I just found this looking through some of your older videos. My father's family comes from Union, SC and my Aunt actually taught Susan in her history class. She knew Susan's mother and, of course, the Finleys. This case was a huge thing in Union at the time! It was/is a relatively small Southern town and everybody knows somebody that knows someone that knows...well, you get the idea. Susan was a very troubled girl. Her father's suicide always troubled her because she felt in some way she was responsible for her parent's divorce. Her step father did sexually abuse/manipulate her but, like many small towns, he was friends with some higher ups in the police department and was able to avoid accountability for his actions. This enraged Susan and the fact her own mother believed the husband over her own daughter was awful. Susan thought she could escape through marriage but David had no tolerance or patience for his emotionally damaged wife even though I do think he loved her. Tom Finley was the Town's most eligible bachelor. His family had money, prestige and he was a fairly attractive man. He did indeed think very highly of himself! What people never really talk about is that on the day of the murders Susan was having suicidal thoughts. She called David and begged him to please take the boys because she did not want to harm herself or them. She called her mother to please come help her but her mother was just too busy to deal with Susan's "moods". So I think she was very aware that she was in some emotional unstable or volatile state. Her last phone call was to Tom Finley begging him to reconsider and resume the relationship but he was very curt and dismissive. I know the exact pier where she was. It is a fairly long pier and she had quite a few seconds to stop the car and save those boys. I will never defend what she did and if you ever watch the tape that was made of exactly how long it took that car to fill with water and descend to the bottom of the lake it will give you a good idea of the terror and helplessness those children felt strapped in their car seats. I just think that people should know that Susan was failed and betrayed by so many people her entire life it was almost inevitable that she would eventually harm herself or others. Sorry this is so long but this is a case I feel quite passionate about.
I’m also from the area & knew immediately those kids were in that car in that lake although I hadn’t seen the news only my mom asking if I had seen anything on it. She is/was a manipulator & needs to be locked up the rest of her life. There are too many females that seduce their stepfathers & unfortunately too many men that well let’s their brains are not able to function when the zipper is tempted. That said, she is selfish, cruel & her only concern is for herself. She uses whatever & whomever she needs to attain her goal & discards them like a piece of trash. She is evil.
@@janetbryant558 I Agree. If she truly repented, she would not have done the things she did/does in jail. She should never get out. Those poor little boys.💔
@@janetbryant558 so the child or younger person seduced the more life experienced one, the child or woman cannot be seduced and can help themselves, but men are incapable of walking away? They can't take themselves into another room and take care of themselves, and cannot otherwise feel such responsibility that they remove themselves or are mentally turned off by this? It doesn't matter what goes up or down down there, that is not the deciding factor. Stepfathers, everyone, should not draw a respectable and responsible line in the sand? What about real fathers or uncles who abuse their position, they were seduced? Teachers? Women who think like this have no real respect for other healthy and mature women and men. Mature women and men respect and protect their own dignity and that of others. You are part of the problem. Your bleeding heart is in the wrong place. I don't know that this woman was not manipulative, nor that she was abused, but if anyone fragile begs someone desperately to help them with the care of another person, especially a vulnerable child, it is extremely irresponsible not to either help or get them help. No excuse for what she did, never the less. They would have been alive if she had abandoned them. It seems the elegible bachelor was sensibly, if coldly, self-preserving. Also, 9 times out of 10, mothers destructively deny and reject daughters who accuse someone of sexual abuse, usually within the family; stepfathers, uncles, and siblings or cousins. Sometimes it is fathers. Really sad. If a troubled child falsely accuses there is usually someone to blame there, too. However, abusers are good at troubling children, abusing and tormenting them, and then pretending the child is crazy. Victims are often labeled, treated, and maligned while perpetrators walk away unscathed. Do you have any issue with the thousands of rape kits across this country that police have destroyed without ever investigating, when discovering serial rapists would help provide proof? Serial rapists are more likely to become serial killers. I don't see the rage needed and that should exist over the rape kit destruction, but I bet if more men were affected those rape kits would be preserved. Discovering serial rapists would lower the level of fear of false accusations and perhaps help solve murders. However, did you know there is no mandate insisting police departments solve crimes, or murders, or missing persons, or tracking across the nation how many they do or do not solve. I have also heard of homeless murders being labelled suicides to keep community crime statistics lower. Seven years old is still a very fragile age for a child and it was very hard for a child not only to go through a divorce in those days and deal with the aftermath, very lonely and isolating, but to lose a parent to suicide is devastating. Still, not an excuse.
@@janetbryant558 Thank God for your comment. I get so sick of hearing about how poor Susan was betrayed by everyone. So what? She killed those kids to get Tom Finley back. Period. I don't care how she has fared in prison. I don't care what happens to her. They should have fried her.
Dr. Todd, I worked in a Max. Women's for 7 years as a senior officer. I have only a layperson's understanding of the psychology of why women kill. The prison holds 1,250 offenders and I got to know most of them on a casual platonic level. I was well-liked because I didn't judge and I was older, to some, father figure. I know some of these women killed just out of the convenience for a reward or to end a bad situation they could not figure out how to get out of. Walking away never crossed the minds. To kill their children is an act that truly pushes the boundaries from a very "bad heartless idea", losing emotional control, to a psychopath. Smith seemed very immature and was seeking a fairytale lifestyle. She was not going to let anything or anyone get in her way. Sociopath? Perhaps her sons reminded her of her husband that she choose to despise greatly. This was not what she wanted in life. She started experimenting on ways to get out. The new man she cared for most didn't' want children. That was a "done deal " for her. No children to her meant killing them to ensure her fairytale future. It probably never crossed her mind to give custody to her husband. Maybe she had a level of hate for him that would not allow her to do that. Watching her children sink in that car had to be some level of psychosis. "Good riddance to her husband's children." She refused to look at the fact that they were 50% hers, too. Once it sank it was, "out of sight, out of mind." She now had to concentrate on the big lie and be able to pull it off. But, being immature, she just winged it like she got caught shoplifting. She just starting "winging" her story. That can be a ten thousand crossword puzzle. I don't think she placed much intelligence on investigators. Her alibi quickly had more holes in it than a Wiffle ball. After 20 plus years, I don't believe she loses much sleep in prison over her actions. I used to talk to Susan Smith's type every day. When on the killing topic, their eyes go blank.
A psychopathic narcissist she has no ability to empathize? The narcissism shows itself in that she barely planned it and thought she’d get away with it.
This case has always reminded me of the Diane Downs case. Both involved women with a history of childhood abuse and multiple on/off relationships and ended with the death of a child/children. I think that they make a compelling argument for the long-term destructive consequences of child abuse without excusing or diminishing the tragic choices of the women involved.
Sandra norman South Carolina born and raised, and I didn’t hear about this story. Where and when did a Principal marry a student? I can’t find anything based on the amount of info comment. I don’t know what southern stereotypes mean when it’s people who do bad things. Were you a resident when Susan Smith murdered Michael and Alex? I’ll never forget this case, what the boys were wearing, her hair scrunchy and the day when we learned she was lying as was suspected all along.
Well there are a lot of similarities I actually had diannes head in my mind b4 I realised it was the other one.. child abuse does a lot of things but it usually doesn’t produce murderers
I am just a few years older than Susan Smith. I remember this well. The very first time my mother saw her on television, my mom said immediately “she killed those babies.” Terrible situation.
The Susan Smith case is especially horrifying for me; my Grandmother tried to drive the car into a lake with my mom and her sisters in the backseat. My Grandfather managed to stop her in time. I am fuzzy on the details (this occurred decades before I was born.) It's one of many horrible badly-kept family secrets.
One of the things that are so great about Dr. Grande is his ability to make the things he's talking about comprehensible for us people who may not know too much about the subject at hand to begin with. A lot of other creators confuse me, but this guy can make me understand the things he's talking about, and I love it.
Thanks for calling out those prison guards - there was a lot of press about how they were all just waiting to get her in their prison so they could punish her since she was such a hellcat.
I agree. One has given interviews, blaming Susan. It takes 2 to Tango. I'm glad he got fired. If he has no more sell control, he shouldn't be a prison guard in a women 's facility.
@@stjudeprayer7 Yeah, it's obvious there was some failure in the recruitment. And it's known as well that uniform professions tends to attract a number of people who are not suitable, persons who can not carry the uniform (basically something that distinguish a person who represent society as upholding certain boundarirs etc on behalf of the public in his/her service) but needs the uniform to hold up themselves. Now surely prisonguards, cops etc can have crap happening in their life that perhaps damage their judgement though it's awful for their employer to sort of facilitate some sort of myth about her. If anything it maybe show poor training to not recognize the underlaying reason to specific behaviours by the interns (but then, some guards perhaps are fully in charge andcontrol of themselves by providing an extra pack of cigarettes for sexual favours or similar) .
@@JokersSerious You echo exactly what I thought, Medieval thinking in a 21st century American woman's prison, and prison guards [we say prison officers in the UK] having sexual interourse with inmates willy nilly. The American prison system is seriously backward.
What a horrifying case. I think your ending note on how this is kind of a worst case scenario of the consequences of trauma was meaningful. Traumatized people who don't seek counselling so frequently perpetuate the trauma onto others...Great video as always Dr. Grande, thank you!
Agree with this sentiment. I don’t think it’s necessary to explain away all criminal acts with a personality disorder. Trauma on its own can reshape someone’s worldview into something scary and dark. Who knows what was going through her head. Society needs to do better with stopping abusive situations, and offering support to those who are affected.
In my minds eye I still see those babies strapped in their car seats, the water rising over their little mouths and noses, scared, crying for their "mama". There is an afterlife, and she will reap her reward.
Pamela Gabert you and I have had this same nightmare going through our minds. That’s all I could think about back then. What if it were my kids suffering like that, scared and frantic, calling out for their mum as the water was rising over their faces. I was traumatized for a very long time thinking about the innocent babies. Dear God.
Can't believe she is telling men she can see herself being around children and a good stepmother now her parole hearing is coming up this year. She should never get parole.
re: friendliest girl award: "it seemed kinda strange to me; but, I guess that's what they had available.." Burst out laughing at that comment! Thank you Dr. Grande! Your sense of humour keeps me going in these tough times. 😊
MaxPanicked We had that award at my jr high, as well as "most helpful girl" and "biggest flirt". For both of those, some students really seemed to be plotting for those "awards".
Yeeeaahh, that struck me as just a touch, um...vague? And your wry comment also got a smile out of me, which TBH I probably needed, considering the absolute horror of the subject matter, combined with the current aforementioned tough times. But seriously- “friendliest female” WHAT, exactly? Friendliest...female human? Friendliest female...living thing? Friendliest female...electronic component? Friendliest female...future child murderer? Friendliest (future most hated) female (in America)? Why not just “friendliest girl,” FFS?
Dr. Grande can you please do an analysis of Andrea Yates. Unlike Susan Smith, my heart broke for her, considering the horrific nature of her crime. Thank you.
Yea I blame a lot of it on her husband. He was told after the 3rd or 4th child she had serious ppd. So the guy Knicks her up again. The drs all warned him that they should not have more kids bc of her ppd.
Her husband, I feel, was an emotional void of any support to her. Imagine if he had to watch 5 children for just a weekend. He'd go nuts. He didn't help her at all when it was obvious to anyone she was suffering from PPD. He ignored MD's recommendations about having more children. He didn't care, it appeared. I never liked him based on what I saw of him & read. It was like she was a Single Mother although married. Couldn't he see she was breaking??
Yates was a true victim. Rusty Yates should be in prison for being a pathetic excuse for a man. Hes married again and hopefully not treating this wife like a baby making machine. A woman would be nuts to marry that man!
As a trauma survivor, I can see her disassociation. Her promiscuous behaviour gives a lot of clues about the depth of her trauma and that she did not work on it much.
At her young age, I'm guessing she didn't know what was even wrong with her or how to work on it. It's just my opinion, but she'd probably never heard of any of the Cluster B personality disorders, either. When I was 23, her age when she murdered her children, I hadn't heard of these disorders.
maybe she just wanted to reconnect with being loved and close to someone (possibly her father relationship), and sex was the closest thing to that, along with inappropriate choices. Like sleeping with the dad of her boyfriend is next level no boundaries. She had no respect for decency because none was given to her. (like allowing the abusive partner of her mother back in the home. Home wasn't a safe place). therefore, also, for her, the mother child bond had no worth, because that is what her mother had communicated to her. And who knows what depression was triggered by the male learning her / latent suicide which she put on her children, killing her motherhood, and maybe her mother self. Also 2 young children can = depression and isolation. Maybe it was her final snap.
Yeah whatever. I'm a trauma survivor too and I have zero pity for that baby killing bitch. She would have put an innocent black man in prison to cover her crimes up if she could have, she certainly tried! What's wrong with people?
