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In October 2017, 11-year-old Alex Batty set off for what was supposed to be a routine family holiday in Spain. But what started as a simple trip turned into a six-year ordeal when Alex was abducted. He vanished without a trace, leaving his grandmother and legal guardian, Susan Caruana, in anguish. As years passed, the hope of finding Alex began to wane. Who took Alex and why?
Let’s be clear from the start: Chris Watts is in a maximum-security prison -- the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin, to be precise. He's serving five consecutive life sentences, with no hope of parole. Given the heinous nature of his crimes, most will agree that's the least he deserves.RELATED: The Wife Swap Murders: The Tragedy at Stockdale Farm, ExplainedWhat is initially less clear is what drove a seemingly peaceful family man to murder his pregnant wife and their two daughters. However, we'll do our best to comb through the facts, and gain some understanding of the horrible events of Aug. 13, 2018. Because, as the layers of Chris Watts’ life are peeled back, it becomes all too obvious he was a dangerous and disturbed man.Who Is Chris Watts?Chris Watts and Shanann Watts (Photo: Netflix)Chris Watts is now known as a calculating and ruthless killer, as well as an adulterer and a liar. But before the horrific crimes he committed in the early hours of Aug. 13, 2018, Chris possessed the facade of a consummate family man.RELATED: The Zodiac Killer: Everything We Know (So Far) About True Crime's Most Enduring MysteryThen 33 years old, Chris lived with his family in Frederick, Colorado, southeast of Longmont. Married for nearly six years, he and wife Shanann had two daughters -- Bella, age 4, and Celeste, age 3 -- and were expecting a third. Chris was employed by Anadarko Petroleum, while Shanann, 34, worked at a call center for a children's hospital. They appeared happy in family photos. But looks, as is so often the case, can be deceiving.The Watts had filed for bankruptcy in June 2015, after becoming buried in debt by their mortgage, credit cards, medical bills and student loans. By late summer 2018, Chris was having an affair with Nichol Kessinger, whom he met through work. He purportedly claimed to be separated from his wife, and that a divorce was imminent. Instead, however, Chris was coldly planning the murder of his family, including their unborn child.Why Did Chris Watts Murder His Family?Shanann Watts, with daughters Bella and Celeste (Photo: Netflix)Chris Watts is what experts call a “family annihilator," someone -- typically, a white man in his early 30s -- who murders everyone in the household. He's typically viewed by friends and neighbors as a "perfect" father and husband. However, he's usually depressed or paranoid, and led to the heinous act by relationship or financial stressors, or by the belief that he's relieving perceived suffering. In most cases, the annihilator then takes his own life.RELATED: Psychological Trauma: Symptoms, Signs and Life ImpactChris felt trapped by his marriage and growing family, and wanted to start a new life with Nichol. But rather than seeking therapy, or filing for divorce and working out terms for support and custody, Chris chose to do the unimaginable.This wasn't a crime of passion. Chris planned for weeks, if not longer, to murder his wife and daughters. What’s less clear is how he thought he would get away with it.The Watts Family MurdersPhoto: NetflixChris later recalled the night he killed his family, in almost minute-by-minute fashion. This wasn't someone suffering a breakdown, but instead a cold, meticulous man. The details of the killings are difficult to read about, so we'll spare you most of them. They don’t make the story any less comprehensible, so let this summary suffice.RELATED: How Gabby Petito Died - and Why Her Case Drew So Much AttentionIn the early hours of Aug. 13, 2018, Chris first used a pillow to smother daughters Bella and Celeste, affectionately known as CeCe. Afterward, he climbed back into bed beside his pregnant wife, Shanann, with whom he immediately began to argue. Chris then strangled her. At this point, both daughters, whom he thought were already dead, woke up, and followed him around the house. He apparently loaded his dead wife and living girls into his truck and drove to an oil field he knew from work. Watts then redoubled his focus on murdering his children, and this time he was successful. He later described how Bella put up a fight, because she seemed to realize what he was doing. Chris buried Shanann in a shallow grave, and dumped Bella and Celeste into a crude-oil tank.The Days After the Watts MurdersChris Watts, captured on police body-camera video, on the day of his family's disappearanceA friend and colleague of Shanann reported her missing later that afternoon. When police perform a welfare at the Watts home, they found her keys, purse and phone. However, Chris insisted Shanann told him she and the girls were goring to a friend's home.RELATED: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders CaseChris spent the next few days publicly appealing for the safe return of his missing family. He denied any knowledge of what happened to them, and texted to his mistress that he was innocent. All the while, his behavior seemed odd and his grief strangely lacking.Police quickly closed in on him, largely due to evidence obtained from security camera-footage and a suspicious neighbor. Chris failed a lie-detector test, and was formally charged. He confessed at first, but said the deaths were a result of a crime of passion. He late admitted he planned the murders.What Was Chris Watts’ Sentence?Chris Watts in court (Photo: Netflix)So, where is Chris Watts now? As mentioned previously, he's in a maximum-security prison in Waupun, Wisconsin -- and he'll remain there for the rest of his life.RELATED: Why the Gruesome Hello Kitty Murder Shocked Hong Kong - and Still Horrifies the WorldChris was imprisoned on Nov. 19, 2018, to five life sentences. He was convicted on three counts of murder, two counts of murder of a child under age 12, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and three counts of tampering with a human body. Claiming to have found religion behind bars, Chris Watts spends his days reading from the Bible. Chris purportedly keeps photos of his wife and daughters in his cell, and speaks to them.However, once again, Chris may not be what he seems. In May 2022, former fellow inmate David Carter revealed that Chris insisted it was Nichol Kessinger who smothered his daughters. He also claimed Nichol helped to dig Shanann's grave, and to place the girls' bodies in the oil tank.American Murder: The Family Next DoorIf you’re interested in a closer look at the chilling Watts family murders, Netflix has you covered. The streaming giant in 2020 debuted true crime documentary, American Murder: The Family Next Door, that thoroughly details the case. It became the most-viewed documentary film at the time of its release.Be advised that, of course, that the two-hour movie is troubling to watch, as one might expect from the subject matter.KEEP READING: How a 24-Year-Old Victim Became the Hero Who Stopped "Dirty John" Meehan
