Meet Susan Magestro

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susan Magestro. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Susan, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

It is more that my purpose found me in ways I never could have predicted. You see, I am a criminologist who works with young people and their families on some of the worst days of their lives. I work throughout the United States and countries in Central America. When others are running away from the rage and violence, I run in. This was not a planned life I created, It found me, molded me and I made the choice to go with it. My primary focus evolved into a theme; kids killing parents, school shootings and reunifying incarcerated parents and their children. There were others, but sadly these occurred with more frequency.

I looked inside the open doors seeing so many broken people, who were on the edge. So many kids in gangs, kids in cults, victims of bullying who turned in to school shooters and more. It wasn’t a career choice, It was created because I read a book a long time ago. Then 35 years later, I wrote a book that inspired a youth in the same way I was inspired.

When I was twelve years old, I heard a story, then read the book about a crime victim from New York. Her name was Kitty Genovase. I was a little girl when she was uncharacteristically killed by an attacker who returned to ‘finish her off’. While it is said there were 39 bystanders, no one called the police. This took hold of me deep in my soul as a child. How could people watch a woman get murdered and not do anything?

My deeply strict and rooted family made it clear, like all of the young people growing up, I was to be an attorney. The only problem was a didn’t want to be an attorney. After reading that book, I knew emphatically what I wanted to do; be a detective. I never waffled with that determination, it just was. When I had announced my revelation, it was not met with welcome ears, instead I was scolded never to talk of this again. So I didn’t.

I told my dream to two men in my life; my high school counselor and my university graduate adviser, a retired FBI Agent. Both these men were instrumental guiding me and encouraging me so I could achieve a dream that still hadn’t been fully realized. Every experience was a stepping stone to the next. Every relationship opened a new door. I felt faith that following the injustice; it resonated inside me from. All I knew was I wanted to make one little difference in the world.

Through the decades I investigated and supported cases that always involved a young person in peril. I never looked for these cases, they found me. My decision was whether to walk through the open doors and I almost always did. Adolescents who struggled, so much, they wanted to kill themselves in front of others who had ridiculed them. They wrote diaries, sometimes their shoots were averted and sometimes they were not. Some of these young people had so much hate they attempted to kill their parents, many were not successful, a few were.

As I started working in prisons with youth remanded to the adult system, I realized the trauma the children of inmates endure; day to day and well as when they visit their incarcerated parent. I worked with these kids in schools, in programs, on the streets, and in their homes. The way the parents and the children opened up to me, was beyond what I would have imagined. So thirty-five years later, after being influenced by a book about Kitty Genovaise, I wrote a book.. Not unlike my story, a teenager reached out to me. She had read the book I wrote and found a potential new purpose for her future.

My purpose, I’m always looking for that, hopeful I am exactly where I need to be when I need to be there. What I learn I teach. I teach nurses, counselors, police officers, judges. At the end of the day, I hope that the lessons and experiences I can share will resonate to keep another child out of prison and another alive. I am well aware of what I am walking into. Do I have fear? No. Because I know this is my purpose until one day it is not. I am at peace with that.

I believe when a person is dying there are three things they want; they want to know they were loved, they want to know they made a difference in the life of someone else and they want to know their life had purpose. That’s it. I have come close to climbing that mountain of wonder a few times now. I have answered these questions for myself many times. While the cases, children and families inspired me and kept me fired, my life purpose is a combination of that. When I climb that mountain for the very final time, my life had purpose and that purpose will live on in my children, their children, the children who will follow.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am transitioning from boots on the ground cases and interventions to being an author. I have written 6 non-fiction books, largely focused on my criminology field. Now I am focusing on a new crime fiction book series called Priscilla Breen, Criminologist: It is finished and should be published soon. The second book in the Priscilla Breen, Criminologist is called Relocation. I am hoping this crime fiction series inspired by real events will gain the attention of streaming platforms as well.

I have started writing two Young Adult Fiction Books; one focusing on being the child of an incarcerated parent and the other is about the buildup and implosion of a young person who plans a mass shooting.

I have a column and a new You Tube Channel called The Criminologist’s Corner. Come visit at one of the upcoming booths at many national book festivals in 2025-2026 (Bouchercon in New Orleans, The Tucson Festival of Books and others).

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I had a dream that resonated with me from 12 years old. It was not a welcome or supported dream for girls at that time. I believed in myself and never lost that dream. The professionals who supported me allowed me to become the criminologist and author I am today. They include several mentors and university advisers. I would not have been able to achieve all that has come my way if they did not help me with that foundation. And lastly, consider looking inside open doors. Many times, situations and possibilites have presented themselves to me. I consider them and explore what is inside that open door. It is those situations that have typically brought me the most success.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

My professional life has been extremely overwhelming at times, long hours and intense issues, coupled with presenting in front of large groups. So I have needed to be ‘on my game’ most of the time. I am fortunate that I have a wonderful family who fills me up. I cherish those moments with each of them.

But when I am at my most challenging of moments personally or professionally, nature is my way of moving forward. This can be snowcapped mountains, inlets and large bodies of water, walking next to a river. I am moved greatly every time I see an animal, such as a moose, eagle, bear and others in Alaska as well as families of slow walking javelina in Arizona.

Nature has taught me to breathe in and see myself as one small dot in the universe. While everything else around me may be magnificent, I like to remind myself I am just one small piece of a large and ever changing world. My life has been good and I am grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.susanmagestro.com
• Instagram: sulamaestra
• Facebook: Susan-Magestro
• Linkedin: susan.magestro
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@criminologistscorner

Image Credits

Raging From Within: David Brady
Breaking Cycles and Book of Heartfelt Moments: Bill Garrett
Reunification of Incarcerated Parents: Mike Tucker