Call her what you may. She has not been clinically diagnosed with any of you guy's conjunctures. What the world knows, which is indisputable, Susan Smith is a straight up racist manipulating woman. She blamed a blackman for carjacking/kidnapping & America believed her, at least, for a while.
This case gets to me more than of the others I’ve heard Dr Grande talk about and I think it’s just the horrifying way she chose to end her children’s lives. I can’t help but think about how slow and terrifying that death would’ve been for two small innocent children by their own mother. She’s an absolute monster. And my parents both suffered abuse by their own families as children also and social services did not help them either but they could never do what she did. And the guards who slept with her sound pathetic and desperate. Christ, what a world.
Thank you. Have you ever looked into Andrea Yates? I feel she actually did meet the legal definition of insanity, which seems rare. I feel her husband had some culpability in that outcome.
Me too From what I remember her dr's warned against more babies and her being alone with them. The fact she called the police on herself says so much. She was in desperate need of inpatient therapy
I wish that Rusty Yates had been prosecuted on the following criminal charges: five counts of Negligent Homicide and five counts of Reckless Endangerment. Negligent homicide is applicable as his leaving Andrea home alone with the kids on the day of the murders gave her the opportunity to murder the children. Reckless endangerment is applicable because Rusty constantly disobeyed the orders of Andrea's doctors to never under any circumstances leave Andrea home alone with the kids for long periods of time and to make sure that she was sticking to a very strict medication regiment consisting of antidepressants, an anti-psychotic medication, anti-anxiety, and a sleeping medication.
@wulfgar3000 some people seem to fetishize blame, and in this case, if she is mentally compromised, then blame comes apart from evil, and since people want to believe in a just world, someone therefore has to be to blame, someone else needs be punished. Andrea Yates was insane, legally insane, and if your actions are beyond your control, it is hard to be morally accountable for those actions. She did something quite evil, but she is not an evil person, because she was compromised psychologically and emotionally. Michael and those like him will never be satisfied with mercy, and to explain the obvious will only make him double down on why someone who was not in any way to blame needs be put in prison. It is the American solution to all things.
I've been wanting him to do this, too. I grew up as a Jehovah's Witness and left at 19, and I know it still affects my life 21 yrs later. My family is all still inside. I would like him to define the factors that makes a group a cult and go from there.
Oh, yes. I went to an LDS college in Idaho and it was a strange and alarming experience. There's a lot of people with a lot of problems. Especially the ones who served a mission. My 2nd husband was likely a sociopath and he was a lifelong member of the Mormon church. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
There are so many different types of cults there's satanic ritual abuse and then there's abuse from just being inside of cults like Jehovah's witnesses and things like that he would have a large episode
Dear Dr. Grande, I am a neuroscientist and a huge fan of your channel. I think that you were remiss in not factoring in a major component of Susan Smith's case. In addition to murdering her own children, another heinous action of hers was to shift blame for her crime onto a vulnerable population (i.e., a nameless African American male). Until her story came apart under interrogation, investigators were searching for potential suspects in the African American community. It is entirely possible that an African American male would have been charged and convicted of the crime she committed. Had this occurred, he would have been far more likely to receive the death penalty than she would have. Her willingness to frame a nameless member of a vulnerable community should be factored into her psychological profile.
@wulfgar3000 Actually, while I would defer to a clinical psychologist like Dr. Grande, my neuroscience research puts me in proximity to people who study Cluster B personality disorders. Shifting blame onto others is a common tactic of narcissists, sociopaths, psychopaths, and others living with one of the Cluster B personality disorders. If you’re going to make an outrageous (and racist) claim like that wulfgar3000, please back it up with at least one citation.
@wulfgar3000 Also, there were people in the African-American community who were trying to help find the "culprit," so the African-American community was taking responsibility- even when (as it turned out) no one from the African-American community was responsible for the crime.
I lived in SC during this time. I was 15. It was SC in the 90s. For black ppl in SC, it could have just as well been the 70s as far as how it felt in a lot of ways. We lived two hours from Union, but they were even stopping and harassing random black men in my town - two hours away. My mom told my older brothers to not go out. The men in Union were outright hunted trying to find one they could pin it on. She not only murdered her two kids, but she traumatized an entire community - and she knew it would happen and hoped SC's legendary racism would find her an innocent black man to pin her crimes on.
Hi Dr. Grande! I just wanted to say that I really appreciate your perspective, and how you are one of the few people on UA-cam who manages to discuss psychology in an ethical way. Thank you!
I remember the day this happened, my girls were her boys age, and when I heard she did it, I cried, and screamed that 'I would have taken those boys'...how could she, those boys in the little blue outfits and cute little bowl haircuts...and my heart was broken for them,,,I never have one thing to say about her!
I remember when this happened too. Her pleas didnt feel genuine. Something was off. Wasnt it reported when they retrieved the boys they found them holding hands? It was such an unimaginable & inconceivable tragedy. Sleep sweetly Michael & Alex.
LitAfuseiCantStop I remember the same feeling when I heard her on the news talking about how she yelled after the carjacker drove off with her boys, “Mommy loves you!” I immediately thought she did something to those boys and her cover story is a lie. She never rang true to me.
I was a kids when this happened and remember every bit of it. I have always wondered why she didn't just give up custody and let her husband raise the kids.
Because, in her immature mind, that would have made her a "bad mother". Sound crazy, considering what she did? Yes. But she was a pleaser; she was used to being thought of as attractive, desirable, and "good". She needed desperately to be liked and thought well of, so giving up her children was unthinkable. It's complicated and part of her inconsistent thinking/mental condition.
She would still have been involved in the children’s lives . In a small town everybody would have been watching to see if she took the kids for visits etc. Finley’s letter made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with the kids , and apparently thought Susan was too low class for him anyway. What a tragic outcome .
Susan Smith’s stepfather bears responsibility for the damage he did to her, as does her mother for not leaving the stepfather. Nonetheless, Susan Smith is exactly where she should be: in prison.
"When you kill a person it is as if you kill the world". Bad actions have a ripple effect and people must pay for ALL the suffering they cause because of it.
The fear those young boys felt as they were submerged in dark cold water unable to move or breathe . For that reason I do not care what her "disorders" are. She should have received the Death Penalty.
No the mental trauma and abuse she suffered does not excuse her actions. But being abused for what is basically your whole life.... does make it understandable. In a way. I want her to be in prison her whole life yes, but I also can sympathize with her because she was abused. Reasons why we need a better network for ALL abuse victims. Male and female. To be clear. To make a note here, there was a youth pastor for the LDS ward I went to and he described how his daughter was in an abusive relationship. I wish I was brave enough to have told that bastard that he was a fukking coward for not saving his daughter from that abuser. (He literally said he prayed for the mans death.) This is one of my regrets in my life. If I do ever see him again, I very much WILL tell him he is just as bad as that man who abused his own daughter. (This is why I DESPISE the LDS.)
The next Sherlock Holmes. Lol. I totally agree! About a year ago some one kidnapped a girl and kept her in his basement for over 2 months. She finally escaped and ran to the neighbors house. When they called the cops it was over half and hour before they showed up. For weeks the new was talking about the police and their tireless efforts to a successful conclusion. Wtf? She broke her self out after they didn't find her during the months she was being raped and imprisoned. Then they took their time to come get her.
This case has haunted me for years. I was a young mom also and have two sons. I could not imagine how any mother could do such a horrific thing to her babies. My mother was very affected by this tragedy too, she actually put the photos of Alexander and Michael on her refrigerator because she wanted them to always be remembered. I loved that my mother did this, she was a truly nurturing person. I appreciate Dr.Grandes analysis as it does shed some light on Smiths early life. These sad things that happened to her really messed her up, not that it’s any excuse but at least it explains how she became so incredibly and unbelievably misguided. Thanks Dr.G
I love when you throw in little critiques of law enforcement/ third party persons when you do these cases. Kind of takes away from the serious tone of the video and makes it a little more personable :)
I remember seeing her on TV when it first happened and my first thought was - she did something to her kids and I felt a sense of deep-misgiving. I cried when they revealed what happened to her children.
This happened about 30 miles from my home. My high school friend, Judy Clark, defended Smith at trial. This was horrible. Initially everyone in my area was soooo sympathetic towards Smith. She's a monster to kill her boys.
Very well said Dr.😊 I really enjoy your channel and your commentary. I am a nurse and have worked in corrections and I absolutely agree with your comment regarding the officer's and being "fearful " of an inmates magical powers". Inmates can be extremely manipulative and in my opinion one needs to be a strong personality to work in a Correctional institution and also be educated in inmate manipulation in order to be an effective officer/caregiver/clinician working in that environment in order to combat the games that inmates play.
@@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare Haha, I knew you were a Scandinavian, because of your name, but I've guessed you were a Suomi, Finnish woman. Slightly off! 😊 Hope Norway is doing fine.
@@mrs.reluctant4095 Norway is doing pretty good. No one that I know have gotten sick, and people get to stay at home, and they get money so that they can pay their rent and buy food. Now I don't work because of my social anxiety, and so I was covered anyway, but I'm glad that my friends and family is getting taken care of as well. We're trying to slow the spread of the virus so that when people get sick they have a place at the hospital.
Hi Dr. Grande. Hoping you might see my comment, although this video is quite old now. I am diagnosed with both Dependent Personality Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as several other mental illnesses. Both borderlines and dependents tend to be viewed very badly in the media and often by the general public. I was half dreading watching this so I want to say thank you for your sensible and measured approach when discussing this case. I have two beautiful daughters (twenty and sixteen). It would be easy for people to assume having any type of personality disorder automatically makes you a dangerous or untrustworthy person or parent so I am always grateful for reasonable discussion of the topic. Keep up the awesome work.
I remember watching this case as it unfolded, and seeing her interviews and thinking something wasn’t right with how she was acting, and really hoped that she had just hidden the kids somewhere. I was horrified when I found out that those sweet little boys were drowned purposefully by her. This case was so disturbing...and then when you find out how many cries for help Susan made, and what happened to her...this was a tragedy that could have been averted. Those poor boys.
This is a very helpful breakdown of the Cluster B "overlap" that can present in certain individuals, which remains baffling for those seeking just one clear-cut diagnosis. Your elaboration on psychosocial contributing factors (e.g., childhood trauma/sexual abuse) to Cluster B traits/personality disorders will help to reduce the societal stigma attached to them, and allow for more productive discussions, collaborations, and therapeutic alliances on the topic(s). Thank you!
I am from SC and do not live that far from Union, I remember when this happened. It shocked so many people that she could take the the life of her children. Thanks for you input concerning this case. This is a great You Tube Channel, btw.
As a mother I have always been particularly disturbed by this case. I remember it vividly. From the very beginning I watched her behavior prior to her confession and I always felt incredulity concerning her attempts at sincerity so when she was arrested and charged I wasn't surprised frankly. I can't be sure but I have learned through my experience with my own mother who was diagnosed with BPD that it is a commonly overlooked and misunderstood personality construct unless one is an educated professional, maybe that's why it was never brought up...just a guess. Anyway thanks so much as always I just love your channel. Stay healthy doc!😊
When she said “Your momma loves you”. I turned to my husband and said, “She did it”. That one statement made her sound guilty, it was phony as a two dollar bill IMO
@@GorgurugaSusan Smith and diane downs is nothing compared to the real world. it is even worse when narcissist sex offenders and serial killers are released into to the public cities taking their anger out on law enforcement. I have one parole imate who brag everyday to me about his sexual success with female prison guards. My advice is to get used to their lies, they are in prison for a reason. Do not give up your authority to them.👍
@@anonymousandy2789 Don't be a prick. No matter how she swished and smiled those guards sign an oath and are legally bound NOT to take advantage of the prisoners in their charge. The onus is on them to walk away from her. Maybe even report her behavior toward them. She can't go anywhere, she's locked up. It doesn't matter how much she rubs up against them they should have l put her back in her cage and walked away. If she were male the guards wouldn't be allow to beat him up "just because they wanted to" even if "he was a masochist and liked being beat up, the guards would toss him in his cage and walk awake. The guards were tools and behaved like tools.
with the power dynamics between guards and inmates.... the guard saying he was "seduced" by susan smith is sickening.... and only 5 months probation........ the whole prison system is irrevocably twisted. we have to tear the whole thing down and start over. thank you for this... i knew about her, but never knew the things that happened after her arrest + imprisonment. i'd love to see a video about andrea yates. another tragic case of a mother killing her children stay safe!
Sad thing about our Prison system is that inmates get little if no rehabilitation...so there is a great deal of reoccurring offenses. No matter how long she is in there, she will come out even more messed up, then when she first entered Prison. Her life was awful in her youth and should have been addressed at that time. Child abuse ruins the child, and the adult they will become, without therapy. Sad and unhappy person, and a horrendous crime. Tragic. Thank you for your review Dr.Grande. A fascinating look at what made these kinds of crimes happen.
