View interviews of psychopaths and sociopaths in Learning Resources Review the ?Characteristics of Psychopaths and Sociopaths? document in the Lea

FPSY 8400: Advanced Issues in Forensic Psychology Week 6: Offender Interview Role Play Instructions

© 2025 Walden University, LLC 1

Offender Interview Role Play Instructions

Instructions: Using the template below as a guide, craft interview questions for your interactive interview assignment. Questions must be asked in the order of bulleted topics presented. Please craft only one question per bullet point. As your questions must be original, do not reuse or reword the sample questions provided below. Your completed interview questions will be added as an appendix to your Forensic Report Template. Case Scenario: Audrey has been charged with three counts of premeditated murder. As defense counsel is preparing for trial, he has retained you interview her to gather information about her psychological status in order to build his case. He tells you that she is friendly, but guarded and less than forthcoming with sharing details about her life. He also informs you that she can shift from flat to bubbly and seems not to care that she is facing the death penalty. You are not conducting any assessments, but rather simply a structured interview to get an understanding of her version of events, as well as personality traits to report back to defense counsel. History: Audrey, a 22-year-old female, was raised in foster care after being removed from her single father’s care at the age of 3. There is no known history of Audrey’s mother and CPS records are sealed; however, her removal to foster care was reportedly secondary to severe maltreatment and neglect. While in foster care, Audrey was moved to eight different homes for reasons ranging from harming foster siblings, attacking a foster parent, expulsion from school, to running away. When Audrey aged out of the system, she sought out her biological father and learned that he had long ago passed away. With no other means of support, Audrey soon began seeking relationships with married, older men. In demand for money to survive, Audrey would threaten to tell the wife of her affair with the married man, if he did not pay. This scheme worked well until Audrey met 50-year-old Billy Joe and the two formed a connection. For two years, the pair carried on an affair and grew close. When Audrey demanded more of Billy Joe and forced him to make a final decision, he refused to leave his wife, Leigh, and their children. Feeling rejected and abandoned, Audrey located Billy Joe’s residence and laid in wait in a car parked down the road. Knowing his work schedule, Audrey waited until he left and then knocked on the door. Hysterically acting as if someone was chasing her, she begged for Leigh to give her immediate shelter. Leigh let her in the immediate foyer area for “protection,” and began to dial 911. Audrey pulled a knife from her waistband and stabbed Leigh 47 times, 40 of which were directly into Leigh’s heart. Hearing their mother scream, the children came running into the foyer. Audrey was able to catch Leigh’s daughter by the arm as she attempted to flee, but then sliced the child’s throat in a single fatal slash. Hiding behind a hall tree, Audrey coaxed Leigh’s son out with the promise of taking him to see his father, Billy Joe. As the child timidly came out, Audrey stabbed the child through the skull in a devastating, fatal blow just as law

FPSY 8400: Advanced Issues in Forensic Psychology Week 6: Offender Interview Role Play Instructions

© 2025 Walden University, LLC 2

enforcement come onto the scene. When detained, Audrey laughed and uttered, “I guess he’s finally mine now. Can you tell him I love him and to call me?”

Offender Interview Questions Template

• Have the accused explain her current legal entanglement (e.g., why is she here, what is she accused of, prompt her to provide details of her offense, etc.).

• Have Audrey discuss her history of enticing and blackmailing men into subversion and compliance (e.g., what prompted her to create this plan, why did she intentionally select married men, inquire about her remorse for playing party to damaging a marriage, etc.).

• Inquire as to why and how Audrey devised the plan to murder Leigh.

• Explore Audrey’s thoughts on facing the death penalty.