| Reader Views is happy to be talking with Todd A. | | | | people have kids the same age of the missing student. |
| Hemming, author of "College Predator: Missing College | | | | So they do everything in their power to find the |
| Students." Todd is being interviewed by Juanita | | | | missing college student. |
| Watson, Assistant Editor for Reader Views. | | | | Law enforcement coordinates all of the activity. They |
| Juanita: Thanks for talking with us today Todd. Please | | | | call the FBI, they put a helicopter in the air, and they |
| tell your readers about the storyline of your new book, | | | | coordinate search teams. They go door to door |
| "College Predator: Missing College Students." | | | | looking for the missing person. |
| Todd: Juanita first of all I want to say thanks for the | | | | Juanita: What makes college students so vulnerable? |
| interview. I would say my storyline in simple terms is | | | | Todd: I am a little older now but I was young once. I |
| how three friends with all special gifts form a plan to | | | | believe when you are young you believe you are |
| catch a very intelligent serial killer. It also involves a | | | | invincible. That nothing bad can happen to me. I can |
| serial killer that is very different from the typical | | | | handle anything that comes my way. But alcohol gives |
| mainstream predator. | | | | you a false sense of security. It also affects your |
| Juanita: What inspired you to write "College Predator"? | | | | judgment and I believe some of these college students |
| Todd: I returned to college to get my graduate | | | | were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. |
| certificate in Geographic Information Systems. During | | | | Juanita: Todd, who should read your book? |
| this time college kids were being abducted and | | | | Todd: I believe anyone who is concerned about past |
| disappearing. They usually were last seen leaving a | | | | and future abductions of college students. I believe the |
| bar or a college party by their friends. Most of the | | | | age group should be at least 18 years old and up. It is |
| cases were never solved and I felt very bad for these | | | | not as graphic as today's horror movies but there is |
| kids that got abducted during their fun years or youth. | | | | some violent content in my book. But I wanted more of |
| They should have not been concerned about being | | | | a storyline than blood and gore. I guess the readers will |
| abducted or serial killers. | | | | have to read the book and make their own mind up. |
| Juanita: Who are the main characters and what do | | | | Juanita: Reading your book will undoubtedly bring |
| they have to teach your readers? | | | | insights for readers regarding protecting themselves. |
| Todd: The three main characters are Mark a man with | | | | Can you give your readers a few tips on how to |
| mental illness that gets blessed with a new gift of | | | | minimize the potential of becoming the victim of a |
| seeing the crimes take place or medium capabilities. | | | | predator? |
| William a rural sheriff's deputy that puts the whole plan | | | | Todd: I guess this brings up memories of me and my |
| of action together to apprehend the serial killer. Matt is | | | | shipmates in the navy visiting foreign ports. My chief |
| the FBI profiler that lends his expertise and training to | | | | always said use the buddy system and never be |
| apprehend the serial killer. | | | | alone. Also never drink to much alcohol where you |
| The serial killer's name is Steve and he is a vice | | | | lose all of your reasoning and judgment. Always tell |
| president of a mapping software company, but when | | | | someone when you are going to come home or |
| he isn't working he preys on young college students. | | | | where you are going. At least if something happens, |
| Juanita: What brings these particular characters | | | | they will have a starting point to look for you. Lastly, |
| together to catch the serial killer? | | | | carry a cell phone. Though you may not have time to |
| Todd: Mark, the man with mental illness, has been | | | | use it, if you see someone else being abducted, you |
| keeping in touch with the Sheriff's deputy William since | | | | can call 911 immediately. |
| high school. Once Mark started having the visions of | | | | Juanita: What type of research did you do to prepare |
| the predator, he knew his best friend William would be | | | | for "College Predator"? |
| the only person that believed in him. After William | | | | Todd: I read a lot of newspapers on missing college |
| decided to have Mark move to Arizona, he called his | | | | students from the past and the current abductions. I |
| old airborne buddy Matt who currently is a profiler for | | | | talked to a lot of people when I was in school |
| serial killers with the FBI. After discussing the situation | | | | regarding their thoughts about the missing college |
| Matt realized William and Mark would need his help | | | | students. I went to few college parties myself and |
| apprehending the dangerous predator. So he took a | | | | saw how drunk some of these students got. I |
