Mind Behind The Crime | The Psychology Of Killers

In this explosive Hidden Killers feature, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dissect the most dangerous phrase in American child-protection law: “imminent danger.” It’s the loophole that leaves families powerless, law enforcement stalled, and children unprotected until tragedy strikes. The Melodee Buzzard case exposes how a slow-moving legal standard allowed a crisis to become a disappearance — even as every red flag was documented in real time. Shavaun reveals how mental-health systems confuse autonomy with safety, how judges hesitate to intervene without physical harm, and how this outdated framework turns compassion into catastrophe. Tony drives the hard questions: Why didn’t anyone step in when relatives begged for help? Why was a missing school record not enough? Why did it take a felony charge to get attention? Together they offer real, actionable solutions — from mobile crisis co-response units to pattern-based legal triggers — that balance civil rights with child safety. This isn’t just commentary; it’s a call for reform. Because if we keep waiting for proof of danger, we’ll keep finding it too late. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrime #MentalHealthReform #ChildWelfare #SystemicFailure #JusticeForMelodee Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

This is the story that will make you furious — because every step of it was predictable. In this Hidden Killers deep dive, Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott examine the disturbing mental unraveling that led to the disappearance of Melodee Buzzard. From the first red flags — school absence, social isolation, and erratic behavior — to the alarming road trip with wigs, fake plates, and a child who never returned, every sign pointed toward a crisis in plain sight. Yet, the law did nothing. The threshold for “imminent danger” demanded proof of harm — even as danger screamed from every corner. Shavaun explains how a person in psychological free-fall can appear “functional” enough to evade intervention, and why families who report warning signs are so often dismissed as overreacting. The false-imprisonment charge that followed weeks later — multiple locks, a box cutter, and an accusation of “violence, menace, fraud, and deceit” — reads like a postscript to the same nightmare. Tony and Shavaun break down not just what went wrong, but how to fix it — legally, clinically, and emotionally — so another family doesn’t have to live this horror in real time. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrimePodcast #ChildProtection #MentalHealthCrisis #FamilyFailure #BrokenSystem Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this harrowing Hidden Killers special, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to unpack one of the most haunting modern tragedies — the disappearance of nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard and the slow, visible mental collapse of her mother, Ashlee Buzzard. Every warning was there: relatives cut off, a child missing from school rolls, no homeschool paperwork, a home in disarray. Then came the wigs, a license-plate swap, a multi-state trip — and a mother returning without her daughter. Weeks later, an alleged false-imprisonment incident involving multiple locks and a box cutter confirmed the nightmare. Through a clinical and human lens, Shavaun exposes how “the system worked exactly as designed — and that’s the problem.” Families are handcuffed by “imminent danger” laws that demand proof before help, while crises spiral into tragedy. Tony and Shavaun break down how to recognize delusion, how to act before it’s too late, and how the laws meant to protect privacy are now costing lives. This is a deep, emotional exploration of failure — and what must change before another Melodee disappears. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrime #ChildSafety #MentalHealthCrisis #BrokenSystem #JusticeForMelodee Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this explosive Hidden Killers feature, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dissect the most dangerous phrase in American child-protection law: “imminent danger.” It’s the loophole that leaves families powerless, law enforcement stalled, and children unprotected until tragedy strikes. The Melodee Buzzard case exposes how a slow-moving legal standard allowed a crisis to become a disappearance — even as every red flag was documented in real time. Shavaun reveals how mental-health systems confuse autonomy with safety, how judges hesitate to intervene without physical harm, and how this outdated framework turns compassion into catastrophe. Tony drives the hard questions: Why didn’t anyone step in when relatives begged for help? Why was a missing school record not enough? Why did it take a felony charge to get attention? Together they offer real, actionable solutions — from mobile crisis co-response units to pattern-based legal triggers — that balance civil rights with child safety. This isn’t just commentary; it’s a call for reform. Because if we keep waiting for proof of danger, we’ll keep finding it too late. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrime #MentalHealthReform #ChildWelfare #SystemicFailure #JusticeForMelodee Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

