Domino Effect of Murder

Cyndee Garrett is a remarkable woman who has sustained all that life has thrown at her.  Despite the tragic murder of her twenty-year-old daughter, Alexandria, Cyndee makes it her mission to attend to her other children, function as a caregiver for her spouse and keep her spirits as a guiding light.  This interview invites you into her heartache as well as her wisdom.  Please join us.

In court there is the defense and the prosecution.  The defense attorney is representing the defendant while the Prosecutor is representing the State.  So, who is looking out for our best interest?  No one.  Until now.  Rachel Robinson is a part of a small but growing number of attorneys specializing in Crime Victims Rights Law to ensure all the rights afforded us are being honored. Listen in to better understand our day in court.

When trauma hits we face the choice: sink or swim.

Terrie Noble never had the wind at her back.  From an early age she was confronted with one obstacle after another and never knew a permanent home in her formative years.  But, as rough as she had it growing up, nothing could have prepared her for the senseless murder of her beloved son, Levi.  He was a young man with a bright future, gentle demeanor and quiet determination.   Please join us as we hear how Terrie persisted in using her tragedies to advocate for others.

Many of us think about AI as assisting with schoolwork, reports, improving writing or finding obscure information on the world wide web quickly.  But did you know it has applications in homicide investigations as well?  Indeed it does! Listen in to find out the pros and cons as wel as the hurdles and successes this new technolog is bringing to murder investigations.

Nakesa Sineath wasn't even an adult, by legal standards when she faced the ugliest act imaginable - the deliberate taking of her child's life by the very person charged with caring for him - his biological father.  He robbed their son,  Amari, of a future.  He robbed Nakesa of peace of mind. To compound this tragedy Nakesa had few resources and had just given birth to her daughter.Join us on an episode that explores "filicide" - one of the ugliest words in the English language.  Learn how this admirable young woman succeeded despite all odds in terms of her spirit, mothering, and her support of others.

Sgt. Patrick O'Donnell (ret.) was a 25 year veteran of the mean streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He has delivered his fair share of death notifications.  His specialty was officer-involved shootings.   In this episode we learn about the law enforcement side of homicide and what motivates some to risk their lives to keep the rest of us safe.  Sgt. 0'Donnell is an author of several crime-related novels inspired by his work and is the host of the podcast Cops and Writers.  He interviews guests as well as serves as a consultant to the screenwriters and film industry in getting the law enforcement details accurate.

Detective Jason Moran is a relentless detective best known for his dedication to establishing the names of all victims of John Wayne Gacey - the so-called "Killer Clown." Detective Moran is so dedicated to his mission that he has even personally delivered the cremated remains to families who wait.  In this episode, we will learn more about the workings of unsolved homicide investigations and a great idea for what families and communities can do to breathe new life into an old case.

Tessie Mandeville, from the low country of South Carolina, was just coming into her own when her beloved younger brother was senselessly murdered by so-called "friends."  He was within days of moving west to join Tessie in San Francisco, but their dream of reuniting was stolen.  They were both in their twenties.  The loss of a sibling, represents the loss of the person who shares the most DNA with us on the planet. It leaves a scar that is forever visible.

Rhonda adopted D'Angelo Antwon Toney  as a teenager.  It was an open adoption and things went well.  D'Angelo graduated high school and went straight to work after graduation.  Little did he know he would pay with his life.

The gunshot death of Lori Ann Johnson, age 34, in Tacoma, Washington on September 12, 1994 has sat idle for over three decades.  I have come to know her family well.  The mother of the homicide victim is elderly now.  It is her fondest wish to know who killed her child. Lori's lifeless body was found in the 1200 Block of South 11th St. in Tacoma (the Hilltop area) in the morning by a physician on his way into his office. No witnesses came forward. There was no CCTV camera footage, no useful prints, or  DNA evidence. While three suspects were named in her file, there did not appear to be any follow-up.  There have been no updates. - not one in 30 long years.  Mrs. Johnson feels forgotten.  The victim's daughters have grown up without answers too. I accompanied Mrs. Johnson to the Tacoma P.D. several years ago. One officer met us in the noisy lobby and refused to say anything except "It's an open investigation.  I can't speak with you."  He was abrupt and dismissive.Can you help?  If you are a journalist - can you breathe life into this old case?  If you are in law enforcement can you see why nothing has come of this homicide (not even an annual phone call to Lori's family)?  Could you be a witness or know someone who is?  If so, please contact me.

This episode reviews three matters.  First, it reviews how the podcast originated.  Second, it will cover the gains and losses for homicide survivors this year (as I see it).  Last, it will convey the surprise twist that the episodes have taken recently pertaining to after death communication.  Please join us, won't you?

