Ex-FBI agent says child killer is playing games with victim’s family | Forensic Files

he has this dichotomy is the word he used he has a really good side that studies the Bible and actually was a
traveling Minister but then he has this evil Side New York state police detective Rees TR says Lewis lent who
was convicted of murdering 12-year-old Sarah anwood and 12-year-old Jimmy Bernardo has two very different sides to
his personality and he has these uh uncontrollable compulsions is the way he put it to do terrible things that he
could not stop people have trouble understanding that you can have this very religious
God-fearing nice polite man in contrast that to his other side where he is hunting and praying on and killing
children those can exist in one person he was praised as a Good Samaritan by his then friend Phil shall just came
over and said well i' be glad to give you a hand I hear you're doing uh work on your
Foundation he said I'd be glad to help you out we built a border all the way around we put in probably hundreds of
hours working together in that summer it was definitely hard work he and he did that all out of the goodness of his
heart yes he did the onetime janitor was also adored by children according to his
former boss they called him the Big Brother they did oh yeah I I hired them I worked side by side with them
what's what's tell me what's going on I just feel as though I may have missed something that he might have said
or done that would have ke me that would have let you know just given me a clue that there's something wrong this
gu cie says that what appeared to be lent's desire to help people could have served a selfish purpose by helping all
these people this is a way to maybe hide who he really is to gain people's trust
when you do that you can manipulate them you can control them it's strategically
motivated as opposed to being motivated by true emotion just like other serial killers she has studied including the
Golden State killer Callie says lent is completely self-centered his needs come before anybody else's obvously he had no
regard for his victims he has no regard for victim's families in decades after he admitted to killing Sarah Anne wood
cie says Lewis lent continues to torture the Wood family by not telling investigators where he buried Sarah
Lewis lent so quickly admits to kidnapping and and killing Sarah wood why not tell it all why not give all the
details it's just a secret he wants to hold on to it's his it's the only anything he has that's his own that he
can control and a bit of sadism knowing that family members want answers continuing to hurt them is something I
think that he feeds off of it's It's there's some enjoyment in there most Killers Don't tell us everything they
rarely give the full story

A former FBI agent weighs in on child killer Lewis Lent not telling investigators — or her family — where 12-year-old Sara Anne Wood is buried more than three decades after her death: “A bit of sadism.”

“It’s the only thing he has that’s his own, that he can control,” Julia Cowley of The Consult: Real FBI Profilers tells "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty.

True crime. Real justice. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com

Brief Summary

Lewis Lent's dual personality as a murderer and community helper is examined, revealing manipulative traits and ongoing victim family torment.

Key points

The Dichotomy of Lewis Lent. Lewis Lent presents a shocking contrast between his good deeds and his dark side.
The Good Samaritan. Lent was praised as a Good Samaritan, hiding his true nature behind acts of kindness.
Continued Torture of Victims' Families. Lent's refusal to reveal details about his victims continues to haunt their families.

Episode highlights

The Good SamaritanLent was praised as a Good Samaritan, hiding his true nature behind acts of kindness.“He did that all out of the goodness of his heart.”1:14Sep 20, 2024

Episode quotes

You can have this very religious, God-fearing man in contrast to his other side.

0:36WatchSep 20, 2024

More from 48 Hours

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.