What happens when two teenage survivors watch the court set their attacker free? In the case of Jesse Mack Butler, charged with eleven felonies — including rape, strangulation, and assault — the answer is unthinkable: one year of supervision, zero prison time, and a wiped record. In this powerful interview, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott break down the psychology of protection — from parental denial to systemic apathy. They explore how communities normalize violence, how judges mistake privilege for potential, and how survivors carry the trauma of a system that refused to protect them. This isn’t about one case — it’s about what happens when justice becomes an accomplice. #HiddenKillersPodcast #JesseButlerCase #JusticeFailed #PsychologicalAnalysis #ShavaunScott #SurvivorVoices #TraumaInformed #TrueCrimeCommentary #HiddenKillersLive #SystemicInjustice Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Two 16-year-old girls were attacked. One was choked unconscious. One nearly died. The evidence was undeniable — partial phone video, medical proof, and multiple felony charges. Yet the court said: “He deserves another chance.” Why? Because he was a “good kid.” Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to explore the disturbing cultural conditioning that keeps excusing violent young men — and the devastating psychological toll that leniency takes on survivors. They dive deep into the psychology of denial, family image-protection, and the small-town empathy that shields offenders instead of victims. This isn’t a courtroom story — it’s a cultural mirror. #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #JesseButler #GoodKidNarrative #PsychologyOfDenial #TraumaRecovery #JusticeSystem #ShavaunScott #VictimAdvocacy #PatriarchalPrivilege Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

 How does someone charged with eleven felonies — including rape and strangulation — walk away with a single year of supervision? In Stillwater, Oklahoma, 17-year-old Jesse Mack Butler attacked two teenage girls so brutally one nearly died. Police had video evidence. Doctors confirmed near-fatal injuries. Yet the court called it “rehabilitation.” In this episode, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott unpack the psychology of protection — the denial, privilege, and misplaced empathy that let predators slip through the cracks. From family complicity to small-town bias, this is a case study in how justice fails survivors — and what it says about our collective moral blindness. Watch the full discussion and join the conversation about what true accountability should look like. #JesseButler #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimePodcast #JusticeForSurvivors #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimeDiscussion #PredatorPsychology #RapeCulture #TraumaInformedJustice #SystemicFailure Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When Ajike Owens was killed through a closed door, her four children lost their mother — and a nation faced the consequences of unchecked paranoia. In this exclusive episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels to dissect the mental chain reaction behind that fatal moment. Scott explores how chronic resentment, fear scripting, and entitlement converge in what she calls “justified aggression”—the mind’s way of excusing harm under the guise of self-protection. She breaks down how fear, when reinforced over years, becomes not a response but an identity. The discussion turns toward healing: what happens to children who witness or lose parents to violence, what recovery actually looks like, and how society can stop mistaking grievance for danger.  This is not just analysis — it’s a human reckoning with how far distorted thinking can go when no one intervenes. #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillersPodcast #ThePerfectNeighbor #AjikeOwens #SusanLorincz #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeToday #PsychologyOfFear #TraumaRecovery #FearVsAccountability Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels to unpack the warped psychology behind The Perfect Neighbor case — where “fear” became justification for a killing. For two years, Susan Lorincz saw danger in ordinary life: neighborhood kids, laughter, noise. That chronic hyper-vigilance — mixed with grievance and entitlement — built a narrative that only she believed. Scott explores how paranoia and cognitive distortion feed on isolation, turning imagined threat into moral crusade. From micro-aggressions to the myth of the “good citizen,” this interview asks what happens when anxiety weaponizes itself and empathy disappears. Scott also offers trauma-informed insights for the secondary victims — Ajike Owens’ children — and explains how communities can recognize early warning signs before another tragedy repeats. #ThePerfectNeighbor #ShavaunScott #AjikeOwens #HiddenKillersPodcast #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeAnalysis #FearVsReality #TraumaPsychology #BehavioralHealth #StandYourGround Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

