My Serial Killer Boyfriend Murdered Our Son – Part 1 – The Interview with Hera McLeod

In this heart-wrenching episode of Love and Murder, I interview Hera McCleod, a survivor of serial killer Joaquin Shadow Rams. Hera bravely shares her experiences, from surviving an abusive relationship to her relentless fight for justice and advocacy for child safety, after fighting the justice system to protect her son, only for the system to fail her when ther serial killer took her son’s life.

Despite facing unimaginable trauma and systemic failures, Hera’s resilience and determination shines through as she recounts her journey. From her upcoming book “Defying Silence” to her impactful podcast “Seeking Different“, Hera’s story is one of survival, hope, and unwavering strength.

Hera’s life took a dark turn when she met Joaquin Rams on Match.com. What seemed like a charming encounter quickly spiraled into a nightmare of deceit, violence, and unspeakable trauma.
Trapped in a terrifying situation, Hera endured unimaginable abuse, isolation, and fear for her son’s safety. Her struggle for freedom and justice against all odds will leave you breathless.
But Hera’s resilience shines brightly as she fought tirelessly against a system that failed to protect her son. Her unwavering determination to seek justice and advocate for child safety is a testament to her remarkable strength.
From harrowing experiences to unwavering advocacy, Hera’s story is a beacon of hope and empowerment. Stay tuned for part 2 of this captivating episode, where she discusses her groundbreaking podcast “Seeking Different” and her upcoming book “Defiant Silence.”
Hera McLeod’s journey is one of triumph over adversity, and her resilience will inspire you to defy silence and speak out against injustice. Don’t miss this incredible episode of Love and Murder.

Welcome everyone! Welcome to a new episode of Love and Murder – the weekly true crime podcast discussing relationships gone terribly wrong. Where our motto is, you’re either someone’s last love or their first murder.

I am your host Ky and in today’s episode we’re discussing a case of delusions of grandeur and the horrific beating of an entire family.

Before we begin, I want to say that this episode is sponsored by my LaMs in Patreon. If you didn’t know, you can also subscribe on our Patreon so that you don’t have to hear intros or commercials and you’ll be a sponsor of Love and Murder  patreon.com/loveandmurder.

In the meantime though, grab your butts, grab your apple juice, and let’s get into some Love and Murder.…

What you can find in this episode:

Hera McLeod’s Traumatic Experiences
– Misunderstandings about trauma survivors and fear of similar tragedies
– Open discussions with her daughters about her son and being a single mom by choice
– Advice for women in similar situations

Relationship with Family and Advocacy Efforts
– Strong bond with sister despite abuser’s intentions
– Advocacy for survivors and exposing systemic incompetence and corruption
– Efforts in media coverage and show “Citizen PI” to bring attention to case
– Reflects on disconnect between her experiences and others’ reactions
– Impact of media coverage in forcing authorities to address the case
– Advocacy efforts in congressional briefing for child safety and change in family court system

Book and Podcast
– Details of upcoming book “Defying Silence” and its decade-long writing process
– Reflections on the emotional difficulty of recounting her story
– Her podcast “Seeking Different” and its focus on nontraditional families

Legal Battle and Child Safety
– Custody battle and the failure of the court to investigate a psychological evaluator
– Authorities’ failure to protect her son, leading to tragic circumstances
– Congressional briefing testimony for child safety and federal oversight on CPS organizations
– Adverse experiences in the family court system and the lack of priority for children’s rights
– Federal incentives for states to share data and protect children

Relationship with Joaquin Rams and Advocacy Against Psychopathy
– Meeting and trusting Joaquin Rams
– Signs of deception, control, and violence in the relationship
– Her escape from Joaquin and the struggle for justice
– The police’s failure to charge Joaquin for murder and her advocacy against psychopathy

Media and Advocacy Balance
– Hera’s stance on true crime shows and trauma porn
– Aim of her book to prevent similar tragedies and inspire change
– Perspective on balancing heavy topics and decompression

Personal Reflection and Healing
– Coping with trauma and emotional state after husband’s death
– Indications for a trustworthy partner and the role of therapy in healing

Investigative Efforts
– Hiring a private investigator to uncover Joaquin’s true identity and criminal history

Nontraditional Families and Sperm Donation
– Hera’s family as a single mom by choice family using a sperm donor
– Interview with a sperm donor revealing having 97 biological children on Hera’s podcast

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In Patreon, the LaMs will have access to interrogation videos, jail phone calls, pictures of then and now, pictures of evidence, etc. And LaM Patreons get all of this for each full episode. And that’s even the $3/mo tier. I have a goal to reach 500 LaMs in Patreon by the end of 2024. Although I do have my loyal LaM Patreons whom I love, I’m not close to 500. With your help I can reach that goal. In return, you get everything I mentioned, and depending on which tier you choose, you get even more! Every time someone joins Patreon, I put your name on my board right in front of my computer so I remember some of who I’m doing this for. I’m asking you, as my LaMs, to help me reach this goal or more by the end of 2024 and get your name on my board. I remember each and every one of my LaM Patreons.

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