The Unlovely Truth

Hope in the Shadows: A Story of Surviving Child Abuse, Part 2

How much courage does it take to leave behind everything you’ve ever known? Last week we started with the story of Abby Alvarado as an abused nine year old child who was taken from her home by authorities. They unknowingly placed her somewhere that was even worse. 
 
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact!
 
This is Season 4, Episode 34. Our book this week is I Am Abigail: A Texas Woman's Childhood Nightmare - And Her Escape From Hell as a Sex Slave/Survivor.our guests are Abby Alvarado and Jamie Collins. Jamie wrote this story, and Abby lived it. 
 
At the end of last week’s episode, Abby was legally an adult, but felt powerless to leave. She couldn’t imagine abandoning the three children she’d had by her uncle/ adoptive stepfather/ abuser. Abby’s adoptive mother Laura developed a life threatening disease, and Chevo, her adoptive father, told her that once Laura passed, he and Abby could be married and have more children. It was all she could do not to throw up when he talked that way. She wondered if it would be better just to be dead. But Abby knew that her children needed her.
 
But Abby’s life changed when she met Rudy. They were instantly drawn to each other but had no idea how hard it would be to really get to know each other. Rudy tried messaging her on FaceBook, but Abby’s responses were usually very short. No one would ever have guessed how controlling Laura and, especially, Chevo are of Abby’s time and who she interacts with.
To get around that, Rudy adds another phone to his plan . A phone for Abby. He doesn’t know it, but that phone will be a lifeline for her and her children.
 
Isaiah 21:6-8 NIV
 
This is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys 
or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.” And the lookout shouted, 
“Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.”
 
Isaiah is prophesying here about the coming ruin of Babylon. God tells him that a watchman is needed to be aware of what is happening around the city and give the people reliable information about what he sees. A watchman’s job is to alert people of danger. 
 
Rudy was a watchman. He paid attention, and he tried to warn Abby of the dangers he saw. It was hard for her, but as she trusted him more and more, she was able to take action to save herself and her children.
 
A big lesson for all of us here is that watchmen, or we’ll say watchpeople, not only have to open their eyes, but also their mouths! We cannot forget that we live in a broken world with people who have given themselves over to evil. We must be watchers. And when we see things that just aren’t right, that just might mean danger to someone - we have to speak up. 
 
I know that can feel scary, so I want to hear what you think about the idea of being a watcher for your family, your community, and the people in your church. Send me an email a lori@theunlovelytruth.com or message me on social media. I love it when people are willing to have those hard, but impactful conversations!
 
Listen to last week’s episode
 
Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com. 
 
Grab your copy of I Am Abigail (and support the Unlovely Truth - this is an affiliate link)
 
Read Jamie’s first book, I Am Jessica (and support the Unlovely Truth - this is an affiliate link)
 
Link to Jamie’s website
 
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» National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-SAFE (7233)
» National Child Abuse Hotline (800) 4-A-CHILD
» Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (800) 656-4673

Hope in the Shadows: A Story of Surviving Child Abuse

I’m going to tell you a story about a very scared nine year old girl. Her home life isn’t great, but it’s all she knows. As Jamie wrote in her note from the author, Abby “...never questioned the empty cupboards or the constant hunger. She didn’t know it wasn’t normal to not have toys or clothes. She didn’t know that smoke billowing in a living room full of strangers, beer cans, and white lines of powder on tables was not the norm.” Child Protective Services removed Abby and her siblings from their home, but eventually placed them somewhere that Abby’s abuse would not only continue, but be worse than any case I have ever heard of. 
 
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact!
 
We’re going to look at the 10th chapter of Deuteronomy today. It starts out with Moses having to make new stone tablets for the 10 commandments to be written on because he got mad and smashed the first ones when he saw the children of Israel worshipping the golden calf. That’s right. God gave them tablets with rules on them INSCRIBED BY HIS OWN FINGER, and Moses broke them. On purpose. Losing our tempers has just never worked out for us has it? 
 
Anyway, God has Moses make two more tablets that will be put in the ark. This is the ark of the covenant, a gold covered wooden box, not the ark with the animals. And Moses tells the people again about the commandments and mentions that they are for our own good. He speaks about how the God they serve shows no partiality and how He defends the cause of the fatherless. Verse 18 in the HCSB says: 
 
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, 
and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.
 