5:23 "In high school she received the 'Friendliest Female' Award; seems like kind of a strange award, but I guess it’s what they had available."☺️ Off Topic: Apologies, but your comment reminded me of a reward-based dog training class I attended with my very first rescue dog. At our "graduation ceremony," every dog got an award, eg. best recall, longest sit, etc. When the trainer got to my dog, he was presented with a rosette emblazoned with *'Most likely to* *_HEAR_* *Cheese!'* handwritten on the front! [Honestly, I was fully expecting it to say: *'100% ALWAYS the Cause of Complete & Utter Chaos!"🤦🏻♀️* Bless his heart, a roomful of 10 other dogs & numerous people was just *_SO_* *EXCITING* for him!] Anyway, sometimes you’ve got to get a little creative in recognition of less obvious positive qualities or achievements, & I like to think the dog behaviourist recognised the importance of this philosophy! Good lord, that lovely dog could turn _completely_ deaf when chasing a squirrel or following the scent of badger tracks, but would *always* come running when he heard the _faintest rustle_ of the cheese wrapper!
I hate to say it but i almost laughed when he said she got that award. I thought, how appropriate. But, she was severely sexually abused by her step dad and her mom knew this..let him back in the house afterwards. No wonder she turned out the way she did...not a pass for killing her kids but I was told in psych class , whatever age you are when you are traumatized, mentally, you stay that age unless you get help for the trauma. Your brain does change from trauma, we were told it actually re shapes your brain. Not sure if Dr. Grande agrees with that but that's what my teacher told us.
Interesting case. Great video. 👍🏼 I’d be interested to hear your take on the Andrea Yates case who drown her 5 children to “save their souls”. I see all sorts of diagnoses assigned to her; severe postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, schizophrenia. Additional interesting things about this case 1. the verdict was overturned on appeal, in light of false testimony by one of the expert psychiatric witnesses. 2. She and her husband were told by doctors not to have more children, yet they did. 3. husband was told not to leave her alone with the children, yet he and additional family members did!
That was an interesting analysis. It's interesting to see how differently trauma victims cope. It simply must be because of the differing personalities and not the trauma. Regardless of the personality I still hold each person responsible for their actions, barring physical problems that could account for aberrant behavior such as brain injuries. Murder is a heinous crime and murder of children is especially despicable. I agree that her sentence was not overly severe and from her actions in prison and lack of any remorse, barring further information or personal interviews with her I would have no problem denying parole. Just my personal opinion.
I moved to SC about 2 years before this case, I remember it very well. I remember thinking at the time that it wasn't going to end well; the death of those boys was so sad. It's my opinion that she should never be released from prison and honestly, I think she should have received the death penalty. What she did is unforgivable.
It is extremely surprising that Susan Smith wasn't sentenced to death for drowning her sons because South Carolina is a Death Penalty state. I have a friend named Wendy and she once lived in the South- Tampa, Florida to be precise- and she told me that in the South the courts sentence criminal defendants to death more than people change their socks. Pretty much every state in the southeastern and southwestern US has the Death Penalty; the exceptions to these regions are the states of West Virginia, Virginia, and New Mexico.
Dr. G--I've worked in domestic violence for 20 years, and in that time I have seen many perpetrators of extreme violence who have dependent personality disorder. I so much enjoy your presentations.
Very interesting, Dr. Grande. I think it’s fascinating to learn the criminality in some of the vignettes/cases that you discussed. In my DSM class, we had a project where we had to draw diagnosis of Aileen Wuornos. It was such a sad and intriguing case. But it highlighted how trauma was a core underpinning and how society had failed her. I feel like so many times untreated traumas setup people for a lifetime of hurt and potential harm. It sometimes shocks me how when I hear horror stories from people in old age and the things they faced early in childhood, they seem to have functioning lives. For example, my dads friend who is a pilot and grew up in England, I have suspicion to believe that his father had possibly BPD, because as a child he was forced to sleep outside in their yard. His father had also been remarried three/four times. His sister has schizophrenia as well. This man is very sweet too. Been married for 20+ years. His wife was a director over education in some Indian reservations. They are both retired. And I just feel like he has been put through it in life and appears to be doing well despite his traumas. I wished there was more preventative measures for mental health in America so we can build a protective factor for those who could benefit from services. I have one more year (3yr track) until I get my masters in social work (BA psych). These videos get my mind working and exploring. Thank you for the great content!!! 😊
I love you, Dr. Grande. Not a come on. The public service you provide is endearing and of great importance. TY for your critical thinking skills, informative commentary, and entertaining, at times, delivery.😊❤😂
I was one of those that went looking for those babies in the first few days It was shocking to think that a mother could do this. First time I'd ever heard of anything so horrible And blaming it on a black person! Thank God she didn't destroy our community with racial divide or tension Just the opposite happened We all came together and cried, offered each other comfort .You know, how it should always have been! Not one POC resented her for that, Ppl thought she was evil , sick, troubled in her own mind to have killed her own babies.She ended up confessing to my father in law Including the molestation by her step dad that started in her childhood and was ongoing into her marriage to David .After that my husband kept saying how I didn't need to look for those kids,put info out for truck drivers etc ( no internet back in the day) Due to the legalities until the press conference I didn't know about the confession. I'd have been on the phone calling everybody from SC to Cali It was so shocking! My husband like most didn't believe her story, me I just wasn't willing to take that chance She said she was going to kill herself too. Not true it was always let me look good, get rid of the kids and maybe the boy she was dating would marry her His daddy owned a lg saw mill and came from old money She was very selfish and calculating .Those babies daddy David would have taken the kids in a heartbeat! Anyone would have including myself being about the same age as Susan But then Susan wouldn't have been able to keep up the false image of a good mother.She wasn't before she killed the kids. Just wanted to date guys and party.. What a tragedy it still hurts thinking of those babies in their car seats and couldn't get out! They were recovered holding ea others little hands.Just writting this I'm starting to cry all over again After all these years still breaks my heart into pieces Ppl need to realize their actions have a ripple effect that hurts more than what they might think, even ppl y'all don't even know. Ty Dr Grande Really appreciate this.
I was visiting SC looking for a house when I saw this on television. It was breaking news there. When they interviewed her, I, like most people, thought she did it. Her body language, lack of tears, and certain words she used didn’t fit together. Her story didn’t sound plausible. I was pregnant at the time and it was upsetting. We found a house, had our son, and life went on. Susan Smith went to prison. Fast forward several years and a family visiting that lake had an accident. Their Suburban rolled into the lake and some of the family drowned. To me, the area seemed cursed. Eventually, we moved from from SC to GA, but before we left, I had this feeling I needed to go to the lake and say goodbye to those boys. I put my young son in the car and we reached the boat dock an hour later. I didn’t park close to the water. I left my son in the car, checking the parking brake twice before I walked to the edge of the water. I could guesstimate about where her car had been and I stared for about ten minutes, like in a trance. When I turned back around, I could see my son and I couldn’t help but to start crying again for those boys. We left immediately. Fast forward again another ten years. My son was killed in a car accident when he was sixteen. That was ten years ago. I’m still beyond devastated and today is his birthday. Do not go to Union and visit that boat ramp at the lake.
Dr Grande: Welcome to my scientifically informed, insider look at mental health topics. Everyone: Yay for the lockdown...! The man is ON FIRE! PS: jokes aside, hope you are all safe... its crazy out there!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for highlighting that it is without doubt, the responsibility of the male guards regarding the sexual contact between them and Susan. They should all have lost their jobs. Despicable behaviour.
In Indiana they would've been charged with sexual battery (class C felony, 4-12 years) even if it was consensual. d/t the power differential, prisoners don't have the "power to consent." Of course they would've been fired as well.
Such an interesting case, it's sad to see how disturbed people can cause such a contagious effect on the people they encounter. Thanks for uploading so regularly! I appreciate it, very interesting content.
Hello, Doctor! Hi, everyone! Hope everyone is well. This is really informative, because I've always wondered how her mind works. I remember Praying so hard, those Babies would be found SAFE! I cried so much when they weren't! David was so devastated, but she seemed off. She is right where she needs to be! Take care, Everyone! Thank you!
Interesting! What a tortured soul. I wish she'd never had kids, but we can't control that drive in others. I can see why she was awarded the "friendliest female" award, though, with multiple partners at the same time. Thank you, Dr. Grande, for yet again another insightful analysis!
What a horrifying case! Just beyond comprehension. Dr. Grande, I really appreciate your almost daily output of videos! I always look forward to watch them. I don’t even know how you do it, these videos are a lot of work and the quality of your videos is consistently outstanding. I hope you are getting enough rest in between too! Thank you again for all that you do:)
That’s true Ben, some people don’t need that much sleep, maybe he is one of those. I can’t really relate, if I don’t get at least 7 hours of sleep I can’t function very well😅
I also worry that Dr. Grande works too hard. On the occasion of reaching 700K subscribers he went through his work process which was very interesting but it struck me that he works a lot! I then signed up for his Patreon account and it was only then that I realized people produce Patreon-only content. WTH?! Isn't the point of Patreon to help support the content provider so that they can continue what they do so well and still have a life? And now I find it has the result of forcing these people to do more work than they did before or without Patreon. I'd be willing to bet that Dr. Grande's Patreon supporters aren't doing it to get more or "exclusive" content. They are doing it to support his excellent regular UA-cam videos. It really bothers me the amount of pressure he is under as his subscriber base continues to grow. If it gets to be too much I hope he can be convinced to take a break or something, rather than completely burn out.
@@epona9166 I agree. His schedule is brutal, indeed. In addition to his regular YT videos he uploads a lot on Patreon, writes books, answers emails, etc...I have suggested to at least add more tiers to the Patreon subscription, but he is not ready to do that either. He is very generous towards us and I am incredibly grateful but I do worry about him.
Thanks so much for your take on this. I’ve been simultaneously repelled and fascinated by this case even since it first made the national news, long before I even considered having children of my own. At the time Smith was in the news, I was a good few years younger than she was, and being an adolescent at the time I didn’t have any initial interest in the case...but, for whatever reason, I was told repeatedly, by multiple people, that they thought her mug shot resembled me, which made me start following the case out of morbid teenage curiosity. (I’ve personally never seen any resemblance other than the fact that, at the time, I had similar 1990s style glasses and hair, but I’ve heard it countless times now.) In the subsequent years, I’ve become a parent myself, and it really wasn’t really until then that the overwhelming, unimaginable horror of her actions truly struck me. It’s like pulling teeth for me just to have to discipline or dole out unpleasant consequences my kids even when it’s 100% justified! For me, the very thought of ever, ever harming so much as a hair on their heads is so far beyond unspeakable, it’s utterly unthinkable. Thus, as a parent, I’ve always felt tempted to think that Smith MUST have been suffering from some sort of delusion or psychosis so profound that she wasn’t capable of understanding either her actions or their consequences, a la Andrea Yates. But, sadly, your video has only reinforced what seems to me the unfortunate reality- that she may indeed have been depressed, confused and traumatized...but still, she knew all too well that her actions would result in her children dying a horrible death. A death she knew was so horrible that she couldn’t bring herself to even attempt to follow them, either in death (her claim that she actually intended suicide in the lake herself) or to save them. And her relentless lies and frantic attempts to deceive law enforcement, the media, her family and the public demonstrate to me that she had a perfectly lucid understanding not of merely what she had done, but that she was desperate to avoid any consequences...even if it meant potentially framing an innocent POC and traumatizing minority communities. To hear now that she has continued to act out sexually and in other ways while behind bars only serves to reinforce what I’d already inferred: this woman is still so calculating, manipulative and self-absorbed that she has neither the willingness, nor possibly even the capacity, for the insight necessary to rehabilitate herself. I could be wrong, but it seems that she still perceives herself as the perpetual victim in the ongoing drama she’s constructed?
I'm no psychologist whatsoever,.but there is absolutely a link between childhood trauma and growing up to commit violent crimes like murder. Again idk for sure, but I'd honestly be more surprised and think it's more rare to hear of a killer who HASN'T suffered from some form of childhood trauma
I mean I know it happens where they didnt seemingly have a fucked up childhood, like I think in Bundy's case (?) Can't remember for sure, But to answer ur question, albeit from a kind of uninformed perspective, there is certainly a link and I think most people who end up murdering other people probably had some kind of traumatic experiences growing up
Yes, but as the American author of two of his projected three volume biography of Stalin, he's said in several presentations on UA-cam that his own father beat him severely, but he didn't grow up to kill 40 million people as Stalin did, severely beaten by his father.
@@corn_pop6082 The childhood trauma would make him some kind of sociopath... However, sociopaths are very unreliable and unstable. So I assume (since he became the leader of the USSR) that he would have some psychopathic traits as well.
