I’m really glad that Christopher’s brother believed he did it. To me it made it even more solid that his own brother believed he was capable of doing something like this
Hearing about Peter walking around basically like a zombie, acting on pure instinct is the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever heard? I genuinely cannot describe how gut wrenching those facts are
For this exact reason I figure this will be one of Danielle's few videos that I only watch once. I don't think I can bear to hear those facts a second time
@@lostincanada9588 I agree completely! It is absolutely harrowing, even just imagining the sight of Peters last moments is unfathomable. It genuinely breaks my heart knowing that it actually took place and isn’t the work of fiction :( Rest In Peace Peter
The fact that BOTH parents ALMOST survived this brutal attack, left me so heartbroken. To think Chris’s dad walked around the house, going to the bathroom, getting his breakfast ready, collecting the paper etc, when he could have been dialing 911 and saving himself, was the worst part of this story. He and his wife were meant to survive this but his brain just couldn’t comprehend what was going on. So sad.
The footage of Chris and Joan celebrating his 23rd birthday and embracing truly made me sick knowing he smashed her head multiple times with an AXE and he KNOWS IT
Does anyone know if she had a mental health disorder? Like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder both of them may cause him to hear voices. He seems normal enough to arrange a loan to purchase a car
I definitely agree. He's proven before that he's capable of murder when he was choking that one student/guy. You can't completely rule out a person with a violent history. I'm surprised the police never questioned the students about his character, not as far as I can see.
I agree, he made death threats to other students (not normal behaviour) and faked documents to his parents and school (not normal) and faked burglaries twice stealing his parents laptops and stealing people's money on ebay, known for lying about wealth to his friends... he's not exactly a person with empathy. And it was proven he was there at the scene, he's just very good at lying/manipulating that this could be why his mum changed her mind.
He was so calm on his 911 call, i would be crying and panicking if i heard that my parents were dead. I feel so sad for his parents they were so nice and caring
I definitely believe he did it, but everyone does react to grief differently. I wouldn’t say that it’s a for sure sign of being guilty…even tho he definitely is hehe
I think Joan shaking her head to Chris doing it was reliable. She wasn't confused at that time, she shook her head no on the older son. Time most likely made her deny it in her mind. She just couldn't fathom him doing it and her mind shut down the trauma of what happened. I hope she never remembers that horrible attack. I'm glad the jury got it right.
I agree, her initially shaking her head yes was the very first questioning after the attack before she fell into a coma. Her memory was probably at its best at the time after the attack. It's so obvious, you don't have to bee a rocket scientist to see that those first nodding answers were the truth.
The part about how Peter literally gets up from his alarm and goes about his morning routine always blows my mind. The human brain is an absolute crazy thing. Especially the fact that he noticed all the blood and tried to stop it.
This mother…omg..I feel actual pity of her..Not only for what she went through but also because I don’t believe she does actually love her son. Sorry to say that but if she did she would knew he has to be punished for his own good..
Of course he did it. His mom just can't face it. Since she lost everything, including the son she thought she had, one can't really blame her for hanging on to that last illusion. I'm glad the jury wasn't fooled. Hope he doesn't get out.
I don't even think, she is denying it. Like subconsciously knowing but then denying it because she doesn't want it to be true: She received several serious blows to the head and went into a coma afterwards. Not having their memory affected in some way or another would probably be more unlikely after an event like that. She told the police per nodding right after they found her that he was guilty whe she still remembered but after her coma genuinely forgot what actually happened during the attack. Head injuries as well as trauma tend to do that to a person. And as a loving mother who would want to believe that their own son did that to them? Unless there is physical evidence like DNA that can not be explained away?
@@Airemelde exactly. My boyfriend’s dad got into a motorcycle accident and went into a coma and even though he was conscious and talking to paramedics at the scene of the crash, he woke up and had absolutely zero recollection of the day of the crash and what happened leading up to it
@@Airemelde DNA wouldn't mean much unless he bled all over the house and the crime scene. His DNA in his parents house is easy to explain, my DNA and fingerprints are parked all over my parents and grandparents house because I visit them all the time. In this case the circumstantial evidence is too strong to be ignored by a reasonable person.
I do think we have to also acknowledge Jonathan. Not only is his dad dead, his mom nearly died and then to find out it’s his brother. And he didn’t doubt it. Because he somehow KNEW Chris was not a normal kid. But all that trauma… so horrific.
That’s what I was thinking. If I were in Jonathan’s situation, I would be a mess. I hope he has been able to recover his life. That would be an awful thing to have to live with!