Homicide survivors know that "closure" is a myth.  (Closure literally means "to conclude.")  Lack of closure is demonstrated in many ways, like attending the parole hearing.  Here we will learn from Jeanne Dotts Brykalski as she describes her fight to keep the offender who killed her parents behind bars. Each time she participates she knows it will open old wounds. This episode sheds light on the experience of facing a parole board, offers tips, and extends an invitation to read and sign a petition to keep the offender locked up.  (You needn't know Jeanne nor live in Tennessee to do so.)Please join us, won't you?

This multifaceted, energetic still-young woman has worn many hats since the day her brother was murdered.  She was only 16.  The assailant was a life-long friend and only 21.  Her search to find where she belongs, and what her true calling is, has taken her around the world for years.  Her two loves have always been being near (or on) the water, and music.Please join this uplifting and articulate discussion about life after the murder of a sibling.

Clark Fredericks turned himself in following the brutal murder of Sheriff Dennis Pegg in Sussex County, New Jersey.  Considering Clark's long history of drug abuse, motorcycle gang membership, and periodic unemployment, Clark assumed the worst.  But much to his shock and bewilderment, each law enforcement officer and guard that came into his holding cell, praised him for his actions.  This is a man who pivoted a nightmare into a mission.

Doug Fifer is a 25-year veteran of the Anchorage P.D.  He's seen his share of homicides, suicides, financial scams, and sexual deviants.  In this episode, we learn about the unique challenges of working in law enforcement within a large, sparsely populated, rugged environment such as Alaska.  Few jurisdictions have to deal with 1600-pound grizzlies, towns inaccessible by road, near-perpetual darkness in winter, snowfall measured in feet, and a pandemic of alcoholism.  Doug Fifer will take us along with him to discuss hostage negotiations, homicide investigations, death notifications and more.  He has recently authored "Fifty Shades of True Crime."

Anniversary reactions are unavoidable.  They are represent the way our brain keeps us safe.

Listen as Billie-J Heavyshields unravels the "missing-but-found-murdered" story of her brother's unprovoked homicide on the Blackfoot Kainai Blood Tribe Reserve of Southern Alberta, Canada.  Billie-J speaks not only about her grief for her brother, Lane Tailfeathers, but also how it hastened her spiritual development.  As a White Bear Woman and intuitive healer, she weaves a story of spiritual transformation, sweat lodge ceremonies, law enforcement involvement, the unexpected role of an Elder, and the impact of her brother's absence on herself and her community.

Seldom do we hear about the financial repercussions of murder on surviving family members.  Instead, the focus has always been on societal expenses. This episode focuses on the usual expenses homicide survivors face.  Knowledge is power.

As a homicide survivor, the legal process is frightening, confusing, and foreign for the majority of us.  And that goes double for testifying in a murder trial. The D.A. may prep us for our questioning.  But that's more for content.  How do we manage our anxiety and keep our peace?  How do we tell our truth and have it understood without being overwhelmed emotionally or physically before, during, or after the trial? The stakes are high. The facts are complicated.  Our next guest is a seasoned persuasion strategist.  She describes her work as bridging law and real life.  She helps us visualize our audience, clarify our message, and present complicated facts logically and genuinely.In addition to her work, she also hosts a podcast called Trauma Trial Transformation where she presents true stories from the witness chair.  Please join us, won't you?For more information see my webpage at www. jancantyphd.com  

Natalie Bedard (affectionately known as Nat Nat) is an experienced, gracious, and empathetic homicide survivor, advocate, and podcast host for Lift Oneself https://www.liftoneself.com/Nat Nat was a second mother to her friend's son.  Everyone who knew Sheldon was going somewhere in life.  He excelled at sports, friendship, academics, and compassion.  Even in high school, he stood out head and shoulders.  He was known as "the peacemaker."  But even with all that going for him, he was the target of homicide.  No one saw it coming. (He should be turning 30 this year.)Listen in as Nat Nat describes her own grief journey interwoven with how she came to pivot it to help others.  Like me, Natalie finds solace in nature, photography, meditation, and the healing power of the ocean.Please tune in and get comfortable as you hear Nat Nat describe healing from tragedy.

Wrongful convictions for the murder of a loved one are rare but not unheard of (think Michael Morton, Kathleen Folbigg, Jeff Deskovick, Kristina Kurlis, Patricia Stallings, Debra Milke, Sally Clark, Nichole Harris, Hanna Overton and others). They come from all walks of life.  Men and women who faced injustice on top of grief. Can this nightmare be avoided? Listen in and know what to do. This episode is dedicated to Melissa Lucio in Texas who is on death row awaiting execution for the wrongful conviction of her toddler

Homicide survivors are usually forced to make irreversible funeral and burial arrangements in haste without much sleep, information, or money set aside for this expense.   This episode will address important "inside" information on funerals, burials, and cremation from a death care professional, Heather Leigh - General Manager of Greenhaven Memorial Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina.  But she brings even more expertise from her background as an academic where she taught a course on death and dying for the Child and Family Studies program at Columbia College, Columbia, South Carolina.  This helps us plan ahead. Information is power.