Humans have a macabre, yet irresistible, tendency to attach nicknames to horrific criminal cases. There’s the Black Dahlia murder, the Taliesin Massacre, the Zodiac Killer. The list of luridly named crimes and criminals goes on. Perhaps it's as simple as writing a catchy headline, or a need to blunt the horror of the true crime. Regardless, what’s beyond question is that one gruesome murder in 1999 shocked the people of Hong Kong, and the world. And its descriptive name is as horrific as it is grimly accurate: the Hello Kitty murder.RELATED: The Bloody True Crime, and Shocking Acquittal, Behind Hulu's CandyBefore we get into the details of the Hello Kitty murder, be warned. This was grisly affair. So, if you're bothered by dark topics, you may want to look away.. The Hello Kitty Victim: Fan Man-yeeFan Man-yeeFan Man-yee was only 23 at the time of her death in 1999. And none of those 23 years had been easy. Fan Man-yee was abandoned as a child by her family, and raised in a Hong Kong orphanage.RELATED: Netflix’s Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Crime – But Which One?She aged out of the orphanage at 15, and turned to sex work to survive. A drug addict, Fan ended up in an abusive marriage with a client, with whom she had a child. Despite the many challenges, Fan cleaned up, left her husband, quit prostitution, and found a job as a nightclub hostess. She hoped to earn a living so she could care for her son.Unfortunately, the the Romance Villa was a gathering place for the worst of the worst in Hong Kong. Guests included everyday criminals, drug addicts, dealers, and members of the powerful Chinese crime syndicate, The Triads.Fan Man-yee’s interactions with one member, Chan Man-lok, led to her awful suffering and gruesome death.The Hello Kitty Murderers: Three Men and a MinorChan Man-lokHer fate was sealed when Fan stole the wallet of Chan Man-lok, a 34-year-old drug dealer and pimp, with whom she had a sexual relationship. The theft of the wallet, containing the equivalent of $500 USD, was quickly realized by its owner. Fan returned the wallet, but Chan insisted she pay an exorbitant penalty fee. However, Fan had no way to pay the amount Chan demanded. Thus, sought other means to exact his “fee.”RELATED: Committing the Perfect Crime in Yellowstone’s Zone of DeathWith two associates, 27-year-old Leung Shing-cho and 21-year-old Leung Wai-lun, and Chan's 14-year-old "girlfriend," Ah Fong, he kidnapped Fan Man-yee and stashed her in a Hong Kong apartment.Over the course of the next few weeks, Fan suffered in abject misery at the hands of these four people.The Torture and Killing of Fan Man-yeeThe Hello Kitty mermaid dollChan initially planned to claim his penalty fee by forcing Fan back into prostitution. However, he and his accomplices instead tortured the young woman, apparently for no other reason than perverse enjoyment. They badly burned Fan's feet with molten plastic to hamper her ability to escape. Over the course of a month, the three men and the 14-year-old girl beat, cut, burned and otherwise tortured Fan. (Ah Fong was apparently a less-active participant in the abuse, but she later admitted to taking a role at times.)RELATED: The Wife Swap Murders: The Tragedy at Stockdale Farm, ExplainedFan was sometimes left hanging from the ceiling for hours, treated like a literal punching bag. She was soiled with urine and excrement, force-fed drugs, and sexually assaulted countless times. And after about a month of this unthinkable abuse, Fan died as a result of the trauma. Soon, she became known widely as the Hello Kitty murder victim.Chan and his accomplices covered up their crime with the same grim attachment. The victim’s body was sawed apart in a bathtub, and then the group boiled her body parts. Some of the pieces were fed to stray dogs, and others thrown into the trash. They boiled the flesh from Fan’s skull, and then stitched it inside of a Hello Kitty mermaid doll. That, of course, is how the horrific crime earned its nickname.The Hello Kitty Murder TrialIf not for feelings of guilt that plagued 14-year-old Ah Fong, we might never have known Fan Man-yee's grime fate. But the teenager was tormented by remorse, and believed she was haunted by the dead woman's ghost. That brought her to a Hong Kong police station to confess to the crimes.RELATED: A Mother and 8-Year-Old Daughter Were Kidnapped for 7 Weeks – Their Escape Was Unbelievable, But Only the BeginningThe three men were arrested, and then prosecuted in 2000, during a six-week trial. They were found guilty, but not of murder. They were instead convicted of manslaughter, as well as lesser crimes, such as false imprisonment and preventing lawful burial. That's because the jury found that, without more of Fan's remains, her precise cause of death couldn't be determined. She could have died from a drug overdose or starvation, for all jurors knew.Chan Man-lo, Leung Shing-cho and Leung Wai-lun were sentenced in 2000 to life in prison. However, Leung successfully appealed his conviction, and was subsequently sentenced to 18 years after pleading guilty in retrial. He was released from prison in 2011.Because of her age, and her testimony in the Hello Kitty murder trial, Ah Fong was granted immunity. She never faced punishmentHello Kitty Murder Defendant Returns to the News in 2022If you thought years in prison for his role in the Hello Kitty murder might reform Leung Wai-lun, think again. In August 2022, more than a decade after his release, Leung was sentenced to 12 months in jail. This time, it was for indecent contact with the 10-year-old daughter of a friend.Leung Wai-lun, now 48, is again behind bars, more than two decades after the torture and death of Fan Man-yee.KEEP READING:How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders Case
In summer 1980, a killing rocked Wylie, Texas, at the time little more than a sleepy town northeast of Dallas. It was shocking not simply because of the community's size, but because of the sheer brutality, and the identity of the victim. Betty Gore was a wife, mother, grade-school teacher, and a devoted church member. Her accused killer, homemaker Candy Montgomery, struck Betty 41 times with an ax. What's more, Candy ultimately walked out of the courthouse a free woman. If it sounds too wild to be true, you need only watch Hulu's Candy.RELATED: Netflix's Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Crime - But Which One?The five-episode miniseries is based on actual events. Here’s what led to that fateful morning, on June 13, 1980, and what happened afterward -- as unbelievable as it may seem.Candy Montgomery and Betty Gore: Friendship and BetrayalThe real Candy Montgomery, left, and Jessica Biel in Hulu's CandyBorn on Nov. 15, 1949, Candy Montgomery moved to Wylie, Texas, in 1977 with her husband, Pat, and their two children. She soon befriended Betty Gore and her husband, Allan, at the Methodist Church of Lucas. Their daughters likewise became fast friends.RELATED: Committing the Perfect Crime in Yellowstone's Zone of DeathHowever, trouble began in October 1978, when Candy propositioned Allan at a church event. She was bored with her life, and in search of “fireworks." Allan was apparently in a similar mindset. Their affair began in December 1978, and lasted the better part of a year, until the relationship was ended by Allan. He felt guilty for cheating on Betty.Candy purportedly didn't mind the end of the affair, because the "fireworks"-level sex she craved never materialized. Their illicit relationship could have faded into memory, with little damage done to either marriage ... had Betty not learned about the tryst.The Brutal Killing of Betty GoreBetty Gore, left, and Melanie Lynskey in Hulu's CandyWe’ll never know exactly what happened in the Gore home that Friday the 13th in June 1980, or why. In Candy Montgomery’s account, she stopped by Betty Gore's house to borrow a bathing suit for her daughter. That's when Betty confronted her about the affair with Allan (he was out of town on business).RELATED: The Wife Swap Murders: The Tragedy at Stockdale Farm, ExplainedCandy didn't deny the affair, but confirmed it had ended months earlier. She claimed Betty then flew into a rage and attacked her with an ax. Indeed, Candy had a single cut on her toe that was consistent with an injury from a wood-splitting ax. In addition, she sustained several bruises and scrapes consistent with a struggle. It was the damage to Betty's body that was so shocking -- horrifying, even. She was