The Unlovely Truth

Season 2, Episode 29: Surviving Schizophrenia with Someone You Love: Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

Would you recognize the symptoms of schizophrenia in your children? Don and Mimi Galvin didn’t at first. Robert Kolker’s book “Hidden Valley Road” not only tells of the Galvin family struggles, but how their participation in schizophrenia studies have helped scientists looking for better treatments and maybe even a cure.
Mary Galvin, the youngest family member, endured horrific neglect and abuse. She often felt like an outcast of society, and this gave her a new connection to her six brothers who each had a mental health diagnosis. They needed so much help that home care assistance was not a realistic option. So Mary took on much of the care of her brothers herself. It was her way of surviving schizophrenia and its effect on her family.
My guest this week, Maree Dee, hosts a private FaceBook community called Embracing Faith and Mental Illness from a Caregiver’s Perspective. Her website, www.embracingtheunexpected.com, is full of great resources for anyone who is close to someone struggling with mental illness, and so much more. Check out that link and the others below!
Visit my website and join my email list
Buy your copy of "Hidden Valley Road"
Maree Dee's website
Listen to my episode on "The Lost Girls" by Robert Kolker
Robert Kolker's website

Season 2, Episode 28: Women’s Safety on Campus: Bluegrass by William Van Meter

I’m a mom who went through the worry of dropping off two daughters at college, well aware that I could no longer protect them in the way that I had when they were still home with me. Katie Autrey probably thought she was safe on the campus of Western Kentucky University, and she would have been if the two men charged with her murder hadn’t crashed a campus party that night. It seemed like a slam dunk case, but one jury didn’t agree. Was justice served?
Buy "Bluegrass"
Organizations that promote safety on college campuses
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Season 2, Episode 27: There Should’ve Been a Book: The Most Vulnerable Victims

Americans are slightly obsessed with stories about serial killers. There are at least a dozen published books about Ted Bundy and the same for Charles Manson, not to mention everything written about John Wayne Gacy, Wayne Williams, Gary Ridgway, and others. But as retired cold-case investigator Paul Holes told Rolling Stone magazine, cultural changes like fewer women hitchhiking made it harder for these and other roving killers to find victims.
But there was still one vulnerable group of women who was willing get in a car with a stranger - workers. The man known as the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, even admitted that he chose prostitutes as his victims because he thought he was much less likely to get caught. For a time, he was right.
Serial killer cold case information
Murder Accountability Project website
Are these cases linked?
Are there really fewer serial killers these days?
Jeffery Lee Guillory's family believes he is innocent of some of the murders he is accused of
Season 1 Episode 8: Murder in the Bayou, Part 1
Season 1 Episode 9: Murder in the Bayou, Part 2
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Season 2, Episode 26: Behind Blue Curtains: An Amish Story of Survival, Escape and Pursuit of Justice by Molly Maeve Eagan and Lizzy Hershberger

Lizzy Hersberger grew up in what is probably the most conservative subgroup of the Old Order Amish community - the Swartzentruber Amish. She didn’t have indoor plumbing and wasn’t allowed to attend school beyond the eighth grade. Worst of all, when she was sexually assaulted by a member of her community, she was the one who was blamed, and cast out of their fellowship at the age of 15. Join me and my guest Molly Maeve Eagan, who is a trauma-informed writer, survivor activist and award-winning investigative journalist. You won’t want to miss her insights into surviving abuse.
Visit the Voices of Hope website
Find Voices Of Hope on FaceBook
Visit Molly's website
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Find Molly on FaceBook @MollyMaeve and @NeverStandAloneUSA
She’s also on Instagram @MollyMaeve and Twitter @CptsdRecovery

Season 2, Episode 25: There Should’ve Been a Book: Turning Grieving to Giving

Sandra Latrail Robinson was just 32 years old when her life was senselessly stolen from her during the course of a robbery. Her mother and her four children want to know what happened. Let’s help them find the answers they deserve by sharing this episode with everyone we can.
And if you’re feeling inspired to help other children who have lost a parent, check out the link below to the website of The National Alliance for Grieving Children.
I’ve never seen the show “WandaVision”, but I love a quote from the character Vision (played by the fabulous Paul Bettany - go watch the Oscar-Award winning movie “A Beautiful Mind” if you haven’t yet), “But what is grief if not love persevering?” Just as Sandra’s mother and children persevere in their love for Sandra, let’s persevere in the search for justice.
If you have any information, please call the GBI at 912-389-4103.
Submit a tip online
Georgia Bureau of Investigation information
News article from 2016
News article from 2017
Information on reward
Crime Stats from Neighborhoodscout.com
The National Alliance for Grieving Children
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Season 2, Episode 24: Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison by Piper Kerman