His parents deserved better, the fact that they supported him through everything he did is just heartbreaking. He threw away every chance he was given… and brutally attacked the two people that had his back every step of the way. What an evil man
His parents deserve better but I must admit I have a different perspective on them. While they could not have foreseen their child would plan to kill them so viciously, I think they were in denial about all his unconscionable misdeeds because that would mean owning up and exposing that they were not a perfect family. They had plenty of opportunities to turn him in for something and chose not to. This truly was bad parenting in my opinion and their overindulgences enabled this sociopath to stay on the loose emboldened that there would never be any consequences for any of his actions. This demon would have had more respect for his parents if they set him straight the 1st time around.
They didn't support him, they enabled him. There was a very similar case of a son who murdered hia parents after being financially supported and coddled by them well past adulthood. He also created a whole fake life and killed them when they found out.
I couldn’t imagine being the other brother. KNOWING what a pos your brother is, KNOWING he took your father from you and attempted to wipe out your mother as well- managing to take away her former self. Then having to watch your mother defend him and walk arm in arm into court with the evil psychopath who put you all into that position on the first place…… I cannot imagine what type of wedge this put between the innocent son and his own mother 😢
This is absolutely horrific!!! The fact that Peter’s brain was still functioning on auto pilot like that is amazingly disturbing. I literally got chills hearing you describe him walking around doing his usual morning activities.
I'm more shocked that no one, no passerby or neighbor, even noticed Peter when he went to collect the newspaper! Probably no one was up or outside, but still...
There is that other case where the man was arrested and interrogated for killing his girlfriend; which he hadn’t done, and he had been shot in the face! He had been living in the house for days, just going through the motions. It’s amazing how the brain can just keep going!!
@@emmajones8715 That was Ryan Waller! I literally just watched MrBallen’s video on him last night. What a coincidence. It truly is amazing what the human body is capable of. I remember watching one of the ID shows years ago where a woman was shot in the head and continued to go through the motions of daily life for days.
I wonder how Jonathan has processed this. He lost his father and his mother has suffered so much. It must have been so sickening to see her post Christopher's bail and throw him a birthday party if Jonathon really believed Chris was guilty. I'm sure in some ways he's angry at his mother for supporting her own attacker and even more furious with Christopher for holding out open palms for whatever his mother had left to give him.
This case is heartbreaking and I am 100% convinced that a part of Joan's mind broke in an irreparable way when faced with the trauma of 1) being brutally attacked ALMOST to the point of death, 2) losing her beloved husband to the same brutal attack she was subjected to, and 3) that attack being committed by her baby boy. I think the poor woman's brain just can't handle all of that awful information so her mind is shielding her from information that she just can't process. I feel so bad for her and for the other son. I cannot imagine... Also, when talking about Chris's lies in college about being rich... what makes that hilarious is that the vast majority of people (at least, the ones I knew in college) are gonna sniff out over-the-top lies like that fairly quickly. I can't explain it but you can tell when some entitled brat who's never heard the word "no" is lying through their teeth just to seem like the coolest person in the room to cover up their MONUMENTAL AND PAINFULLY APPARENT insecurities. So that lying was all for naught. I guarantee there were a lot of people he came into contact with who went back to their dorms or out to bars with friends and talked shit about that stuck-up fake-rich weirdo who thinks he's better than everyone else.
There is no doubt in my mind that Christopher took that axe to his mom and dad. How very creepy that he can even stand anywhere near his mother, after attempting to brutally massacre her, and make-believe that it wasn’t him….
Someone like that manages to believe their own lies. They can compartmentalize events, blame it on someone else, in this case he’s likely convinced himself that it was his father’s fault for not giving him more money or catching him before he could pay them back. They believe their own delusions, any small levels of guilt are alleviated that way. I have a parent who is a functioning sociopath. It’s amazing what they are able to forget or twist events so the end up very different from how everyone else remembers it. They’re incredible at internally justifying some awful things.
@@nadinejackson3740 true, but I'd say he's a full-on psychopath. He hits all the markers. That's how he could stand next to his mother thru the trial with a straight face. No empathy whatsoever.
Christopher went from popular guy, good student at home to an absolute nobody in college. It unfortunately happens often. He realized he had to actually do the work for the first time in his life.
Right. I've seen some of the people who have been absolute stars in their small towns and small schools completely crumble to pieces in a large collage. All of a sudden they're not the best, not the stars and they can't handle that. It's the "big fish in a small pond becoming a small fish in a big pond" - conundrum.
