Podcast Summary:

Scams, Money, & Murder | FBI Agent Mark Putnam Pt. 1 | Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

Release Date: February 19, 2026
Hosts: Vanessa Richardson & Dr. Tristan Engels, Forensic Psychologist
Produced by: Crime House / PAVE Studios

Overview

In this gripping first installment of a two-part deep dive, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristan Engels unravel the rise and fall of Mark Putnam, the first FBI agent in U.S. history convicted of murder. The episode walks listeners through Putnam’s competitive upbringing, his all-consuming pursuit of an FBI career, the fateful assignment in Pikeville, Kentucky, and the personal and professional boundary-crossing relationships that led to tragedy. Dr. Engels provides psychological analysis throughout, exploring how ambition, identity, stress, and blurred boundaries propelled Putnam toward disaster.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Mark Putnam’s Early Life and Competitive Nature

• Background: Born July 4, 1959, in Connecticut—raised in a blue-collar, competitive, sports-focused household.
• Athletic Edge: Soccer star, team captain, scholarship student, early adopter of performance-based self-worth.
• Psychological Impact:

  “In those cases, they can internalize at a very young age that performance starts to equal worth and success then becomes the source of validation and losing can feel threatening.” — Dr. Engels (06:06)

• Key Insight: Mark, accustomed to studying opponents and seeking advantage, carried this mentality into adulthood—shaping both his successes and vulnerabilities.

2. The Pursuit of an FBI Career

• Persistence Despite Setbacks: After his father’s death and a disqualifying injury, Mark works a clerical job for the FBI, observing agents and learning from their behavior and authority.
• Support System: Marries Kathy, whose advocacy ultimately helps him overcome an initial academy rejection.
• Authority & Flexibility:

  “Psychologically… it can reinforce a belief that rules are flexible if you push hard enough and that setbacks are negotiable.” — Dr. Engels (13:19)

3. Initial Assignment in Pikeville, Kentucky

• Reality Check: Instead of a glamorous post, Mark's first assignment is managing a disorganized, remote office in Pikeville. The environment is isolating and stressful for both him and Kathy.
• Desire to Prove Himself: Mark throws himself into the case of local bank robber Carl “Cat Eyes” Lockhart, motivated to make his mark in a challenging setting.
• Misplaced Value:

  “There’s seemingly a mismatch between how Mark likely sees himself… and how he’s being valued or treated.” — Dr. Engels (19:58)

4. Navigating Local Dynamics and Informant Relationships

• Learning the Ropes: With guidance from Deputy Burt Hatfield, Mark seeks informants and is introduced to Susan Smith—a young, impoverished local woman with ties to the suspect.
• Red Flags:
  • Susan initiates personal questions about Mark’s home life and marriage; Mark answers to remain polite, blurring ethical lines.
  • Dr. Engels warns:

    “There is an inherent power imbalance… answering personal questions crosses into over-familiarity. … It’s also one of the easiest ways to become compromised.” (25:25)

• Cautionary Insight: Mark’s lack of boundaries—and growing dependence on Susan’s information—sets the stage for significant problems.

5. Catching ‘Cat Eyes’ and Its Consequences

• Informant’s Role: Susan’s tips directly enable the arrest of Lockhart after a series of robberies.
• Professional Dissonance:

  “He didn’t out-think or outmaneuver Cat Eyes on his own. He needed Susan, much like how he needed his wife Kathy to get into the academy… did I even really earn this?” — Dr. Engels (30:11)

• Achievement Turns Anxiety: Mark’s initial triumph heightens his fear of losing status or control, prompting ever-riskier behavior.

6. Escalating Boundary Issues with Susan Smith

• Blurring of Personal and Professional:
  • As Susan becomes more involved, she forges a friendship with Kathy while her feelings for Mark intensify.
  • Mark pays Susan $5,000 out-of-pocket, further compromising himself.
  • Susan offers sexual favors citing Mark’s stress—he initially refuses but does not establish appropriate boundaries.
• Escalation to Affair:

  “With all the stress he was under, his moral compass had become completely blurred. … Mark and Susan had sex in his car. … they went on to sleep together four more times over the next two weeks.” — Vanessa Richardson (44:42)

7. Fallout and Consequences

• Professional & Personal Collapse:
  • Rumors of an affair circulate, Kathy is confronted and Mark’s self-image shatters.
  • Mark seeks a transfer to Miami for a fresh start, abruptly abandoning Susan who spirals into addiction and poverty.
  • Susan's pregnancy throws Mark into panic; he agrees to meet her back in Pikeville, setting the stage for tragedy.

8. Psychological Analysis of Power, Identity, and Collapse

• Patterns of Self-Sabotage:

  “…the need to be winning or succeeding can override judgment and ethics.” — Dr. Engels (31:18)

• Setup & Leverage:

  “Once someone has leverage over you, their expectations just go up.” (32:44)

• Impact of Stress & Identity:

  “…success can activate a fear of loss. … people can lose sight of what got them there in the first place and start operating from fear instead of purpose.” (15:05)

• Professional Boundaries:

  “The appropriate response here is very clear. Mark should not have answered those questions. He should have documented Susan’s limit testing behavior, informed a supervisor, or asked to be removed from the case entirely.” (25:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Competitive Identity:

  “In competitive personalities, the goal post shifts. … And that can make them more defensive and possibly even desperate.” — Dr. Engels (31:18)

• On Boundary Violations:

  “Minimizing flirtation like this is a red flag. It's often the first sign that someone is losing objectivity. When you start explaining away boundary testing instead of addressing it, you've already stepped into dangerous territory.” — Dr. Engels (25:25)

• On Moral Collapse:

  “With all the stress he was under, his moral compass had become completely blurred.” — Vanessa Richardson (44:42)

• On Professional Accountability:

  “Turning yourself in is the best and safest [option]. That's less likely to lead to criminal charges.” — Dr. Engels (38:27)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Mark's Early Life & Competitiveness — 04:44–06:57
• FBI Ambitions & Entry — 09:52–13:19
• Transfer to Pikeville & First Assignment — 15:45–19:58
• Navigating New Environment & Isolation — 21:01–22:14
• Susan Smith Informant Introduction — 22:14–25:25
• Analysis: Boundary Red Flags — 25:25–28:12
• Arrest of ‘Cat Eyes’ and Professional Validation — 28:12–31:10
• Affair with Susan Beginnings — 34:40–38:27
• Affair Escalation and Aftermath — 42:34–47:57
• Mark’s Transfer and Susan’s Downward Spiral — 47:57–50:30

Final Notes

The episode ends with Mark’s life unraveling: his reckless decisions and the crumbling boundaries with Susan have placed his career, marriage, and self-image in jeopardy. With Susan pregnant and Mark panicking about exposure and consequences, the hosts tease the next part—where this lurid affair devolves into a notorious crime. Throughout, Dr. Engels highlights the psychological mechanisms turning ambition and anxiety into a tragic descent.

Next Episode Teaser:
Be sure to listen to Part 2 for the conclusion of Mark Putnam’s story: the murder, investigation, and aftermath.