A mother is dead. A neighbor claims fear. But what really drove Susan Lorincz to pull the trigger through a closed door?  In this exclusive conversation, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski. Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels to dissect the psychology behind The Perfect Neighbor case — where paranoia, entitlement, and grievance collided in one deadly moment. Scott unpacks the behavioral descent that transforms everyday irritation into lethal certainty. Was Lorincz truly afraid, or was “fear” the mask for long-nurtured anger? From chronic irritability and confirmation bias to the self-righteous delusion of being “under siege,” Scott breaks down the cognitive distortions that rewrite reality until violence feels justified. Together, they examine how “stand-your-ground” culture, racialized fear, and emotional dysregulation converge — and what this case reveals about the American obsession with safety at all costs. This isn’t just a crime story; it’s a psychological autopsy of modern paranoia. #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillers #ThePerfectNeighbor #AjikeOwens #SusanLorincz #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfFear #StandYourGround #BehavioralAnalysis Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When Ajike Owens was killed through a closed door, her four children lost their mother — and a nation faced the consequences of unchecked paranoia. In this exclusive episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels to dissect the mental chain reaction behind that fatal moment. Scott explores how chronic resentment, fear scripting, and entitlement converge in what she calls “justified aggression”—the mind’s way of excusing harm under the guise of self-protection. She breaks down how fear, when reinforced over years, becomes not a response but an identity. The discussion turns toward healing: what happens to children who witness or lose parents to violence, what recovery actually looks like, and how society can stop mistaking grievance for danger.  This is not just analysis — it’s a human reckoning with how far distorted thinking can go when no one intervenes. #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillersPodcast #ThePerfectNeighbor #AjikeOwens #SusanLorincz #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeToday #PsychologyOfFear #TraumaRecovery #FearVsAccountability Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Two crimes. Two young lives. Two moments of sheer panic that turned fatal. A musician whose Tesla held the body of a missing 15-year-old. A college cheerleader who hid her newborn in a closet, then went out for fast food. In this extended Hidden Killers episode, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dissect the chilling psychology behind both the D4vd / Celeste Rivas Hernandez and Laken Snelling cases — revealing how fear, shame, and an underdeveloped brain can twist reality into delusion. Why do young people believe they can hide what can’t be hidden? What happens in the mind when panic flips the switch from reason to denial? And what does neuroscience tell us about the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that’s supposed to see the bigger picture — simply not being ready yet? This isn’t about monsters. It’s about immaturity, fear, and the illusion of control. It’s about how a single impulsive act — followed by a catastrophic cover-up — can change everything. Raw, honest, and psychologically deep, this episode shows that the scariest thing about these crimes isn’t the violence. It’s how human the decisions behind them really are. #HiddenKillers #D4vd #LakenSnelling #TrueCrime #PsychologyOfCrime #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #ImpulseControl #BrainDevelopment #FearAndDenial Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When 21-year-old University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling gave birth alone in her apartment, what happened next stunned investigators. She wrapped her newborn in a towel, placed the body in a trash bag inside her closet — and then, according to court documents, ordered McDonald’s through an app and tried to go about her day. This episode digs into that impossible contradiction: how someone can experience the most traumatic moment of their life and immediately act as though nothing happened. Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott explore the psychological mechanics of shock, shame, and denial — and why the young brain, overwhelmed by fear and isolation, can make devastating choices it can’t comprehend. Is this a story of pure evil? Or of panic, immaturity, and a desperate attempt to keep life “normal” when everything has already collapsed? We’ll look at how identity, reputation, and fear of judgment can override rational thought, and why concealment often feels like the only option to a terrified young adult. This isn’t a story about excuses — it’s about understanding how fear rewires the human mind. #HiddenKillers #LakenSnelling #TrueCrime #PsychologyOfDenial #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #UniversityOfKentucky #ImpulseControl #CrimeAndPsychology #HiddenBirth Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When police found the body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the musician known as D4vd, it didn’t just expose a horrifying crime scene — it exposed a psychological collapse. A moment where fear, immaturity, and denial replaced logic. In this episode, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to examine the psychology of impulsive concealment — why young people in crisis make catastrophic, irrational choices that they somehow believe will “fix” the problem. Why would anyone think a body in a frunk wouldn’t be found? Why do young adults underestimate consequences, even when the evidence is literally sitting in plain sight? And what does this say about a generation raised on instant validation and social-media performance? This isn’t a story about criminal genius. It’s about panic. About the under-developed prefrontal cortex that governs judgment and foresight — and how, when terror strikes, it simply shuts down. Together, Tony and Shavaun unpack what neuroscience, fear, and shame can do to the human mind when reality feels too big to face. If you’ve ever wondered why some people make the worst decisions imaginable under pressure, this conversation will change how you think about crime, youth, and consequence. #HiddenKillers #D4vd #CelesteRivasHernandez #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfCrime #ImpulsiveCrimes #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #BrainDevelopment #CrimeAndPsychology Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Two crimes. Two young lives. Two moments of sheer panic that turned fatal. A musician whose Tesla held the body of a missing 15-year-old. A college cheerleader who hid her newborn in a closet, then went out for fast food. In this extended Hidden Killers episode, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dissect the chilling psychology behind both the D4vd / Celeste Rivas Hernandez and Laken Snelling cases — revealing how fear, shame, and an underdeveloped brain can twist reality into delusion. Why do young people believe they can hide what can’t be hidden? What happens in the mind when panic flips the switch from reason to denial? And what does neuroscience tell us about the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that’s supposed to see the bigger picture — simply not being ready yet? This isn’t about monsters. It’s about immaturity, fear, and the illusion of control. It’s about how a single impulsive act — followed by a catastrophic cover-up — can change everything. Raw, honest, and psychologically deep, this episode shows that the scariest thing about these crimes isn’t the violence. It’s how human the decisions behind them really are. #HiddenKillers #D4vd #LakenSnelling #TrueCrime #PsychologyOfCrime #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #ImpulseControl #BrainDevelopment #FearAndDenial Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

