Season 3, Episode 17: Surviving a Murdered Childhood

What happens when your childhood suddenly becomes a true crime headline? How do you go on after the trauma of losing nearly your whole family to violence? Let’s investigate how one woman did just that. I truly hope that we all learn things to help others and ourselves, and not just rubber-neck at someone else’s tragedy. As Jessica herself said, “This wasn't just a national news headline, a cold case, or a true crime show. It was my family. And my life.”

Our case this week is from the book “I Am Jessica” by Jamie Collins, and our guest is Michelle Nietert, the Clinical Director of Community Counseling Associates, host of Raising Mentally Healthy Kids Podcast, and author of “Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life.” Michelle is a trained counselor and previous school crisis counselor. She presents to student and parent groups using deep yet applicable Biblical presentations.

Recovering from trauma is complex, and the process looks different for everyone. But if you or a loved one is walking through the healing process right now, I want to give you some encouragement from a Psalm of praise, specifically Psalm 147 verse 3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Sometimes it’s hard, and it takes time - but God wants you to no longer be held down by experiences that have hurt you, and maybe even continue to hurt you.

Everyone listening today has what it takes to be a different kind of PI - a person of impact. You can make a difference in how crime affects your community, one small action at a time.

You can buy "I Am Jessica" here

Find Michelle’s book here

And her website here

Another episode where a predator wipes out a family

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