Don't Forget to Lock the Door | EP 2

Sacramento, 1977. A quiet neighborhood. An unlocked door. A man who believed he needed blood to survive.This episode follows a case that exposed deep failures in the mental health and criminal justice systems — a man hospitalized, diagnosed, medicated, and then released back into the world with almost no net beneath him.We examine the warning signs that preceded the violence, the victims whose lives were taken, and what the investigation ultimately revealed about how crime scenes can reflect the mind of the person who created them.Content warning: This episode contains disturbing behavior involving animals, descriptions of violence, and references to harm against children. Listener discretion is advised.SourcesThe People of the State of California v. Richard Trenton Chase (1979): Official court records and trial transcripts.• FBI Behavioral Science Unit Case Files: Documentation regarding the classification of disorganized offenders.• Whoever Fights Monsters by Robert Ressler.• The Cases That Haunt Us by John Douglas.• The Sacramento Bee Archives (1977–1981): Local news coverage of the search, arrest, and trial.• The Vampire of Sacramento by Russ Williams.• Vampire: The Strange and Horrible Case of Richard Chase by Ray Biondi (Lead Investigator) and Walt Hecox.• Medical Records: Beverly Manor Psychiatric Facility (1975–1976): Clinical summaries.