It wasn’t just Donna Adelson who broke down at sentencing—it was her husband Harvey, too. And in their back-to-back emotional outbursts, we witnessed the unraveling of an entire family narrative that had held for over a decade. In this joint psychological breakdown, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole are joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to dissect the most emotionally charged—and revealing—moments of both Donna and Harvey’s final courtroom statements. Together, we examine: How narcissistic collapse shows up in real time through fractured speech, emotional spirals, and selective memory Why Harvey’s grief appears genuine—but is directed toward defending the illusion, not the truth How Donna’s use of oaths, denial, and moral inversion reframes her as a victim of the justice system The family system that enabled this collapse—and what happens when loyalty outweighs accountability This is what it sounds like when a legacy built on image can no longer hold the weight of the truth. 🔔 Subscribe for full courtroom analysis, expert interviews, and behavioral breakdowns from the biggest trials in America. #AdelsonTrial #DonnaAdelson #HarveyAdelson #DanMarkel #FamilyCollapse #NarcissisticCollapse #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #CourtroomDrama #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Donna Adelson didn’t beg for mercy at sentencing—she grabbed the mic and tried to rewrite history. In this raw, emotionally fractured courtroom speech, Donna portrayed herself not as a conspirator—but as a victim. “There are two crimes,” she declared. “The second is taking my life.” Her voice cracked, her story crumbled, and what we witnessed was more than denial—it was psychological collapse playing out live. In this episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski to dissect: What narcissistic collapse really looks and sounds like when the façade finally breaks Why Donna's repeated references to her grandchildren, oaths on her life, and attacks on the system reveal more about control than conscience How emotional manipulation works in sentencing statements—and why selective grief is a red flag The psychological toll of living inside a family system built on secrecy, power, and self-preservation This isn’t just courtroom drama. It’s behavioral dissection. 🔔 Subscribe for deeper breakdowns of the psychology behind high-profile defendants. #DonnaAdelson #HiddenKillers #DanMarkel #PsychologicalCollapse #SentencingStatement #CourtroomBehavior #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #FamilyDenial #EmotionalManipulation Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