Katya, I wanred to ask the same :)))) I'm glad I'm not the only one, :) Also Harry's mental health is a curious case but we don't know much about it officialy. He looks too angry !
In my humble opinion, she has been labelled a narcissist because she is a powerful, independent, smart woman of colour. That can't be right, so she must be defective in some way. It's misogyny and racism and all about the name callers, not Markle. In my opinion :) It would be interesting to hear Dr Grande's opinion, I agree.
Oh Paul Bernardo! That book kept me up for months...what a sick, scary couple ..she is out walking around and has kids of her own now. How messed up is that!
Much to my disgust Karla Homolka is now living in Chateâugay; a suburb of Montréal. Karla's reason for moving to Québec is because she believed that she wouldn't be as much of a target for vigilante retribution in the French speaking province of Québec compared to the English speaking provinces of Canada. When I first researched the case of Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo I was horrified by the fact that Paul raped Karla's fifteen year old sister Tammy all because Karla wasn't a virgin when she and Paul were married.
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Stay safe Dr G. Appreciate your channel and what you're doing very much
"With all of those...relationships...occurring." 😊 You make me laugh with your little snarky nuances, doctor. I honestly don't know how you can dissect a case like this, but I'm glad you do it. It's so hurtful and heavy. Thank you for your insight on this, even if part of me says _I don't care what happened to her, she's a vile disgusting monster who knew what she was doing_ . RIP little guys. 😢 I hope she never gets out. Thank you again, Dr Grande. 👍🌹 Stay safe inside.
Thank you Dr. Grande. I remember this case like it was yesterday. I believe those angels were “in her way,” and therefore, they had to go. I find it interesting that the father was unaware of what type of home these boys were residing in. I often see one parent being conveniently “busy” while the other one raises the children. I thought she might fit into the “borderline” category, but she killed her own boys! Thank you for going over this and teaching us.
BPD is so destructive. Everyone goes on about psycopathy but if BPD affects you, you won't ever leave your house again, if the house is still standing, and if anyone is still left in the house. No one you know will be outside the house to visit. You won't have a job to go to, or any money left.
Great analysis on trauma in this case. Her first trauma of her father's death (suicide) was clearly not handled and treated during her teens. It can be assumed she has predisposition of what her father has.
Promiscuousity is common in people who were sexually abused as children. I just saw a clip of the husband saying he has been trying to forget her, and was doing okay until this year, when she could be paroled. He’s been stressed about it, and afraid.
I'm more mesmerized at how someone can do all that with a smile in the face. Some experts at microexpression pointed out there was a hidden happiness when she was on the camera weeping for her sons.
@@masacatior She probably didn't enjoy having children. My mother told us we were 3 mistakes. She is not a murderer but she hated taking care of children. If we had died she would have been sad but relieved.
Dr. Grande, I learned more about personality disorders in your video than anyone has ever explained. Terrible tragedy, sorry for the family and especially her sons. Thank you.
Dr. Grande ..you are a wonderful teacher ..I left work 13 years due to health conditions ..I so wished I would have had açcess to your knowledge when working as a social worker/accredited substance abuse crisis/treatment counsellor ..I greatly appreciate your teaching method ..am planning on sharing your video(s) with former work colleagues ..for I know they will appreciate the delivery of your professional knowledge as much as I do ..merci beaucoup💯..moi,🇨🇦
I remember walking in the door after work, knowing nothing about this incident. She was just beginning the press conference, begging the "kidnappers" to return her sons. I immediately said, "She's a liar." They'd better start dragging any nearby lakes." How is a woman going to hide a car? Andrea Yates is another story. That poor woman should have NEVER had to enter a courtroom. She was so obviously ill. Her husband was the one who needed to be drowned. I thought it was shocking how mysoginistic this was, and the husband escaped responsibility. Somebody should have spoken up for her sooner, WAY, WAY, sooner. I think this happened in the country of Texas.
I agree with you on Andrea Yates because the state of Texas unsurprisingly sought the Death Penalty against Andrea even though she was severely mentally ill. Quite surprisingly the Prosecution agreed with the Defense that Andrea had a history of mental health issues as opposed to asserting that Andrea's mental health issues were made up in order to avoid responsibility for her actions. My belief is that the reason why Andrea was kept off of Death Row is due to the jury agreeing with Andrea's mental health issues and decided that they could not sentence someone as terribly unstable as Andrea to be executed. Andrea had an extremely severe mental breakdown in the summer of 1999 wherein she made two separate attempts at committing suicide. Her first attempt in June of 1999 was by an attempted overdose on sleeping pills prescribed for her father, who was suffering from Alzheimer's. Due to her previous work as a nurse; Andrea stepped up to the plate and volunteered to take care of her father. She was hospitalized for a week, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and released due to the constraints of her health insurance policy. A month later in July of 1999; Andrea made her second attempt at committing suicide by trying to slit her throat with a knife. At that point Andrea was hospitalized for three weeks and treated with the antidepressants Wellbutrin and Effexor along with the anti-psychotic medication Haldol. When her husband Rusty Yates visited her in the hospital; he remarked in an interview on "60 Minutes" that within a day or so of beginning this medication regiment (which also included an anti-anxiety medication and a sleep aid) Andrea had gone from being catatonic to sitting on the couch with him in the hospital's visiting area and being able to have a conversation with him.
That lack of ownership is unsettling and makes me feel like a profile on some the guards would be interesting but less salacious. I am really feeling more and more that abolishing the different diagnosis among personality disorders is appropriate. For example, I have seen so much interplay to differing degrees in between heavy traits of narcissism, factor 2 psychopathy and borderline traits depending on the external circumstances. It is really so complex, personality that is.
Every single word of this was so profoundly accurate and very insightful. Thank you. You couldn’t be more right about your assessments on everything that has happened here.
Question: what if, on top of the existing factors of mental illness imposed on her throughout her life, that she might have been suffering from a prolonged postpartum depression? Certainly, it could have exacerbated her existing mental health at the time. But because of the horrific quality of the breakdown she had when she murdered her sons, PPD got eclipsed under the layers of her underlying conditions, as well as 'regular' potential diagnoses. Sad, and tragic case. Those poor little boys - it's just heartbreaking when I heard about it, I couldn't unsee out of my mind.
Wasn't PPD used as a defense at some point? At the time it seemed to put it on the radar as a condition more serious and debilitating than the public realized.
This happened when I was in elementary school in Union County and it's the first crime I was ever aware of. It was horrifying and everyone in town was hurt. I remember all the adults sobbing when the police announced they found the boys in the lake. So it's really hard for me to have any sympathy for her. I knew that she has a sad story but so many do and don't drown their children slowly in a car. I appreciate this video for giving me a slightly new perspective though. I can view her with a little less hate and also be glad she'll likely never be free and very thankful she will never have any more children.
She can have more Children. She is only in her early 50's. All it takes is a desperate guy to stick it in her again and she can become pregnant again. One of my Customers had a child in her 50's...
I was a new mom when this happened. And when it was found out she had murdered those babies. I cried for days!! I had a new baby girl and my mind could not understand how a mom could do this to her own babies. Now its been 30 yrs she has been in prison and she is up for parole. I hope she NEVER gets out.
At the age of seven, I was required to press charges against an abusive family member. I had no idea what that meant at seven. It took a year of therapy for me to understand.
Dr. G! "Friendliest Female Award seems to be a strange award but I guess it was all they had available." Tragic horrific case that is haunting still so many years later but as always your deadpan expression is just over the top. I'm not sure what we would do without you!
Can you look into the Alejandro Avila case? He kidnapped, assaulted, and murdered Samantha Runnion, aged 5, from her yard in 2002. Thank you. I LOVE your channel!
I agree with the BPD/HPD categories…Susan Smith reminded me so much of my own mother that when this tragedy unfolded, I immediately got into therapy to deal with the damage. Great analysis, Dr G! You The Man!
@@DrGrande That is awesome. She really Intrigues me as well. There are some interesting exhibits in that case that don't quite fit the narrative and I have always thought that the case is not exactly as it seems.
I had completely forgotten about this case! I know this one is going to be very interesting. Sitting down now with my Sunday morning coffee to watch, listen, and learn! ☕👀👂📚
I just found this looking through some of your older videos. My father's family comes from Union, SC and my Aunt actually taught Susan in her history class. She knew Susan's mother and, of course, the Finleys.
This case was a huge thing in Union at the time! It was/is a relatively small Southern town and everybody knows somebody that knows someone that knows...well, you get the idea.
Susan was a very troubled girl. Her father's suicide always troubled her because she felt in some way she was responsible for her parent's divorce. Her step father did sexually abuse/manipulate her but, like many small towns, he was friends with some higher ups in the police department and was able to avoid accountability for his actions. This enraged Susan and the fact her own mother believed the husband over her own daughter was awful.
Susan thought she could escape through marriage but David had no tolerance or patience for his emotionally damaged wife even though I do think he loved her.
Tom Finley was the Town's most eligible bachelor. His family had money, prestige and he was a fairly attractive man. He did indeed think very highly of himself!
What people never really talk about is that on the day of the murders Susan was having suicidal thoughts. She called David and begged him to please take the boys because she did not want to harm herself or them. She called her mother to please come help her but her mother was just too busy to deal with Susan's "moods". So I think she was very aware that she was in some emotional unstable or volatile state.
Her last phone call was to Tom Finley begging him to reconsider and resume the relationship but he was very curt and dismissive.
I know the exact pier where she was. It is a fairly long pier and she had quite a few seconds to stop the car and save those boys.
I will never defend what she did and if you ever watch the tape that was made of exactly how long it took that car to fill with water and descend to the bottom of the lake it will give you a good idea of the terror and helplessness those children felt strapped in their car seats. I just think that people should know that Susan was failed and betrayed by so many people her entire life it was almost inevitable that she would eventually harm herself or others.
Sorry this is so long but this is a case I feel quite passionate about.
Your commentary is concise, detailed, informative and thoughtful. I appreciate your insight. Thanks for writing this.
I’m also from the area & knew immediately those kids were in that car in that lake although I hadn’t seen the news only my mom asking if I had seen anything on it. She is/was a manipulator & needs to be locked up the rest of her life. There are too many females that seduce their stepfathers & unfortunately too many men that well let’s their brains are not able to function when the zipper is tempted. That said, she is selfish, cruel & her only concern is for herself. She uses whatever & whomever she needs to attain her goal & discards them like a piece of trash. She is evil.
@@janetbryant558 I Agree. If she truly repented, she would not have done the things she did/does in jail. She should never get out. Those poor little boys.💔
@@janetbryant558 so the child or younger person seduced the more life experienced one, the child or woman cannot be seduced and can help themselves, but men are incapable of walking away? They can't take themselves into another room and take care of themselves, and cannot otherwise feel such responsibility that they remove themselves or are mentally turned off by this?
It doesn't matter what goes up or down down there, that is not the deciding factor. Stepfathers, everyone, should not draw a respectable and responsible line in the sand? What about real fathers or uncles who abuse their position, they were seduced? Teachers? Women who think like this have no real respect for other healthy and mature women and men. Mature women and men respect and protect their own dignity and that of others. You are part of the problem. Your bleeding heart is in the wrong place.
I don't know that this woman was not manipulative, nor that she was abused, but if anyone fragile begs someone desperately to help them with the care of another person, especially a vulnerable child, it is extremely irresponsible not to either help or get them help. No excuse for what she did, never the less. They would have been alive if she had abandoned them.
It seems the elegible bachelor was sensibly, if coldly, self-preserving.
Also, 9 times out of 10, mothers destructively deny and reject daughters who accuse someone of sexual abuse, usually within the family; stepfathers, uncles, and siblings or cousins. Sometimes it is fathers. Really sad. If a troubled child falsely accuses there is usually someone to blame there, too. However, abusers are good at troubling children, abusing and tormenting them, and then pretending the child is crazy. Victims are often labeled, treated, and maligned while perpetrators walk away unscathed.
Do you have any issue with the thousands of rape kits across this country that police have destroyed without ever investigating, when discovering serial rapists would help provide proof? Serial rapists are more likely to become serial killers.
I don't see the rage needed and that should exist over the rape kit destruction, but I bet if more men were affected those rape kits would be preserved. Discovering serial rapists would lower the level of fear of false accusations and perhaps help solve murders.
However, did you know there is no mandate insisting police departments solve crimes, or murders, or missing persons, or tracking across the nation how many they do or do not solve. I have also heard of homeless murders being labelled suicides to keep community crime statistics lower.
Seven years old is still a very fragile age for a child and it was very hard for a child not only to go through a divorce in those days and deal with the aftermath, very lonely and isolating, but to lose a parent to suicide is devastating. Still, not an excuse.
@@janetbryant558
Thank God for your comment. I get so sick of hearing about how poor Susan was betrayed by everyone.
