Best Valerie Kacian Podcasts (2024)

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Ep 34: Smuttynose Murders Part 2 / Antisocial Personality Disorder 49:46

7M ago49:46

49:46

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: https://www.seacoastnh.com/why-louis-wagner-was-smuttynose-slayer/?showall=1#:~:text=Maren%20Hontvet%20went%20berserk%3…

1
Ep 33: The Smuttynose Murders Part One 37:31

7M ago37:31

37:31

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 were brutally murdered one evening. The facts of the case of dismal and shocking. Part One covers a brief …

1
Motherhood is Murder Returns December 5 1:10

8M ago1:10

1:10

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 us then and now. See you all then! Support for Motherhood is Murder is so greatly appreciated! Website: htt…

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Ep 32: Halloween Special 45:47

9M ago45:47

45:47

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 what you wish (or ask) for. Have a happy & safe Halloween season! Stories: Headless Skeleton of Swampton (…

1
Ep 31: Spooky, Scary Hauntings with Shirley Jackson / Bonus Missing Persons Case 41:13

9M ago41:13

41:13

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 that happened in the small college town in VT where Shirley lived and wrote. SOURCES: https://en.wikipedia.o…

1
Ep 30: The "King" of Horror 31:03

9M ago31:03

31:03

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. Born in Maine, Stephen King has created worlds that have entertained and truly frightening millions. This week we ex…

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Ep 29: The Genius of H. P. Lovecraft 33:42

9M ago33:42

33:42

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 influence. This week we dive deep into the cosmic world of H. P. Lovecraft. A native of Providence, RI who strug…

1
Ep 28: Crimes at UMass Amherst / Keeping Students Safe on Campus 41:48

10M ago41:48

41:48

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 episode as there is some great content ahead! We will also discuss the UMass campus response to these crimes,…

1
Ep 27: Harvard University Murder / Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Care 28:50

10M ago28:50

28:50

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… you may have to turn up the volume. This week we discuss the murder of Trang Phuong Ho who was murdered by …

1
Ep 26: Wayne Lo School Shooting / Narcissistic Personality Disorder 38:54

10M ago38:54

38:54

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 Great Barrington, MA in 1992. Wayne Lo was a gifted violin prodigy that went on to murder 2 people and injure 4 others…

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Ep 25: Family Killers: Peeling Back the Onion 40:44

11M ago40:44

40:44

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 and the adolescent family killer. We will look at our cases to see what fits and what does not. We will also discuss wa…

1
Ep 24: Lizzie Borden & the Court of Public Opinion 49:30

11M ago49:30

49:30

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 youngest daughter Lizzie. Was Lizzie capable of committing the crime? And if not, who was? Join me for a journey bac…

1
Ep 23: The Curious Case of John William McGrath / Do We Really Know Anyone? 35:57

11M ago35:57

35:57

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 back to 1962 and ask the question, "Do we every really truly know anyone?" SOURCES: https://www.murdersheto…

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Ep 22: The Cheshire Family Murders / Criminal Legislation Changes in CT 50:32

11M ago50:32

50:32

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 that made headlines and in some cases changes to the criminal justice system. This week we will discuss the C…

1
Ep 21: Runaways or Death Hoaxes 38:48

12M ago38:48

38:48

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 death, death hoaxes, and whether or not Joan and Maura exhibited signs of either adults who simply left i…

1
Ep 20: Disappearance of Maura Murray Part Two 35:35

12M ago35:35

35:35

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, current events in the case, and theories of what happened to her and why she went missing. Grab a cup of coffee…

1
Ep 19: The Disappearance of Maura Murray Part One 38:39

12M ago38:39

38:39

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 this day. For all intents and purposes it appears as if Maura just disappeared into thin air. In Part One w…

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Ep 18: The Case of Joan Risch / See Something Say Something 46:32

1y ago46:32

46:32

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 mysteriously missing one afternoon leaving a trail of blood in her kitchen. With very little answers and lots of …

1
Ep 17 Psychology of Captivity 23:01

1y ago23:01

23:01

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 crimes, and wrongful conviction, it is important to distinguish that there are many types of captivity state…

1
Ep 16 The Wrongful Conviction of Victor Rosario 26:13

1y ago26:13

26:13

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? SOURCES: https://innocenceproject.org/states/massachusetts/ https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/wrongfully-convicted-ma…

1
Ep 15 The Horrific Case of Hannah Duston 33:00

1y ago33:00

33:00

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: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Duston https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gruesome-story-hannah-duston-american-…

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Ep 14 The Kidnapping and Captivity of Abby Hernandez 29:00

1y ago29:00

29:00

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 captivity would last a harrowing 9 months and it is with a little luck and a ton of smarts that Abby retur…

1
Ep 13: Debunking the Out of Character Myth 30:28

1y ago30:28

30:28

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 meant by being "out of character". We'll look at a case study and a couple of books that have explored the t…

