Investigation Discovery's Dark Minds Explores Unsolved Serial Homicides Using A Secret Source - A Convicted Serial Killer Known Only As "13"

True Crime Author M. William Phelps and Criminal Profiler John Kelly Build Comprehensive Profiles of Suspected Serial Killers in an Effort to Provide Law Enforcement with Critical Leads

In Investigation Discovery's new series DARK MINDS (wt), non-fiction crime author M. William Phelps and criminal profiler John Kelly revisit unsolved homicides believed to be the work of serial killers. Joining them in the hunt for answers is an unlikely and anonymous source: a convict serving multiple life sentences for a series of murders. Known only to audiences as "13," the source offers his "expert opinion" about potential motivations behind these chilling cold cases, using his own personal experience to formulate theories.

Featuring crimes that echo the horrors of the infamous Green River Serial Killer, The Hillside Strangler and the BTK Killer, DARK MINDS (wt) brings fresh eyes to unsolved serial killer investigations using the combined instincts of three unique perspectives. The eight-part series, DARK MINDS (wt) will debut on Investigation Discovery in January 2012.

M. William Phelps is a best-selling author, crime expert and investigative journalist who has published 20 non-fiction books ranging in subject from female murderers to America's first spy. In 1996, he lost his sister-in-law, who was five months pregnant, to a suspected serial killer, fueling his passion to hunt for answers in other such cases. Phelps' partner throughout DARK MINDS (wt) is one of today's preeminent serial killer profilers, John Kelly. As the founder of S.T.A.L.K. Inc. (System To Apprehend Lethal Killers), Kelly aids law enforcement in the pursuit of murderers through a comprehensive profiling process. It was through S.T.A.L.K. that Kelly first enlisted the help of "13" to build criminal profiles. In DARK MINDS (wt), "13's" voice and identity will be disguised as he provides helpful information that Kelly and Phelps can use as they build a portrait of the people responsible for these crimes.

"DARK MINDS (wt) is reminiscent of a real-life Silence of the Lambs and is the latest example of ID pushing its storytelling techniques. At the same time, DARK MINDS (wt) will hopefully provide valuable information to law enforcement officers investigating these unsolved crimes," said Henry Schleiff, president and general manager of Investigation Discovery.  "We hope that by identifying the common links that connect these crimes and victims, DARK MINDS (wt) will ultimately build theories that will jog the public's memories and encourage viewers to bring forward new leads."

Cases slated to be profiled in DARK MINDS (wt) include:

* The Valley Killer: Connecticut River Valley in New Hampshire and Vermont with seven female victims
* The Eastbound Strangler: Atlantic City, NJ with four female victims
* The Double Initial Murders: Rochester, NY with three child victims aged 10-12 years
* The Woodsman: Worcester, MA and York, ME with five female victims
* The Babysitter Killer: Detroit with four child victims aged 10-12 years
* The Jefferson Davis Parish Murders: Jefferson Davis Parish, LA with eight female victims
* The Elderly Serial Murders: Columbus, MS with five victims over the age of 61
* Ned Snelgrove Murders: Newark, NJ with possibly more murders connected to convicted murderer Ned Snelgrove

DARK MINDS (wt) is produced by Beyond Productions for Investigation Discovery. For Beyond Productions, Geoff Fitzpatrick is executive producer and John Luscombe is executive producer and senior vice president of production. For Investigation Discovery, Jeanie Vink is executive producer, Sara Kozak is vice president of production and Henry Schleiff is president and general manager.