So what?
She killed those kids to get Tom Finley back. Period.
I don't care how she has fared in prison.
I don't care what happens to her.
They should have fried her.
Dr. Todd, I worked in a Max. Women's for 7 years as a senior officer. I have only a layperson's understanding of the psychology of why women kill. The prison holds 1,250 offenders and I got to know most of them on a casual platonic level. I was well-liked because I didn't judge and I was older, to some, father figure. I know some of these women killed just out of the convenience for a reward or to end a bad situation they could not figure out how to get out of. Walking away never crossed the minds. To kill their children is an act that truly pushes the boundaries from a very "bad heartless idea", losing emotional control, to a psychopath. Smith seemed very immature and was seeking a fairytale lifestyle. She was not going to let anything or anyone get in her way. Sociopath? Perhaps her sons reminded her of her husband that she choose to despise greatly. This was not what she wanted in life. She started experimenting on ways to get out. The new man she cared for most didn't' want children. That was a "done deal " for her. No children to her meant killing them to ensure her fairytale future. It probably never crossed her mind to give custody to her husband. Maybe she had a level of hate for him that would not allow her to do that. Watching her children sink in that car had to be some level of psychosis. "Good riddance to her husband's children." She refused to look at the fact that they were 50% hers, too. Once it sank it was, "out of sight, out of mind." She now had to concentrate on the big lie and be able to pull it off. But, being immature, she just winged it like she got caught shoplifting. She just starting "winging" her story. That can be a ten thousand crossword puzzle. I don't think she placed much intelligence on investigators. Her alibi quickly had more holes in it than a Wiffle ball. After 20 plus years, I don't believe she loses much sleep in prison over her actions. I used to talk to Susan Smith's type every day. When on the killing topic, their eyes go blank.
It sounds like Susan Smith never loved or bonded with her kids. Poor babies.
deb310red yeah
A psychopathic narcissist she has no ability to empathize? The narcissism shows itself in that she barely planned it and thought she’d get away with it.
One wonders how you discipline someone for self harm or attempting suicide??
Wow! I think you hit the nail on the head. I agree with all your conclusions.
This case has always reminded me of the Diane Downs case. Both involved women with a history of childhood abuse and multiple on/off relationships and ended with the death of a child/children. I think that they make a compelling argument for the long-term destructive consequences of child abuse without excusing or diminishing the tragic choices of the women involved.
romantic skeptc Agreed.
Live in S.C. It is not always up to date. A principal married a junior student. Nuff said.
Sandra norman South Carolina born and raised, and I didn’t hear about this story. Where and when did a Principal marry a student? I can’t find anything based on the amount of info comment. I don’t know what southern stereotypes mean when it’s people who do bad things. Were you a resident when Susan Smith murdered Michael and Alex? I’ll never forget this case, what the boys were wearing, her hair scrunchy and the day when we learned she was lying as was suspected all along.
If i remember correctly Diane Downs had a sexual encounter incident also in jail(actually out of jail,because she escaped from jail to do this)
Well there are a lot of similarities I actually had diannes head in my mind b4 I realised it was the other one.. child abuse does a lot of things but it usually doesn’t produce murderers
I am just a few years older than Susan Smith. I remember this well. The very first time my mother saw her on television, my mom said immediately “she killed those babies.” Terrible situation.
So am I. I had two little boys of my own then, although they were a little older. This broke my heart.
I remember the conference and immediately thought she hurt those boys 😪 just horrifying
😲 WOW
My husband did too
The Susan Smith case is especially horrifying for me; my Grandmother tried to drive the car into a lake with my mom and her sisters in the backseat. My Grandfather managed to stop her in time. I am fuzzy on the details (this occurred decades before I was born.) It's one of many horrible badly-kept family secrets.
😮 what are some other badly kept secrets?
I had a boss whose wife drove their car into the river and killed herself and their daughter. Very sad times.
A Crafter...God bless you and your family
I'm very sorry your mom had to endure that trauma. Thank God for your grandfather
That’s horrible. How did you all deal with the trauma? What happened to your grandma?
One of the things that are so great about Dr. Grande is his ability to make the things he's talking about comprehensible for us people who may not know too much about the subject at hand to begin with. A lot of other creators confuse me, but this guy can make me understand the things he's talking about, and I love it.
Victoria Finnseth Stenersen I agree
@@PetroicaRodinogaster264 I'm IN.
He’s a good teacher 😊
Victoria, I agree!! Dr. Grande is pretty cool for that!! 😉👍
And interject humor without disrespecting the cases.
Thanks for calling out those prison guards - there was a lot of press about how they were all just waiting to get her in their prison so they could punish her since she was such a hellcat.
I agree. One has given interviews, blaming Susan. It takes 2 to Tango. I'm glad he got fired. If he has no more sell control, he shouldn't be a prison guard in a women 's facility.
Thank you for speaking about those prison guards - abhorrent behaviour that they are entirely responsible for.
The omitting hard questions of aspiring guards when interviewed shows system flawed from "go' --- (this could become a rant so I will go away now)
@@stjudeprayer7 Yeah, it's obvious there was some failure in the recruitment. And it's known as well that uniform professions tends to attract a number of people who are not suitable, persons who can not carry the uniform (basically something that distinguish a person who represent society as upholding certain boundarirs etc on behalf of the public in his/her service) but needs the uniform to hold up themselves. Now surely prisonguards, cops etc can have crap happening in their life that perhaps damage their judgement though it's awful for their employer to sort of facilitate some sort of myth about her. If anything it maybe show poor training to not recognize the underlaying reason to specific behaviours by the interns (but then, some guards perhaps are fully in charge andcontrol of themselves by providing an extra pack of cigarettes for sexual favours or similar) .
@@johannas.l.brushane2518 "disciplined for self-harm" says everything you need to know about the 'rehabilitation' powers of prisons.
@@JokersSerious You echo exactly what I thought, Medieval thinking in a 21st century American woman's prison, and prison guards [we say prison officers in the UK] having sexual interourse with inmates willy nilly. The American prison system is seriously backward.
@@JokersSerious You can’t “rehab” a mother who murdered her children.
What a horrifying case. I think your ending note on how this is kind of a worst case scenario of the consequences of trauma was meaningful. Traumatized people who don't seek counselling so frequently perpetuate the trauma onto others...Great video as always Dr. Grande, thank you!
So sad, yet true 😪
Agree with this sentiment. I don’t think it’s necessary to explain away all criminal acts with a personality disorder. Trauma on its own can reshape someone’s worldview into something scary and dark. Who knows what was going through her head. Society needs to do better with stopping abusive situations, and offering support to those who are affected.
@Cheryl Lynne ?
Cheryl Lynne You know this for sure, or do you just like to victim blame? Either
way, what he did is inappropriate and gross.
A lot of women experience sexual trauma ...they don’t murder their children ..she was a very selfish & self absorbed ....
In my minds eye I still see those babies strapped in their car seats, the water rising over their little mouths and noses, scared, crying for their "mama". There is an afterlife, and she will reap her reward.
Pamela Gabert you and I have had this same nightmare going through our minds. That’s all I could think about back then. What if it were my kids suffering like that, scared and frantic, calling out for their mum as the water was rising over their faces. I was traumatized for a very long time thinking about the innocent babies. Dear God.
I can't imagine
I lived in SC during this. I still have nightmares about the babies being pulled from the lake. She should have gotten the death penalty!
She is very lucky not to get the deadpenalty. She is a monster. Veeeeery sad for the two boys
Can't believe she is telling men she can see herself being around children and a good stepmother now her parole hearing is coming up this year. She should never get parole.
re: friendliest girl award: "it seemed kinda strange to me; but, I guess that's what they had available.."
Burst out laughing at that comment!
Thank you Dr. Grande! Your sense of humour keeps me going in these tough times. 😊
MaxPanicked We had that award at my jr high, as well as "most helpful girl" and "biggest flirt". For both of those, some students really seemed to be plotting for those "awards".
Yeeeaahh, that struck me as just a touch, um...vague? And your wry comment also got a smile out of me, which TBH I probably needed, considering the absolute horror of the subject matter, combined with the current aforementioned tough times.
But seriously- “friendliest female” WHAT, exactly? Friendliest...female human? Friendliest female...living thing? Friendliest female...electronic component? Friendliest female...future child murderer? Friendliest (future most hated) female (in America)?
Why not just “friendliest girl,” FFS?
@@MsDripCoffee I WOULD have won "most likely to get shot in a gas station robbery gone bad", but I didn't win.
@@Dwightstjohn-fo8ki Are you saying somebody won that award lol
So did i......lol
Dr. Grande can you please do an analysis of Andrea Yates. Unlike Susan Smith, my heart broke for her, considering the horrific nature of her crime. Thank you.
Yea I blame a lot of it on her husband. He was told after the 3rd or 4th child she had serious ppd. So the guy Knicks her up again. The drs all warned him that they should not have more kids bc of her ppd.
Her husband, I feel, was an emotional void of any support to her. Imagine if he had to watch 5 children for just a weekend. He'd go nuts. He didn't help her at all when it was obvious to anyone she was suffering from PPD. He ignored MD's recommendations about having more children. He didn't care, it appeared. I never liked him based on what I saw of him & read. It was like she was a Single Mother although married. Couldn't he see she was breaking??
Rather than doing Andrea Yates, who was a victim, do her husband, the man who victimised her and left her alone on her path to madness.
@@meeeka , now that’s an analysis I’d be fascinated to hear. He definitely had to have some type of personality disorder to treat his wife that way.
Yates was a true victim. Rusty Yates should be in prison for being a pathetic excuse for a man. Hes married again and hopefully not treating this wife like a baby making machine. A woman would be nuts to marry that man!
"Alcohol usually makes everything worse." Dr. G spitting facts
As a trauma survivor, I can see her disassociation. Her promiscuous behaviour gives a lot of clues about the depth of her trauma and that she did not work on it much.
At her young age, I'm guessing she didn't know what was even wrong with her or how to work on it.
It's just my opinion, but she'd probably never heard of any of the Cluster B personality disorders, either.
When I was 23, her age when she murdered her children, I hadn't heard of these disorders.
maybe she just wanted to reconnect with being loved and close to someone (possibly her father relationship), and sex was the closest thing to that, along with inappropriate choices. Like sleeping with the dad of her boyfriend is next level no boundaries. She had no respect for decency because none was given to her. (like allowing the abusive partner of her mother back in the home. Home wasn't a safe place). therefore, also, for her, the mother child bond had no worth, because that is what her mother had communicated to her. And who knows what depression was triggered by the male learning her / latent suicide which she put on her children, killing her motherhood, and maybe her mother self. Also 2 young children can = depression and isolation. Maybe it was her final snap.
@@ohdear2275 she knew to blame a black man
Yeah whatever. I'm a trauma survivor too and I have zero pity for that baby killing bitch. She would have put an innocent black man in prison to cover her crimes up if she could have, she certainly tried! What's wrong with people?
Call her what you may. She has not been clinically diagnosed with any of you guy's conjunctures. What the world knows, which is indisputable, Susan Smith is a straight up racist manipulating woman. She blamed a blackman for carjacking/kidnapping & America believed her, at least, for a while.
This case gets to me more than of the others I’ve heard Dr Grande talk about and I think it’s just the horrifying way she chose to end her children’s lives. I can’t help but think about how slow and terrifying that death would’ve been for two small innocent children by their own mother. She’s an absolute monster. And my parents both suffered abuse by their own families as children also and social services did not help them either but they could never do what she did. And the guards who slept with her sound pathetic and desperate. Christ, what a world.
Thank you. Have you ever looked into Andrea Yates? I feel she actually did meet the legal definition of insanity, which seems rare. I feel her husband had some culpability in that outcome.
Me too
From what I remember her dr's warned against more babies and her being alone with them. The fact she called the police on herself says so much. She was in desperate need of inpatient therapy
april silvers yup
Signs were there unfortunately no one took heed
I wish that Rusty Yates had been prosecuted on the following criminal charges:
five counts of Negligent Homicide and five counts of Reckless Endangerment. Negligent homicide is applicable as his leaving Andrea home alone with the kids on the day of the murders gave her the opportunity to murder the children. Reckless endangerment is applicable because Rusty constantly disobeyed the orders of Andrea's doctors to never under any circumstances leave Andrea home alone with the kids for long periods of time and to make sure that she was sticking to a very strict medication regiment consisting of antidepressants, an anti-psychotic medication, anti-anxiety, and a sleeping medication.
@wulfgar3000 some people seem to fetishize blame, and in this case, if she is mentally compromised, then blame comes apart from evil, and since people want to believe in a just world, someone therefore has to be to blame, someone else needs be punished. Andrea Yates was insane, legally insane, and if your actions are beyond your control, it is hard to be morally accountable for those actions. She did something quite evil, but she is not an evil person, because she was compromised psychologically and emotionally. Michael and those like him will never be satisfied with mercy, and to explain the obvious will only make him double down on why someone who was not in any way to blame needs be put in prison. It is the American solution to all things.
