Monique Boudreaux

"Offenders look for ease of approach and ease of retreat," says Monique Boudreaux, Ph.D., a consultant with the Child Abduction and Serial Murder Investigative Resources Center, in Quantico, Virginia, and a mom of two.
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"We know that some offenders literally stalk children to gain information about them," says Boudreaux.
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Boudreaux teaches her own kids reasonable and acceptable behavior while letting them know they have the right to politely, but firmly say not if they're told to do something that doesn't seem right.It can help to playact non-scary scenarios in which your child should "talk back" to an adult.

Instead of teaching fear of strangers, Boudreaux also instructs her children to look for "a mommy with kids or a grandma" if they get separated from her in a store or elsewhere. (Recognizing a store clerk or security guard can be difficult for little ones.)

Reducing vulnerability likewise means making sure your child feels safe coming to you about a disturbing or confusing situation or emotion.Tell her, in terms she can understand, that some adultsâ€"not very many, but someâ€"try to touch or otherwise interact with children in inappropriate ways.

Protecting Tweens And Up My daughter's now 11, the age at which I was molested â€" and I've gone through many a heart-clenching moment when she's been out of my sight.To protect maturing kids without smothering them: • Continue to get to know your preteen's friends, and if possible visit their homes. • Encourage supervised activities with kids her own age, explaining that while relationships with adults and older teens may be fun and exciting, she may find herself in a vulnerable position that can lead to abuse.

Monique Boudreaux works as a consultant for the FBI's child abduction and serial murder investigative resource center.DOUG KEESE/THE COURIER.

Monique Boudreaux of is an overprotective mother of two small children.

When it concerns her son and daughter , Houma's Boudreaux knows she's cautious – sometimes too cautious.

Once while in the hospital after giving birth , she insisted that her husband make sure the baby was actually sent back to the nursery because the nurse who took the infant wasn't wearing a nametag and didn't look familiar.

Caution , maybe to the point of excess , however , is just one of the drawbacks of working as a consultant for the FBI's child abduction and serial murder investigative resource center.

Her concern is evident in the supervision of her children.The only other person who has babysat them , besides family members , has been her FBI supervisor – due to his background check , she quipped.

Boudreaux develops psychological profiles of serial killers and has seen some of the most heinous and gruesome acts of violence in her work to help recover missing children.

I've seen pretty much everything , shared this 35-year-old Bakersfield , Calif. , native.

So it's quite natural for her to notice details and pay close attention to the surroundings whenever her children are involved.Kids are so defenseless … that's sort of my motivation , she said.

Boudreaux's interest in crimes against children peaked during her undergraduate years studying at the University of California at Los Angeles.Classes in child abuse and neglect fueled her desire to learn more.

A job in the field came to fruition after completing a 1994 summer internship with the FBI in Virginia.

Boudreaux , who holds a master's degree in educational psychology from Harvard University and a doctorate in psychology from UCLA , was looking for a topic for her dissertation.

Her brainchild : To compile a database of serial killers and kidnappers for the FBI.The FBI's initial response to the project was , not interested..

Not being one to take no easily , Boudreaux pushed and pushed until she eventually sold the idea to bureau administrators.

In 1995 , she became the first professional in social sciences to work and live at the academy as a visiting scientist.Science experts like biologists and chemists typically held such positions.

She now uses the database she created to help unravel child abduction and serial murder cases.

Boudreaux's work usually begins after the crime is committed.For example , the FBI might call her with the specifics of a crime scene , sending her photos and any other relevant information.

Her job is to search the database , which has more than 600 entries , for possible matches.When Boudreaux retrieves the data , she then sends it to the bureau.

It happens so fast , Boudreaux said.I ( just ) think of it as a puzzle..

One of the most fast-paced cases she has worked on , and to date the most fascinating , is the Lisa Bruno case ; the 11-year-old Slidell girl who was kidnapped from her apartment complex in April.

While Boudreaux notably downplays her involvement in Bruno's safe recovery , the FBI did call upon her research expertise.

Lisa's coming home was remarkable , she explained , since based on statistics so few kidnapped children return home or are found alive.

It's important to make your children street smart , Boudreaux said.She often quizzes her own children with verbal scenarios on how to deal with strangers and suspicious situations.

Boudreaux has turned down enticing , full-time offers with the FBI in the past.Freelance work with the bureau and writing journal entries for national trade publications as well as sections for psychology textbooks keep her busy enough , she said.

Also , a permanent position with the FBI would require her family to relocate to Quantico , Va. , the bureau's headquarters.

She moved to Louisiana to be with her husband , Houma Police Chief Pat Boudreaux , in the first place.Though her husband was raised a military brat , his family is from Terrebonne Parish.

The five-and-a-half-year married couple met at the FBI academy in 1995 and later settled in Houma for Pat to pursue a law enforcement career.

The pair often seeks one another for professional counsel since their occupations somewhat parallel.Monique may ask questions about the law and Pat may inquire about psychological issues.

Boudreaux is most passionate about her involvement in child abduction cases , even though she works on serial killer cases too.

I want to be able to help ( with ) my research , she said.… to use the information to find the child alive..

"Offenders look for ease of approach and ease of retreat," says Monique Boudreaux, Ph.D., a consultant with the Child Abduction and Serial Murder Investigative Resources Center, in Quantico, Virginia, and a mom of two.
...
"We know that some offenders literally stalk children to gain information about them," says Boudreaux.
...
Boudreaux teaches her own kids reasonable and acceptable behavior while letting them know they have the right to politely, but firmly say not if they're told to do something that doesn't seem right.It can help to playact non-scary scenarios in which your child should "talk back" to an adult.

Instead of teaching fear of strangers, Boudreaux also instructs her children to look for "a mommy with kids or a grandma" if they get separated from her in a store or elsewhere. (Recognizing a store clerk or security guard can be difficult for little ones.)Reducing vulnerability means making sure your child feels safe coming to you about a disturbing or confusing situation or emotion.Tell her, in terms she can understand, that some adults—not very many, but some—try to touch or otherwise interact with children in inappropriate ways.

"Offenders look for ease of approach and ease of retreat," says Monique Boudreaux, Ph.D., a consultant with the Child Abduction and Serial Murder Investigative Resources Center, in Quantico, Virginia, and a mom of two.
...
"We know that some offenders literally stalk children to gain information about them," says Boudreaux.
...
Boudreaux teaches her own kids reasonable and acceptable behavior while letting them know they have the right to politely, but firmly say not if they're told to do something that doesn't seem right.It can help to playact non-scary scenarios in which your child should "talk back" to an adult.

Instead of teaching fear of strangers, Boudreaux also instructs her children to look for "a mommy with kids or a grandma" if they get separated from her in a store or elsewhere. (Recognizing a store clerk or security guard can be difficult for little ones.)Reducing vulnerability means making sure your child feels safe coming to you about a disturbing or confusing situation or emotion.Tell her, in terms she can understand, that some adults-not very many, but some-try to touch or otherwise interact with children in inappropriate ways.