is no rehabilitation in Joe Naso. There is no redemptive quality. This man ... is a monster.” — William Noguera [38:15]
• “I'm giving what I can of myself ... to give these families what they seek. I can’t always be successful, but I always have the intention of doing good.” — William Noguera [48:00]
• “Be safe, be aware of your surroundings. Your life can depend on it. I can’t tell you how true that is.” — William Noguera [52:29]

Important Timestamps

• [08:15] – Noguera’s traumatic upbringing and formation of his observational skills
• [11:19] – The events leading to and details of his crime
• [12:08] – Life and violence on California’s Death Row
• [19:30] – Gang dynamics and survival strategies in prison
• [21:49] – Becoming caretaker for elderly serial killers: meeting Joseph Naso
• [25:55] – On nature vs. nurture in serial killers
• [29:36] – Methodology in gaining Naso’s trust and extracting confessions
• [35:36] – Collaboration with investigator Ken Mains and focus on victim closure
• [41:22] – Integrity and not using investigative work for parole gain
• [44:04] – Pursuing real rehabilitation and helping other inmates
• [49:12] – Details about "Death Row Confidential" and Noguera’s new book
• [52:08] – Advice for staying safe and responsible true crime consumption

Closing Takeaways

• Noguera’s firsthand experience offers rare insight into both the formation and rehabilitation of violent offenders and the psychology of serial killers.
• His investigative success from within death row has provided new answers to cold cases and closure to victims’ families.
• The interview centers the importance of personal responsibility, victim advocacy, and thoughtful skepticism in consuming and producing true crime content.

For more of Noguera’s work:

• Podcast: Death Row Diaries
• TV: Death Row Confidential (Oxygen/Peacock, Sept 13 and 20, 2025)
• Book: Through the Lens of a Monster (Sept 16, 2025)
• Website: williamnoguera.com
• Social: Instagram/TikTok @DeadBodySociety

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