Can you analyze the psychological effects of leaving a cult and the impact on a person's life?
I've been wanting him to do this, too. I grew up as a Jehovah's Witness and left at 19, and I know it still affects my life 21 yrs later. My family is all still inside. I would like him to define the factors that makes a group a cult and go from there.
@@2006glg When you study cults, you learn that it only takes 10% of a group to be true believers to maintain the leader and the group as a whole.
Oh, yes. I went to an LDS college in Idaho and it was a strange and alarming experience. There's a lot of people with a lot of problems. Especially the ones who served a mission. My 2nd husband was likely a sociopath and he was a lifelong member of the Mormon church. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
What a GREAT idea! 🐺
There are so many different types of cults there's satanic ritual abuse and then there's abuse from just being inside of cults like Jehovah's witnesses and things like that he would have a large episode
Dear Dr. Grande,
I am a neuroscientist and a huge fan of your channel. I think that you were remiss in not factoring in a major component of Susan Smith's case. In addition to murdering her own children, another heinous action of hers was to shift blame for her crime onto a vulnerable population (i.e., a nameless African American male). Until her story came apart under interrogation, investigators were searching for potential suspects in the African American community. It is entirely possible that an African American male would have been charged and convicted of the crime she committed. Had this occurred, he would have been far more likely to receive the death penalty than she would have. Her willingness to frame a nameless member of a vulnerable community should be factored into her psychological profile.
Absolutely. Very well said.
@wulfgar3000 Actually, while I would defer to a clinical psychologist like Dr. Grande, my neuroscience research puts me in proximity to people who study Cluster B personality disorders. Shifting blame onto others is a common tactic of narcissists, sociopaths, psychopaths, and others living with one of the Cluster B personality disorders. If you’re going to make an outrageous (and racist) claim like that wulfgar3000, please back it up with at least one citation.
@wulfgar3000 Also, there were people in the African-American community who were trying to help find the "culprit," so the African-American community was taking responsibility- even when (as it turned out) no one from the African-American community was responsible for the crime.
I lived in SC during this time. I was 15. It was SC in the 90s. For black ppl in SC, it could have just as well been the 70s as far as how it felt in a lot of ways. We lived two hours from Union, but they were even stopping and harassing random black men in my town - two hours away. My mom told my older brothers to not go out.
The men in Union were outright hunted trying to find one they could pin it on. She not only murdered her two kids, but she traumatized an entire community - and she knew it would happen and hoped SC's legendary racism would find her an innocent black man to pin her crimes on.
@@stuartwashington2658And?????
Hi Dr. Grande! I just wanted to say that I really appreciate your perspective, and how you are one of the few people on UA-cam who manages to discuss psychology in an ethical way. Thank you!
I remember the day this happened, my girls were her boys age, and when I heard she did it, I cried, and screamed that 'I would have taken those boys'...how could she, those boys in the little blue outfits and cute little bowl haircuts...and my heart was broken for them,,,I never have one thing to say about her!
You sound like my mama. She was so pissed and hurt. I'll never forget it.
Anyone in that community would have taken the boys.
It’s a very nice community.
Her ex-husband wanted their kids too. She only cared about herself.
I remember when this happened too. Her pleas didnt feel genuine. Something was off. Wasnt it reported when they retrieved the boys they found them holding hands? It was such an unimaginable & inconceivable tragedy. Sleep sweetly Michael & Alex.
LitAfuseiCantStop I remember the same feeling when I heard her on the news talking about how she yelled after the carjacker drove off with her boys, “Mommy loves you!” I immediately thought she did something to those boys and her cover story is a lie. She never rang true to me.
I was a kids when this happened and remember every bit of it. I have always wondered why she didn't just give up custody and let her husband raise the kids.
Because, in her immature mind, that would have made her a "bad mother". Sound crazy, considering what she did? Yes. But she was a pleaser; she was used to being thought of as attractive, desirable, and "good". She needed desperately to be liked and thought well of, so giving up her children was unthinkable. It's complicated and part of her inconsistent thinking/mental condition.
@@melliott333 You are right.
She would still have been involved in the children’s lives . In a small town everybody would have been watching to see if she took the kids for visits etc. Finley’s letter made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with the kids , and apparently thought Susan was too low class for him anyway. What a tragic outcome .
Or just unalived Herself
Susan Smith’s stepfather bears responsibility for the damage he did to her, as does her mother for not leaving the stepfather. Nonetheless, Susan Smith is exactly where she should be: in prison.
"When you kill a person it is as if you kill the world". Bad actions have a ripple effect and people must pay for ALL the suffering they cause because of it.
With regards to that aspect; it is truly appalling that Linda Russell accused her daughter of seducing her husband.
Dr. Grande gave me an extra shot of espresso this morning! On the way to being Dr. Venti!
You win the comment section
Love it
p6arl
We’re the boys voting her the friendliest girt in school. Made me laugh 😂
@ _Major Allen Espy_
▪︎▪︎▪︎
👏 👏 👏
*Very clever, my friend.*
The fear those young boys felt as they were submerged in dark cold water unable to move or breathe . For that reason I do not care what her "disorders" are. She should have received the Death Penalty.
because that would retroactively ease the boys' suffering?
Oh, Dr.! :"HER & David were married ... !?!?" Grammar matters too!!
More cruel 2 let her live out her life w/this atrocity! She will never b free, so she is really serving 2 life sentences!
@@nancyayers7669 She will be eligible for parole in 2 years so she will be free. She should have gotten the death penalty
No the mental trauma and abuse she suffered does not excuse her actions. But being abused for what is basically your whole life.... does make it understandable. In a way. I want her to be in prison her whole life yes, but I also can sympathize with her because she was abused. Reasons why we need a better network for ALL abuse victims. Male and female. To be clear.
To make a note here, there was a youth pastor for the LDS ward I went to and he described how his daughter was in an abusive relationship. I wish I was brave enough to have told that bastard that he was a fukking coward for not saving his daughter from that abuser. (He literally said he prayed for the mans death.) This is one of my regrets in my life. If I do ever see him again, I very much WILL tell him he is just as bad as that man who abused his own daughter. (This is why I DESPISE the LDS.)
The next Sherlock Holmes. Lol. I totally agree! About a year ago some one kidnapped a girl and kept her in his basement for over 2 months. She finally escaped and ran to the neighbors house. When they called the cops it was over half and hour before they showed up. For weeks the new was talking about the police and their tireless efforts to a successful conclusion. Wtf? She broke her self out after they didn't find her during the months she was being raped and imprisoned. Then they took their time to come get her.
@@OutOfHereSoon ???
exactly!! i remember that case and had the same opinion: she saved herself.
@@OutOfHereSoon ok.. possible.. but let's be realistic, the kidnapper was a 26 year old male and she was a 13 year old girl
This case has haunted me for years. I was a young mom also and have two sons. I could not imagine how any mother could do such a horrific thing to her babies. My mother was very affected by this tragedy too, she actually put the photos of Alexander and Michael on her refrigerator because she wanted them to always be remembered. I loved that my mother did this, she was a truly nurturing person. I appreciate Dr.Grandes analysis as it does shed some light on Smiths early life. These sad things that happened to her really messed her up, not that it’s any excuse but at least it explains how she became so incredibly and unbelievably misguided. Thanks Dr.G
I love when you throw in little critiques of law enforcement/ third party persons when you do these cases. Kind of takes away from the serious tone of the video and makes it a little more personable :)
I remember seeing her on TV when it first happened and my first thought was - she did something to her kids and I felt a sense of deep-misgiving. I cried when they revealed what happened to her children.
Me, too. The first interview I saw, I told my husband, she's lying. She did something to her children.
He thought I was nuts.
Sadly, I wasn't wrong.
@@ohdear2275 Yes, my mother also knew she had something to do with it.. sadly, she was right as well 🥺
This happened about 30 miles from my home. My high school friend, Judy Clark, defended Smith at trial.
This was horrible. Initially everyone in my area was soooo sympathetic towards Smith.
She's a monster to kill her boys.
I'm extremely surprised that Susan Smith didn't receive the Death Penalty for her crimes.
When I saw her on tv pleading for their return, i turned to my husband and said, "She did it... crocodile tears."
I have whiplash from her going from relationship to relationship 🤷♀️
Very well said Dr.😊 I really enjoy your channel and your commentary. I am a nurse and have worked in corrections and I absolutely agree with your comment regarding the officer's and being "fearful " of an inmates magical powers". Inmates can be extremely manipulative and in my opinion one needs to be a strong personality to work in a Correctional institution and also be educated in inmate manipulation in order to be an effective officer/caregiver/clinician working in that environment in order to combat the games that inmates play.
Your uploads happen at around 3 o'clock in the afternoon in Norway, which is the perfect time of day I feel. I look forward to your videos everyday.
Hi Vic, obviously Norway is in the same time zone as Germany? It's 3 p.m. aka 15 Uhr here, too. 🙂
@@mrs.reluctant4095 So you're German. I like your language, I also like Russian and French.
@@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare Haha, I knew you were a Scandinavian, because of your name, but I've guessed you were a Suomi, Finnish woman. Slightly off! 😊 Hope Norway is doing fine.
@@mrs.reluctant4095 Norway is doing pretty good. No one that I know have gotten sick, and people get to stay at home, and they get money so that they can pay their rent and buy food. Now I don't work because of my social anxiety, and so I was covered anyway, but I'm glad that my friends and family is getting taken care of as well. We're trying to slow the spread of the virus so that when people get sick they have a place at the hospital.
@@mrs.reluctant4095 How are things going in Germany?
👏👏👏👏 applause for calling out the guards, for not owning thier conduct while she was in prison.
Hi Dr. Grande. Hoping you might see my comment, although this video is quite old now. I am diagnosed with both Dependent Personality Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as several other mental illnesses. Both borderlines and dependents tend to be viewed very badly in the media and often by the general public. I was half dreading watching this so I want to say thank you for your sensible and measured approach when discussing this case. I have two beautiful daughters (twenty and sixteen). It would be easy for people to assume having any type of personality disorder automatically makes you a dangerous or untrustworthy person or parent so I am always grateful for reasonable discussion of the topic. Keep up the awesome work.
I remember watching this case as it unfolded, and seeing her interviews and thinking something wasn’t right with how she was acting, and really hoped that she had just hidden the kids somewhere. I was horrified when I found out that those sweet little boys were drowned purposefully by her. This case was so disturbing...and then when you find out how many cries for help Susan made, and what happened to her...this was a tragedy that could have been averted. Those poor boys.
This is a very helpful breakdown of the Cluster B "overlap" that can present in certain individuals, which remains baffling for those seeking just one clear-cut diagnosis. Your elaboration on psychosocial contributing factors (e.g., childhood trauma/sexual abuse) to Cluster B traits/personality disorders will help to reduce the societal stigma attached to them, and allow for more productive discussions, collaborations, and therapeutic alliances on the topic(s). Thank you!
Also, can you explain the possible overlap with ASD (in other words, neurodevelopmental vs. personality disorder)?
I am from SC and do not live that far from Union, I remember when this happened. It shocked so many people that she could take the the life of her children. Thanks for you input concerning this case. This is a great You Tube Channel, btw.
I am addicted to Dr. Todd videos.
As a mother I have always been particularly disturbed by this case. I remember it vividly. From the very beginning I watched her behavior prior to her confession and I always felt incredulity concerning her attempts at sincerity so when she was arrested and charged I wasn't surprised frankly. I can't be sure but I have learned through my experience with my own mother who was diagnosed with BPD that it is a commonly overlooked and misunderstood personality construct unless one is an educated professional, maybe that's why it was never brought up...just a guess. Anyway thanks so much as always I just love your channel. Stay healthy doc!😊
When she said “Your momma loves you”. I turned to my husband and said, “She did it”. That one statement made her sound guilty, it was phony as a two dollar bill IMO
@@AedanGUnitYou know there are 2 dollar bills. They aren’t phony.
I assume the “magical powers” she had with the guards were actually the guards using their “other” brain to think.
It's even stranger when it's female guards with male prisoners because some of the female guards get pregnant!
@@GorgurugaSusan Smith and diane downs is nothing compared to the real world. it is even worse when narcissist sex offenders and serial killers are released into to the public cities taking their anger out on law enforcement. I have one parole imate who brag everyday to me about his sexual success with female prison guards. My advice is to get used to their lies, they are in prison for a reason. Do not give up your authority to them.👍
the guards were defiantly manipulated
Her tongue had magical powers
@@anonymousandy2789 Don't be a prick. No matter how she swished and smiled those guards sign an oath and are legally bound NOT to take advantage of the prisoners in their charge. The onus is on them to walk away from her. Maybe even report her behavior toward them. She can't go anywhere, she's locked up. It doesn't matter how much she rubs up against them they should have l put her back in her cage and walked away.
