Tag Archives: murder

Birthdays, Death of a Child, Homicide, The Mary Mac Show

The Mary Mac Show | Happy 50th Birthday Angela

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In Episode 156, LaTonya Moore, Esq. and I speak about the criminal justice system after the murder of a loved one and honor my stepdaughter who would have celebrated her 50th birthday today had she not been murdered at the age of 11.

When someone in your life is murdered, it throws you into a world that you never expected.

You start to ask yourself so many questions.

How could this have happened?

How could someone be so malicious, callous, brazen to have taken the life of someone else?

If you’ve been raised to respect others, you just can’t understand how someone could do this.

When someone you love is intentionally killed by another human being, you are left with more questions than answers.

Now we’re not talking about the weapon that was used to kill them.

It really doesn’t matter how they were killed. It matters THAT they were killed and by someone who intentionally killed them.

They had malice in their heart and for whatever reason they took someone’s life, they meant to do them harm.

And having to live with that fact, is extremely mind-blowing.

When LaTonya and I had this conversation in 2015, we delved into the murder of two individuals in her life and all she went through with their trials.

It took us 18 years to have our crime solved – the murder of Angela, my stepdaughter who was killed in 1984 and it took until 2002 just to have an arrest in the case.

Another 2 years to go to trial, 2 weeks to choose a jury, another entire calendar month of February 2004 to sit through the trial and a conviction on the last Friday afternoon of the month.

It was mentally exhausting, financially draining to fly from Florida to Long Island for the trial and the goodwill of friends who we stayed with throughout the trial.

Today Angela would have been 50 years old. All the life we missed over the last 39 years.

Unless you’ve lived through something so horrific, you really can’t comprehend the pain it brings when someone is intentionally taken from you and your family.

I’d like to think she’s resting in heaven and celebrating this day with those who love her.

Happy Birthday, Angela.

xoxo

Additional Resources:

Parents of Murdered Children – www.pomg.org

My 3 book bundle including Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death is perfect for those beginning their journey. It is available for immediate download in any part of the world.

Visit Crisis Connections at my website to telephone a trained counselor to speak with whenever you are feeling lonely, overwhelmed, confused, frightened, fearful or any host of emotions. Even if it is a suicide hotline, do not think they cannot help you. You do not need to feel suicidal to speak with these wonderful counselors. They are there to listen to you.

Use the Emotional Freedom Technique for Grief.

You can watch Marissa Peer’s “I Am Enough” meditation.

Treat yourself to a lovely gift from our Heart of Gold “I Remember” Products from The Mary Mac Store.

Remember, a portion of all proceeds help fund The Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc., the first national non-profit public charity which benefits children, teens, young adults after a loved one’s death which I established many years ago. Perhaps you’d like to give a donation in your sibling’s name.

And remember to sign up for my private email list so we can always stay in touch, since social media is no longer reliable. Receive my ebook 21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process for immediate download.

We’d love your support for our podcast and the work I do for grieving individuals. Buy me a coffee is an easy way to help me. Click on the purple coffee cup on this page! Thanks.

Homicide, The Mary Mac Show

The Mary Mac Show | It’s Not The Weapon

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Throughout the world we have seen a significant rise in violence. Usually when a murder occurs, the police or homicide detective first look toward those closest to the victim.

But, at least in the United States over the past year and a half, we have seen an over 30% or more increase in homicides in major as well as smaller cities here.

Whether it’s a mass shooting of random people in churches, synagogues, grocery stores, movie theatres, schools or a drive by shooting killing young children just simply playing in the neighborhood playground, the randomness of these crimes doesn’t allow anyone to feel safe.

But politicians, who ‘give their thoughts and prayers’ don’t have anything to offer except a new law to curtail the rights of our citizens to protect themselves from these violent criminals.

In Episode 132, we take on this controversial subject and help you understand, from my perspective of having experienced the murder of a loved one, that no matter what law we already have on the books which is not being upheld, to a new one, there is so much more that needs to be considered here.

Listen in to learn what families go through after they’ve experienced a loved one’s murder and how it’s never the weapon but the intent.

Additional Notes:

If you’ve experienced the murder of a loved one, please reach out to Parents of Murdered Children to find a chapter or contact person near you for support.

9/11, Homicide, Terrorism, The Mary Mac Show

The Mary Mac Show | 9/11 – 20 Years Later

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In Episode 92, we remember the morning of September 11, 2001, the deadliest terrorist attack in world history and the first on American soil.

For those of us old enough to remember, this was the darkest day in American history as we watched in utter horror as four planes were used as missiles to wreak terror on our nation.

People watched in lower Manhattan as both buildings of the World Trade Center were attacked and within hours imploded killing thousands.

Many jumped to their deaths from 100 stories or more because they couldn’t breathe from the smoke and flames.

Nearly three-thousand people died that day from 90 countries. And many more over the years from those like the Fire Department of New York and the New York Police Department who succumbed to cancers breathing in the toxic fumes from the ‘pile’ they worked on to rescue and recover victims.

The FDNY, the Fire Department of New York, lost 343 trying to save others.

That day is marked in all our minds by most of us alive on September 11, 2001. It is a day where we all knew exactly where we were. And most of us were glued to our television sets.

We will carry those memories forever.

Those who were in the buildings and made it out, lost many friends and grieve for their losses along with the victims’ families.

Those who were too young to even know what this was like, below you will see video footage compiled so we never forget.

And yes it’s graphic…that’s life. This is real life. It happened. People lived through this.

And for those who have claimed a single photo ‘triggered’ them, well it’s time to get a backbone because what’s ahead for our country is not good.

We have welcomed thousands of Afghan refugees and have no idea if they are terrorists. The chances of this happening again are high.

Here are the scenes of what happened that day:

Here is the memorial today where the towers once stood:

Bless everyone who died that day and the families and friends of those victims.

Take the time to listen to the names being read each year on 9/11 to honor them.

We must never forget!

Holidays, Homicide

Independence Day

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One of the greatest loves is love of country.

Whether it chooses you at birth, or you chose it by applying for and going through the legal path of citizenship, the allegiance one holds for its country is an honor and tribute to all the people who died to defend it.

Every country has its sovereign borders.

Every country defends itself from foreign forces.

That’s what makes a country, a country.

But when you intentionally have entities who teach children to hate their country, hate certain groups of people based upon their financial situation, their race, their religion and more, there is a pulling apart of citizenry that is harming all our citizens.

When law and order is no longer followed, even encouraged by certain politicians, we are harming our citizens.

What most don’t realize is that the cities that are crying for defunding police, are the exact cities with the most crime who need increased police presence more than most.

Homicides are rising exponentially and while we look at all these statistics, we don’t realize that in all those numbers are grieving families.

Those are human beings who are being murdered every hour of every day.

And without enough resources to solve those crimes, no justice will prevail.

On this 4th of July, our American Independence Day, I pray for these survivors of homicide victims and pray for their comfort and peace.

I pray for the safety of all Americans today and always.

We have an amazing country and my heart breaks for every single murder, all of which could be prevented.

None were necessary.

None.

Bless this country.

There is not one other country like ours.

And that’s why so many people are yearning to get here. Either the legal way, or the illegal way.

Homicide, Radio Shows

Dealing with the Homicide of a Loved One

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Real Perspectives LogoAs many of you may know, many years ago my former husband’s daughter was murdered at the age of 11. This brought us on an 18 year journey to find her killer and another two years to see him brought to justice.

Recently I was a guest on LaTonya Moore’s radio show, Real Perspectives, where the conversation moved into how to not only handle grief after a murder, but other advice for how to more effectively move through the grieving process regardless of how your loved one died.

If you are dealing with the homicide death of a loved one, you may wish to listen in here.