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Ep 12 The Murders of "Jolly" Jane Toppan Part Two / The Insanity Defense 27:27

1y ago27:27

27:27

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 late 1800's. This is an interesting deep dive so I hope you will check it out. If you are interested in le…

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Ep 11 The Murders of "Jolly" Jane Toppan Part One 31:06

1y ago31:06

31:06

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 as 100. Deemed America's first female serial killer, Jane had an illustrious life of crime. In this first p…

1
Ep 10 The Case of Dr. Richard Field and Dr. Lina Bolanos / Is Murder Foreseeable? 27:36

1y ago27:36

27:36

This week we discuss the murders of Dr. Richard Field and Dr. Lina Bolanos, both anesthesiologists in Boston. The engaged couple lived in what was considered a safe penthouse apartment in South Boston when a former employee gained access and murdered them in their own home. We will discuss the aspects of the case, the trial (you know I love a good …

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EP 9: The Case of Kathleen McLean / We Came, We Went, We Came Back Again 30:02

1y ago30:02

30:02

In this episode we discuss the Case of Kathleen McLean, a Reiki practitioner who went missing and was later found dead in a body of water by police. Her husband a prominent surgeon in Boston was the first to be suspected. Listen to hear more about their history, their murder, and how law enforcement responds to domestic violence cases. SOURCES: htt…

1
Ep 8: Kidnapping Got a Fresh Coat of Paint 30:04

1y ago30:04

30:04

Hello! In episode 8, we will explore the concept of kidnapping. What is it? What does the law have to say about it? Who is at risk? Profiling the offender, media influence, and so much more! Interested in a deeper dive? Check out the show sources below. SOURCES: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter265/Section26 https://w…

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Ep 7 The Unsolved Case of Karina Holmer / The Unspoken Rule 36:24

1y ago36:24

36:24

In this episode, we'll discuss the chilling unsolved case of Karina Holmer. Karina was a Swedish au pair looking for new experiences and to meet people in America. On the Summer Solstice, June 1996, she went missing and was later found murdered with only her upper torso ever being discovered. Details in the case are chilling and suspects are numero…

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Ep 6 The Unsolved Case of Molly Bish / Genetic Genealogy 26:55

1+ y ago26:55

26:55

Welcome to Episode 6! In this episode we will explore the unresolved case of Molly Bish. Molly was only 16 years old when she went missing from her job as a lifeguard. Her body was discovered by a hunter 3 years later. The search for her killer has spanned the past 23 years with recent develops in familial DNA. Listen to hear about the case, latest…

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Ep 5 The Unsolved Case of Holly Piirainen / Don't Trust Anyone 29:28

1+ y ago29:28

29:28

In this episode of Motherhood is Murder, we will discuss the unsolved case of Holly Piirainen. Holly was only 10 years old when she went missing while visiting her grandmother, her body found 47 days later in a wooded area nearby. In addition to the case, we will discuss how Stranger Danger affected a generation (possibly multiple generations) and …

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Ep 4 Characteristics of Teen Male Killers 34:04

1+ y ago34:04

34:04

Welcome to Episode 4 of Motherhood is Murder. This week we will discuss the characteristics of teen male killers. How does the findings of a study on male perpetrators of violence provide further insight into the cases we have explored thus far? And what can we learn from this and other studies asking similar questions that we all ask after learnin…

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Ep 3 The Case of James Alenson / The Role of Schools in Mental Health Awareness 21:43

1+ y ago21:43

21:43

Welcome to episode 3. This week we discuss the mysterious Case of James Alenson. James, a 15 year old high school student was murdered in a school bathroom by another high school student. What makes this case so mysterious is that the two students did not know each other, and the motive is unclear. Listen to learn more! SOURCES: https://www.metrowe…

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Ep 2 The Case of Colleen Ritzer / Keeping Students & Teachers Safe 36:35

1+ y ago36:35

36:35

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Motherhood is Murder Podcast. This week we discuss the Case of Colleen Ritzer, a high school math teacher who was raped and murdered in a bathroom in the school where she worked. This case discusses sexual assault and graphic violence. Please be advised. In the second part of the episode, we discuss ways schools can help…

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Ep1 The Case of Lauren Astley/Break Up Violence 28:07

1+ y ago28:07

28:07

Welcome to the 1st episode of Motherhood is Murder. We kick the podcast off with a discussion about the life and death of Lauren Astley, her relationship with Nate Fujita, and the topic of break up violence. We also discuss ways you can get involved with your community to spread education and awareness. Sources: Dateline/NBC 48 hours "Loved to Deat…

1
Motherhood is Murder Trailer 3:26

1+ y ago3:26

3:26

Welcome to Motherhood is Murder, a new true crime podcast launching Tuesday, March 7. Each week we will explore details of a well-researched case, then discuss what we can all do to make our communities safer. On March 7 we will begin a month-long series on Teen Boys Who Kill exploring three cases in Massachusetts that shocked communities, and also…

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