struck 41 times by an ax.That means Candy had to disarm Betty, and then, rather than flee the house, she swung the ax at least 41 times. She continued to strike even after the fatal blow. To add to the horror, Candy then left the house -- in which Betty's infant daughter lay in a crib -- and went home. She bathed, changed clothes, then attended a church event, as if nothing had happened.Candy Montgomery's Trial - and Its Shocking OutcomeJessica Biel as Candy Montgomery in Hulu's CandyBetty's body was found later that day by neighbors who were asked by Allan to check in after he couldn't reach his wife by phone. Authorities summoned to the Gore house encountered what they later described as a scene from a horror movie. Blood was spattered everywhere, and the corpse was so mutilated that is was difficult to tell what had happened to Betty Gore.RELATED: A Mother and 8-Year-Old Daughter Were Kidnapped for 7 Weeks - Their Escape Was Unbelievable, But Only the BeginningCandy was charged with murder, but insisted she had acted in self-defense. To explain the level of violence, her attorneys argued a repressed childhood memory of her mother shushing exploded into Candy's mind when Betty said “Shhh!” during confrontation. That, they said, caused Candy to effectively go temporarily insane as she fought back. That is, of course, plausible, as the human mind is a frail and malleable thing. However, it hardly explains Candy's lack of remorse, or the calm she displayed after the killing.Nevertheless, the jury deliberated for fewer than five hours before returning a verdict of not guilty. Candy left the courthouse a free woman. In the eyes of many, however, she was a ruthless murderer. Divorced, and now in her early 70s, Candy goes by her maiden name, Wheeler.Candy’s story was first dramatized in a 1990 made-for-TV movie called Killing in a Small Town. However, Hulu's 2022 miniseries Candy is viewed by many critics as imperfect, but nevertheless true to actual events. And if you're searching for another version, you can wait for HBO Max's Love and Death, expected to premiere in 2023.KEEP READING: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders Case
We may never know what drove a young man from a conservative Ohio family to murder his mother and his brother before turning the gun on himself. However, many have wondered whether the 2017 murders can be connected to events that took place nearly a decade earlier. Those events led to the killings being dubbed the Wife Swap Murders.RELATED: Committing the Perfect Crime in Yellowstone's Zone of DeathWho is Jacob Stockdale? What occurred in the Stockdale family that led him to kill such a “wonderful mother” and her youngest son? How could a family possessed of a strong Christian faith meet with such tragedy?To address the questions, we must start in 2008, with the reality show that pushed them into the limelight: Wife Swap.What Is Wife Swap?Among certain people – especially those alive in the 1970s – “wife swap” is a euphemistic reference to the practice of swinging. To be blunt, that's when couples exchange partners for sexual encounters.RELATED: Was Anything Real in Jessica Simpson's Reality-Show Relationship?However, in our context, “wife swap” refers not to swinging, but to a reality television show. The series' name was obviously intended to titillate viewers. But Wife Swap had nothing to do with sex. The series aired for the better part of a decade, beginning in 2004 on ABC, and then on Paramount Network. Wife Swap selected two families with starkly different lifestyles, then had them exchange wives/mothers for two weeks.Often, the comedy or drama arose from a strict mother trying to cope with children from a laid-back household. Or, on the flip side, with a laid-back mom trying to get a high-strung household to relax and enjoy themselves.It was intended largely as family fun. Wife Swap was clearly edited, if not outright scripted, in order to create the best entertainment for viewers. The show wasn't to be taken seriously -- and certainly not deadly seriously. But that’s how events may have played out in one tragic case.Did a young man’s experience with an alternative style of parenting light the fuse that, nine years later, exploded into the Wife Swap Murders?The Strict Upbringing of Jacob Stockdale The Stockdale family bandJacob Stockdale and his three brothers, Charles, Calvin and James, were raised in a home so strict that it would appall many. That's surely why the Stockdales caught the eye of Wife Swap producers. From the outside, they may have looked like a wholesome family bluegrass band. But, in truth, the household was unbelievably strict, bordering on oppressive.RELATED: How 17-Year-Old Lisa McVey Saved Her Own Life by Outsmarting the Serial Killer Who Abducted HerThe boys had to complete grueling hours of chores to earn “tokens” that could be exchanged for activities most of us take for granted. The children weren't allowed to have friends, and they were rarely permitted freedom to choose how they spent their time. "We don’t allow any cussing," mother Kathryn Stockdale said on their family's episode. "[And] I think that dating has physical dangers, like pregnancy. It’s not worth it. It’s important we have control over their character and their education.”That lack of freedom is what Kathryn Stockdale's Wife Swap counterpart, Laurie Tonkovic, felt may have contributed to the so-called Wife Swap Murders. Jacob reportedly told Laurie at the time he feared his parents would condemn him to hell for the freedom of choice she offered. That included permission to watch TV or play video games while she was temporary matriarch.Charges and SentencingJacob Stockdale in 2018 booking photo (Image: Stark County Sheriff's Office)On June 15, 2017, Jacob Stockdale fatally shot his 54-year-old mother, Kathryn, and his youngest brother, 21-year-old James. As police arrived at the family home following a hang-up emergency call, they heard a gunshot. It was 26-year-od Jacob, shooting himself in the head.RELATED: 8-Year-Old Abducted from Her Bed Recalls Vital Details That Helped Solve Her CaseHis wound was serious, and required a long hospital stay. Jacob subsequently pleaded not guilty, by reason of insanity, to two counts of murder. However, no one doubted he killed his mother and brother -- and he didn’t deny it. Had he broken, mentally and emotionally, under the long strain of his upbringing? Or was he seeking revenge?After he was determined to be legally sane, Jacob changed his plea to guilty. He was sentenced in 2018 to 30 years in prison, 15 years for each killing, to be served consecutively.Statements from the Stockdale FamilyJames Stockdale, Kathryn Stockdale and Jacob Stockdale, on Wife SwapGranted, there is much one can judge about the way father Timothy Stockdale, and the late Kathryn Stockdale raised their sons. But one must appreciate the tenderness and magnanimity of the statements several Stockdale family members released after the tragedy.RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped ‘Toy Box Killer’ David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesTimothy Stockdale said, “Kathy has been my beloved wife of 32 years and a wonderful mother to our four sons. She loved nothing more than being a mother and grandmother. She had a strong love of learning and was passionate about her Christian faith, natural health, and organic farming.”Even more moving were the words of the oldest Stockdale son, Calvin, who said, “James, our youngest brother, has always been a catalyst of family fun. He leaves behind many friends and a family that loved him dearly. My brother, Jacob, is still in critical condition and we are praying for his physical recovery as our family makes funeral plans and begins the healing process.”KEEP READING:Netflix’s Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Story – But Which One?
