Megan Conner has known her older cousin, Lori Vallow Daybell, all her life. They grew up within their tightly-knit, extended family in the context of the Mormon faith. Megan eloquently explains the roots of the triple murders which her cousin was found guilty of. This included the murder of Meegan's niece and nephew, Tylee Ryan, and Joshua "JJ" Jaxon Vallow at the hands of her cousin ("filicide"). The third conviction was for the homicide of Lori's last husband's wife, Tammy. Lori was sentenced ...
Mar 27, 2024•58 min
The wind was never at the back of Delicia Niami. She started life in a tough area of East L.A. by a devoted single mom when she (and her brother) were kidnapped by her estranged father and whisked off to Baghdad. She was only four. With little understanding of the culture and why she was taken, she endured rejection and poverty. Just as abruptly, Delicia was returned a year later. Without a command of English, she wondered if she would be accepted. She was. Life went on. But tragedy struck again...
Mar 13, 2024•54 min
Murders of adults usually leave behind sons and daughters who must somehow move on with their lives. They are the forgotten victims of homicide - even by their relatives. It is rare for a child to get the mental health help they need and deserve following the loss of one or both parents to murder. Even worse, they are sometimes used by prosecutors at witnesses. This episode looks at a cross-section of eight people who lost one or both parents to homicide and the impact it had on them.
Feb 28, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Sharon McConnell-Dickerson, equipped only with her phone, was able to set in motion a series of events that led to the capture and conviction of a serial murderer in Panama. Who knows how many lives she saved?
Feb 14, 2024•50 min
Captain Mike Schentrup retired in 2021 as a Bureau Commander for the Gainesville Florida P.D. where he had worked for almost 25 years. His years on the job brought him to investigate many murders. Before leaving Gainesville P.D. he founded Advanced Police Concepts, LLC in 2016. But Captain Schentrup has also experienced homicide from the view of the homicide survivor. His young niece was one of the students senselessly slain in the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas H.S. He felt th...
Jan 31, 2024•58 min
Josephine Wentzel was a detective by training and retired when her 30-year-old daughter Crystal was murdered by her new boyfriend. He fled to South America on a forged Canadian passport. He had training in special operations. Even the U.S. Marshals didn't hold out much hope he'd be apprehended. But Josephine had promised she'd take care of her daughter from birth to death - and beyond. Sheer grit, determination, a careful strategy and time eventually won out. He was captured and returned to the ...
Jan 17, 2024•1 hr
Jessica Elise Lewis lost her husband, Russell, to homicide after moving to a remote ranch in California. In January of 2023, she explained what happened and her reactions as they unfolded. This episode picks up where that one left off. How is she doing a year later? In what ways can friends help? What recommendations does Jessica have for new homicide survivors? Were there signs that Russell expected to die? That he is trying to make his presence known today?
Jan 03, 2024•59 min
Homicide survivors are often hypervigilant and over-predictive of further harm. This is unhealthy and (for most of the country) unnecessary. This final episode of 2023 explains the concentration of homicide within 13 zip codes in the U.S. (sometimes known as "kill zones") and a possible remediation to the problem.
Nov 15, 2023•1 hr 16 min
Homicide survivor "Jessika for Justice" makes her debut as a podcast host on this episode of Domino Effect of Murder. She discusses the ethics of true crime with her guest Raul Montero as he pursues justice for the victims of the Long Island Killer.
Nov 01, 2023•1 hr 31 min
All murders are heinous but timing it to take place in front of the victim's six-year-old son? This egregious act took place in North Hollywood on Halloween, 1985. But for our guest Susan Snow, the murder of her father seems like yesterday. In addition to her sharing her story of homicide, it is also a cautionary tale. Susan painstakingly explains why the lack of assistance given to her by adults in her life (personally and professionally) led to years of unnecessary suffering and feeling alone ...
