Today we’re talking about a case that, on the surface, might seem like a sudden act of violence…

but when you look a little closer, there are often signs — small moments, shifts in behavior — that tell a different story.

This is the case of Clayton Otis Jacquard.

In this episode, we’re going to walk through what happened that night, but also step back and look at the bigger picture — because cases like this don’t always come out of nowhere.

We’ll talk about:

• the events leading up to the crime
• the dynamics between the people involved
• how quickly things escalated
• and what we know from the investigation and court proceedings

And as always… we’re going to keep the focus where it belongs.

Because behind every case like this are real people — real lives — that don’t get the same attention as the headlines.

This is a story about escalation, accountability, and the kind of violence that feels sudden… but often isn’t.

Today we’re talking about something that makes people deeply uncomfortable… and honestly, it should.

Parricide — when a child kills their parent.

It’s one of those crimes that people tend to react to immediately… with anger, disbelief, sometimes even dismissal.

Because the assumption is simple: how could anyone do that?

But when you start to look closer…

it’s not always simple.

In this episode, we’re stepping back from the headlines and looking at the reality behind these cases. Not to excuse them — but to understand them.

We’ll talk about:

• what parricide actually is, and how often it happens
• the different patterns behind these cases
• the role of abuse, coercion, and long-term trauma
• when mental illness becomes a factor
• and the cases that don’t seem to fit any explanation at all

Because while some of these stories involve unimaginable violence…

others involve something we don’t talk about enough.

What happens when home isn’t safe?

And how does that change the way we see these cases?

This isn’t an easy topic — but it’s an important one.

A 27-year-old woman who was home visiting her family… doing something so normal, so routine… that none of us would think twice about it.

She went for a run.

And she never came back.

Vanessa was smart, driven, and deeply connected to the people in her life. She worked for Google in New York, had a strong circle of friends, and was just… living her life.

But on that day in 2016, something happened along a quiet road in her hometown of Princeton, Massachusetts that would shock the community — and leave investigators searching for answers.