When most people consider the perfect crime – academically, or for a work of fiction, of course – they think of one for which there's no way to be caught. Or, if apprehended, they can't be prosecuted. It would require meticulous planning, a complete lack of witnesses or evidence, or a clever legal loophole. Some believe they have found the latter in the Yellowstone Zone of Death.The 50-square-mile area, in the Idaho section of Yellowstone National Park, theoretically provides a safe place to commit a crime. That's because of the U.S. Constitution, and a series of jurisdictional entanglements, first exposed by law professor Brian Kult.RELATED: A Mother and 8-Year-Old Daughter Were Kidnapped for 7 Weeks - Their Escape Was Unbelievable, But Just the BeginningAs far as we know, no one has actually tried to get away with murder in this Zone of Death. Indeed, hardly anyone is even ever there. It isn't named for a slew of heinous crimes, or for a single grisly murder. So why is this place called by that name? Because it just might be the only place in the United States where you can commit the perfect crime.Theoretically, a killer could avoid the law, because in this stretch of land, it may not apply. We’ll talk about the legality of committing crimes in the Zone of Death later. But, first, what and where is this so-called Zone of Death, anyway?What, and Where, Is Yellowstone's Zone of Death?Yellowstone's Zone of Death (Map: Amusing Planet)It’s a sliver of land, really, created by the quirkiness of state borders. The region is 2 miles wide, and 25 miles long, starting below where Idaho, Montana and Wyoming meet. That's roughly 50 square miles, or an area slightly larger than San Francisco.Not a single established road runs through the Zone of Death. One of the few named features on the map is Buffalo Lake, beside which sits a cabin and unmaintained campsite. There are also a few small creeks with uninspired names like Boundary Creek.Long story short, this is wilderness. Which is the point, of course. When Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, 2.2 million acres was set aside to remain wild. The Legal Loophole: A Constitutional QuestionPhoto by Anthony Garand on UnsplashThe Constitution of the United States is a wonderful document. It has proved strong enough to guide lawmakers and judges for nearly 250 years, while also being flexible enough to remain relevant. It’s far from a perfect document, however. Inevitably, there are situations its Framers could not have foreseen and, thus, are left unaddressed.To understand the problem the Constitution left when it comes to the Yellowstone National Park Zone of Death, read Article III, Section 2: “The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed.”RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped ‘Toy Box Killer’ David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesNote that the Constitution clearly stipulates that crimes must be tried by juries. Now take a look at another bit of language added to the Constitution a few years later.The Sixth Amendment, added in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, reads: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.” (Italics have been added for emphasis.)Put those together, and you have a legal obligation for a defendant to be tried in the state in which the crime was committed, and by a jury selected from that same "state and district." That leads to a legal loophole. The problem? There are two, actually. First, the Zone of Death lies in Idaho, but the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming has legal purview over all of Yellowstone National Park – even those parts that lie in Idaho and Montana.RELATED: Where Is JFK’s Brain? A Mind-Boggling Mystery & Conspiracy Theory, ExplainedSo, that’s problem one. You have an area that is technically under the auspices of two different parts of the government, so which has the actual authority. The second is that the Constitution clearly states juries must be comprised of members of the public that reside in “the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed.” Even assuming legal experts could work out whether the Zone of Death was more properly a concern for the state of Idaho or the federal government, no one lives in that narrow strip of land just across the Idaho border. It would be impossible to select a jury from residents of the region, as there simply are none.And if you can’t be properly tried by a jury for your crimes, then, theoretically, you can’t be tried at all.The Gabby Petito CaseA photo of Gabby Petito, released by her familyHad Gabby Petito’s life ended a few miles northwest of where it did, the history of the Zone of Death may have moved from the academic to the all too real. RELATED: How 17-Year-Old Lisa McVey Saved Her Own Life by Outsmarting the Serial Killer Who Abducted HerPetito was murdered by her fiancé, a Brian Laundrie, in late August 2021, as far as experts can tell. Her body was found in Grand Teton National Park, south of Yellowstone. However, it's fully within Wyoming, and doesn't cross state boundaries, thus freeing it of the legal complications of the Yellowstone Zone of Death.Of course, Laundrie killed himself within two week's of the murder. His body found in a wilderness preserve in Florida, near where the couple had lived. According to the FBI, Laundrie confessed to the murder in a notebook, found near his body.What to Do About Yellowstone's Zone of Death DilemmaPhoto by Dustin Commer on UnsplashIt’s highly unlikely anyone will travel to Yellowstone’s Zone of Death to commit a major crime. And even if they did, jurisdiction might fall to the place where they planned the crime.RELATED: 8-Year-Old Abducted from Her Bed Recalls Vital Details That Helped Solve Her CaseHowever, the Zone of Death loophole has been raised in court, in a crime as relatively mundane as poaching. In 2005, Michael Belderrain illegally shot an elk in Montana, and then attempted to use Kalt's loophole as his 2007 defense. Because he was within Yellowstone when he committed the crime, Belderrain was indicted in the U.S. District for Wyoming. However, he demanded to be tried by jurors from Montana. The court dismissed the Sixth Amendment argument, and Belderrain ultimately took a plea deal. Therefore, the Zone of Death loophole went untested.But Brian Kalt proposes what should be a relatively easy way to clear up the murky matter: Congress can pass a law declaring Idaho’s portion of Yellowstone National Park as part of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. Loophole would then be closed, and Yellowstone's Zone of Death would be no more.Thus far, however, there's been no congressional action on the matter.KEEP READING: Netflix's Devil in Ohio Is Inspired by a True Story - But Which One?