Oct 18, 2023•51 min
The financial fallout from murder and suicide is immediate, unexpected, under-researched, and murky. But, as our guest says "It is real." Using the example of brand-new widow Sophia, we get an inside glimpse of how financial demands add to the already overwhelming shock of unexpected death for those left to grieve. One beneficial resource is suggested to take away some of the guesswork. (For additional information see the reference book "What Now? Navigating the Aftermath of Homicide and Suicide...
Oct 04, 2023•31 min
Terry Gaza had an inkling there was trouble ahead with the young man who fathered her infant daughter. She put distance between them over his objections. Although Terry sensed he was capable of violence, she was unprepared for the news that he murdered his own mother, attempted to murder his brother immediately afterward then killed a passing motorcyclist as he fled the scene - in handcuffs no less. Years later Terry was faced with the delicate task of revealing the truth to her daughter about h...
Sep 20, 2023•58 min
The wind was not at the back of our next guest. Ever. She never knew her biological father. She grew up trapped in abuse and poverty. Her large family lived in a hot, isolated stretch of California dotted with Joshua trees, few people, and even fewer opportunities. When her mother was bedridden with cancer she became her caregiver, all the while working to support the family and caring for her younger siblings. By age 20 she was orphaned. Rather than sink in self-pity she (and her new husband) a...
Sep 06, 2023•1 hr 32 min
It's impossible to explore grief following violent death without stumbling across compelling accounts of unexpected, metaphysical communications with the deceased. It may be the scent of their perfume precisely when they are thought about. Or, it could be a vivid dream that awakens the griever and persists. In other instances, it's a special set of numbers that recur over and over. While seemingly rare, it's likely that many "experiencers" have these asomatous events but declines to mention them...
Aug 23, 2023•50 min
The carefree life of southern California teenager Lynette Duncan was abruptly stolen by a pair of serial murderers on a crime spree. She was only 16. It was 4 am. Her father was followed coming home from work with a bank deposit. As he stepped onto his front porch his life was cut short. So was the life of his eldest daughter who heard the commotion and was the first to get to the door. Listen to how this brave, young woman coped with being thrust into the role of head of household all the while...
Aug 09, 2023•50 min
Ryan was a senior at the U of Tampa and a star athlete when his life was cut short. A young man with a criminal past took Ryan's life early one morning in a botched robbery. So started the enduring grief of Ryan's close-knit family. His father, Kevin, reflects on how grief changes with the passing of years and the pressure it puts upon families. He discloses what he did to keep his family united during the three-year wait to bring the killer to justice. In addition, Kevin explains how keeping a ...
Jul 26, 2023•56 min
Four years ago Jessika learned her fiance, Austin, had been stabbed to death in the leasing office of their Texas apartment complex. He was the most unlikely person to meet a violent end with his polite countenance and love of animals and people. To compound her misery, the investigation was compromised from the get-go and ultimately left unsolved. In time Jessika pivoted her intense grief and anger into something positive. Today she is all about advocacy and educating others about the reality o...
Jul 12, 2023•1 hr 13 min
While the term "homicide survivor" is commonly used with the family of the deceased, it's equally appropriate to use with colleagues in civilian or military jobs. This interview spotlights U.S. Navy Commander Tina Erwin (Ret.) and her determination to understand the suspicious death of a young man under her command. Commander Erwin noticed that the submariners used their "gut feelings" to know when something was "off." This intensified her lifelong interest into the deeper meaning of events. As ...
Jun 28, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Most homicide survivors vividly recall groping in the dark in the aftermath of murder. Who should they call? What is to be done with reporters? What about social media? What can be delegated to friends? As time passes survivors collide with additional urgent questions. Is financial help available? What should be expected from the criminal justice and parole systems? When is an attorney needed? Resources are painfully lacking for the loved ones of a murder victim. It soon becomes clear that help ...
Jun 21, 2023•37 min
Temujn Kensu (aka Fred Freeman) was wrongfully convicted of a 1987 murder he didn't do and is serving a sentence of life without parole. It's an open secret he's innocent. Even a former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice, FBI investigator and detective with the Michigan State Police agree. He was railroaded. Two questions immediately come to mind. How did this travesty of justice even happen? Why should I care? Answer: Money, power and incompetent legal representation became the toxic mix that...