If she were male the guards wouldn't be allow to beat him up "just because they wanted to" even if "he was a masochist and liked being beat up, the guards would toss him in his cage and walk awake. The guards were tools and behaved like tools.
with the power dynamics between guards and inmates.... the guard saying he was "seduced" by susan smith is sickening.... and only 5 months probation........
the whole prison system is irrevocably twisted.
we have to tear the whole thing down and start over.
thank you for this... i knew about her, but never knew the things that happened after her arrest + imprisonment.
i'd love to see a video about andrea yates. another tragic case of a mother killing her children
stay safe!
Sad thing about our Prison system is that inmates get little if no rehabilitation...so there is a great deal of reoccurring offenses. No matter how long she is in there, she will come out even more messed up, then when she first entered Prison. Her life was awful in her youth and should have been addressed at that time. Child abuse ruins the child, and the adult they will become, without therapy. Sad and unhappy person, and a horrendous crime. Tragic. Thank you for your review Dr.Grande. A fascinating look at what made these kinds of crimes happen.
Lol, good to see you on here now!
5:23 "In high school she received the 'Friendliest Female' Award; seems like kind of a strange award, but I guess it’s what they had available."☺️
Off Topic: Apologies, but your comment reminded me of a reward-based dog training class I attended with my very first rescue dog. At our "graduation ceremony," every dog got an award, eg. best recall, longest sit, etc. When the trainer got to my dog, he was presented with a rosette emblazoned with *'Most likely to* *_HEAR_* *Cheese!'* handwritten on the front! [Honestly, I was fully expecting it to say: *'100% ALWAYS the Cause of Complete & Utter Chaos!"🤦🏻♀️* Bless his heart, a roomful of 10 other dogs & numerous people was just *_SO_* *EXCITING* for him!]
Anyway, sometimes you’ve got to get a little creative in recognition of less obvious positive qualities or achievements, & I like to think the dog behaviourist recognised the importance of this philosophy! Good lord, that lovely dog could turn _completely_ deaf when chasing a squirrel or following the scent of badger tracks, but would *always* come running when he heard the _faintest rustle_ of the cheese wrapper!
I hate to say it but i almost laughed when he said she got that award. I thought, how appropriate. But, she was severely sexually abused by her step dad and her mom knew this..let him back in the house afterwards. No wonder she turned out the way she did...not a pass for killing her kids but I was told in psych class , whatever age you are when you are traumatized, mentally, you stay that age unless you get help for the trauma. Your brain does change from trauma, we were told it actually re shapes your brain. Not sure if Dr. Grande agrees with that but that's what my teacher told us.
Lorna Ginette Harrison What a cute story! I hope your doggie gets all the cheese 🧀 you can give him!😷
@Lovie Bryant I do remember that movie, actually. long time ago but I saw it.
Interesting case. Great video. 👍🏼
I’d be interested to hear your take on the Andrea Yates case who drown her 5 children to “save their souls”. I see all sorts of diagnoses assigned to her; severe postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, schizophrenia. Additional interesting things about this case 1. the verdict was overturned on appeal, in light of false testimony by one of the expert psychiatric witnesses. 2. She and her husband were told by doctors not to have more children, yet they did. 3. husband was told not to leave her alone with the children, yet he and additional family members did!
That was an interesting analysis. It's interesting to see how differently trauma victims cope. It simply must be because of the differing personalities and not the trauma. Regardless of the personality I still hold each person responsible for their actions, barring physical problems that could account for aberrant behavior such as brain injuries. Murder is a heinous crime and murder of children is especially despicable. I agree that her sentence was not overly severe and from her actions in prison and lack of any remorse, barring further information or personal interviews with her I would have no problem denying parole. Just my personal opinion.
U & A Excellent analysis 👍
Definitely different responses for different personalities. You are one of few that has articulated that.
I moved to SC about 2 years before this case, I remember it very well. I remember thinking at the time that it wasn't going to end well; the death of those boys was so sad. It's my opinion that she should never be released from prison and honestly, I think she should have received the death penalty. What she did is unforgivable.
It is extremely surprising that Susan Smith wasn't sentenced to death for drowning her sons because South Carolina is a Death Penalty state. I have a friend named Wendy and she once lived in the South- Tampa, Florida to be precise- and she told me that in the South the courts sentence criminal defendants to death more than people change their socks. Pretty much every state in the southeastern and southwestern US has the Death Penalty; the exceptions to these regions are the states of West Virginia, Virginia, and New Mexico.
Dr. G--I've worked in domestic violence for 20 years, and in that time I have seen many perpetrators of extreme violence who have dependent personality disorder. I so much enjoy your presentations.
Very interesting, Dr. Grande. I think it’s fascinating to learn the criminality in some of the vignettes/cases that you discussed. In my DSM class, we had a project where we had to draw diagnosis of Aileen Wuornos. It was such a sad and intriguing case. But it highlighted how trauma was a core underpinning and how society had failed her.
I feel like so many times untreated traumas setup people for a lifetime of hurt and potential harm.
It sometimes shocks me how when I hear horror stories from people in old age and the things they faced early in childhood, they seem to have functioning lives.
For example, my dads friend who is a pilot and grew up in England, I have suspicion to believe that his father had possibly BPD, because as a child he was forced to sleep outside in their yard. His father had also been remarried three/four times. His sister has schizophrenia as well.
This man is very sweet too. Been married for 20+ years. His wife was a director over education in some Indian reservations. They are both retired.
And I just feel like he has been put through it in life and appears to be doing well despite his traumas.
I wished there was more preventative measures for mental health in America so we can build a protective factor for those who could benefit from services. I have one more year (3yr track) until I get my masters in social work (BA psych). These videos get my mind working and exploring.
Thank you for the great content!!! 😊
I love you, Dr. Grande. Not a come on. The public service you provide is endearing and of great importance. TY for your critical thinking skills, informative commentary, and entertaining, at times, delivery.😊❤😂
I was one of those that went looking for those babies in the first few days It was shocking to think that a mother could do this. First time I'd ever heard of anything so horrible And blaming it on a black person! Thank God she didn't destroy our community with racial divide or tension Just the opposite happened We all came together and cried, offered each other comfort .You know, how it should always have been! Not one POC resented her for that, Ppl thought she was evil , sick, troubled in her own mind to have killed her own babies.She ended up confessing to my father in law Including the molestation by her step dad that started in her childhood and was ongoing into her marriage to David .After that my husband kept saying how I didn't need to look for those kids,put info out for truck drivers etc ( no internet back in the day) Due to the legalities until the press conference I didn't know about the confession. I'd have been on the phone calling everybody from SC to Cali It was so shocking! My husband like most didn't believe her story, me I just wasn't willing to take that chance She said she was going to kill herself too. Not true it was always let me look good, get rid of the kids and maybe the boy she was dating would marry her His daddy owned a lg saw mill and came from old money She was very selfish and calculating .Those babies daddy David would have taken the kids in a heartbeat! Anyone would have including myself being about the same age as Susan But then Susan wouldn't have been able to keep up the false image of a good mother.She wasn't before she killed the kids. Just wanted to date guys and party.. What a tragedy it still hurts thinking of those babies in their car seats and couldn't get out! They were recovered holding ea others little hands.Just writting this I'm starting to cry all over again After all these years still breaks my heart into pieces Ppl need to realize their actions have a ripple effect that hurts more than what they might think, even ppl y'all don't even know. Ty Dr Grande Really appreciate this.
I was visiting SC looking for a house when I saw this on television. It was breaking news there. When they interviewed her, I, like most people, thought she did it. Her body language, lack of tears, and certain words she used didn’t fit together. Her story didn’t sound plausible. I was pregnant at the time and it was upsetting. We found a house, had our son, and life went on. Susan Smith went to prison. Fast forward several years and a family visiting that lake had an accident. Their Suburban rolled into the lake and some of the family drowned. To me, the area seemed cursed. Eventually, we moved from from SC to GA, but before we left, I had this feeling I needed to go to the lake and say goodbye to those boys. I put my young son in the car and we reached the boat dock an hour later. I didn’t park close to the water. I left my son in the car, checking the parking brake twice before I walked to the edge of the water. I could guesstimate about where her car had been and I stared for about ten minutes, like in a trance. When I turned back around, I could see my son and I couldn’t help but to start crying again for those boys. We left immediately. Fast forward again another ten years. My son was killed in a car accident when he was sixteen. That was ten years ago. I’m still beyond devastated and today is his birthday. Do not go to Union and visit that boat ramp at the lake.
Fortunately, the boat ramp at John D. Long Lake has long since been demolished.
Dr Grande: Welcome to my scientifically informed, insider look at mental health topics.
Everyone: Yay for the lockdown...! The man is ON FIRE!
PS: jokes aside, hope you are all safe... its crazy out there!
I don't mean to diagnose you in any way, but that is a great post!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for highlighting that it is without doubt, the responsibility of the male guards regarding the sexual contact between them and Susan. They should all have lost their jobs. Despicable behaviour.
yes, it takes two to tango.
In Indiana they would've been charged with sexual battery (class C felony, 4-12 years) even if it was consensual. d/t the power differential, prisoners don't have the "power to consent." Of course they would've been fired as well.
Such an interesting case, it's sad to see how disturbed people can cause such a contagious effect on the people they encounter. Thanks for uploading so regularly! I appreciate it, very interesting content.
Hello, Doctor! Hi, everyone! Hope everyone is well. This is really informative, because I've always wondered how her mind works. I remember Praying so hard, those Babies would be found SAFE! I cried so much when they weren't! David was so devastated, but she seemed off. She is right where she needs to be! Take care, Everyone! Thank you!
She still isn't safe to be around sounds like with the activity going on inside prison. Needs to wait awhile longer than 2024 to get out.
She don't need to get out ever period!!!!!!!
Ikr? 2024 is just around the corner!
How abou 3024
Interesting! What a tortured soul. I wish she'd never had kids, but we can't control that drive in others. I can see why she was awarded the "friendliest female" award, though, with multiple partners at the same time. Thank you, Dr. Grande, for yet again another insightful analysis!
What a horrifying case! Just beyond comprehension.
Dr. Grande, I really appreciate your almost daily output of videos! I always look forward to watch them. I don’t even know how you do it, these videos are a lot of work and the quality of your videos is consistently outstanding. I hope you are getting enough rest in between too!
Thank you again for all that you do:)
I think he just needs a sleep no more than about 4 hours. You know Regine, Winston Churchill also just slept no more than 4 hours each night 😨😨
That’s true Ben, some people don’t need that much sleep, maybe he is one of those. I can’t really relate, if I don’t get at least 7 hours of sleep I can’t function very well😅
I also worry that Dr. Grande works too hard. On the occasion of reaching 700K subscribers he went through his work process which was very interesting but it struck me that he works a lot! I then signed up for his Patreon account and it was only then that I realized people produce Patreon-only content. WTH?! Isn't the point of Patreon to help support the content provider so that they can continue what they do so well and still have a life? And now I find it has the result of forcing these people to do more work than they did before or without Patreon. I'd be willing to bet that Dr. Grande's Patreon supporters aren't doing it to get more or "exclusive" content. They are doing it to support his excellent regular UA-cam videos. It really bothers me the amount of pressure he is under as his subscriber base continues to grow. If it gets to be too much I hope he can be convinced to take a break or something, rather than completely burn out.
@@epona9166 I agree. His schedule is brutal, indeed. In addition to his regular YT videos he uploads a lot on Patreon, writes books, answers emails, etc...I have suggested to at least add more tiers to the Patreon subscription, but he is not ready to do that either. He is very generous towards us and I am incredibly grateful but I do worry about him.
Aww, you rock, glad you have a good sense of humor and I'm now hooked
You've been regularly active lately, amazing job!
Thanks so much for your take on this. I’ve been simultaneously repelled and fascinated by this case even since it first made the national news, long before I even considered having children of my own. At the time Smith was in the news, I was a good few years younger than she was, and being an adolescent at the time I didn’t have any initial interest in the case...but, for whatever reason, I was told repeatedly, by multiple people, that they thought her mug shot resembled me, which made me start following the case out of morbid teenage curiosity. (I’ve personally never seen any resemblance other than the fact that, at the time, I had similar 1990s style glasses and hair, but I’ve heard it countless times now.)
In the subsequent years, I’ve become a parent myself, and it really wasn’t really until then that the overwhelming, unimaginable horror of her actions truly struck me. It’s like pulling teeth for me just to have to discipline or dole out unpleasant consequences my kids even when it’s 100% justified! For me, the very thought of ever, ever harming so much as a hair on their heads is so far beyond unspeakable, it’s utterly unthinkable.