High school was like a picnic to me compared to college. He should have just gotten a job or took up a trade like becoming an electrician or something. Instead he became deceitful and became a scam artist. The ultimate was murder just to get his hands on money. I guess he wasn't smart enough to realize that half of the life insurance money would have gone to his brother if his parents both died.
😢 When you were talking about him being in auto pilot and him just going on about his day, the part of him trying to wipe off some of the blood, it’s so sad. These poor parents didn’t deserve this. This really stuck with me.
This is literally the most disturbing true crime case I've ever heard...& Danielle...stop trying to understand these narcissist sociopaths...you never will! Your so sweet & adorable & sincere❤️
That Poor Woman! Her mind won't accept what her Own Son did to her, and her Husband, his Father! She was speaking the truth that night. My heart goes out to her, and Prayers for Joan.🙏🙏🙏🙏💔💔💔💔
She absolutely understands what he did but she is a real mother I’m sorry for you people that do not understand you’re a piece of shit as a parent then
You’ve got to think, she went into a coma, and had multiple surgeries. Medical procedures themselves can be considered trauma, plus considering the attack it’s possible her mind blocked it out. I couldn’t imagine knowing your son was trying to murder you. She probably refused to believe it. The mind can be a very tricky and strong thing.
It made me feel sick watching the clip of the party with him looking at his mother’s face knowing he did that to her and sitting back taking advantage of her AGAIN after he tried to murder her. But for Joan, she has suffered multiple head injuries, it’s hard to know if her mind functions the same as before the attack. It would have also been such a traumatic experience she probably blocked it out as much as she could. She was a loving and caring mother to him throughout Chris’ life and couldn’t even try to comprehend that her own child would do that to his parents. It’s very sad that she can’t see the truth but I think the person who should be held accountable for that is Chris and the fact he has no remorse and can even look his poor mum in the eye after what he did to her, and continue to lie to her and take advantage of the trauma he put her through.
Personally I think she knows it's him, but with your killer roaming around free, with opportunity to cone strike again, she likely lied to save her own life!
I know someone who went into a coma after a seizure-head injury combo. She recalls zero about her recovery, even though there are videos of her participating in yes/no discussion and learning to talk again. Her doctor said it’s probably better for her that she doesn’t remember. All this to say, I think Mommy doesn’t remember the event post-coma, and like always she wants to believe Christopher can do any wrong. I srsly wonder if the parents themselves are narcissistic. To the degree that any child of theirs can do no wrong…and yet that child feels it’s so necessary to them that he go to Uni that he’ll construct elaborate lies. It’s possible they were just so deeply loving and naive that they wanted to think the best of their son. I’ve just never met anyone like that so I’m biased. Also, you gotta really squint at upper-middle class families. The politics in those households is 4d chess level stuff…
When they asked her if Chris did it was fresh in her head, but at the same time she was injured horribly. And then when she says it wasn’t him, she had recovered from her injuries, she could’ve had memory loss, but since this was such a traumatic event, most likely done by her own son her brain probably blocked it out to protect her from the trauma. There’s no doubt in my mind Chris did it, and watching those videos with him and his mom is heartbreaking
This is what happens when you think that your child is perfect. You know when school calls and says your child is a bully? And you go noooo not my child my child is an angel. These parents create monsters, bullies, lazy incompetent people. Makes my blood boil
The fact that nobody saw Peter when he was locked outside for that short period of time is one of the most saddening parts for me, if only somebody could've called for help before it was too late.
I will never cease to be amazed by coworkers calling the cops .. my job would just let me go for not showing up 2 days back to back let alone call a wellness check or even try to check in with me .. they truly are the life savers in many cases and it always makes me hope I can be involved in a job where my coworkers would do the same if it was ever to happen..
I once had a job call the cops on me for a welfare check because I was an hour late and missed a meeting. Thankfully all that had happened was my alarm was on my phone and it broke in the middle of the night.
Joan, oh poor Joan... it's absolutely incredible that she survived, and it's maybe even more miraculous that she exists with any kind of brain function... I truly believe she doesn't remember. I cannot imagine being in her position, post attack, with a totally changed life, being told solidly that it was my own son. I whole heartedly believe he did it... that footage of the birthday party made my heart weep for her... hug your Mom's guys.
I don’t believe her that she doesn’t remember. She was always way to protective of her son. She was delusional. She is just as bad for defending her husbands murder. If it wasn’t him why was she so sure right in the morning?