What happens when a man loses not just his wife—but the version of reality he’s built for over 50 years? In this gripping episode, we unpack the emotional, erratic, and deeply revealing courtroom statement of Harvey Adelson, the husband of convicted murderer Donna Adelson. At her sentencing, Harvey took the stand and delivered a passionate defense of his wife—denying all wrongdoing, blaming the justice system, accusing witnesses of lying, and even calling Dan Markel’s grieving parents dishonest. But here’s the twist: Harvey’s grief is real. So is his collapse. And so is his refusal to acknowledge the truth. With psychotherapist Shavaun Scott, we explore: The psychology of enmeshment and why Harvey can’t separate Donna’s guilt from his own identity Why family loyalty in narcissistic systems becomes more important than the truth How denial, image preservation, and emotional breakdown all show up in real time What it means when someone experiences their spouse’s conviction as their own personal execution This is not just a reaction. It’s a psychological autopsy of a collapsing dynasty. 🔔 Subscribe for more psychological and behavioral analysis of high-profile trials. #HiddenKillers #HarveyAdelson #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #TrueCrime #FamilyDenial #PsychologicalCollapse #CourtroomDrama #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

It wasn’t just Donna Adelson who broke down at sentencing—it was her husband Harvey, too. And in their back-to-back emotional outbursts, we witnessed the unraveling of an entire family narrative that had held for over a decade. In this joint psychological breakdown, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole are joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to dissect the most emotionally charged—and revealing—moments of both Donna and Harvey’s final courtroom statements. Together, we examine: How narcissistic collapse shows up in real time through fractured speech, emotional spirals, and selective memory Why Harvey’s grief appears genuine—but is directed toward defending the illusion, not the truth How Donna’s use of oaths, denial, and moral inversion reframes her as a victim of the justice system The family system that enabled this collapse—and what happens when loyalty outweighs accountability This is what it sounds like when a legacy built on image can no longer hold the weight of the truth. 🔔 Subscribe for full courtroom analysis, expert interviews, and behavioral breakdowns from the biggest trials in America. #AdelsonTrial #DonnaAdelson #HarveyAdelson #DanMarkel #FamilyCollapse #NarcissisticCollapse #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #CourtroomDrama #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

This wasn’t an outburst. It was, according to prosecutors, a deliberate, public execution. A bolt-action rifle. A rooftop. A single shot aimed at a political figure speaking to a crowd of thousands. Prosecutors say Tyler James Robinson left a note, sent texts, and planned every detail. In this gripping and unsettling episode of Hidden Killers, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott unravel the deeper psychology of targeted violence—and how some killers don’t just act, they perform. From the alleged planning to the engraving on the bullets, the post-crime concealment, and the so-called “energy burst” of activity right after the shot—this wasn’t just about killing. It was about control. Symbolism. Message. In this interview, we explore: How violent actors create their own mythology around the act The psychology of public spectacle and performance-driven violence Why some shooters choose rooftops, long guns, and high-attention moments What happens psychologically after the act: the crash, the clean-up, and the final justification We also examine how obsession, identity, and a need for significance play into the creation of what some perpetrators see as a necessary act of violence. If you’ve ever wondered what turns someone from angry to armed—and what mental framework allows a person to believe they’re righteous in doing so—this is the episode to watch. 🎯 Subscribe for more deeply researched true crime conversations and psychological deep dives into the minds behind the headlines. #CharlieKirk #TargetedKilling #TylerRobinson #PublicExecution #RitualizedViolence #TrueCrimeInterview #PsychologyOfKillers #ShavaunScott #ForensicPsychology #HiddenKillers Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872