Piper Kerman could have been any one of us. I had no idea that the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black was based on the true crime memoir that detailed her experiences and what she learned from spending a year in federal custody.
My guest today is James Early, a fellow podcaster and volunteer in prison ministry. James actually serves at the same prison that is the setting for most of the action in this week’s book. You’ll be fascinated by how his work there changed his life.
Check out these great resources:
Buy the book
James' website
James' podcast
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Season 2, Episode 23: Serial Revenge: ”Pathological” by Henry J. Cordes and Todd Cooper

Our book this week is “Pathological” by Henry J. Cordes and Todd Cooper, and my guest is Katherine Mayer, founder of Mayer Consulting in Austin Texas, where she and her colleagues offer civil and criminal defense investigations as well as Death Penalty Mitigation and Sentencing Advocacy.
We had a fascinating talk about the death penalty and more that you won’t want to miss. I hope you’ll share your thoughts with me on social media, or email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com so we can have a discussion!
Check out these great resources:
Buy "Pathological" on Amazon
Shane Claiborne's website
Buy "Executing Grace" on Amazon
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Season 2, Episode 22: A Death in Columbus: The Unsolved Murder of Doug Suns

On August 31, 1986, Doug Suns was shot in the head during an apparent robbery at the Kocolene gas station on Jonathon Moore Pike. He was working alone on the late night shift. The 22 year old died the next day at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Local police say this is the only unsolved homicide in Columbus, Indiana. Every victim deserves to have their story told, but not every story gets made into a book. Maybe if this one had been, the victim’s family would have the answers they’ve searched for for so long.
I hope that someone who listens to this episode knows who is responsible for Doug’s death. If that person is you, please contact authorities and tell them what you know.
You can call Columbus Police at 812-376-2600, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Tips can remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers won’t ask your name, and they don’t use caller ID.
Local news article about the search for Doug's killer
Crime Stoppers USA website
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Season 2, Episode 21: Meth and Murder - ” in the Heartland” by Jax Miller (Part 2)

This week we are taking another look at “ in the Heartland” by Jax Miller. My guest today is Linda Davis, executive director and co-founder of Families Against Narcotics. If you were with us last week, you’ll remember that “ in the Heartland” tells the almost unbelievable story of murders, missing girls, marijuana, meth, and one amazing mom. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode you will definitely want to catch it ASAP!
As the time that Ashely Freeman and Lauria Bible had been missing went from days, to weeks, to months, and then to years, Lauria’s mother Lorene kept searching for answers. She was always pushing herself to do the next thing that needed done in order to find her child.
Eventually, her investigation led her to believe that Danny Freeman’s connections to drug dealers set everything in motion.
One of the things that is most important to the folks at Families Against Narcotics is their belief that all people are worthy and deserving of being treated respectfully. I believe that Jesus teaches this in Mark chapter 12 verse 31 when he says, “...You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Think about how you felt when you were at the lowest point in your life. I know I would be more accepting of help if I felt that I was still seen as having value. If I was treated as someone would want me to treat them if our positions were reversed. Is this where you need to get out of the audience and into the action? When we all work together, we can be unstoppable!
Check out these great resources:
Hope Not Handcuffs by Families Against Narcotics
Buy in the Heartland: Murder, Meth, and the Case of Two Missing Girls
New search underway in Picher for remains of Ashley Freeman, Lauria Bible
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Season 2, Episode 20: True Crime Moms who Never Give Up - ” in the Heartland” by Jax Miller

This is Season 2, Episode 20 and our book this week is “ in the Heartland” by Jax Miller. My guest today is private investigator Sheila Wysocki. She’s also a tremendous advocate for families and especially moms, who often spend years trying to find the truth about what happened to their missing or murdered child. “ in the Heartland” tells the almost unbelievable story of murders, missing girls, marijuana, meth, and one amazing mom.
I love the name of the non-profit that I get to share with you this week: Mothers in Charge. This amazing organization works to prevent violence and supports youth, young adults, families, and communities affected by violence. They have chapters in several different states, but if there isn’t one near you maybe you need to talk to them about starting one! I’ve put a link to their website below, so check that out and see how you can support Mothers in Charge with the incredible work they do.
Mothers In Charge website
Buy " in the Heartland"
Update on the search for Ashley and Lauria
Join my email list - scroll to the bottom of the homepage!
https://sheilawysocki.com/