Motherhood is Murder
Welcome to Motherhood is Murder, a podcast where we explore criminal cases and the lessons we can learn from them. I am your host, Valerie Kacian. I am a mom of three who has been on the quest to understand the criminal mind for longer than I can remember. I have noticed that behind each crime there is not only a story that can be told, but something to be learned. This podcast is designed to provide you with both. Each Tuesday, we will discuss a case, as well as steps that can be taken to build awareness surrounding the issues presented in the case.
Episodes
36 episodes
Ep 34: Smuttynose Murders Part 2 / Antisocial Personality Disorder
Welcome to episode 34. We dive into the aftermath of the Smuttynose murders, the trial of Louis Wagner, theories, modern interpretations, and a discussion on antisocial personality disorder. There is lots to explore here!SOURCES:
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Episode 34
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49:46
Ep 33: The Smuttynose Murders Part One
We are back! I am excited to bring you a historical two-parter for the month of December. We take it back to 1873 on a cold evening in March on an island far away from everyone else off the coast of Portsmouth, NH. Here a family of a fisherman ...
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Episode 33
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37:31
Motherhood is Murder Returns December 5
Hi All! After a bit of a hiatus, we are returning on Tuesday, December 5. I am excited to offer you a 2-part episode exploring The Smuttynose Murders. What happened, why are we still fascinated by this case today, and what does that say about u...
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1:10
Ep 32: Halloween Special
Welcome to Motherhood is Murder 1st Annual Halloween Special. This week we will break format (once again!) to explore three lesser-known stories of New England lore. I will also share a scary story from my childhood that is a lesson in be care ...
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Episode 32
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45:47
Ep 31: Spooky, Scary Hauntings with Shirley Jackson / Bonus Missing Persons Case
Hi All! This time around I am trying out a new format with an unscripted episode. Our featured author is the every spooky Shirley Jackson whose works have scared the pants off of readers in the 1940's. We'll also cover a missing persons case th...
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Episode 31
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41:13
Ep 30: The "King" of Horror
This week we continue our exploration of Spooky Authors for October. This prolific author has created an array of horror pieces all of which have hit the publication charts and many of which have been adapted for movies and TV shows. <...
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Episode 30
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31:03
Ep 29: The Genius of H. P. Lovecraft
It is officially Spooky Season! October will have a slightly different format to usher in the spookiest month of the year. We will explore horror and spooky authors in New England throughout the month studying their background, works and influe...
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Episode 29
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33:42
Ep 28: Crimes at UMass Amherst / Keeping Students Safe on Campus
After a short hiatus, I am back! This week we will discuss crimes on campus at UMass Amherst from the 1990's when I attended to today. Please note that these crimes depict cases of sexual assault. If this would be upsetting please skip this epi...
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Episode 28
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41:48
Ep 27: Harvard University Murder / Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Care
Welcome to episode 27, the one with all the bugs and workarounds. Persistence has paid off and although this episode is a pretty much a rough cut with no music and just enough editing, it’s a good one. You will not be sorry you listened, but… y...
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Episode 27
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28:50
Ep 26: Wayne Lo School Shooting / Narcissistic Personality Disorder
New month, new topic! September we will discuss crimes on college campuses in New England. We will also discuss psychological attributes of the offenders. This week we discuss the Wayne Lo School Shooting at Simon's Rock College in...
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Episode 26
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38:54
Ep 25: Family Killers: Peeling Back the Onion
Welcome to Motherhood is Murder, a podcast about crimes in New England taking on the perspective of community involvement. In this episode, we will wrap up our month on Family Killers by discussing the profile of the family killer ...
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Episode 25
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40:44
Ep 24: Lizzie Borden & the Court of Public Opinion
This week I will cover one of New England's most notorious historical cases. The horrific axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden stunned the mill town of Fall River. Immediately investigators had their eye on one suspect, the Borden's youn...
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Episode 24
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49:30
Ep 23: The Curious Case of John William McGrath / Do We Really Know Anyone?
Welcome to episode 23. In this episode we discuss the curious case of John William McGrath, a brilliant and successful high school Senior who appeared to have it all before one winter night when his actions would change everything. Let's head b...
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Episode 23
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35:57
Ep 22: The Cheshire Family Murders / Criminal Legislation Changes in CT
As we are officially in the new month of August we start on a new monthly topic. This month we will discuss family annihilators. Whether the offender is a member of the family or an "outsider" we discuss three notorious cases in New England tha...
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Episode 22
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50:32
Ep 21: Runaways or Death Hoaxes
Do adults run away? And if they do, why? And what about death hoaxes? This week we wrap up the cases of Joan Risch and Maura Murray with a discussion on adults who run away and the psychology behind escape fantasy. We will also discuss faking a...
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Episode 21
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38:48
Ep 20: Disappearance of Maura Murray Part Two
When we left off, Maura Murray a nursing student at UMass Amherst had disappeared after a single car accident on snowy roads in New Hampshire in February. In Part 2, we will discuss the timeline of her search and developments in her case, curre...
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Episode 20
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35:35
Ep 19: The Disappearance of Maura Murray Part One
Maura Murray was a nursing student at UMass Amherst when she went missing following a car accident in Haverhill, NH. The reason why she was on that distant, winding road and where she went following the accident remain a compelling mystery to t...
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Episode 19
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38:39
Ep 18: The Case of Joan Risch / See Something Say Something
Welcome to episode 18 of Motherhood is Murder. For the month of July, we will discuss mysterious murders and missing persons in Massachusetts. This week we dive into the Case of Joan Risch.Joan Risch was an at-home mother of 2 who went ...
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Episode 18
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46:32
Ep 17 Psychology of Captivity
On this week's episode, we wrap up our month of discussing cases of captivity. We will discuss the psychological impact of captivity to both the victim, and the families. Although the cases covered in this podcast included abduction, POW/war cr...
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Episode 17
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23:01
Ep 16 The Wrongful Conviction of Victor Rosario
This week we will discuss the wrongful conviction of Victor Rosario, his exoneration, and why wrongful convictions occur. How can someone who was trying to help children out of a burning building be charged with arson and murder? S...
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Episode 16
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26:13
Ep 15 The Horrific Case of Hannah Duston
This is the story of a woman, a mother, who was taken captive, and who murdered her captors before returning to her family. It is also a story with a lot of questions, and one that has stirred a nation to this very day. SOURCES:
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Episode 15
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33:00
Ep 14 The Kidnapping and Captivity of Abby Hernandez
It is officially June, and we are diving into the topic of Captivity. This week I will cover the kidnapping and captivity of Abby Hernandez. Abby was just 14 when she was abudcted by her kidnapper Nate Kibby while walking home from school. Her ...
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Episode 14
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29:00
Ep 13: Debunking the Out of Character Myth
We have all seen the movie: "bad" guy vs. "good" guy. But is it really that simple? Do we really only have good guys and bad guys? And what happens when the "good" guy becomes the bad guy? This week we review our cases as we consider what is me...
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Episode 13
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30:28
Ep 12 The Murders of "Jolly" Jane Toppan Part Two / The Insanity Defense
This week we continue to discuss the murder of Jane Toppan, and the murders that ultimately brought her to trial. We will also discuss what constitutes "not guilty by reason of insanity" today and how this relates to Jane's actions back in the ...
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Episode 12
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27:27
Ep 11 The Murders of "Jolly" Jane Toppan Part One
This week we will discuss our first historical true crime story. I will cover the murders of "Jolly" Jane Toppan, a nurse in Massachusetts who experimented with her elderly patients, then went on to commit at least 31 murders, perhaps as many a...
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Episode 11
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31:06