Most crime victims know they have the right to give a victim impact statement (VIS) before sentencing and at parole board hearings. But most people do not realize that judges seldom use our input.  That's because we don't stick to our task: giving a rationale for our sentence recommendation.It's a relatively recent privilege to have our say in court.  It took federal legislation to make it a reality (the Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982).  Not everyone is on board.  The ACLU has consistently opposed this right.  They believe it undermines due process.This episode provides a quick overview of the dos and don't behind giving a victim impact statement.

The extended family of Barbara With endured two independent homicides just a few years apart.  Both killers were known to their targets.  Both victims were single parents of young children. Both of their attackers were convicted.In this discussion, we discuss the impact of these murders on our guest Barbara With and her family.  But, we  also learn more about her background as an intuitive, creative performer and writer.

Jeanne Dotts Brykalski lost her parents to murder in a quiet neighborhood in East Tennessee when they interrupted a burglary in progress by three assailants in their own home.  Jeanne is a veteran of the homicide survivor experience.  She's been through the death notification, funerals, trial and faced the parole board before.  She's served as a victim advocate for others.  Jeanne has insights only an experienced "insider" could have.This is the second time we've heard from Jeanne.  We first met her November 10, 2021, when she detailed the deaths of her parents, Les and Carol, and the comfort her parents' dog provided to her immediately following the tragic news.In this episode, we will glean what it's like to go before a parole board.  And just as important, Jeanne invites you to get involved by signing the petition to keep David Scarbrough behind bars.  (You need not be a resident of Tennessee or be personally involved with the situation.)  The petition will need to be signed before December 1, 2024. Please go to:                  https://www.change.org/JusticefortheDotts-122024,                 or click on the link in the corresponding Facebook Page for this podcast and episode.

Lynette Duncan was just a happy teenager living life in southern California when the unimaginable came to her family's door at 4:00 a.m.  Two serial murderers took the lives of her father and sister and seriously wounded her mother.  She became the de-facto head of the household.  She is still fighting parole for the one convict who remains.

..Reporter, author and executive producer Aphrodite Jones speaks about her career reporting true crime - the good, the bad and the ugly.

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 to three consecutive life terms. (Lori faces two additional counts of conspiracy to commit murder related to the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and conspiring to kill her niece's ex-husband Brandon Boudreaux.)Lori's children went missing in 2019 which set off a national manhunt for their whereabouts.  Lori was nick-named "Doomsday Mom" in the popular press due to her religious beliefs solidified in the Netflix documentary series "Sins of Our Mother."Today Megan speaks out in the hope that people will look upon the tragedy in her family as a cautionary tale.  She urges others to speak the truth, heed warning signs and get outside help earlier rather than later.

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 at age 30 when her mother was murdered in a home invasion by a stranger.  It took years for Delicia to find her footing and she bravely shares her journey with us.

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.

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?

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 the ripple effect on people closest to him.Please join us as we discuss cold case investigations, his niece's murder and how working major cases can take a toll on officers.

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 U.S. where he is currently awaiting trial.Listen as we discuss the self-described "mama bear" bring the wrath of the U.S. government onto the man who stole the life of her daughter and the mother from her tiny grandchildren.

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?

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.

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.

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 and damaged. She is the author of The Other Side of the Gun, available on Amazon.www.jancantyphd.com

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" available on Amazon.)https://www.jancantyphd.com

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 her father. How much should she know? When should she be told? What words would help her understand? How would she react if and when he asked to see her. She gave it considerable thought.Please join us as we sit ringside to the tragedy of a murder that impacted at least three families.https://www.jancantyphd.com

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) adopted her younger siblings. The marriage didn't last, but her devotion to her family did. Her younger sister/daughter Aryanna was never able to rise above her harsh beginnings and turned to unhealthy behaviors early in life to cope. Sadly, that eventually led to her violent death by a homeless man inside a deserted mobile home in San Diego. She was only 28. While Aryanna perished, her son did not and our guest is now raising him. Our speaker's compassion, determination, and sorrow come through as she tells us of the loss of her much-loved and much-missed sister, Aryanna. Please join Alexa Hansen as she shares the story of the homicide of Aryanna who was burned alive.https://www.jancantyphd.com