The horrors wrought by Ted Bundy—his kidnapping, assault and murder of dozens of young women across the nation in the '70s—remain a haunting reminder of the evils that can be imagined and perpetrated by humankind.And that the notorious serial killer was considered to be a handsome and charismatic man who could easily lure potential victims into trusting him makes him even more terrifying.RELATED: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders CaseBut there was one woman who believed him to be a rather “dignified” man, so much, in fact, that she even became his wife and bore his child.Here is the story of Rose Bundy's mother, Carole Ann Boone, her relationship with Ted Bundy, and their presumed child, Rose Bundy.Ted Bundy and Carole Ann Boone Met at WorkTed Bundy and wife Carole Ann Boone met in 1974 when they were colleagues at the Department of Emergency Services in Olympia, Washington. At the time, Carol Anne Boone was going through a divorce (her second!) and raising a son, James. She was also reportedly in a relationship when she met Bundy, who was dating his long-term girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer at the time.According to Ted Bundy: The Only Living Witness, a respected true crime examination of Bundy’s life by the investigative team of Stephen G. Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth, Bundy and Boone expressed an early romantic interest in each other, with Bundy eager to begin dating.RELATED: The Waco Siege: 5 Deadly Facts You Never Knew“I liked Ted immediately—we hit it off well,” Boone said of their initial encounters."He struck me as being a rather shy person with a lot more going on under the surface than what was on the surface. He certainly was more dignified and restrained than the more certifiable types around the office."- Carole Ann BooneBut Bundy and Boone’s relationship wouldn’t remain platonic for long and they soon grew close. Their romance was interrupted when Bundy was arrested, but it continued in another form when the pair began sending each other love letters while he was imprisoned in Utah in 1976 and awaiting trial for kidnapping and assault. The first of a number of charges of murder and rape against Bundy were to come later that year.Ted Bundy Proposed to Carole Ann Boone in the CourtroomAP/REX/SHUTTERSTOCKFollowing a pair of dramatic prison escapes (that Boone was rumored to have had a hand in assisting), murder charges in Colorado and a series of subsequent assaults and murders in Florida, Bundy was recaptured and remanded to Florida State Prison in Raiford in 1978. It was during Bundy’s trial in Florida that Boone moved from Washington to the Southern state to support him, fully believing in his innocence.It was during one of his trials in June 1979, at the Miami Metropolitan Justice Building, that Bundy took advantage of an obscure (and bizarre!) Florida law stating that two people could be married by simply making a declaration that they were married while in a courtroom with a judge present. Bundy was questioning Boone on the stand as a character witness—Bundy was representing himself in court—when he suddenly asked her to marry him. Boone accepted and Bundy immediately declared to the court that they were legally married.In February, 1980, Bundy was sentenced to death by electrocution and began what would be a nine-year stay on death row.RELATED: How One Victim’s Incredible Act of Bravery Ended a Decade of Horrific KidnappingsSome 32 months later, on October 24, 1982, Boone gave birth to a daughter, Rose, and named Ted Bundy as the baby, Rose Bundy's father.Rose Bundy Conceived While Ted Bundy Was on Death RowThough conjugal visits were not allowed at the Florida State Prison for men on death row, it’s known that inmates would bribe guards to allow them time alone with their female visitors. This theory serves as one plausible explanation for Boone’s pregnancy. Others speculate that Boone may have smuggled a condom into prison, with Bundy then depositing his genetic material into it, tying it shut and returning it to her through a kiss.Whatever the true explanation may be, the facts are that Ted Bundy, one of history’s most notorious serial killers, got married and presumably fathered a child while incarcerated!The next several years saw Boone regularly visiting Bundy in prison, occasionally with their baby Rose and her son James in tow.Boone had long championed Bundy’s innocence over the years, and when Bundy began to confess to his horrifying list of murders (partly in an attempt to have his execution delayed), she reportedly felt “deeply betrayed.” Carole Ann Boone Cut All Ties With Ted Bundy After He Pleaded GuiltyA toy bunny is hung in effigy by Jerry Jackson of Atlanta, Georgia, wearing a Ronald Reagan mask, and the pro-death penalty crowd rejoices after the Ted Bundy execution, January 25, 1989 at sunrise in Starke, Flordia Photo: AP Photo/Mark FoleyAdmitting to all that he was guilty of the heinous crimes, Bundy and Boone’s unexpected relationship began to sour after a few years. "[Carole Ann Boone] absolutely believed he was innocent," Wood told Women's Health. At the time, she explains, "There were so many people who thought he was innocent and being railroaded. There wasn't really good evidence against him in any of the cases. So Carole Boone was surrounded by people who fed her idea that he was innocent, and you know, when you're in love, you want to be fed that."- Trish Wood, Journalist/ Director of Ted Bundy: Falling For A KillerWhen Bundy was offered a "bones for time" deal (meaning, if he told police were the bodies of his victims were, they'd delay the death penalty), Carole Ann Boone realized she'd put her faith in the wrong person. That was the turning point for Carole Ann, who realized Bundy would only be able to comply with the "deal", if he committed the crimes.Boone ended up divorcing him in 1986 and heading back to Washington with Rose and James.There was a rumour as reported by TIME magazine, that Bundy had begun a relationship with his lawyer Diana Weiner, which was potentially the proverbial straw that broke their relationships back.Ted Bundy was executed in the Raiford electric chair ( also known as "Old Sparky") on January 24, 1989. It was reported that Boone refused to accept a phone call that Bundy made to her on that very morning prior to his execution.RELATED: Are True Crime Podcasts ‘Unhealthy’ or Can They Solve Real Problems?It was after Bundy’s execution that Rose Bundy's family essentially went off the grid. It’s believed that Boone changed both her and her daughter’s names to move on from the Bundy saga and forward with their lives. To that end, there was virtually no concrete or up-to-date information available on Carole Ann Boone and Rose Bundy from that point onward. Not that it prevented the rumor mill from grinding out possibilities.Boone’s whereabouts and identity remained unknown until January 2018, when she reportedly died from septic shock in a Washington State retirement home at the age of 70. Apparently, nobody at the home knew anything about her past, family or the brief time she spent as the wife of Ted Bundy.Now 40 Years Old, Rose Bundy's Whereabout Are Not KnownEven less is known about Boone and Bundy’s daughter, Rose Bundy (also known as Rosa, reportedly), who would be a 40-year-old today. Theories abound, of course, but her story has essentially remained a mystery. Which doesn’t sound unrealistic considering her history and what could be her strong wish to keep the past in the past. And perhaps that’s where it should remain, even as publishers and studios unleash an avalanche of books and films on Bundy’s life and awful deeds, most recently the 2019 Netflix production Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile starring Zac Ephron as Bundy.RELATED: After the Capture: Where Is Kidnapping Victim Elizabeth Smart 19 Years After Being Rescued?The noted true crime writer and former police officer Ann Rule may have put it best and most succinctly in a 2008 reprint of her 1980 Ted Bundy account, The Stranger Beside Me.“I have heard that Ted’s daughter is a kind and intelligent young woman, but I have no idea where she and her mother may live,” Rule wrote in the bestselling book. “They have been through enough.”KEEP READING: How Jaycee Lee Dugard Reclaimed Her Life after an 18-Year Kidnapping
