How Not to Raise a Serial Killer - podcast cover

How Not to Raise a Serial Killer

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Ever wonder if your kids have it in them to be a killer? It's okay, we've all had the thought once or twice. And if you're willing to admit that, you'll love How Not to Raise a Serial Killer. On this podcast, criminal psychologist Dr. Michelle Ward digs into the childhoods of some of the most notorious criminals and killers in order to learn from them and prevent future tragedies. Dr. Ward will use her expertise to determine what went wrong with each killer (a brain injury, an undiagnosed illness, a specific trauma) with the help of a fellow mom/non-expert who can weigh in about their own taboo parenting fears. Because on our better days as parents, we want to know how to raise good humans. But on our worst days, we at least want to know that we're not raising a future serial killer.

Episodes

Lisa Montgomery: The Only Woman on Federal Death Row

On this episode of HNTRASK, Michelle is joined by Missi and Abigail to discuss the unimaginable crimes committed by Lisa Montgomery. In 2004, Lisa and Bobby Jo Stinnett connected on social media through a dog breeding group. Under the guise of purchasing a puppy, Lisa was invited to Bobby Jo's home. After a gruesome murder and the kidnapping of an unborn child (you read that right...) Lisa became the first female prisoner to be put to death by the U.S. government since 1953. Listen to Michelle, ...

Jun 14, 202259 min

Patrick Lewis: The Murderous Consequences of Chronic Underarousal

During the 80s and 90s, Patrick Lewis murdered over half a dozen women, preying on sex workers who resembled his ex-lover and mother of his child. His terror on women was overlooked by police again and again, as Patrick was repeatedly released from prison on bail. How did these flagrant killings slip under the radar? What were the underpinnings of Patrick’s MO? Were there warning signs in his childhood that pointed to a future killer? (Spoiler: YES) On this episode of HNTRASK, Michelle dissects ...

Jun 07, 20221 hr 3 min

Antonio Bustamante Part II: Medication & Meditation

In Part II of this episode, Michelle and Maleeda continue to discuss how head injuries can lead to dramatic changes in personality and, in some cases, murder, and Michelle gives some shocking solutions to treating head trauma. What do you do after your child hits their head? What does medication and meditation have to do with any of this? Find out the answer to these questions and listen in on some juicy mom stories on this episode of HNTRASK! Follow us at @hownottoraiseaserialkiller on Instagra...

May 31, 202234 min

Antonio Bustamante Part I: The Horrifying Consequences of TBIs

In 1986, Antonio Bustamante broke into a home to steal. As he ransacked the house. He was in the middle of the burglary when the homeowner returned unexpectedly. The owner was a small 80-year-old man who had only gone to the local grocery store. Instead of barreling past the owner to run away, Antonio beat the man to death with his bare hands. In Part I of this story, Michelle and her good friend Maleeda discuss the murders of Antonio Bustamante, the dire effects of traumatic brain injuries, and...

May 24, 202248 min

Dr. Shirley Turner and the Murders of Andrew Bagby and Zachary Turner

Dr. Shirley Turner wreaked havoc on the lives of many, most notably, terrorizing the Bagby familiy. Turner would murder their only son, Andrew, and grandson Zachary in acts of selfishness and entitlement. What drove this woman to commit such atrocious acts against her boyfriend and her infant son? What, if anything, could have been done to stop her from spiraling in this way? On this episode, Michelle and her good friend Amy discuss the murders of Andrew and Zachary, the signs and symptoms of Bo...

May 17, 20221 hr 6 min

Andrew Cunanan: How Not to Raise A Narcissist

On this episode, Michelle and her sister, Heidi, analyze Andrew Cunanan, the infamous killer of Gianni Versace. After being cut off by his sugar daddy, Cunanan took the lives of five people over the course of three months, culminating in the murder of Versace. What could have driven this otherwise well-to-do socialite to commit five murders? Love? Desperation? Money? Well, Michelle and Heidi have a few ideas... Tune in this week as Michelle and Heidi discuss how certain styles of parenting can e...

May 10, 20221 hr 2 min

Levi King: Psychopathy in Childhood

In September 2005, 23-year-old Levi King was forced to leave his father’s home in Pineville, Missouri. He had been there for a week after violating his parole terms and fleeing a halfway house. After waiting for his father to leave in the morning, Levi grabbed several of his fathers guns without his knowledge and began a tragic killing spree that would soon result in five innocent victims. This week on How Not To Raise A Serial Killer, Dr. Michelle Ward and her good friend Alli recount the detai...

May 03, 20221 hr 23 min

Matthew Cushing: A Compulsion to Kill

Today, Michelle and fellow mom, Claire, sit down to discuss Matthew Cushing and his unthinkable crime. When Matthew was just a young college student, he woke up one day and decided he needed to travel home from school to kill his stepfather... instead, he killed his entire family. How did this young man from a good family end up doing such a terrible deed? After meeting him face to face, Michelle has some theories about what may have been going on in Matthew's brain, and it's something that all ...

Apr 25, 20221 hr 40 min

James Holmes Part 2: "Self-Diagnosis of a Broken Mind"

James Holmes is responsible for one of the worst mass shootings in United States history. But what can we learn from this terrible incident? By looking into Holmes’s childhood symptoms and his undiagnosed schizophrenia, Dr. Michelle Ward finds some important lessons to take away from this tragedy. In Part 2 of this 2 part episode, Dr. Michelle Ward takes a deeper look at schizophrenia and the importance of a proper diagnosis. What can parents do when their own children display symptoms of schizo...

Apr 18, 202249 min

James Holmes Part 1: Falling Through the Cracks

On July 20, 2012, 24 year-old , James Holmes, bought a ticket for “The Dark Knight Rises” and proceeded to enact one of the worst mass shootings in our country’s history up until that point. But how did this tragedy happen, exactly? In Part 1 of this 2 part episode, Dr. Michelle Ward is joined by her good friend and fellow mom, Courtney, to look into Holmes’s childhood symptoms and family history, his urge to diagnose himself by pursuing neuroscience, and the full story of his undiagnosed schizo...

Apr 18, 202256 min
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