The D.C. Snipers: Murder Manipulation and a Lost Boy Pt. 2
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Hi listeners, it's Vanessa. Before today's episode, I want to take a brief moment to tell you about a show from CrimeHouse's sister studio, Rewind, that I know you'll love. It's called Government That Doesn't Suck, hosted by professors Lindsay Cormack and Greg Jackson from History That Doesn't Suck. Ever wonder how the weather forecast on your phone is so accurate? Or how your mail still gets across the country for less than a dollar? Or who actually built the highway you drove on this morning? Each episode tells the surprising story of an American institution that you'll never look at the same way again. Listen to and follow Government That Doesn't Suck every other Monday on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch video episodes on YouTube.
This is Crime House. There's a saying that goes, you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. It's the idea that those closest to us have the most influence over our goals, success, and overall mindset. The thought is validating for those who feel surrounded by loyal friends, happy family, and reliable coworkers. For others who aren't so lucky, it could be the motivation they need to cultivate new relationships. And then there are those who don't even realize the impact others have on them. They might not realize the toxic influence someone has until it's too late. In the case of Lee Boyd Malvo, his mentor and father figure, John Muhammad, was more than toxic. He was deadly.
John convinced Lee to commit horrific acts of violence. Eventually, Lee no longer recognized himself, and by the time he realized what had happened, there was no going back. He'd been transformed into a killer.
The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love, and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, a Crime House original.
How did John Muhammad recruit and indoctrinate Lee Boyd Malvo?
I'm Vanessa Richardson.
And I'm forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels. Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes a killer.
Crime House exists because of listeners like you. Want even more? Join Crime House Plus and get both parts of every story dropped on the same Monday. Completely ad-free. No waiting three days for part two. Plus, Crime House bonus episodes every month. To join, go to crimehouseplus.com. Or if you listen on Apple Podcasts, tap Try Free at the top of the Serial Killers and Murderous Minds page. Before we get started, be advised that this episode contains discussion of abuse and murder, so please listen with care. Today, we conclude our deep dive into Lee Boyd Malvo and John Muhammad, better known as the D.C. Snipers. In the early 2000s, John and Lee terrorized the D.C. metropolitan area and the rest of the nation.
They killed almost 20 innocent victims and injured even more, all so that John could get to his real target, his ex-wife. But despite all of John's planning, a series of careless mistakes finally brought them down.
As Manessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like how some killers become more crazed over time, why they may leave behind daunting messages for the police, and how the cycle of abuse can factor into murder trials.
And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer? By February of 2002, 41-year-old John Muhammad had brought his protege, 16-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo, into his plot to kill his ex-wife Mildred. John's end goal was to gain custody of his three young children, John Jr., Selena, and Taliba. His plan involved carrying out a killing spree as a way to make Mildred's eventual death seem random. But even though John planned to kill strangers, he started with someone he knew. On February 16th of that year, he'd instructed Lee to kill Kenya Cook in Tacoma, Washington. Kenya was related to a woman who'd helped Mildred get away from John. afterward john gifted lee with a fake id with the name john lee muhammad it was john's way of symbolically adopting lee as his own son and it meant more to lee than he was able to put into words at the same time john could tell lee was shaken by what he'd just done and to the military veteran that kind of reaction was unacceptable so despite his fatherly gesture over the next few days john was extremely abusive toward lee
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–2:26
2
How did John Muhammad recruit and indoctrinate Lee Boyd Malvo?
2:26–10:50
3
What early crimes in Tacoma and Tucson signaled a turning point in their violence?
10:50–23:17
4
How did the duo modify their Chevy Caprice to carry out sniper attacks?
23:17–40:07
5
Why did the shootings expand from Maryland to the Deep South and what changed?
40:07–41:06
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
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Mark Winger: When the American Dream Turned Deadly Pt. 1
Liz Golyar: Obsession, Stalking, and Murder Pt. 2
Liz Golyar: Obsession, Stalking, and Murder Pt. 1
SERIAL KILLER: "The Backpacker Murderer" Ivan Milat Pt. 2