In the sixth gripping episode of our series, "Throwaways: A Mother's Shadow," we delve into the twisted psyche of Jerry Johns and the dark undercurrents of his murderous spree. Freudian theory posits that the mother-son relationship is complex and often pivotal in psychological development. However, Jerry Johns' story turns this concept on its head with a haunting perversion of familial bonds.
The episode peels back the layers of Johns' enigmatic hatred for his mother, revealing a relationship fraught with resentment rather than the expected adoration or desire. Johns' animosity was discreet yet persistent, cloaked beneath the facade of a standard spree killer's indiscriminate rage. Yet, the specifics of his mother's life—a redheaded prostitute—casts a long, inescapable shadow over his violent trajectory.
Listeners will be taken on a journey through Johns' tumultuous past, exploring how the contours of his mother's life and profession might have shaped his outlook on women who shared her vocation and appearance. With a chilling clarity, we examine how Johns' contempt may have been a driving force behind the terrifying fate of his victims, painting a portrait of a man whose deep-seated issues manifested in the most violent way.
"Throwaways: A Mother's Shadow" isn't just an examination of a killer's mind but a reflection on how the echo of one relationship can reverberate through many lives with catastrophic consequences. We confront the uncomfortable question of how much influence a troubled family life has on the genesis of a serial killer.
Join us as we venture into this macabre exploration of motive, murder, and the stark reality of familial dysfunction. This episode promises to offer not only insight into the case at hand but also a poignant discussion on the nature of psychological trauma and its potential to unleash monstrosity.
Find us online.
Support the show by joining our Black Label to support the show and unlock exclusive benefits. You can join on Patreon and Apple Podcast Premium. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Join Shane's Facebook Group. Hosted by Shane Waters. Listen to his other crime podcast Mystery Inc, or his history podcast Hometown History!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.