This is Murder in the Rain, where each week Emily Rowney, Alicia Hollund, and Josh

McCullough tell true crime stories of the Pacific Northwest.

Murder in the Rain contains graphic content, listener discretion is advised.

So often in true crime we hear about the boogie man, the Wesley Allen Dodds or Gary Ridgeways,

an animalistic creature that stalks a person like prey with no rhyme or reason.

But too often the perpetrator of violence is someone within the home.

These horrendous acts leave people wondering how well they know those they share a home and sometimes a bed with.

Today I'll be exploring three cases of full or partial family annihilations and speaking with Dr. Stephanie Leida, clinical and forensic psychologist,

to discuss the signs of someone who may go over the edge and what you can do if you think you're seeing them.

While it isn't in the dictionary, the Wikipedia definition of familiar side is a type of murder or murder suicide in which a perpetrator kills multiple close family members in quick succession,

most often children, relatives, spouse, siblings or parents. In half the cases the killer lastly kills themselves in a murder suicide,

where all members of a family are killed, the crime may be referred to as a family annihilation.

These cases tend to be shocking and headline grabbing. It's one thing to want to be rid of a spouse, but to also harm your own children, it's unfathomable.

From media coverage, you'd think family annihilators are fairly rare as far as murderers go.

Thinking back on the last few years, I can recall accused killer Lori Valow, who has been charged in the deaths of her two children,

Tilly Ryan and JJ Valow. Her case is technically matricide, but besides her, I think of Chris Watts, who fits the more traditional familiar side profile.

Having killed his wife Shnan, the baby she was pregnant with, and his two daughters Bella and Celeste. His motive being a new girlfriend and freedom he wrongfully assumed smothering his entire family would bring.

He's currently serving the rest of his life behind bars.

Sadly, due to the number of mass murders that occur annually in the US, many of which intersect with family annihilations, the science isn't exact when it comes to statistics.

There are some stats though, if you've watched, well, anything related to true crime, you've seen former FBI profiler Brad Garrett, and he has some thoughts on family annihilators.

He shares that there are a variety of reasons someone might kill their family, sometimes it's for money, or perhaps an ego bruise from not being able to provide, especially for the perceived man of the house.

He says, quote, losing identity is the key component here.

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