This is a hard promise to reconcile with what we’ve heard today - and you know that I left a lot out. But remember what I said at the beginning, that Abby wants everyone to find hope in her story? Well this verse speaks to me of hope. Even if we don’t see justice in the story so far for this young girl who grew up first with no father and then with a father that no one should have had, we know that God promises that it is coming. It may not look like what we are expecting or come as soon as we want it too. That’s why in the midst of troubles we have to hang onto hope the way Abby did. Be sure you don’t miss next week’s episode to hear what happens. 
 
Child abuse is so hard to talk about and if anyone listening has experienced that I want to say that you are strong, you are loved, and it was not your fault. And if you are someone who suspects abuse in the life of a child please contact authorities. Most foster parents are loving and kind and will help abused children as they heal. If you have a story to share about this topic,  Send me an email a lori@theunlovelytruth.com or message me on social media. I love it when people are willing to have those hard, but impactful conversations!
 
Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com. 
Link to buy I Am Abigail
(affiliate link)
 
Connect with author Jamie Collins
 
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The Texas Killing Fields

If you don’t believe that evil exists, you may change your mind after today’s episode. For over thirty years, women and girls disappeared from the small towns that dot I-45 between Houston and Galveston, Texas. At least 30, and probably more. Since the early 70’s, someone - maybe more than one someone - has been snatching unsuspecting young women and killing them. What did they have in common? They met evil face to face. 
 
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact!
 
This is Season 4, Episode 32. Our book this week is Deliver Us: Three Decades of Murder and Redemption in the Infamous I-45 Texas Killing Fields by Kathryn Casey. Let’s investigate a bit of these women’s stories. 
 
The tenth chapter of Matthew describes Jesus sending out his disciples to spread the word about the nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven. After telling them all they would need to do, Jesus got very real with them, saying “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” (v 16)
 
In every woman’s story I share today, they were certainly sheep among wolves. All were young. Some were very, very young. They didn’t understand the nature of wolves. They were innocents who didn’t know they were in the midst of predators. 
 
While I was preparing this episode, I learned something about wolves. Because wolves tend to be dispersed across a wider area than their preferred prey, they will adapt and feed on whatever is handy. Their kill rates are highest when their prey has come through a tough winter and is weaker than usual. And when humans don’t intervene and keep their population under control, they can multiply very rapidly.
 
That all hits pretty close to home, doesn’t it? These women who lost their lives to murderous wolves were chosen because they were simply there. They were in vulnerable seasons, some due to instability in their lives, some simply due to their tender age and lack of life experience. Not one deserved what happened to her.
 
So how do we prepare ourselves and our loved ones to be “as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves?” It starts by being aware that the wolves of this world are purposely looking for sheep to harm. Sometimes people make evil choices because they just want to, and we have to acknowledge that in order to practice reasonable caution. 
 
But we also have to be gentle. Hiding away and treating everyone like they are out to get us doesn’t serve God's purposes. And we can’t be a person of impact that way! So please find at least one person that you can share something you learned today, so they can be safer too.
 
And I’d love to hear what that something is! Let me know what you think! Send me an email at lori@theunlovelytruth.com or message me on social media. I love it when people are willing to have those hard, but impactful conversations!
 
If you liked this episode, you won’t want to miss this one. 
 
Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com. 
Grab your own copy of “Deliver Us” (which may earn me a small commission)
 
Or learn more about safety and trust by grabbing a copy of my books here and here
 
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Diving Into the Effects of Trauma on Victims, Secondary Victims, and Communities

Vicki Durian and Nancy Santomero were shot to death on June 25, 1980 in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. They had been hitchhiking their way to the Rainbow Gathering, a temporary community in the woods that aims to bring together everyone from hipsters and hippies to show that we can all live in peace if we reform our society. That the women would meet such a violent end on their way to such a hopeful spot makes their story all the more tragic. But they weren’t they only victims in this sad story
 
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact!
 
Let’s talk about Matthew 9:35–36 to find ways to do just that.
 
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
 
Have you seen anyone else who did this? Any politicians? Any social media influencers? And if we are really honest, do we see our churches leave the building to find those who need us? If your church does, that’s awesome - keep it up! If not, ask your leadership why not and if you can help start an outreach ministry to serve people who might not feel welcome in a church. Maybe that’s a bible study in your local jail, taking bottled water and food to a homeless encampment, or helping out foster kids in your community. Have compassion like Jesus did and help shepherd his sheep.
 
