By Alora Peters, Contributing Writer
As a child he wanted to be the Pope.
But, by chance, a poster in the American Embassy in Belgium caught his eye and convinced him he had a different calling. He ended up enjoying his work more than “chocolate croissants,” which is saying a lot.
Most students studying at Saint Leo University will associate Joseph Cillo with his wildly popular CRM300 class on serial killers, spree killers, and mass murderers. Students at the University Campus scramble and squabble for entry into this highly sought-after course and, every semester, the class is filled within hours of registration opening.
Though Cillo maintains that he is not an expert but “an enthusiast” when it comes to the history and psychology of serial killers, he is, nonetheless, considered one of the foremost experts in the field. In fact, Adobe Publishing recently approached Cillo, asking if he would be interested in writing a book on his favorite serial killer.
“I thought the idea of cluttering my wife’s dining table with pictures and manuscripts would be fun,” Cillo said. He accepted the offer.
The culmination of Cillo’s research and obsession is “The Killings of Sam,” a non-fiction novel on the famous killer known as the “Son of Sam.” The book is scheduled to be published and released this January and, additionally, will be available on Amazon Prime.
The hustle and bustle of Cillo’s office is what keeps the Criminal Justice program growing. Each day a revolving door of students are consulting with him about internship opportunities or simply chatting.
Though Cillo may be best known for his work on serial killers, his journey into the world of justice, law, crime, and motive began long before he decided to start teaching in the criminal justice department at Saint Leo.
It began with the aforementioned advertisement and a spur of the moment decision that would change Cillo’s life forever. While he was touring Europe and visiting Belgium, Cillo noticed a poster encouraging aspiring students to “take the LSAT here.” The Law School Admission Test happened to be offered at a convenient time for Cillo, who took the test and applied to several law schools. He was accepted at California Western School of Law, where he would eventually earn his Juris Doctorate.
“I said to myself, ‘I’m going to like this,’” Cillo reminisced. “And I did.”
Shortly after graduating, Cillo found himself entering an international law firm office for an interview and, only a short while later, leaving with the job. His success had nothing to do with his GPA or bar exam scores.
“I was probably the most underrated student,” Cillo admitted. “But I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and I spoke French.”
The law firm to which Cillo was applying had two offices – one in Los Angeles, California, and another in Paris, France. Ironically, at the same time that Cillo was conducting his interview, a French-speaking client was visiting the Los Angeles firm. Cillo was the only other person in the room who could speak the language fluently, and his skill deeply impressed both the client and the interviewers. Before he had time to think, Cillo was boarding a plane with a one-way ticket to Paris.
Following this induction in 1981, Cillo and his firm dealt with heinous crimes on an international scale, usually participating in two to three major cases each year and representing a number of mass murderers in the process.
“The one question I never asked was, ‘Did you do it?’” Cillo said. His firm belief was that “one hundred guilty men should walk before one innocent man burns.”
What Cillo’s experience in the vast world of international law taught him is what he now seeks to teach to students in the courses he offers at Saint Leo. Using a technique he has coined as the “collaborative Socratic method,” students taking Cillo’s courses are forced to “become comfortable with being uncomfortable” by addressing the entire class and answering on-the-spot questions. Though eager pupils may expect to simply study crime and motive, Cillo feels his classes are really about critical thinking, public speaking, intuitive decision-making, and formulating individual opinions.
“I don’t think everyone has an opinion,” Cillo said. “But I think everyone should have an opinion. Your opinion matters.”
Cillo’s hope and goal for his students is simple.
“I was good. I want you to be better than I was. I gave my best, and I encourage you to give your best. You will stand out because most people don’t,” said Cillo.
Cillo is currently working on a second book, “Serial Killers: An American Obsession.” He will be offering his CRM300 class on serial killers again next fall.
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