I like to listen to Danielle tell the cases I've heart before, always well told, and when she says it makes her blood boil, I laugh because I say it too, love this sweet lady.
I really feel for his brother Jonathan as well. For him to see his mother supporting his brother who killed their father and also attempted to kill their mother, in the most brutal way possible, for the entire trial and probably still to this day, must be just so incredibly heartbreaking and traumatising. Like, how can you stand to be in the same room as your parents’ killer and not want to attack him. Yet, I’m sure that he wouldn’t want to risk further traumatising his mother by expressing any of this. Far out. This guy is so cold blooded and definitely a psychopath. His family was incredibly unlucky to have given life to him, when there are millions of other kids that would have deserved and appreciated parents like these.
i feel so so bad for his parents :( they seem like the sweetest people ever and the fact that joan stood by her son afterwards… ugh it’s just heartbreaking. they were kind hearted people.
I'm from this area and I remember this case being EVERYWHERE as a kid. At the time I felt like he did it. As an adult I know he did it. Thank you for being so compassionate. You always have me tearing up. 💛
Im also from the area. I moved to Bethlehem after this had all happened. Seeing his name in the high school text books always raised eyebrows because we all know he did it
what's funny is I'm from easton and i NEVER heard about it! i just posted a comment about it. i moved to beth a few years ago but was always in the area, and news always covered the ABE area but i never knew about it. I've heard of this story before, specifically about his dad being a walking zombie but never knew it happened in the lehigh Valley!!
This is so sad watching the love his mother has for him while he knows in his mind what he’s done. He would’ve lived just fine with the last memory of her bleeding out and it was his fault.
I can't believe my timing! This video was just posted 5 secs ago so I obviously haven't watched it yet, but I'm just here to say I trust your coverage, Danielle - I love your compassion for the victims and their families, and I do love it when "Sassy Danielle" comes out.
Update after watching - your eye makeup is gorgeous today. Really stunning with your coloring and eye color (and the nails look great with it as well). This case is soooo sad. Not least of all because of Joan sticking by him. I really think that after how much she lost she just could not bear to face the truth. But the photo of her walking into court with him absolutely chilled my blood. This is just my opinion, of course, but in my opinion he is guilty as sin. Her mother love in this situation is absolutely tragic.
I have been watching nothing but Bailey sarian and she has been my favorite. I find alot of people trying to do what you two do and I have to say you two are prob the only people i watch now!! ❤
I watch many many TC channels, every one is special, different and good . But if forced to name 3 of my favorites I would say Danielle and Mike from That Chapter . Everyone else is equally in 3 place. Nobody is a looser 😜
It was the shock his father felt. He just jumped into his routine as usual. Didn’t even register to him at the time. I’m actually great full that he didn’t feel that pain in the moment. RIP to him. I can say that I absolutely love that the mother survived and I hope she finds happiness and peace.
HE def did it...that poor woman & her husband. I'm so glad the mother survived because the other brother would've lost his entire family all at once. It's so crazy that the father was still alive & doing his morning routine & couldn't comprehend what had happened. The brain is a very weird thing. At least he didn't feel pain in his last moments or at least it seems like he didn't. May he RIP! What a horrific crime though...😳
I think the other brother sadly lost his whole family anyway. Since he believed Chris was guilty and his mom was still standing by his side, throwing him parties. He must have had some resentment towards his mom. Their relationship must have suffered a blow
When you were describing the father getting ready in the morning I was having flashbacks to nightmares that I have had. I sincerely hope there was not a bit of registration of the events in his mind. If he was able to think, imagine how scary that would feel...just waiting to wake up. Joan nodding her head yes to Christopher having done it was her Freudian slip or just her last dying truth maybe. Then when she realized she would have the opportunity to go on, she didn't want to lose her son along with her husband so she went into complete denial. I am surprised that the jury completely dismissed her indication that it was Christopher though, to me that seems like a reliable victim statement. If she had died, I think that her nodding her head would have been considered in the trial.
I've never ever had a case hurt my stomach so much. This is just heartbreaking. How he can just stand there and be able to even look at her knowing he did that is unbelievable. I feel like throwing up. I hope one day he confesses and that she will never remember him doing that. There's no way he didn't do it. It all lines up to perfectly. RIP Peter ❤️💐
Exactly what I was commenting too! Watching that clip of him w\his Mom AFTER he tried to kill her, made me sick! I'm not her daughter & I mean this in NO WAY to shame her or pick at the way she looks. I would never bully or point out sore spots, so I mean this in NO WAY as hurtful. But I'm not related to her at all, of course, but looking at her face & the injuries there, HURTS me! I feel so bad for her! I can't EVEN imagine how he could be around her day after day seeing that & not feel like the devil!