Let me know what you think! Send me an email a lori@theunlovelytruth.com or message me on social media. I love it when people are willing to have those hard, but impactful conversations!
 
Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com. 
Affiliate link to buy The Third Rainbow Girl
 
Connect with Donna Scott
 
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Spiritual Abuse Red Flags

You’d know it if you were being abused, wouldn’t you? I’m not talking about physical or even verbal abuse. I want to tell you a story that gives us amazing insights into recognizing spiritual abuse when we see it. 
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but  person of impact!
This is Season 4, Episode 30. Our book this week is Jesus Freaks: A True Story of Murder and Madness on the Evangelical Edge.” Our guest is our Unlovely Truth chaplain, Lori Prather. She’s going to help us recognize some of those red flags and gives us advice on what to do when we see them.
We will also talk about 2nd Corinthians 11:12-15, New Living Translation
But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. These people are false apostles.
 They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 
So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. 
In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.
If you liked this episode, be sure to check out some earlier ones. I’ve put links in the show notes to some I think will have a tremendous impact on you. I’d love it if you would also help someone else begin their journey as a different kind of PI - a person of impact, by sharing the episode, and subscribing, and giving The Unlovely Truth a five star rating and a nice review on Apple Podcasts. 
Season 4, Episode 10: Cult Guru or Serial Killer: Who Murdered Patricia Hicks?
Season 1, Episode 49: Without a Prayer
Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com. 
Get your copy of Jesus Freaks (this is an affiliate link and if you use it I may earn a small commission)
Connect with Lori Prather
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Is There a Serial Killer Gene?

Have you ever been told that you're musically gifted because your family's just like that. It's a genetic thing. Kind of like my high cholesterol. Thanks, family. Well, what if there was a serial killer gene?
 
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact!
 
This is Season 4, Episode 29. Our book this week is The Murder Gene and we’re so blessed to have its author, Karen Spears Zacharias, as our guest.
 
I want to investigate Exodus 34:6-7 from the New Living Translation this week.
 
The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—    even children in the third and fourth generations.”
 
This is one of the most quoted passages in the Bible, being referenced in other passages over 20 times. God is proclaimed to be amazingly loving and forgiving. Then comes the “but”. He is also just and unwilling to simply overlook sin. He forgives, yes - but there must be consequences for sin. I chose this translation because I love how it explains that when someone sins, the entire family is affected. I often talk about the ripple effects of sins and that certainly applies here. The idea that there may exist a so-called “murder gene” immediately made me think of this passage in a new way. What if that effect is more than just having people look at us differently, judging us for a relatives’ misdeeds? What if those misdeeds themselves affect how our genetic code expresses itself? Could that be one layer of God’s intended meaning here?
 
He knew all about the science of this WAY before we ever discovered it, so I think it’s certainly possible. Let me know what you think! Send me an email a lori@theunlovelytruth.com or message me on social media. I love it when people are willing to have those hard, but impactful conversations!
Visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com. 
Grab your copy of The Murder Gene: A True Story
 
Connect with Karen Spears Zacharias
 
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Read an article on the "murder gene"
 
And another article

Too Young to Kill: Helping Teenagers Headed for Trouble

Twenty years is a long time to keep a secret. Especially when dozens of people know what it is. So let me ask you a question about this particular secret: should we ever say a murder victim had it coming?
 
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact!
 
This is Season 4, Episode 28. Our Little Secret by Kevin Flynn and Rebecca Lavoie and it shares the story of Daniel Paquette's murder in New Hampshire. It became a cold case, remaining a secret between two high school friends. But teenagers grow up and loyalties change. Our guest today is Eric Schwalbach and he’s going to talk about how to support kids so they aren’t thinking these drastic actions are the only options available to them. They didn’t create the situation they were stuck in but they still had to deal with it. 
 
Let’s take a look this week at Matthew 18:6 NIrV
 
What if someone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin? 
If they do, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck 
and be drowned at the bottom of the sea.
 
I always thought this would be an awesome verse to paint in a children’s wing at church. It so plainly expresses the importance of children to Jesus. They are vulnerable, and we are to be their protectors. So many of the kids in today’s case and that our guest Eric Schwalbach mentors have not been treated well by adults. It’s like they have had millstones put around their necks then been told they need to swim better. There are so many ways to make a difference in kids' lives. Does your local school need volunteers to tutor or just hang out and be a positive influence? I know that churches are always looking for volunteers in the children and youth ministries. You may be able to lead a Bible study in a juvenile detention center. They don’t need anything fancy - just someone to show up, and show them the love of Jesus by telling them that they matter to Him, and they matter to you. 
 
