Domino Effect of Murder

About half of all homicide survivors will face the litigation process but are seldom prepared to do so. Most have never been part of a criminal trial and have a steep learning curve ahead. This episode prepares homicide survivors to understand basic terminology and procedures for the trial of the assailant. Real case material will be used to demonstrate important points. For information about my b...

Karen Hewitt was a preteen in the U.K. when she was a patient of Harold Shipman, M.D. Her elderly grandmother was a patient of Shipman's also and was scheduled to see him around the time his murderous behavior was exposed. Ms. Hewitt's brush with the most prolific serial murderer in the U.K. has left her with PTSD, Agoraphobia and a burning desire to help others grow out of their shell and realize...

When homicide survivors enter the courtroom and see the defandant their blood boils. We want and deserve a conviction. But, even more important, we want and deserve accuracy in the conviction. Listen in as the issue of wrongful murder convictions displays flaws in our legal system that sometimes results in even the homicide survivor being incarcerated for decades.

How well is the correctional system "correcting"? What would a victim-centric rehabilitation system look like? How gratifying would it be to you if you were certain that the perpetrator of your loved one's homicide faced you and demonstrated "they got it" - that they comprehended the depth of your loss, anger, fear, confusion and grief? Does restorative justice work? Would those who have been thro...

Our shared experience as homicide survivors grows us into reluctant experts in coping with traumatic grief. Over time we can pivot our experience into helping others who will surely follow us. In so doing we help ourselves. We are our best hope for dealing with our traumatic losses. Several examples from previous guests are provided to illustrate how his has been accomplished and the importance of...

Where do the rights for the public to know about crime end and the crime victim's right to privacy begin? What have been the social benefits of journalism crime reporting? What has been the impact on the victim-family? Why do some crime victims get hounded by the press and others bypassed altogether? Here we discuss he often uneasy junction between print and electronic media and victims of crime a...

Ukraine's children are under assault with the attack of Russia. As in most wars and family homicides it is all too easy to overlook their needs, to minimize the impact of violent death on the shoulders of tiny humans. This episode puts the spotlight on them. For more information see my webpage at: https://www.jancantyphd.com

Hope Reger was aptly named. She was once a struggling teenage mom in Ohio but pushed ahead and succeeded in raising her son despite the odds. Hope advanced in her career and later married Mike. Together they raised their two sons with love and devotion. Life looked promising. They became grandparents. Then Hope received a knock on her door one morning as she was getting ready for work. Two uniform...

One of the many shared experiences of most homicide survivors is the death notification. It's almost never "by the book." It triggers the trajectory that we all are forced to take. For information about my books and other information please visit my website: https://jancantyphd.com/

Shelly Edwards Jorgensen grew up witnessing severe domestic violence against her mom with death threats from her father threatening to "kill everyone and burn down the house." He made good on his threat. It took years for law enforcement to charge him and during that time Shelley lived with her murderous and alcoholic father in full view of the charred remains where she knew her mom died. Listen a...

Grievers sometimes describe unshakeable "ways of knowing" and spontaneous "connections" with their loved ones "on the other side" following violent death. Our guest, Dr. Betty Kovacs has studied these phenomena for over thirty years (and also experienced three tragic deaths in her immediate family). Grievous events, she asserts, allow such connections to be perceived. Three examples from other gue...

Every homicide survivor-family is faced with decisions regarding funeral arrangements (including the option to do nothing). Kari Northery is a doubly-credentialed guest. Not only is she an experienced expert in the death care industry, but she experienced a murder in her own family of her little niece. Join us as she describes the decisions we face and our options. For more information see my book...

Imagine being told your biological mom drowned. You attach to your new stepmom and she, too, drowns. Coincidence? The police didn't think so. Listen is as we hear from a man who grew up with that legacy. How did he navigate that difficult path? What does he want us to learn from this? Please visit my webpage at: https://www.jancantyphd.com

Mike Morford has been advocating for homicide survivor families (especially those with unsolved cases) through his podcast. For more information see my website at: https://www.jancantyphd.com

The violent, senseless murder of Carol and Less Dotts in their East Tennessee home on February 3, 1995, inspired their daughter, Jeanne Dotts Brykalski, into action as a Victim Advocate. But the story doesn't end there. Their killers are up for parole and she is on a mission. Please visit my website at https://www.jancantyphd.com

When an officer is killed in the line of duty it is considered an "end of watch." This episode compares and contrasts the experiences of families who have lost a loved one as a police officer with those who have lost someone as a "civilian." There is a great deal of overlap. For more information see my webpage at: https://www.jancantyphd.com

Michael Anthony, from Indiana, grew up knowing nothing but physical abuse, neglect, poverty, and pessimism. Somehow, in spite of his mistreatment and being surrounded by resignation and despair he knew he was not broken. Then a "mirror moment" changed his life. This self-made man tells us about his journey out of chaos and of his desire to inspire others to do the same. Please visit my webpage at:...

Special Agent Sackman describes serial murderers who are licensed physicians both inside and outside of long-term healthcare facilities. Learn what motivates them, why medicine is a perfect setting to commit homicide, and how they literally get away with murder for years. It will get you rethinking your next stay inside a hospital. Feel free to tour my website: https://www.jancantyphd.com/

First responders have nothing to do with cleaning up a residence or business after a murder. Who does it, then? What are the risks to a property owner to do it themselves? What is the usual cost to have it professionally done? Are there federal laws that apply? Why is special equipment needed and why? How long can it take? Listen as we discuss these and other questions from the owner of a crime sc...

"Why is this murder investigation taking so long?!" It's a frequent question voiced by homicide survivors. This episode is but one example of why it can take years to get a case on the dockets. Uncovering, processing and entering evidence into legal proceedings is daunting - not to mention frustrating by those waiting for some kind of resolution. Meet Anita Zannin from A-Z Forensics. Ms. Zannin’s...

Most homicide survivors focus on the emotional dimensions of their situation (such as anxiety or depression, and lowered concentration). But paying attention to the physical aftermath is equally important (such as insomnia, teeth grinding, headaches and stomach aches). Our guest, Tracy Lowry, R.N. discusses the importance and reasons behind this dimension of trauma as well as some strategies for d...

What is the psychological and social impact of murder on the person who kills? What is "perpetration-induced traumatic stress?" Listen in as Clark Frederick discusses his murder of Sheriff Dennis Pegg in Stillwater, New Jersey. Learn about the "four Ls" of homicide, brain circuitry responses to killing and a woman's reaction on a 911 call when she reluctantly shoots an intruder. Please visit my we...

Wrongful convictions of innocent defendants happen more often than you would think - to people from all walks of life. Many spend decades behind bars and find they cannot restore their lives once exonerated. This episode explains how this tragic miscarriage of justice happened to a teenager from New York and held him in error for 16 years. For information about my books and other information pleas...

Women and girls tugged into the sex industry are the most frequently and easily killed people anywhere on the face of the earth. Why do they remain unseen by us even though we pass them daily? What people and companies profit from them? How do they become involved in this netherworld in the first place? What prevents them from leaving? Why is grief absent for fellow sex workers who die in "the lif...

We're taught the justice system gets it right and only the guilty are convicted - especially when a confession is given. But a closer inspection reveals the fallacy in this. Meet Jeff Deskovic who served 16 years for a murder he never committed and the tactics behind pinning the crime on him. Also learn about some parallels between convicting the innocent and surviving a homicide.