I definitely hate the stories you share, but I do love the respect and truthfulness you share while talking and I admire your compassion when talking of the victims and sometimes of the aggressor’s. I love you Danielle
I’ve never heard anyone else cover this story besides local news… and I don’t understand why. It’s such an insane and heartbreaking case. My dad knew Peter, he’s a lawyer in Albany too. I’ve heard this story so many times growing up but you covered the details so well. The part about him going about his daily routine is INSANE. I feel so bad for Joan, she just lost her husband in the most brutal way, she probably didn’t want to lose her son too and couldn’t believe he would do something like that. She lives in my hometown now and still attends the church my family goes to. Chris can rot in absolute hell for the rest of his life
This reminds me of the Van Brede murders in South Africa where the only survivor suffered retrograde amnesia from her injuries and couldn't testify. It's terrifying the brutality of these literal axe murderers Thanks again Danielle for another insightful story
What an incredibly tragic story. I don't know how he could look and his mother and not just crumble to his knees. He dealt his parents so much grief and then killed his father and tried to kill his mother as well.
OMFG 😱 In regards to Chris's bday party, I'm mind blown how he can sit there, next to his Mother whilst celebrating his f***ing Birthday like that! Did y'all see the smile on his face? I'm lost for words right now. That's another level of psycho right there. Holy S**t!
The fact that his poor mother has blocked that from her memory and stands by him is heartbreaking. What’s even worse it he has zero remorse and knows exactly what he did while still playing the innocent son. How can he look at his mom and not feel anything? He’s a psychopath and deserves to rot in jail.
I love how Danielle tells these stories. I think she is always so respectful and nuanced and I’m glad that she isn’t scared to give her opinion. There are literally some cases that I’ve heard from other TH-camrs and then heard from Danielle and from Danielle, it really hit. I guess some TH-camrs just made it sound like fiction in a way and didn’t really make me feel real emotions but Danielle’s videos are a real punch in the face and it doesn’t seem like a movie. They are actually harder to listen to but I think she does a fantastic job
i love listening to your videos while i play games or write essays, not because of the cases you cover, but because of the WAY you cover them. you are the only true crime channel i enjoy because of how compassionate you are when talking about it. i also just love your voice. if you read this, thank you for all you do and i hope you have a great week
@@mangomonet2464 I usually dont focus on the video, just have it as background noise. But afterwards I end up having the information from the video anyways
I feel absolutely devastated for Joan. I can't imagine going through all this and then to ALSO accept the fact that someone that you created, nurtured, raised, loved unconditionally... could do something like this.
Hearing about Peter brought me to tears. This was a very hard one to listen to especially when the victims are family members of the perps. What a horific way to harm your own parents.
It is soo incredibly hartbreaking that Joan stood by him and believed him after he murdered her husband and permanently disfigured and traumatised her. The image her sitting by his side celebrating his birthday and asking the police and media to stop blaming him is tragic. You can see how loyal and loving they have been to him and sadly it seems like the fact they were so supportive made him even more emboldened to kill them. Obviously Joan is so traumatised by her attack her brain has blocked it out. In a way that's a good thing.
Sitting here doing Diamond Paintings after major tooth surgery and watching your new Sunday upload! Just wanna say I love your content and look forward to the new cases every week. You calm my anxiety and the pain I'm feeling right now 🥰 Thank you Danielle!
Omg Chris Porco is from a neighboring town of mine, his mom lives in my town now, and she still says he didn't do it, but on scene, she said he did.. amazing, a mothers love.. almost cost her life, cost her husbands life.. consensus is he DID do this.. crazy.. one of my retired medics was first on scene there. It still talked about today.
I don't know if that is love. Maybe it is. But it is just deep deep denial. It is her personality. She was in denial for many years about who her son was. I had an aunt like this and her level of denial was frightening. Sweetest person, but not really in reality.