Devil in Ohio is Netflix's No. 1 TV series United States, surpassing such hits as Stranger Things Season 4 and The Sandman. The suspense thriller is adapted from showrunner Daria Polatin's 2017 young-adult novel of the same, which is billed as "inspired by true events." Polatin doubled down on that while promoting the Netflix series, yet remained cagey about the details. So, if Devil in Ohio is inspired by a true story, the question remains, which one.RELATED: Where Is JFK's Brain? A Mind-Boggling Mystery & Conspiracy Theory, ExplainedIn the surprisingly successful miniseries, as in Polatin's novel, a teenager named Mae escapes a satanic cult led by her father, and finds temporary safety in the home of hospital psychiatrist Suzanne Mathis (played by Emily Deschanel of Bones fame). Without giving away too much, Mae's arrival leads to anything but safety for Dr. Mathis, her family or the girl herself. There’s the pentagram carved into Mae’s back, her strange behavior toward Mathis daughter Jules, the drama at the harvest dance, and, of course, the cult members determined to bring Mae back.What Devil in Ohio's Author Said About Its True-Crime InfluenceMadeleine Arthur as Mae and Keenan Tracey as Noah in Devil in Ohio (Photo: Netflix)If you want to know what unfolds in Devil in Ohio, you can read the book, watch the Netflix adaptation, or both. If you’re more interested in the true-crime influence, you will need to dig for clues. That's because Polatin remains tight-lipped about which real events inspired her thriller.RELATED: The Waco Siege: 5 Deadly Facts You Never Knew"The bones of the story are true and happened," Polatin explained to The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch before the Netflix release, "and I wanted to take that as a jumping-off point. It’s inspired by true events, but it’s not a documentary. That’s just a different kind of storytelling. For this, I felt that the best outlet would be to free it up creatively and fictionalize the details and let it take on a life of its own. [The real story did] take place in Ohio."Although the Dispatch was unable to pry further details from Polatin, others have dug into the state's true-crime history to offer up some real events that may have influenced Devil in Ohio.Jeffrey Lundgren and the Kirtland Cult KillingsThe Avery family, murdered in 1989 by Jeffrey Lundgren and members of his cultKirtland, Ohio, east of Cleveland, has a dark past that, in the eyes of many, dates back to 1837. That's when Joseph Smith, the controversial founder of Mormonism, fled the town he once viewed as Zion to avoid arrest. He is believed to have left behind a curse that has seemingly played out over the decades in grisly murders, and in stories of ghosts and strange creatures known as melon heads.RELATED: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders CaseHowever, the grimmest tale emerged from Kirtland in 1989, with the murders of a family of five by self-proclaimed prophet Jeffrey Lundgren and his paramilitary religious cult. The victims -- Dennis and Cheryl Avery and their three daughters -- were, like Lundgren, members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who had become disillusioned by the denomination's embrace of liberal social policies.Lundgren convinced his small group of followers that the only way to speed entry into Zion was for him to seize control of the Kirtland church through force. However, that would first require the culling of unwanted members of their cult.By most accounts, the Averys were devoted to Lundgren, referred to as "Dad" by members of the group. They even signed over tens of thousands of dollars to help pay the cult's expenses. But, as The New-Herald recounts, Lundgren began to suspect the Averys, and in particular Dennis, posed a threat to his leadership. They had kept some of their finances separate from the group's, which he considered sinful. Therefore, the Averys had to be killed in what Lundgren referred to as "pruning the vineyard."RELATED: How 17-Year-Old Lisa McVey Saved Her Own Life by Outsmarting the Serial Killer Who Abducted HerOn April 17, 1989, Lundgren invited the Averys to the farmhouse he lived with other cult members. The pretense was a party to celebrate an impending wilderness trip tinged with religious meaning. However, the Averys walked into a trap. Within hours, the five family members -- including 15-year-old Trina, 13-year-old Rebecca and 7-year-old Karen -- was dead. Their bodied were dumped into a pit Lundgren ordered dug inside the barn seven days earlier. It remains the largest mass murder in Lake County, Ohio, history.Lundgren and 12 of his followers were indicted in 1990 in the executions of the Avery family. Charges ranged from kidnapping and aggravated murder to conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Lundgren was convicted in August 1990 of five counts of aggravated murder. He was executed on Oct. 26, 2006.The All Saved Freak Band and the Fortney Road CultMembers of the All Saved Freak Band, part of Larry Hill's Church of the Risen Christ (Photo: Jeff Stevenson)The Christian cult on Fortney Road in Windsor, Ohio, might not have seemed like the worst of the worst, at least from the outside. Indeed, its leader, Rev. Larry Hill -- a fire-and-brimstone preacher and self-proclaimed prophet -- was never suspected of murder. But he did ruin the lives of many followers. And, through his actions, people did die. RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped “Toy Box Killer” David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesHill claimed in 1965 to have been struck by a vision of a war that would bring the end of days. That led him to gather followers around him in what he called the Church of the Risen Christ. Many of Hill’s adherents were musicians – some even classically trained and accomplished. Music, thus, informed much of the practices of the cult, which had its own band: the All Saved Freak Band. On the Fortney Road farm, followers were subjected to little sleep, and intense exercise and training in preparation for the coming war. Hill whipped and struck anyone who disobeyed, and was accused of sexually abusing children. Three cult members, including Hill's eldest son, died in a car accident attributed to sleep deprivation.The cult endured until the early 1970s, when many members were finally shocked to their senses by Hill’s whipping of an 8-year-old girl. As members left, the FBI closed in. Hill fled, and hid out for years, only returning to Ohio after the statute of limitations had expired. As of 2015, Hill reportedly still lived on the Fortney Road farm.Xenos Christian FellowshipAnother Ohio religious group that may have informed Devil in Ohio, the Xenos Christian Fellowship, still exists. However, it changed its name in 2020 to Dwell Community Church.RELATED: How a 24-Year-Old Victim Became the Hero Who Stopped the Real "Dirty John" MeehanBased in Columbus, Ohio, the church recruited young members -- even minors -- and then reportedly employed shame, intimidation and blackmail to ensure their complete devotion.Young members were forced to live in close quarters, with sometimes as many as a dozen sharing a single room. Church leaders compelled them to share secrets and sexual details. Former members alleged the renamed Xenos continues to recruit minors.KEEP READING: How Jaycee Dugard Reclaimed Her Life After an 18-Year Kidnapping
