Jeffrey L. Rinek - In the name of the children : an FBI agent’s relentless pursuit of the nation’s worst predators

PRAISE FOR

In the Name of the Children

At a time when people are questioning the motives and dedication of the FBI, here is a book that shows what Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity really stands for. In the Name of the Children is an exceptionally well-written and deeply moving look at one FBI agents lifelong quest to find missing children and bring sexual predators to justice. No one in law enforcement has ever written with such unvarnished honesty about what it takes to bring down those who prey on kids. Jeff Rineks insights into the motives and modus operandi of sex offenders and his approach to getting killers like serial sex slayer Cary Stayner to confess should be mandatory reading not just for those in law enforcement but also for everyone who cares about the safety of our children. Chilling, fascinating, and groundbreaking.

John Douglas, FBI profiler, author of Mindhunter, The Anatomy of Motive, and Journey Into Darkness

Retired FBI Special Agent Jeff Rinek brings us deep inside his investigations of serial killers, child murderers, and sexual predators. These riveting stories document not only the hunt for these elusive criminals but also reveal the emotional upheaval Rinek himself experienced seeing the carnage perpetrated on societys youngest and most vulnerable victims. Drawing on remarkable wells of compassion and empathy not just for the victims he is serving but also for perpetrators who were often once victims themselves, Rinek is able to draw the truth out of suspects who had proven to be unbreakable by other more typical interrogation methods. This is a must-read for anyone who follows true crime. It gave me a greater appreciation of, and respect for, law enforcements men and women who serve and protect us.

Beth Karas, former prosecutor, legal analyst, longtime truTV correspondent

Part memoir, part true crime, In The Name of the Children, is a riveting read. This rare and candid insiders look at crimes against children pulls back the curtain on the painstaking, often heart breaking, process of investigating these unthinkable crimes and the damaging effects of organizational betrayal on those who are seeking justice for the victims.

Ellen Kirschman, PhD, author of I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know, Counseling Cops: What Clinicians Need to Know, and the Dot Meyerhoff mystery series

The extraordinary calling of Jeff Rineks life is wrestling with evil so that evil does not have the last word. The mission he took on was horrifying yet honorable, debilitating yet life giving. We are not wired to be able to tolerate eyeball-to-eyeball confrontations with those without conscience without ourselves suffering deep devastation. Those of us who have had extraordinary confrontations with evil will always carry the mark of the beast within us, manifested as vicarious trauma or PTSD, whether we are war vets, police officers, or therapists. This book is haunting in its depiction of the worst of psychopathology and conscienceless-ness, but it also brims with the hope that springs from the quest of a hero full of empathy and compassion to find answers, bring justice, and honor life. Rinek is humanity at its best.

Sandra L. Brown, MA, trauma therapist, author of Counseling Victims of Violence and How to Spot a Dangerous Man Before You Get Involved

A must-read for true crime fans! Jeffrey Rinek is not your typical FBI Agent. His memoir is a page-turner full of fascinating cases that he approaches from a unique empathy-based perspective. Rineks success in using humanity and compassion to elicit confessions from ruthless predators makes you wonder if we should rethink everything we know about interrogations. Ive written for a lot of cop shows, and Ive read dozens of law enforcement memoirsthis one truly stands out thanks to Rineks willingness to shun bravado in favor of authenticity. By fearlessly sharing his raw emotional truths, Rinek provides a compelling new template for men in law enforcement.

Krystal Houghton Ziv, co-executive producer of CSI: Miami, The Purge, Body of Proof

This book is not only a rare glimpse into the remarkable and dedicated work of the FBI; it is also a ringside seat into the heart and soul of a federal agent doing the most demanding work. Jeffrey Rineks personal story punctuates the pages and takes the reader on the journey for justice for Americas most vulnerable victims. Rinek the federal agent? Id say federal angel.

Diane Dimond, journalist, former Court TV reporter, and author of Be Careful Who You Love: Inside the Michael Jackson Case

This is a true story. The events in this book all took place, and conversations are based on court transcripts, FBI recordings, public statements, and Jeffrey L. Rineks recollections and perceptions. Some names and other identifying details have been fictionalized to protect the privacy of those individuals. Any resemblance between a fictionalized name and a real person is strictly coincidental.

Copyright 2018 by Jeffrey L. Rinek and Marilee Strong

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever withoutwritten permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All photos, unless otherwise stated, are courtesy of Jeffrey L. Rineks personal collection or in the public domain.

BenBella Books, Inc.

10440 N. Central Expressway, Suite 800

Dallas, TX 75231

www.benbellabooks.com

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First E-Book Edition: July 2018

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Names: Rinek, Jeffrey L., author. | Strong, Marilee, author.

Title: In the name of the children : an FBI agents relentless pursuit of the nations worst predators / Jeffrey L. Rinek and Marilee Strong.

Description: Dallas, TX : BenBella Books, Inc., [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018002181 (print) | LCCN 2018004435 (ebook) | ISBN 9781946885289 (electronic) | ISBN 9781944648985 (trade paper : alk.paper)Subjects: LCSH: Rinek, Jeffrey L. | United States. Federal Bureau of InvestigationOfficials and employeesBiography. | Child sexual abuseInvestigationUnited StatesCase studies. | MurderInvestigationUnited StatesCase studies.

Classification: LCC HV7911.R443 (ebook) | LCC HV7911.R443 A3 2018 (print)| DDC 363.25/95554092 [B] dc23LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018002181

Editing by Vy Tran

Copyediting by Karen Levy

Proofreading by Jenny Bridges and Cape Cod Compositors, Inc.

Text design and composition by John Reinhardt Book Design

Front cover design by Pete Garceau

Full cover design by Sarah Avinger

Printed by Versa Press

Distributed by Two Rivers Distribution, an Ingram brand www.tworiversdistribution.com

This book is dedicated to my wife, Lori, and my sons, Joseph and Jordan. A father always hopes that his children will be better than he is and accomplish more. You both have made me so very proud. Lori, you make life worth living, and along with our sons, anything I have done well in my life is because of you. You are my best friend, my love, my better half.