Moving past murder

I recently stumbled across an amazing podcast called Moving Past Murder with Collier Landry.

collierlandry.com

His story is heart-breaking. Collier Landry was the unfortunate victim of violent crime when his father murdered Landry's mother on New Year's Eve 1989. Eleven-year-old Landry was woken by his mother's scream and two loud thuds. Landry's father then came to his bedroom door, ostensibly to check on him but Landry is convinced he, too, would have died if his father had seen him awake.

Landry told the police, who were dubious, but Landry's persistence and amateur sleuthing paid off and three weeks later his father was finally arrested after his mother's decomposing body was found buried in the basement of the house recently purchased by Landry's father and his pregnant mistress.

Landry testified against his father who was sentenced to life. Landry was then placed in the foster system and adopted. He later moved to California where he became a model and videographer.

He eventually collaborated with two-time Oscar winner Barbara Kopple to create the documentary film, A Murder in Mansfield.

Landry's persistence with the police and his courage on the witness stand are impressive by any standards. He has since started his podcast in the hope of giving others who have suffered similar trauma a voice and a means to move on.

I have reached out to Landry but have yet to hear back.

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