The standoff in Waco, Texas, between late Feb. 28 and April 19, 1993, goes by two names, for good reason: the Waco Siege and the Waco Massacre. Depending upon your point of view, both are accurate. It's a matter of whether you sympathize with law enforcement and military personnel or with the fundamentalist religious sect known as the Branch Davidians.What occurred at the Mount Carmel Center ranch are well known, at least in broad terms. Indeed, a 2018 TV miniseries dramatized the siege in perhaps as close of a retelling as anyone could hope for.RELATED: How a 24-Year-Old Victim Became the Hero Who Stopped the Real "Dirty John" MeehanThat swath of facts include that the Branch Davidians were a radical offshoot of the Christian Seventh Day Adventist church. The sect was led by David Koresh, who was born in 1959 as Vernon Wayne Howell. Koresh allegedly engaged in, and fostered, sexual abuse of children, and brainwashed his followers. In the end, he was accused of preventing Davidians from fleeing the compound, even when remaining meant certain death.That came for 76 Branch Davidians at the end of the 51-day standoff, when the compound was engulfed in flames. Critics blamed the fire on FBI agents, who shot tear-gas canisters into the compound, but two Department of Justice reports concluded Branch Davidians started the blaze, in at least three locations.Koresh and his followers began the standoff. They fired upon ATF agents serving a search warrant, under the belief the Davidians were illegally stockpiling weapons. (Indeed, they were.) Four federal agents and six Branch Davidians died in the initial gunfight, on Feb. 28, 1993.There were no winners in the Waco Siege, only people who died, and others scarred by the catastrophe. Here are five lesser-known details about the deadly standoff to help illustrate what a calamity it was.1. We Still Don’t Know Who Shot First in the Waco SiegeATF agents help a wounded colleague during the Waco Siege (Photo: ATF)A gunfight broke out on Feb. 28, 1993, at the compound, 13 miles northeast of Waco, Texas, when ATF agents attempted to serve a warrant to search for illegal weapons. It's unlikely that federal agents with a legal warrant would begin firing at civilians. RELATED: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders Case However, a Davidian called 911 shortly after the gunfire began, claimed members were being shot at, but hadn't returned fire.2. The Final Assault Was Clouded by False InformationThe Mount Carmel Center compound, engulfed in flames (Photo: ATF)Frontline reported Attorney General Janet Reno was initially hesitant to allow federal agents to use overly aggressive tactics. That was largely because Reno was concerned Davidians would use children as human shields. It was claimed early on that Reno changed her mind after the FBI said David Koresh was physically and sexually abusing children during the standoff. RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped “Toy Box Killer” David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesHowever, the 1993 Department of Justice report determined there was no direct evidence that Koresh abused children during the siege. The DOJ noted "historical evidence" of Koresh's sexual and physical abuse children. However, the Branch Davidian leader had been shot during the Feb. 28 standoff, and "probably lacked the physical ability to continue his abuse." That said, the government was worried about the compound's deteriorating sanitary conditions, which posed a serious health risk to children. There was also concern that the Davidians might commit mass suicide, particularly if something happened to Koresh. However, the FBI received conflicting, yet credible, information on that matter.The same report clarified the FBI didn't exaggerate sexual-abuse claims in an effort to "sell" Reno on using tear gas. An FBI representative reportedly made a single misstatement about continued abuse. However, that "did not materially influence the Attorney General's decision."3. Three Fires Erupted on April 19Branch Davidian compound in the wake of the Waco Siege (Photo: FBI)Independent investigators determined that at least three fires broke out around the same time on April 19. Skeptics pointed to the timing as evidence that the fires were started by FBI tear gas canisters. However, the fires were found to be set inside the compound, according to both the 1993 DOJ report and a 2000 special counsel investigation. That is, that they were started by the Branch Davidians themselves. RELATED: Can You Get Away with Murder in Yellowstone’s Zone of Death?"It is not clear whether the decision to set the fire was a unanimous decision of the entire group," the 1993 report stated, "or whether some people were held hostage or were shot to prevent their escape from the fire. A number of children were shot to death."4. Most Branch Davidians Didn't Die From GunfireGuns seized by ATF agents from the Branch Davidian compound (Photo: ATF)Despite a weeks-long siege, climaxing with the final dramatic assault, the leading cause of death of people inside the Mount Carmel Center compound was smoke inhalation. According to Frontline, the fires that ravaged the building did not fully cool for more than a week, after which a full examination could be conducted. That's when government investigators found some 75 bodies inside, about two-thirds of whom died as a result of smoke. RELATED: The Psychology Behind True Crime AddictionHowever, David Koresh, his deputy Steve Schneider and several other Branch Davidians died from gunshot wounds. However, the the government acknowledged the circumstances of those deaths were unclear: "It's not known whether these individuals committed suicide or were shot by others."That said, former Davidian Dana Okimoto told federal investigators in May 1993 that "Koresh's biggest fear was that someone would take his wives away." Rather than allowing her to be taken, the sect leader thought she should kill herself. If she couldn't do that, Okimoto said, one of Koresh's "mighty men" -- his inner circle, who enforced discipline -- should do it.Therefore, the shootings could have been carrying out that plan. Or else, the government speculated, some of the Davidians might have been shot to prevent their escape from the compound. Ultimately, the report concluded, "We may never know what really happened."5. The Waco Siege Inspired the Oklahoma City BombingTimothy McVeigh mugshotOn April 19, 1995, two years after the end of the Waco Siege, a truck blew up at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. It remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history. The perpetrators, anti-government extremist Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice, Terry Nichols, were inspired, in part, the 1993 Waco Siege. McVeigh spent days observing the standoff at the Branch Davidian compound from a point about three miles away from Mount Carmel. There's even video footage of McVeigh, then a 24-year-old Army veteran, at the closest spot to the compound where the public could gather, and "just barely" witness the events of the siege. While there, McVeigh sold bumper stickers with pro-gun and anti-government slogans.KEEP READING: Where Is Kidnapping Victim Elizabeth Smart, 19 Years After Being Rescued?