Thus, as a parent, I’ve always felt tempted to think that Smith MUST have been suffering from some sort of delusion or psychosis so profound that she wasn’t capable of understanding either her actions or their consequences, a la Andrea Yates. But, sadly, your video has only reinforced what seems to me the unfortunate reality- that she may indeed have been depressed, confused and traumatized...but still, she knew all too well that her actions would result in her children dying a horrible death. A death she knew was so horrible that she couldn’t bring herself to even attempt to follow them, either in death (her claim that she actually intended suicide in the lake herself) or to save them. And her relentless lies and frantic attempts to deceive law enforcement, the media, her family and the public demonstrate to me that she had a perfectly lucid understanding not of merely what she had done, but that she was desperate to avoid any consequences...even if it meant potentially framing an innocent POC and traumatizing minority communities.
To hear now that she has continued to act out sexually and in other ways while behind bars only serves to reinforce what I’d already inferred: this woman is still so calculating, manipulative and self-absorbed that she has neither the willingness, nor possibly even the capacity, for the insight necessary to rehabilitate herself. I could be wrong, but it seems that she still perceives herself as the perpetual victim in the ongoing drama she’s constructed?
Is it me are do many of these murderers suffer from some kind of childhood trauma?
I'm no psychologist whatsoever,.but there is absolutely a link between childhood trauma and growing up to commit violent crimes like murder. Again idk for sure, but I'd honestly be more surprised and think it's more rare to hear of a killer who HASN'T suffered from some form of childhood trauma
I mean I know it happens where they didnt seemingly have a fucked up childhood, like I think in Bundy's case (?) Can't remember for sure, But to answer ur question, albeit from a kind of uninformed perspective, there is certainly a link and I think most people who end up murdering other people probably had some kind of traumatic experiences growing up
Yes, but as the American author of two of his projected three volume biography of Stalin, he's said in several presentations on UA-cam that his own father beat him severely, but he didn't grow up to kill 40 million people as Stalin did, severely beaten by his father.
@@corn_pop6082 The childhood trauma would make him some kind of sociopath... However, sociopaths are very unreliable and unstable. So I assume (since he became the leader of the USSR) that he would have some psychopathic traits as well.
Wow. You're a genius. Some low hanging fruit here
Hello Dr Grande!
Everyone says that Meghan Markle is a narcissist. Could you please make a video about her? So interested in your opinion! Thanks
That would be interesting I think
Katya, I wanred to ask the same :)))) I'm glad I'm not the only one, :) Also Harry's mental health is a curious case but we don't know much about it officialy. He looks too angry !
Good idea.
In my humble opinion, she has been labelled a narcissist because she is a powerful, independent, smart woman of colour. That can't be right, so she must be defective in some way. It's misogyny and racism and all about the name callers, not Markle. In my opinion :) It would be interesting to hear Dr Grande's opinion, I agree.
Maya The Bee we have interview with Russian hackers...
Could you cover Karla Holmoka please? She is one of the couple known as “the Ken and Barbie Murderers”.
Oh Paul Bernardo! That book kept me up for months...what a sick, scary couple ..she is out walking around and has kids of her own now. How messed up is that!
Good recommendation!
Much to my disgust Karla Homolka is now living in Chateâugay; a suburb of Montréal. Karla's reason for moving to Québec is because she believed that she wouldn't be as much of a target for vigilante retribution in the French speaking province of Québec compared to the English speaking provinces of Canada. When I first researched the case of Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo I was horrified by the fact that Paul raped Karla's fifteen year old sister Tammy all because Karla wasn't a virgin when she and Paul were married.
Stay safe Dr G. Appreciate your channel and what you're doing very much
"With all of those...relationships...occurring." 😊 You make me laugh with your little snarky nuances, doctor. I honestly don't know how you can dissect a case like this, but I'm glad you do it. It's so hurtful and heavy. Thank you for your insight on this, even if part of me says _I don't care what happened to her, she's a vile disgusting monster who knew what she was doing_ . RIP little guys. 😢
I hope she never gets out. Thank you again, Dr Grande. 👍🌹 Stay safe inside.
So glad her tragic life and dr. todd's "snarky nuance" provided entertainment for you... I pray for your "loved ones"! -Judge not lest ye be judged.
Thank you Dr. Grande. I remember this case like it was yesterday. I believe those angels were “in her way,” and therefore, they had to go.
I find it interesting that the father was unaware of what type of home these boys were residing in. I often see one parent being conveniently “busy” while the other one raises the children.
I thought she might fit into the “borderline” category, but she killed her own boys! Thank you for going over this and teaching us.
I remember this sad story thank you, Dr.
BPD is so destructive. Everyone goes on about psycopathy but if BPD affects you, you won't ever leave your house again, if the house is still standing, and if anyone is still left in the house. No one you know will be outside the house to visit. You won't have a job to go to, or any money left.
To me her childhood is key. Severe daddy issues and emotional stunting.
Seem more expressive and outspoken lately. I dig it :P
Great analysis on trauma in this case. Her first trauma of her father's death (suicide) was clearly not handled and treated during her teens. It can be assumed she has predisposition of what her father has.
The first time I saw her being an interviewed, it was obvious that she did it. She was not grief or panic stricken as her husband was.
Promiscuousity is common in people who were sexually abused as children.
I just saw a clip of the husband saying he has been trying to forget her, and was doing okay until this year, when she could be paroled. He’s been stressed about it, and afraid.
This story makes me sick to my stomach ☹️
I'm more mesmerized at how someone can do all that with a smile in the face. Some experts at microexpression pointed out there was a hidden happiness when she was on the camera weeping for her sons.
@@masacatior She probably didn't enjoy having children. My mother told us we were 3 mistakes. She is not a murderer but she hated taking care of children. If we had died she would have been sad but relieved.
"outside of the grammar problems" lmaooo you throw the BEST shade
Dr. Grande, I learned more about personality disorders in your video than anyone has ever explained. Terrible tragedy, sorry for the family and especially her sons. Thank you.
Vulnerable narcissism and BPD are very similar! Love your videos
Dr. Grande ..you are a wonderful teacher ..I left work 13 years due to health conditions ..I so wished I would have had açcess to your knowledge when working as a social worker/accredited substance abuse crisis/treatment counsellor ..I greatly appreciate your teaching method ..am planning on sharing your video(s) with former work colleagues ..for I know they will appreciate the delivery of your professional knowledge as much as I do ..merci beaucoup💯..moi,🇨🇦
"In high profile cases detectives act like Sherlock Holmes"
If I knew this was going to be a roast I would have brought some beer.
Delighted to have regular dr grande during this quarantine. 😁
Not defending her crimes but it is sad how her patterns with men played out, almost like that's she thinks all she's for
Old sayings, why buy a cow when you can get milk whenever you want it. Or why buy a box of chocolate when you can have a piece whenever you want it.
@@indy_go_blue6048 that's a truly bizarre way of looking at relationships and the worth of individuals.
I wonder if she subconsciously used sex as power over men.
@@mwilson7842 or she thrived on the attention
Very grateful for your analysis of this case, because I have never known the circumstances. Another great video. Thanks Dr. Grande.
I remember walking in the door after work, knowing nothing about this incident. She was just beginning the press conference, begging the "kidnappers" to return her sons. I immediately said, "She's a liar." They'd better start dragging any nearby lakes." How is a woman going to hide a car?
Andrea Yates is another story. That poor woman should have NEVER had to enter a courtroom. She was so obviously ill. Her husband was the one who needed to be drowned. I thought it was shocking how mysoginistic this was, and the husband escaped responsibility. Somebody should have spoken up for her sooner, WAY, WAY, sooner. I think this happened in the country of Texas.
I agree with you on Andrea Yates because the state of Texas unsurprisingly sought the Death Penalty against Andrea even though she was severely mentally ill. Quite surprisingly the Prosecution agreed with the Defense that Andrea had a history of mental health issues as opposed to asserting that Andrea's mental health issues were made up in order to avoid responsibility for her actions. My belief is that the reason why Andrea was kept off of Death Row is due to the jury agreeing with Andrea's mental health issues and decided that they could not sentence someone as terribly unstable as Andrea to be executed. Andrea had an extremely severe mental breakdown in the summer of 1999 wherein she made two separate attempts at committing suicide. Her first attempt in June of 1999 was by an attempted overdose on sleeping pills prescribed for her father, who was suffering from Alzheimer's. Due to her previous work as a nurse; Andrea stepped up to the plate and volunteered to take care of her father. She was hospitalized for a week, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and released due to the constraints of her health insurance policy. A month later in July of 1999; Andrea made her second attempt at committing suicide by trying to slit her throat with a knife. At that point Andrea was hospitalized for three weeks and treated with the antidepressants Wellbutrin and Effexor along with the anti-psychotic medication Haldol. When her husband Rusty Yates visited her in the hospital; he remarked in an interview on "60 Minutes" that within a day or so of beginning this medication regiment (which also included an anti-anxiety medication and a sleep aid) Andrea had gone from being catatonic to sitting on the couch with him in the hospital's visiting area and being able to have a conversation with him.
Wow! And congrats, Dr. Grande! Your number of subscribers appears to have grown ALOT over the last week or two.💯
That lack of ownership is unsettling and makes me feel like a profile on some the guards would be interesting but less salacious. I am really feeling more and more that abolishing the different diagnosis among personality disorders is appropriate. For example, I have seen so much interplay to differing degrees in between heavy traits of narcissism, factor 2 psychopathy and borderline traits depending on the external circumstances. It is really so complex, personality that is.
Every single word of this was so profoundly accurate and very insightful. Thank you. You couldn’t be more right about your assessments on everything that has happened here.
Question: what if, on top of the existing factors of mental illness imposed on her throughout her life, that she might have been suffering from a prolonged postpartum depression? Certainly, it could have exacerbated her existing mental health at the time. But because of the horrific quality of the breakdown she had when she murdered her sons, PPD got eclipsed under the layers of her underlying conditions, as well as 'regular' potential diagnoses.
Sad, and tragic case. Those poor little boys - it's just heartbreaking when I heard about it, I couldn't unsee out of my mind.
Wasn't PPD used as a defense at some point? At the time it seemed to put it on the radar as a condition more serious and debilitating than the public realized.
I love this analytical and logical way of telling the stories 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
This happened when I was in elementary school in Union County and it's the first crime I was ever aware of. It was horrifying and everyone in town was hurt. I remember all the adults sobbing when the police announced they found the boys in the lake. So it's really hard for me to have any sympathy for her. I knew that she has a sad story but so many do and don't drown their children slowly in a car. I appreciate this video for giving me a slightly new perspective though. I can view her with a little less hate and also be glad she'll likely never be free and very thankful she will never have any more children.
She might if she keeps seducing guards
@X Y couldn't stop yourself from commenting right? 😂
She can have more Children. She is only in her early 50's. All it takes is a desperate guy to stick it in her again and she can become pregnant again. One of my Customers had a child in her 50's...
I was a new mom when this happened. And when it was found out she had murdered those babies. I cried for days!! I had a new baby girl and my mind could not understand how a mom could do this to her own babies. Now its been 30 yrs she has been in prison and she is up for parole. I hope she NEVER gets out.
At the age of seven, I was required to press charges against an abusive family member. I had no idea what that meant at seven. It took a year of therapy for me to understand.
Dr. G! "Friendliest Female Award seems to be a strange award but I guess it was all they had available." Tragic horrific case that is haunting still so many years later but as always your deadpan expression is just over the top. I'm not sure what we would do without you!
Can you look into the Alejandro Avila case? He kidnapped, assaulted, and murdered Samantha Runnion, aged 5, from her yard in 2002. Thank you. I LOVE your channel!
I remember that freak! I live in that town where it happened!
I agree with the BPD/HPD categories…Susan Smith reminded me so much of my own mother that when this tragedy unfolded, I immediately got into therapy to deal with the damage. Great analysis, Dr G! You The Man!
can you do this for darlie routier? cant figure her out?? im stumped do you think shes guilty or wrongfully convicted?
That video will be released in a few days
@@DrGrande That is awesome. She really Intrigues me as well. There are some interesting exhibits in that case that don't quite fit the narrative and I have always thought that the case is not exactly as it seems.
@@DrGrande awesome thanks! No matter how much I learn about that case I still don't have a clue if she is innocent or guilty.
@@DrGrande OMG IM SOOOOO EXCITED!!!
@@DrGrande thanks for your response.... Im waiting with baited breath!!!!
I had completely forgotten about this case! I know this one is going to be very interesting. Sitting down now with my Sunday morning coffee to watch, listen, and learn! ☕👀👂📚
2024 isn’t long off, she shouldn’t EVER get out! NEVER! 💯 I remember it like it was yesterday. 💔
Thanks, Dr Grande. Great analysis - thorough and impartial