I would love to see you cover Alison Botha, she was a victim of a horrible crime in South Africa. Watched a documentary about it years ago and it sticks with me!! Keep up your amazing work, love watching your videos x
@@Poppins242 I know it’s crazy! I’ve never heard anything like it, think that’s why it’s stuck with me all this time. Truly despicable how someone could do that to another person😪
I'm from Rochester NY 🤘 you nailed the pronunciation!!🤘 I love all the hard work that you put into this case 💕 I had never heard of this case so local to me! Thank you for making this video and your channel 💕🙏🏻 thanks for sharing your passion for all of us!💕🙏🏻
What an insane case. Absolutely cannot believe that both of them lived through that, and the surgeons did an amazing job on Joan - she looks almost normal
Joan looks so good in the photos. It's only in the videos that you can really tell the nerve and muscle damage inflicted on her. In a still image I never would have guessed he'd taken 3 axe blows to the face and head. Her surgeons have done such a great reconstruction of her face.
This one was completely shocking! I cannot believe Peter was functioning after this attack! My jaw dropped! I think I scared my husband!😮 OMG You just told me Joan was still alive! I was commenting while still listening. This is absolutely unbelievable!
I just found this channel and it’s my favorite! I actually watch while doing my makeup with you. This story is fascinating in that both victims survived the attack - we know what happened to the father. The way he went about his day after being violently assaulted with an axe reminds me of the Ryan Waller story in Phoenix, AZ. Thanks for this brilliant channel!
I can very much relate to this. Our youngest sibling scammed our parents off their life savings. She was supposed to do internship abroad, and my parents already paid for everything, but as it turns out she was just in the country living the life. For a year, she then pretended to have emergencies at work (like breaking kitchen equipments and being sick) so my folks would continue to send her money. She also scammed other people off by telling them that my parents died, or has cancer. She even used my name and pretended that I messaged her friends who she borrowed money from to tell them that she overdosed. I was the one who found everything out. She was staying in the next city from ours and while on a run, she dropped her phone. Call it luck, but a friend of mine ended up picking up her phone and messaged me about it. Bottomline is my parents had to sell their property because of her lies and they now don't have any retirement savings. Wish I didn't have a sister like her.
Wow, this reminds me so much of the Chandler Halderson case, which is arguably more brutal. Would love to see you cover this case because Chandler is a piece of work, much like Chris. Sooo many lies and craziness. Love your videos Danielle, you’ve definitely become my favorite true crime TH-camr!
For everyone pointing the finger at Joan, please remember she is an actual person and victim. She went through something awful, and it's wrong to callously victim blame and say she's the reason her son did it/she's the reason these events happened. This level of disconnect is part of the issue people have with true crime these days - Joan is a victim and we need to remember that. Edit: Same goes for Peter. To hear how he died in a horrific way and your response is "well what did they expect when they raised Chris like that"...please tell me you guys hear yourselves.
Thank you!!! I'm horrified at all these keyboard warriors saying she caused it. It doesn't flipping matter at this point. This woman has gone through hell and lost everything. She doesn't deserve strangers telling her it was her fault. Like compose your thoughts with some dignity and grace, damn
Finger pointing aside, the only thing a human can do to DESERVE an axe to the face, is axe a human in the face. No body could've done anything that would cause this. Greed and pride caused this.
Exactly👏 well said! All they did was love their son. No matter what, this should have never happened. I really hope she can get over the PTSD of this. It has to be immensely hard for her. No matter what, he is still her son.😞
I do and I'm deeply sorry for what happened to them, but I also believe they had responsabiltiy, wich Is not the same thing that saying they deserved it. Saying that's 'forgeting she was a victim' is just your way of seeing it, and let me say, that's also judgamental.
Oh god I remember seeing a documentary about this case when I was in like, 7th grade or sth and the dad still going through his morning routine even after the horrible injuries to his head/skull/brains stuck with me so much, I just kept telling people about it and how crazy the human body was, and watching this, I realised I still remember every single thing the dad did that morning... I think that was one of the first true crime cases I saw and took interest in, and it absolutely terrified and shocked me, which is probably why it stuck with me so much... the son's attack and murder (I have no doubt he did it) and the human body's ability just just... keep going until the very last second.... wow hearing about this case again years later was such a weird experience.
I live about 2 and a half hours from Rochester, NY!!! These stories are always so unbelievable, but when they happen so close it truly opens your eyes, that these horrid people truly are all around us!! I absolutely love how you tell the stories, continue your amazing work!!
I've watched and listened to so many stories over the past years of this tragic murder, but I actually learned a few new things by watching you today. Way to dig deep Danielle, you are truly amazing and so thorough.
I live in upstate New York and during my senior year forensics class one of the investigators on this case came into our class and talked to us about it. The whole case still baffles me.