Debra Newell met John Meehan in fall 2014, and something just clicked. He was different from the other men the interior designer from Southern California had dated since her fourth divorce. Handsome, charming and successful, "Dirty John" -- a nickname he picked up in college -- was an anesthesiologist who spent time in Iraq with Doctors Without Borders. Or so he claimed. RELATED: How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders CaseJohn knew exactly what to say to sweep Debra off her feet. She was ready to take a chance on him, and on real love. But John Meehan wasn’t who claimed to be. He had been released from prison in October 2014, only two days before he met Debra, after serving time for violating a restraining order. The two soon moved in together -- and that’s when the true Dirty John began to emerge. He became increasingly violent, and isolated Debra from her daughters, Jacquelyn and Terra, who were suspicious of John from the start. When the Newell women dug into his past, they uncovered a web of lies and crimes. And, before long, John's violence turned from Debra to Terra, who barely escaped with her life. The story of John Meehan became famous, first in the 2017 Los Angeles Times podcast "Dirty John," and then in Bravo's true-crime series of the same name, starring Eric Bana and Connie Britton. However, what the real Dirty John forced the Newell family to endure is worse than anything seen on television.Terra Newell ended Dirty John's reign of terror, but she lives with the memory of what happened to her. However, she also possesses the knowledge that she had the strength to defend herself, and to survive.Dirty John Meehan Had a Dark and Dangerous PastJohn Meehan and Debra Newell (Photo courtesy of Debra Newell)John Meehan's history of lying dated back at least to his 1990 marriage to first wife, Tonia Sells, in Ohio. A nurse anesthetist who had claimed to be 26 years old to Tonia's 25 (he was really 31), John helped to put Tonia through nursing school. They had two daughters. But after 10 years of marriage, John asked for a divorce. RELATED: How Cynthia Vigil Escaped "Toy Box Killer" David Parker Ray and Ended His Horrific CrimesAlthough John had told her never to contact his parents, a distraught Tonia called John's mother, Delores. She revealed his full name, and true age, and told Tonia that John had a drug charge in California. Tonia searched their house, and found a stash of anesthetic drugs. She then called police, who in fall 2020 opened an investigation into John Meehan's activities.Two years later, John brought a gun into the operating room, and attempted to steal the Demerol he was supposed to give to a patient. Meehan was stripped of his nursing license in April 2002, after police found a loaded gun and a cache of empty containers for six prescription medications. An investigator for the Warren County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office told the Los Angeles Times that Dirty John was “the most devious, dangerous, deceptive person I ever met.” John pleaded guilty to felony drug theft in June 2002, and then went on the run. Police apprehended him apprehended in a Michigan hotel room, where they found unconscious and surrounded by drug vials. As John was being transported by ambulance to the hospital, he escaped his restraints, grabbed the drug kit, and jumped out of the vehicle, only to be recaptured. He was sentenced to up to six years in prison, but only served 17 months. By 2004, Dirty John Meehan was free again.He was relatively quiet, and off the radar, for a decade. Then he moved to Southern California, where he stalked and terrorized other women in the months before he met Debra Newell, on a dating site for people over 50.Debra Was Looking for Love and Ended Up Fighting for Her LifeDebra Newell (Screencap: Watch What Happens Live)John Meehan met Debra Newell met for dinner in October 2014, at a restaurant in Irvine, California. Debra was a successful interior decorator who had been unlucky in love. She saw something in the handsome and charming doctor. “He was the total package," Debra recalled, more than three years later, on Megyn Kelly Today. "A doctor. Very intelligent. A family man.”But John saw something in Debra, too: She needed to be loved, and to be needed. He also saw someone he could easily manipulate. And that’s exactly what he did. RELATED: How 17-Year-Old Lisa McVey Saved Her Own Life by Outsmarting the Serial Killer Who Abducted HerTheir relationship moved fast. Within a month, they were living together in a luxurious, waterfront house on Balboa Island, in Newport Beach. Debra’s daughters met John, and didn’t like him. Something about him raised red flags that their mother had missed. They pleaded with her to slow down, and to dig into his past. On the day before Thanksgiving 2014, Terra found out her mother and John were living together. She confronted Debra, sending John flying into a rage. That's when he plotted to isolate Debra from her daughters, placing her on a path of violence and trauma. Debra and John married the following month in Las Vegas. Her daughters weren't invited. Afterward, John became only more controlling. He monitored every dollar Debra spent, questioned her whereabouts, and continued to keep her away from Terra and Jacquelyn.Debra Newell Discovered the Truth About Dirty JohnDebra NewellDebra’s nephew told her in 2015 that John had spent time in prison, and was lying about being a doctor. She began to look through her husband’s paperwork, and found the restraining orders other women had taken out against him. He had been posing as a doctor and seducing women since 2005. He stalked, terrorized and stole. Debra even found websites on which women warned about Dirty John. RELATED: Are True-Crime Podcasts "Unhealthy" or Can They Solve Real Problems?She moved out when John wasn’t home, but then took him back several months later. John's charm, and his lies, had seduced Debra again.In March 2016, Debra sneaked out of the house to visit her daughter, Jacquelyn. John was furious, and threatened to kill Jacquelyn if Debra tried to see her again. That was the final straw for Debra, who filed to annul their marriage. However, that only further enraged John. In June 2016, he stole Debra’s Jaguar from her office parking space. Police recovered the car, soaked in gas and damaged by fire.Was Terra Newell Charged for Killing John Meehan?Photo courtesy of Terra NewellOn Aug. 20, 2016, Debra's daughter, Jacquelyn, spotted John lurking around her apartment building. She called to warn her sister, Terra. That night, Terra returned home from work, and parked in her building’s lot. As she got out of her car, John attacked her from behind with a knife. Terra fought back, biting and kicking him in an effort to knock the blade out of his hand.Terra Newell fatally wounded Dirty John Meehan during their struggle. She wasn't charged with a crime, however, because she was fighting back in self-defense.How Many Times Did Terra Stab John?Photo courtesy of Terra NewellTerra Newell got her hands on the knife as she fought on the ground with John Meehan. She then used it to stab him 13 times, including once through his eye.RELATED: Where Is Kidnapping Victim Elizabeth Smart, 19 Years After Being Rescued?She instinctively knew that, if he were able to stand back up, John would kill her. A neighbor who witnessed the struggled called police, and then rushed with a towel to wrap Terra's wounded hand. Paramedics were able to revive him, so there was no need to ask who killed John Meehan, yet.He died four days later, on Aug. 24, 2016.What Happened to Terra Newell After John Meehan Died?Terra Newell and Debra Newell, on Megyn Kelly Today (Photo: NBC)Terra Newell revealed to People magazine in 2019 that she had suffered from PTSD since the night John Meehan attacked her. “I tried to go back into a normal life, but couldn't," she said. "I started to go to therapy, which didn't help until I found a great EMDR therapist in Austin, Texas, and took the time to heal."Since that night in August 2016, Terra has focused on healing, and on finding ways to address her PTSD. She has dedicated herself to mastering self-defense, and helping people detect red flags in relationships. She also launched a podcast, Time Out With Terra.“Even though I am still struggling with PTSD, I have healed so much," she said. "People need to know that bad things can happen, and you should never let those things hold you back or get you down. The most important thing I have learned is to keep going and stay positive!”KEEP READING: How Jaycee Dugard Reclaimed Her Life After an 18-Year Kidnapping
