I'm going to immediately start today's episode out with a warning.

This story contains descriptions of physical and sexual abuse against children

and even the murder of innocent kids. This is one of the craziest stories that I've ever heard.

It's demented. It's heartbreaking.

And above all, it's terrifying.

So once again, to reiterate, for this episode,

listener discretion is heavily advised.

You're listening to Murder in America. Oh, Oh, yeah. Our story starts in Cordelline, Idaho in May of 2005 where the Groneyey family lived. There was Brenda Growney, her three children,

Slade who was 13, Dylan, who was 9, and the youngest Shasta, who was 8, and then their

stepfather Mark Mackenzie. The family lived on an area by

late Cordelline. Their home was isolated and quiet and the closest neighbors lived

over a mile away. A lot of people prefer this isolated sort of home, away from any city noise or

bothersome neighbors. The area was also considered to be very safe. The crime rates in

this small town are around 30% below the national average and the town is considered safer than 48% of other US cities.

This was a place where people started families and didn't feel the need to lock their doors at night. That is

until a monstrous predator came to tame the good reputation the city once had.

Everyone in the Growney family was very close to one another.

The children all lived happy lives, always had food on the table, and were always provided for.

They weren't the perfect family.

Brenda had struggled with addictions of her own, and they occasionally ran low on money but they were happy nonetheless.

May 13, 2005 was a normal day for the Growney family.

It was a Friday afternoon, Brenda was mowing the front lawn and Shasta and Dylan were starting their weekend by swimming in the front yard.

...