Expert Witness: Ann Wolbert Burgess on the Menendez case and profiling
An in-depth review of forensic testimony and the FBI's profiling
What is the book about?
Expert Witness: The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance, published by Grand Central Publishing in September 2025, is a comprehensive account of Ann Wolbert Burgess' extraordinary career as a forensic nurse and expert witness. Burgess, who is world-renowned for her pioneering work in the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit, takes the reader behind the scenes of some of the most complex criminal cases in American history. The book focuses not only on the crimes themselves but on the scientific and psychological evaluation of trauma presented to judges and juries.
Through collaboration with Steven Matthew Constantine, Burgess describes how her testimony has been crucial in cases of serial murder, rape, and child abuse. The book explores the ethical dilemmas and the immense pressure that rests on an expert when justice literally hangs by a thread. The reader gains a unique insight into how victims are treated in the legal system and how modern criminal profiling was shaped through Burgess' research.
The real case
The book covers a series of landmark events, including the trial of the Menendez brothers in California, where the issue of long-term abuse played a central role in the defense. Here, Burgess analyzes how psychological evidence can shape a jury's perception of guilt and liability. Another central case in the book is the Duke University lacrosse case from North Carolina, which became a symbol of failed accusations and the importance of precise forensic documentation.
In addition to the specific trials, Burgess draws threads back to her time with the FBI, which many know from the Mindhunter era. She explains how her work with victims of sexual assault led to a deeper understanding of serial killers' behavior. This knowledge became the foundation for the profiling that is now used globally to catch violent offenders. The book serves as a documentation of the evolution of the legal system from the 1970s to the 2010s.
About the author
Ann Wolbert Burgess is a professor at Boston College and is regarded as one of the founders of modern forensic nursing. Her career took off when she began collaborating with the FBI to interview incarcerated serial killers to understand their motives. She has received numerous awards for her work in victimology and has been a key figure in bringing scientific understanding of trauma into the courtroom.