If you liked this episode, be sure to check out some earlier ones. I’ve had so many amazing guests who shared fantastic information you won’t want to miss. You can also help someone else begin their journey as a different kind of PI - a person of impact, when you share the episode, and when you subscribe, give me a five star rating and a nice review. 
If you liked this week’s episode, you’ll want to check this episode out:
Teen Violence: Facing Our Fears to Make an Impact
Visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com. 
 
Link to buy Our Little Secret
 
Find Eric on LinkedIn
 
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Recommendations from Eric:
 
Why I know that the love of the Holy Spirit can heal UNSEEN SCARS!
https://youtu.be/D431YOBomQc
 
If the village steps up, we can raise a child!
https://youtu.be/hmNSSgSVJP4
 
If we don't help them then who will?
https://youtu.be/oGVPc1Ippjk
 
It's not about the 99 sheep, it is the one lost sheep that keeps me striving for a better system. 
https://youtu.be/gNQp95QZjPk
 
Here is the story that explains how young kids did not make the choice to be abused or abandoned. Then they self medicate to cope and numb the pain.
 
https://prisonwriters.com/95-of-prisoners-i-know-were-molested-as-a-child/

The New Year Murder of Staff Sgt. Jessica Ann Mitchell

The family soldier in the U.S. army needs our help and you don’t even have to leave your house to do it. Even tough, highly trained members of our armed forces can be at risk in this broken world. But somebody knows what happened, and I’m calling on you to help me spread the word so justice can be done.
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact!
This is Season 4, Episode 27. This episode will drop on the Fourth of July, Independence Day, so we’re going to investigate the unsolved murder of Staff Sgt. Jessica Ann Mitchell. After ringing in the New Year with friends at the 4th Quarter Sports Bar on the northwest side of San Antonio, Texas, Staff Sgt. Mitchell was found shot to death in her car on Interstate 10 near the Vance Jackson Road exit. Let’s help get justice for someone who served our country to protect our freedom.
I want to dig a little deeper into the crime of online stalking. According to a 2021 article from the Pew Research Center, 41% of American adults have experienced online harassment. They compared numbers from 2017, 2019, and 2021 and the numbers keep increasing. The vast majority of people who have experienced online abuse said it happened on social media. Here are some other findings from Pew that really stood out to me:
the share of women who report being sexual harassed online has doubled since 2017
adults under thirty are the age group most likely to be harassed online
about one-in-five Americans who have been harassed online say it was because of their religion
Did being stalked online have anything to do with Jessica’s murder? We don’t know that for sure at this point, but it’s interesting to note that the UK based crimetraveller.org, “new research has found in a total of 358 murder cases with a male perpetrator and female victim, a staggering 94% showed stalking behavior involved in the period before the killing.” Here in the U.S., every state has laws against stalking in the physical world. But a handful of states still don’t! Be sure you check to see what laws your state has passed. There are also federal laws but those typically have to include an actual threat, and wouldn’t necessarily cover online behavior that is harassing absent a concrete threat.
The Supreme Court dealt future victims of stalking a huge blow last week. I want to give you my understanding of what this means and my concerns, and I’d love for you to share yours! Email me or send me a message on social media. But we’ll use these platforms for good! The U.S. Supreme Court is, of course, the last stop for an appeal of a lower court decision. The appeal that the Court was hearing was a case where a Colorado man had been convicted of stalking a songwriter by sending her hundreds of direct messages on Facebook. She never responded to the messages she said were “creepy”. Her stalker seemed to show that he was watching her in real time, commenting on where she was and what vehicle she was driving. This went on for two years and ironically, he commented that he didn’t think their relationship was healthy because she wouldn’t talk to him. He didn’t want to acknowledge that they didn’t have a relationship at all! He also told her that “You’re not being good for human relations. Die. Don’t need you.”
