178. Hera - Psychopathic Ex-boyfriend did more than Murder Her Son

This is Hera’s story. On Oct. 20, 2012, Hera McLeod’s ex-boyfriend murdered her 15-month-old son. He killed him to get more than $500,000 in life insurance. Few of our episodes have more twists and turns than this one. You will not be able to guess what Hera discovered about her psychopath ex-boyfriend. He was a predator beyond our wildest nightmares. You need to hear this one. Today, Hera McLeod is a Washington, DC-based writer, speaker, and civil rights activist. She is known for speaking out against the silence on topics such as civil rights for women and children, domestic violence, and Family Court reform. She has published op-ed pieces in The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, and The New York Times. Hera has made several television appearances on The Today Show, Crime Watch Daily, and DC news affiliates for CBS, ABC, and Fox. While Hera felt an overwhelming sense of relief as she heard Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy I. Bellows announce that her ex-boyfriend would never again walk free, she also was aware that full justice hadn’t been served that day. Hera felt that day wasn’t just about justice for her son, Prince, it was about obtaining a piece of justice and peace for all of us. When the judge announced the verdict after more than two hours of thorough explanation, the courtroom erupted. There were tears of joy, and then family and friends hugged her. You will see how a predator will speed up a relationship as a means of coercive control. In this case, things became as awful as one can imagine. Hera McLeod’s memoir, Defying Silence: A Memoir of a Mother's Loss and Courage in the Face of Injustice is available everywhere. She says it includes the kind of information she wish she had heard before she ever met her ex-boyfriend. NOTE: If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: [email protected] The WHEN DATING HURTS book (in paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can be found on Amazon. HELPFUL RESOURCES: • National Domestic Violence Hotline – The Hotline.org – Call 800-799-SAFE • LoveIsRespect – Call 866-331-9474 • RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) – RAINN.org – Call 800-656-4673 • SUICIDE HELPLINE: Call 988 Thank you for listening to our WHEN DATING HURTS podcast, Bill Mitchell WhenDatingHurts.com DISCLAIMER: The WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast is providing this platform for information to be shared. We do not state with any certainty that anything is true or untrue. Understand that what you hear is the viewpoint of the people sharing. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices