This podcast details true crime cases. It contains adult themes and may contain descriptions of violence.

It is not intended for children.

Listener discretion is advised. Thank you for joining me for today's episode of Once Upon a Crime.

We're in the series Bad Teacher, where I share cases of educators who committed newsworthy crimes.

This time I'll tell you a story about a school

administrator who was highly respected in his community as a person who cared

greatly for his students. But a past history of rocky relationships, infidelity, and claims of domestic violence would all be brought

to bear when he was accused of a heinous and gruesome crime. This is the second chapter in the series Bad Teacher,

The Case of Vincent Edward Brothers. It was the 4th of July weekend 2003 in Bakersfield, California.

Bakersfield, the largest city in Kern County, is known for its agricultural

and oil production. Situated well inland in California's Central Valley, Bakersfield Summers can be oppressively hot,

but that did not deter the Harper family

from enjoying Independence Day festivities.

Joanie Harper and her three children

were visiting her good friend Michelle Baptiste who

invited them over for a barbecue. The weather didn't cool down until well after sunset

and Joni had spent an enjoyable evening having dinner and watching fireworks.

The women sat chatting in the backyard until almost 11 p.m.

By then, Joni's children, Marquez, age 4, and Lindsay Michelle age age 2 had dozed off or nearly so. Her six-week-old

baby Marshall had long since fallen asleep. Joanie scooped up her three kids and with the

help of her friend placed the sleepy

children into their car seats for the short drive to 901 3rd Street, the home she

...