Domino Effect of Murder

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.

This episode is the finale for the broadcast.  After six seasons and 144 episodes it is bidding adeau.  It's not because the need has been addressed.  It's not because I've lost heart.  It is because of the progressive hearing loss I've been trying to find work-arounds for but realized it has meant repeated replays, editing issues and so forth.So, this episode will provide an overview of the mission and some of the guests who helped bring that to fruition.  To all of you who have supported this effort, who have listened, commented and shared. Thank  you .And don't forget I'm working on a national homicide survivor conference slated for September 11 - 13 in 2026 in Gig Harbor, Washington.  If you would like to be on the mailing list, please contact me as aftermath.of.homicide@gmail.comAnd, don't forget I'm active on Tik Tok and keep a blog up to date on my website:  jancantyphd@gmail.com

Sheila Lowe and her daughter had a complicated relationship.  It could have been the result of her daughter's head injury as a toddler, complicated by a divorce.  Perhaps a choice of friends played a role also.  Whatever caused their ups and downs, Sheila never stopped loving her daughter.  She had imagined her daughter inviting risk into her life, the kind of risk that leaves one arrested or hospitalized or deceased.  Still, there is not preparation for the tragic news of a homicide when it arrives.

When Dr. Fowler 's only child when missing in NYC, it became apparant the police were not going to be looking for him. They repeatedly told her "He'll be back."  His poster was removed from the bulletin board after only a few weeks and Dr. Fowler never received a call from the detective assigned to LaMont's case. Years went by.  Much to her surprise, the detective on the other end of her regular phone calls suddenly changed his stance.  "Why, yes. You should come in."  It was then she heard the hard truth.  Not only had LaMont washed up on the banks of the East River eight days after he went missing, but he was identified.  But that was the end of the investigation. No one made an attempt to reach out to his family. This episode shines a light on situations like LaMont's as well as offers five strategies of what to do about it.

When trauma hits we face the choice: sink or swim.For more information on my books and my blog please click here:  www.jancantyphd.com

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.For more information on my blog and books, please click here:  jancantyphd.com

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.

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.

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.

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.For more information on my blog and books please click here:  https://www.jancantyphd.com

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.

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

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  

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.