"I don't like Mondays” - Brenda Spencer.

On January 29, 1979, sixteen-year-old Brenda Spencer opened fire on Cleveland

Elementary School in San Diego, California, killing two school employees and wounding

eight children and a police officer. When asked why she'd committed such a horrific act,

Brenda gave an answer that would become infamous: "I don't like Mondays."

But was there more behind those chilling words?

In this updated episode of Once Upon a Crime, we revisit one of America's earliest high-

profile school shootings and examine the troubled teenager behind the crime. We'll

explore Brenda's childhood, family relationships, psychological struggles, and the

warning signs that preceded the attack.

Nearly five decades later, Brenda remains behind bars. We'll look at her changing

explanations for the shooting, her claims of childhood trauma, and her repeated parole of

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denials—including her most recent hearing in 2025. Has she ever demonstrated

genuine remorse or fully accepted responsibility for her actions?

We'll also explore a disturbing question: Did Brenda Spencer's crime help establish a

pattern for the epidemic of school shootings that continues in America today?

From the role of media attention to the psychology of copycat killers, we examine the

legacy of a crime that shocked the nation long before Columbine.

Listen to the Original Episode

This case was first featured on Once Upon a Crime in July 2016, during our inaugural

season.

Season 1, Episode 8: Killer Kids, Chapter 3 – Brenda Spencer

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep8-killer-kids-chapter-3-brenda-spencer/

Sources and Further Reading

• San Diego County District Attorney's Office – Brenda Spencer Denied Parole

(February 21, 2025)

https://www.sdcda.org/Office/newsroom/GetNewsroomFile?UID=75bec742-da77-491d-

af19-b1fbcef5c946

• Times of San Diego – Brenda Spencer, "I Don't Like Mondays" School Shooter, Again

Denied Parole (February 21, 2025)

https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2025/02/21/brenda-spencer-i-dont-like-mondays-

school-shooter-again-denied-parole/

• California Board of Parole Hearings – Brenda Spencer Parole Hearing Transcript

(September 7, 2016)

https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/Spencer-Parole-Hearing-2016.pdf

• Eric Hart – Does Anyone Like Mondays? The Brenda Spencer Murder Case. An

examination of Brenda's background, family relationships, and possible motivations,

based on interviews with people who knew her.

• Adam Lankford and Jason R. Silva – Research on similarities between copycat mass

shooters and their role models (2024)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004723522400165X

School Violence Prevention Resources

Sandy Hook Promise

Educational programs to help students, parents, and educators recognize warning signs of

violence and intervene before tragedy occurs.

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/

Know the Signs – Sandy Hook Promise

Information on identifying concerning behavior, recognizing threats, and seeking help.

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/resources/warning-signs/ of

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Say Something – Violence Prevention Program

Resources that teach young people how to recognize warning signs and report concerns to trusted adults.

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/what-we-do/programs/violence-prevention/

If you or someone you know is experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis, call or text 988

for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is an immediate threat of violence, call 911.

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