Rod McCall Shares His Story on Cases & Cocktails - Ep 3

The third episode of "Cases & Cocktails" features the heartfelt and harrowing story of Rod McCall, a parent who endured the devastating effects of parental alienation. Hosted by Bryan and Janice Eggleston, along with Sandra Aguilar, this episode dives deep into Rod’s journey through a high-conflict divorce, emotional abuse, and the tragic loss of his son, Eric.

Rod McCall’s Background

Rod is the author of For the Love of Eric, a book detailing his personal experiences of surviving a contentious divorce, navigating parental alienation, and ultimately coping with the unimaginable loss of his son to parental filicide. His story offers a unique and powerful perspective on the emotional and legal challenges of family court cases.

Understanding Parental Alienation

Rod explains the three levels of parental alienation, as identified by Dr. Richard Warshak:

1. Level One: Minor alienating behaviors that even happy couples might display, often unintentionally.
2. Level Two: More deliberate alienation that tends to occur in the early stages of divorce, fueled by anger and conflict.
3. Level Three: Severe and systematic alienation, often driven by personality disorders such as narcissistic or borderline personality disorder, which played a significant role in Rod’s case.

The Devastating Reality of Parental Filicide

Rod’s story highlights the darkest outcomes of parental alienation. He recounts the tragic loss of his son, Eric, at the hands of Eric’s mother, who committed parental filicide—a grim yet preventable act that stems from extreme alienation and fear of losing custody. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for the legal system to recognize emotional abuse and parental alienation as serious threats to children’s well-being.

Raising Awareness and Advocating for Change

Rod’s resilience has fueled his mission to raise awareness about parental alienation and emotional abuse. Through his book, his podcast Home Sweet Home, and speaking engagements, Rod educates families and legal professionals about the profound impact of alienation. He emphasizes the importance of judicial awareness and encourages family court judges to better understand the long-term consequences of emotional neglect and psychological maltreatment.

Lessons for Families and Legal Professionals

Rod’s journey offers valuable takeaways for families and legal practitioners:

• Recognize Emotional Abuse: Emotional and psychological abuse, though less visible than physical abuse, is equally damaging and should be addressed with urgency.
• Support Networks Matter: Rod credits his support group with helping him navigate the challenges of divorce and alienation.
• Education is Key: Judges, attorneys, and therapists must educate themselves about personality disorders and their influence on high-conflict custody cases.

Tune In for More

Rod McCall’s story is a poignant reminder of the stakes involved in family court litigation. His advocacy work continues to shed light on the importance of protecting children and families from the harmful effects of parental alienation.

Join us next week on "Cases & Cocktails" for more compelling discussions on Texas family law, one case—and cocktail—at a time. Cheers to resilience and awareness!