Origins & Early Life

Park Elliot Dietz (born August 13, 1948) is a forensic psychiatrist who has consulted or testified in many high-profile US criminal cases, including those of spousal killer Betty Broderick, mass murderer Jared Lee Loughner, filicide defendant Andrea Yates, and serial killers William Bonin, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Kaczynski, Richard Kuklinski, Joel Rifkin, and Arthur Shawcross. He came to national prominence in 1982 during his five days of testimony as the prosecution's expert witness in the trial of John Hinckley Jr., who had attempted the assassination of President Reagan on March 30, 1981. Then an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Dietz testified that at the time of the shooting, Hinckley knew that his actions were wrong and had the capacity to control his behavior, and was therefore not legally insane. He now heads a forensic consulting firm, Park Dietz & Associates, and founded the world's first workplace violence prevention company, Threat Assessment Group, Inc.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Dietz was born on August 13, 1948, and raised in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Harrisburg. His mother Marjorie Dietz had trained as a nurse and did hospital volunteer...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller — Contemporary (Died in 1948) (1948): American socialite and influential philanthropist, key patron of modern art.
• Abdullah Öcalan — Contemporary (Born in 1948) (1948): Founder of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and advocate for Kurdish rights.
• Abdulrazak Gurnah — Contemporary (Born in 1948) (1948): Acclaimed Tanzanian novelist and Nobel laureate exploring themes of colonialism and refuge.
• Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah — Shared historical date (08-13 · Born) (985): Sixth Fatimid Caliph and 16th Ismaili Imam, known for a controversial reign.
• Alan Shearer — Shared historical date (08-13 · Born) (1970): English football legend, record goalscorer, and respected pundit.
• Akira Mutō — Historical peer (Died in 1948) (1948): Imperial Japanese Army General implicated in war crimes during WWII.
• Akira Yoshino — Historical peer (Born in 1948) (1948): Pioneering chemist credited with the first safe, production-viable lithium-ion battery.
• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Historical peer (Born in 1982) (1982): The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• Alan Ritchson — Historical peer (Born in 1982) (1982): American actor known for roles in Reacher, Titans, and superhero franchises.
• Abigail Spencer — Historical peer (Born in 1981) (1981): American actress, producer, and writer known for roles in soap operas and dramas.
• 1948 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1948
• August 13 (08-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 13