After being found guilty of stalking, he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. In his appeals, his attorneys have argued that his conviction violated his right to free speech. We all know that first amendment protections are not absolute. That’s why we can sue people who slander or defame us. The issue here seems to be whether speech becomes a threat when the person hearing feels threatened, or the person saying it intended the words as a threat. It’s a fine line, isn’t it?
A lot of these kinds of issues are decided on the reasonable person standard. In other words, how would a reasonable person interpret these words? I consider myself a reasonable person, and I would definitely have felt threatened. Why else would this man have said what he did so persistently over such an extended period of time. It’s like I say in my book, when someone tells you who they are, believe them. He was telling her over and over that he was a dangerous person.
Something that you may not realize is that the Supreme Court does not have to hear every case that asks for review. One factor they consider is whether a ruling in a case could have broad influence over other similar cases. So the reasoning used to reach this decision could spill over and harm other cases where a victim’s rights are at stake.
This story isn’t over yet. The Court said that the case must be retried using a different standard to decide this man’s guilt - did he think that his messages were threatening. I think that could make it much harder to convict anyone in these types of cases. But I hope that we can counter that by educating people that stalking is not a nuisance crime but a very serious offense.
If you or anyone you know has someone sending unwanted, intrusive, or threatening messages via social media, but sure that you capture them with screenshots or a screen recording. Make police aware of what is happening and send them copies of all messages this person sends. Don’t advertise on social media where you are because it makes you much too easy to follow.
Jessica’s family said that she was on social media frequently the night she was murdered. You know that doesn’t mean that she is in any way to blame for what happened to her. But we can honor her life by drawing that safety take away from her story.
Jesus taught that the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Nobody wants to be stalked. The problem is that obsession is not love. Making someone feel afraid is not love. First Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Sounds a lot like an obsessed stalker to me.
The book of Jeremiah was written to a people in exile. Prophets often warned of God’s judgment. Here, leadership has failed the people resulting in widespread injustice. But Jeremiah also had a message of hope. In chapter 29 verses 10-14a, we read:
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.
If you’ve been stalked, you know a bit of what it’s like to be in exile. You can’t live your life quite like you used to. You don’t assume that you are always safe. Yet God spoke to a group of captives in exile and told them He had plans for them - good plans! They had a hope and a future - in Him. That doesn’t mean we won’t ever experience pain or sadness. Jesus told us that in this life we would have troubles, but to take heart! He has overcome the world. Notice that He didn’t say He was getting ready to, but that He already Has. I hope that you are able to feel safer and more secure today because of that promise.
If you liked this episode, be sure to check out some earlier ones. I’ve had so many amazing guests who shared fantastic information you won’t want to miss. You can also help someone else begin their journey as a different kind of PI - a person of impact, when you share the episode, and when you subscribe, give me a five star rating and a nice review.
Previous episodes about stalking:
Season 3, Episode 4: Whisper of Fear: The True Story of the Prosecutor Who Stalks the Stalkers
Season 3, Episode 3: How Do You Recognize a Stalker? "A Tangled Web" by Leslie Rule (Part 2)
Season 3, Episode 2: When Stalking Turns Violent: "A Tangled Web" by Leslie Rule
Season 3, Episode 1: When Stalking Invades Your Life: The True Story of Skylar Galloway
Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com.
Show your support!
Share the episode
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Any person having information regarding this incident should contact Army CID at 210-221-1050. Information can also be reported anonymously to CID Crime Tips at their website. San Antonio Police Department Homicide Unit at 210-207-7635 or Crime Stoppers San Antonio at 210-224-STOP (210-224-7867).

