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Former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky has taken his case to the media—first to Bob Costas and then to the New York Times. Then even his wife, Dottie, issued a press release claiming that her husband was innocent.

Does trial by media ever work? And why do some defendants like Sandusky go to the media whereas others stay out of the spotlight?

Let’s start with the first question. As a former FBI profiler, I’ve seen defendants grant media interviews and, more times than not, it hurts them. Let’s take a look at a few infamous examples.

In the Midwest, police are searching for a two-year-old whose father says went missing when a thief carjacked him and drove away with the toddler still strapped into a seat. The car was found nearby, with an empty car seat inside.

Such cases create fear in the minds of parents. They want to know how to keep their kids safe from would-be car thieves.

Many people swear by gut feelings and suggest you rely on them to make important decisions. Here are 10 ways gut feelings can lead you straight into harm’s way.

1. Dangerous people know how to manipulate your gut feelings. For instance, Bernie Madoff disarmed potential investors with his charm. He impressed them with his career accomplishments and lulled them with glowing recommendations from other investors who were also unknowingly being conned.