| long overdue vacation from the FBI and relocated to | | | | researched and read some articles about some of the |
| Arizona to join the team. | | | | notorious serial killers that have been in America. I also |
| Juanita: How real, do you feel, are the dangers | | | | listened to some interviews on CNN from the missing |
| surrounding colleges these days? Why? | | | | college student's parents - they broke my heart. |
| Todd:I believe the danger to college students are as | | | | Juanita: With all your research, did you get any type of |
| real today as they were back in 2001. If you read the | | | | understanding into the mind of a serial predator - what |
| latest headlines, college students are still being | | | | motivates this behavior? |
| abducted in various cities through out the nation. You | | | | Todd: Juanita I am no expert, but I believe once these |
| can even use the Aruba disappearance for an | | | | predators kill their first victim, the only thing that will stop |
| example. | | | | them is being killed or being locked up in some |
| Juanita: How have the drinking habits changed for | | | | maximum security prison. I believe they don't have a |
| college students? | | | | normal conscious like most human beings. Predators |
| Todd: I went to a few parties when I was getting my | | | | are only happy when they are planning and then killing |
| graduate certificate. And the drinking on campus has | | | | their next victim. Most of them even keep small |
| definitely changed from social drinking or partying to all | | | | trinkets from the victim so they can relive the |
| out binge drinking. | | | | abduction and murder. |
| Juanita: Do you have any stats on the amounts of real | | | | Juanita: There seems to be a growing amount of |
| life missing college students? | | | | information exposing predators in our society today. |
| Todd: I currently do not have any stats on the missing | | | | Why do you think this is? |
| college students. But during the span from 2001 to | | | | Todd: I believe the American public is sick and tired of |
| 2003 there were at least 5 missing college student in | | | | these scavengers on society. People on the whole are |
| two states up north. I also believe that one missing | | | | good, honest, hard working individuals. They are trying |
| college student is too much. It causes too much pain | | | | to raise their family and enjoy life because we are |
| for the relatives, friends, and family that are left behind. | | | | here for a very short time. Then some predator takes |
| Juanita: What happens to the atmosphere around a | | | | or murders their loved one and it turns their whole life |
| college when a student goes missing? | | | | upside down. |
| Todd: Everyone in the community gets apprehensive | | | | People want to have freedom and security to walk |
| and worried. The police and law enforcement are on | | | | the streets at night and not worry about some |
| high alert to catch the predator. The news media | | | | madman killing or hurting them. |
| brings it up on the news everyday and the citizens of | | | | Juanita: How can readers find out more about you and |
| the community get worried. Mothers and fathers start | | | | your endeavors? |
| rethinking schedules for their children and the purchase | | | | Todd:I have a website The website gives a bio of me |
| of personal firearms skyrockets. | | | | and it also tells about my first book "What I have |
| Juanita: What statement are you making to your | | | | learned since 1976." It also gives a synopsis of "College |
| readers casting your serial killer as a successful, well | | | | Predator: Missing College Students." I have a |
| educated member of the community? | | | | guestbook on my website that visitors can sign. Also |
| Todd: I believe that the cases that haven't been solved | | | | they can e-mail me at |
| have a different type of predator. He most likely has | | | | I will try and write everyone that e-mails me. |
| some law enforcement training and is involved with the | | | | Juanita: Well Todd, we really appreciate you talking |
| education system or has graduated from a college. He | | | | with us today. Are there any last thoughts you'd like to |
| is no drifter or loser. I believe he is very intelligent and | | | | share with your readers? |
| meticulous in his planning, and he knows where college | | | | Todd: Juanita, I want to say thanks again for the |
| kids hang out after they have had a few drinks. | | | | interview and I hope the readers really enjoy my book. |
| Juanita: Tell us a little about how the community and | | | | If my book makes the difference in one life I will be |
| law enforcement react to reports of missing students | | | | satisfied. I believe there have been enough killings and |
| and how this is portrayed in your book. | | | | abductions for now and forever. I hope and pray no |
| Todd: The community pours there whole heart into | | | | more abductions take place. In closing, I would just like |
| finding the missing college student. They search | | | | to remind everyone be safe and have a long and |
| endlessly through woods, swamps, lakes or whatever | | | | happy life. |
| remote areas the community has. A lot of these | | | | |