40. Hungry like the Wolf: Can we ever understand filicide?

In 1983 Diane Downs carries her three small children into a hospital in Oregon, all suffering from gunshot wounds.

The mother explains that she had been the victim of an attempted carjacking, but managed to trick her attacker and escape. However, not long after, the police’s attention turns towards her as a potential suspect.

What could lead a mother to harm her own children? In this episode of Bad People, presenters Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen discuss the topic of familicide and Julia shares her own family’s close encounter.

Warning: This episode includes descriptions of murder and possibly some strong language.

CREDITS Presenters: Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen Producer: Simona Rata

Music: Matt Chandler Editor: Rami Tzabar Academic Consultants for The Open University: Lara Frumkin and James Munro

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Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins

Bad People is produced in partnership with The Open University and is a BBC Audio Science Production for BBC Sounds.