Red Flags in Relationships Part 3: The Murder of Michelle Young, Trial #2

At Jason Young’s 2nd trial for the murder of his wife Michelle, everyone’s cards were on the table. He’d been held responsible for Michelle’s death at a civil trial and the jury was hung at his 1st criminal trial. The information was all out there now. Would the prosecution do a better job with it this time?
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact! Discover how you can easily step into this role and make a profound difference in someone's life.
This is Season 4, Episode 26. This week we are wrapping up our three part series on Murder on Birchleaf Drive: The True Story of the Michelle Young Murder Case. The host of Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast, my friend Jill McCracken, is joining us again with more fascinating takes on this case. So let’s dive into our story at the intersection of faith and true crime!
In last week’s episode, we talked about the first attempt by prosecutors to get justice for Michelle Young and her loved ones. It didn’t exactly go as planned, because they didn’t really plan so well. The are the authorities we look to to keep us safe and get justice for victims. How do we handle it when it seems like they are falling down on the job?
Let's take a look at Romans 13:1-7 (NLT)
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
I dogged prosecutors pretty hard last week for not being prepared, but this time justice was finally served. It’s certainly not always easy to get. That’s why I wanted to talk about this passage today. God wants us to give respect to those in authority. They are human just like we are and they do make mistakes. And some do make terrible decisions which is why it’s so important for us to support candidates for office who have proven that they have good character and a strong work ethic. And when we have information that authorities need to do their jobs, we need to be honest and forthcoming.
I hope we can all find a way to give some assistance or honor to a public servant this week and bless them if it’s in our power to do so. If they don’t do their jobs and if we don’t help them, many victims and their families will not find justice.
I know you’ve heard me say this before but it’s such an important point: I share these stories because they contain important takeaways for us ll. Even if you think that something will never happen to you, or that a serious safety issue couldn’t possibly exist at your church or your workplace, you need to be ready if it does. I hope that listening to the podcast, reading my books, and looking into my soon to be available church safety training resources make you as prepared as you can be.
If you liked this episode, be sure to check out some earlier ones. I’ve had so many amazing guests and you won’t want to miss their insights. You can also help someone else begin their journey as a different kind of PI - a person of impact, when you share the episode, and when you subscribe, give me a five star rating and a nice review.
In case you missed them, you can listen to part 1 here, and part 2 here.
Visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities.
If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com.
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Find the Murder Shelf Book Club on Facebook
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Red Flags in Relationships Part 2: The Murder of Michelle Young, Trial #1

After Jason Young was indicted for the murder of his pregnant wife Michelle, it was time to let a jury decide what had really happened in the early morning hours of November 3rd, 2006. He’d already been held responsible for Michelle’s death in a civil case and had even given up custody of his 2 year old daughter Cassidy to avoid answering questions about Michelle’s death under oath. Would he choose to testify in his own defense in a criminal trial?
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact! Discover how you can easily step into this role and make a profound difference in someone's life.
This is Season 4, Episode 25. Our book this week, like last, is “Murder on Birchleaf Drive: The True Story of the Michelle Young Murder Case”. The host of Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast, my friend Jill McCracken, is joining us again with more fascinating takes on this case. So let’s dive into our story at the intersection of faith and true crime!
This week's Scripture passage is Matthew 24:42-44 AMP “So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which day [whether near or far] your Lord is coming. But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you [who follow Me] must also be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him."
I love it when the Bible gets so practical to acknowledge the real issues we face in this world and uses them to illustrate eternal truths. We can all understand the idea that we have to take common sense security precautions against thieves because they don’t advertise when and where they are going to strike. We also do not and cannot know the exact moment of Christ’s return. Regardless of what some preacher or cult leader might try to tell you, no one knows when Jesus is coming back so we have always have to be ready for it to happen.
Applying this lesson of always being ready to today’s episode brings me to the prosecutors responsible for getting justice for Michelle. I couldn’t find any solid research on how often defendants on trial for murder chose to testify in their own defense. But the mere fact that Jason COULD choose to do that seems to me to mean you have to prepare for trial as though he is going to do just that.
Here’s another way to look at it. I’m almost certain that my house isn’t going to burn down today. In fact, I’m pretty sure based on the fact that I only know one person whose house has actually burned down that mine probably won’t. Ever. Yet I still have fire insurance on my house. Why would I do that if I didn’t think I’d ever need it? Because I know that if I’m wrong and I do have a house fire, my losses would be so catastrophic that I won’t take that risk.
The prosecutors should have looked at their preparation for Jason’s trial the same way. Even if they were 99.9% sure that he would not testify, the consequences of being unprepared if he did could be catastrophic. And it’s Michelle’s family that would’ve paid the price, not the prosecutors.
That’s why I share these stories. Even if you think that something will never happen to you, or that a serious safety issue couldn’t possibly exist at your church or your workplace, you need to be ready if it does. I hope that listening to the podcast, reading my books, and looking into my soon to be available church safety training resources make you as prepared as you can be.
If you liked this episode, be sure to check out some earlier ones. I’ve had so many amazing guests and you won’t want to miss their insights. You can also help someone else begin their journey as a different kind of PI - a person of impact, when you share the episode, and when you subscribe, give me a five star rating and a nice review. In case you missed it, you can listen to part 1 here.
Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities.
If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com.
Grab your own copy of this week's book
Find the Murder Shelf Book Club on Facebook
Show your support!
Share the episode
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Let me know how The Unlovely Truth has made a difference in your life.