Jun 14, 2023•58 min
Murder is complex and inherently infused with strong emotions. This episode reviews the five common motives for murder, the profile of the person who most frequently kills and who is most likely to become a victim. Following that we will hear from recently released Marcel McDaniel who served 17 years for homicide and what he is doing to make a difference with other inmates now that he has regained his freedom. Feel free to tour my website: https://www.jancantyphd.com/...
May 31, 2023•54 min
Forensic psychology is a specialty where psychology meets law. Our guest, Dr. Johnston, has an extensive resume in this field and will shed light on what her job entails. In addition, we discuss relevant current events such as prison reform, the ethics of true crime shows and much, much more. Feel free to tour my website: https://www.jancantyphd.com/
May 17, 2023•1 hr 4 min
As a preschooler Ryan Kopyar's mom left for work before Christmas and never returned. Even worse, she was eight months pregnant with his little sister. It was a watershed moment in Ryan's young life and that of his father. The immediate aftermath of her murder transformed Ryan's once-happy home into a quiet, dark place as he and his father awkwardly struggled to adjust to her absence while in the spotlight of their small town. Listen as Mr. Kopyar explains the circuitous route his life took in t...
May 03, 2023•52 min
Jessica Norman has the unwanted distinction of knowing incarceration for murder from two vantage points. She is a corrections officer in an institution where her job brings her in regular contact with murderers. And, a few years into her job, she learned her sister had been murdered. It changed the trajectory of her life in multiple ways - as is so often the case. Listen as she recounts her loss, her adjustments and how she is doing today. Feel free to tour my website: https://www.jancantyphd.co...
Apr 19, 2023•51 min
At the tender age of six Charles Smith experienced his first loss. It was the death of his mother. In rapid succession, he lost his father, grandfather and uncle. More would follow. Listen to Charles describe being in freefall for the first half of his life but then rallying and defying the odds. Like the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi, he explains the art of being broken. Charles believes we can be repaired by realizing that our brokenness can be the foundation for a more durable, meaningful,...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr
What are the parallels between violent death in the military and in civilian life? And, more importantly, what can we learn from this? Join me as I sit with Army Veteran and host of Drive On Podcast Scott DeLuzio to discuss intentional death on and off the battlefield. Feel free to tour my website: https://www.jancantyphd.com/
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Adolescence is tough. Adolescence is even tougher as a biracial teen. And, if that isn't difficult enough i magine being told your mom has been murdered and that it was premeditated. How do you find your footing? Reestablish control? Interface with peers? Listen in as we hear Rebecca Benny describe these difficult hurdles and how she negotiated them.` Feel free to tour my website: https://www.jancantyphd.com/
Mar 08, 2023•1 hr 1 min
When Kalvon Hawkins was informed his daughter had been murdered at a birthday party he couldn't imagine life getting worse, but this was a prelude to more suffering. The police brushed him off. Witnesses wouldn't come forward. Rumors circulated. His business suffered. Over the years, he succumbed to depression and isolation. Then, one drizzly, cold day he took matters into his own hands and opened his first Facebook Live post pleading for support outside the Michigan City, Indiana P.D. His call ...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Crime victims, homicide survivors included, find the court process to be confusing, foreign, and occasionally hostile. Former Denver Prosecutor Rachel Robinson of Colorado has made it her mission to give a voice to those who don't have one. She has dedicated her private practice to ensuring that crime victims' rights are honored. She has tailored her services to fill the gaps in the criminal justice system for those of us who have been sidelined and silenced. You can see her posts on TikTok by g...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr 9 min
The attempted murder of herself and her young son was not enough to deter Patricia Wenskunas from her life mission. She has excelled in her tireless effort to advocate for crime victims in a number of ways - not the least of which is her foundation "Crime Survivors Resource Center" in Irvine, California. Please tune in and feel uplifted by her passion, clarity, and hope. Patricia is more than a survivor - she is an inspiration. https://crimesurvivors.org/ Feel Free to tour my website: https://ww...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr 1 min