I have a deeply personal connection to this case so it is still a little too triggering to hear about it. I still wanted to comment for engagement and thank you for covering this case, not enough people know about Peter and Joan’s story.
That mother was in denial from the beginning. She wanted to believe her son was successful and she refused to believe him for what he was. They were EXTREMELY forgiving for his behaviour. Her behaviour is very consistent throughout the trial and that behaviour at the birthday party is sickening
Christopher reminds me of two other cases of young guys killing (or trying) their parents for money & to cover up lies. Its like they refuse to become adults & face the sometimes harsh realities that come with it... Another great episode.....Thank you!! Much love to ya from southern Indiana (usa)♥️
Yep chandler halderson and Bart Whitaker? That’s the 2 cases it reminds me of with the lying for years and killing (or trying to) your parents/family. Just sad 😢
Fantastic take on this case I love the way you narrate each of your crime.story uploads. It's so complete and it really holds the person's interest. You should do make-up on the side also for people for special occasions like parties. weddings etc.
I remember this case so clearly. I live about 15 minutes away from the town he's from and for so long this is all anyone could talk about. It was so shocking of a story that came out of, what is seen as, an upscale place.
I want to go to England because 2 of the best bands in history are from their, Beatles and Led Zeppelin, and my grama is from Whales, I didn't know her but theirs so much history there.
1: it was probably auto spell that made it come out as Whales instead of Wales. 2: Wales is on the same island as England:) They could have meant that when they go to England, they'd also like to go to Wales too. We should all try better not to assume😊💛
Once more, I have no words, bc this case too is unbelivable. Chris doesn't deserve his parents. They literally gave him everything and all he did in return was abuse of their trust and love. I feel heartbroken for Joanne who even after this trauma still kept protecting him. I have no doubts that he did it. I wish he knew how lucky he was to have such golden loving parents to not break their hearts like this and hurt them. May Peter rest in peace. I hope that Joanne can somehow menage to heal and be happy. Thank you for covering this case, excelent job as always
I watch all of your videos, you have such an informative and respectful approach when telling such horrific stories. I live so close to where this case took place and am familiar with all of the locations. So wild that this happened and such an evil thing to do to someone who loves you or anyone at all
Again you have brought us an awesome story. I’ve heard of this case, but you have a way of telling the story to make it fresh and interesting. Thanks for your hard work! ❤
![Villisca Axe House Murder House [ Still UNSOLVED ] - Mystery & Makeup GRWM Bailey Sarian](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-WnrqXbcCpA/mqdefault.jpg)
![Villisca Axe House Murder House [ Still UNSOLVED ] - Mystery & Makeup GRWM Bailey Sarian](/img/tr.png)
I’m really glad that Christopher’s brother believed he did it. To me it made it even more solid that his own brother believed he was capable of doing something like this
Hearing about Peter walking around basically like a zombie, acting on pure instinct is the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever heard?
I genuinely cannot describe how gut wrenching those facts are
yeah it’s very scary and disturbing to me. I can only hope his state means that he wasn’t in pain / aware of what had happened.
I'm amazed by the brain..it's very sad.
I was saying the same thing! 😮
For this exact reason I figure this will be one of Danielle's few videos that I only watch once. I don't think I can bear to hear those facts a second time
@@lostincanada9588 I agree completely! It is absolutely harrowing, even just imagining the sight of Peters last moments is unfathomable. It genuinely breaks my heart knowing that it actually took place and isn’t the work of fiction :(
Rest In Peace Peter
The fact that BOTH parents ALMOST survived this brutal attack, left me so heartbroken. To think Chris’s dad walked around the house, going to the bathroom, getting his breakfast ready, collecting the paper etc, when he could have been dialing 911 and saving himself, was the worst part of this story. He and his wife were meant to survive this but his brain just couldn’t comprehend what was going on. So sad.
Aww
Reading this comment I remember this case from another crime documentary. I just started watching the video.
Even if the Dad had called 911 as soon as he got up he probably still wouldnt have made it sadly
@@sierrarose1512 yeah I don't think there would have been much quality of life considering the damage to his thoughts/emotions.
his brain was running on instinct. he wasnt able to call 911 or 'save' himself - not with such an injury like that.
The footage of Chris and Joan celebrating his 23rd birthday and embracing truly made me sick knowing he smashed her head multiple times with an AXE and he KNOWS IT
Same...I thought I was going to get physically ill watching that
And he can't even look at her, the discomfort is obvious
Right and saying he misses his dad !! Like dude you killed you're own dad
Sorry I meant Christopher not Jonathan
Does anyone know if she had a mental health disorder? Like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder both of them may cause him to hear voices. He seems normal enough to arrange a loan to purchase a car
I believe it was him 100%. Joan cannot bring herself to admit it or the trauma to her head made her forget. The horror of this case is beyond measure.
He absolutely did it, the evidence is SO overwhelming in this case.
If he didn’t do it he should definitely know who did, he was there at the time!!!
True but at the same time its almost TOO overwhelming!! Almost as if someone wanted to make it look like he did it.
and he certainly had a motive!
I definitely agree. He's proven before that he's capable of murder when he was choking that one student/guy. You can't completely rule out a person with a violent history. I'm surprised the police never questioned the students about his character, not as far as I can see.
I agree, he made death threats to other students (not normal behaviour) and faked documents to his parents and school (not normal) and faked burglaries twice stealing his parents laptops and stealing people's money on ebay, known for lying about wealth to his friends... he's not exactly a person with empathy. And it was proven he was there at the scene, he's just very good at lying/manipulating that this could be why his mum changed her mind.
He was so calm on his 911 call, i would be crying and panicking if i heard that my parents were dead. I feel so sad for his parents they were so nice and caring
I definitely believe he did it, but everyone does react to grief differently. I wouldn’t say that it’s a for sure sign of being guilty…even tho he definitely is hehe
I think Joan shaking her head to Chris doing it was reliable. She wasn't confused at that time, she shook her head no on the older son. Time most likely made her deny it in her mind. She just couldn't fathom him doing it and her mind shut down the trauma of what happened. I hope she never remembers that horrible attack. I'm glad the jury got it right.
She also subsequently went into a coma which can mess with your short-term memory, as well as the many blows to her head.
I agree, her initially shaking her head yes was the very first questioning after the attack before she fell into a coma. Her memory was probably at its best at the time after the attack. It's so obvious, you don't have to bee a rocket scientist to see that those first nodding answers were the truth.
she has brain damage
My thoughts exactly as well.
Exactly my thoughts he’s guilty af
The part about how Peter literally gets up from his alarm and goes about his morning routine always blows my mind. The human brain is an absolute crazy thing. Especially the fact that he noticed all the blood and tried to stop it.
I think the fact that the jury found him guilty despite rejecting his mother's testimony speaks for itself, really.
This mother…omg..I feel actual pity of her..Not only for what she went through but also because I don’t believe she does actually love her son. Sorry to say that but if she did she would knew he has to be punished for his own good..
"So now, not only is he stealing from his parents, he's stealing from the animals." Oh Danielle, you make my day.
🤣that was so cute!
Haha I know, I love her so much 🥰🥰
I was looking for this comment. This was my favorite part 💀😂
@@Bebayasminnexoxo 12:16 mine too 😊
Of course he did it. His mom just can't face it. Since she lost everything, including the son she thought she had, one can't really blame her for hanging on to that last illusion. I'm glad the jury wasn't fooled. Hope he doesn't get out.
I don't even think, she is denying it. Like subconsciously knowing but then denying it because she doesn't want it to be true: She received several serious blows to the head and went into a coma afterwards. Not having their memory affected in some way or another would probably be more unlikely after an event like that.
She told the police per nodding right after they found her that he was guilty whe she still remembered but after her coma genuinely forgot what actually happened during the attack. Head injuries as well as trauma tend to do that to a person.
And as a loving mother who would want to believe that their own son did that to them? Unless there is physical evidence like DNA that can not be explained away?
Hi! Can someone please tell the name of her outro song?
It's heartbreaking, it's all she's got left xxx
@@Airemelde exactly. My boyfriend’s dad got into a motorcycle accident and went into a coma and even though he was conscious and talking to paramedics at the scene of the crash, he woke up and had absolutely zero recollection of the day of the crash and what happened leading up to it
@@Airemelde DNA wouldn't mean much unless he bled all over the house and the crime scene. His DNA in his parents house is easy to explain, my DNA and fingerprints are parked all over my parents and grandparents house because I visit them all the time. In this case the circumstantial evidence is too strong to be ignored by a reasonable person.
I do think we have to also acknowledge Jonathan. Not only is his dad dead, his mom nearly died and then to find out it’s his brother. And he didn’t doubt it. Because he somehow KNEW Chris was not a normal kid.
But all that trauma… so horrific.
That’s what I was thinking. If I were in Jonathan’s situation, I would be a mess. I hope he has been able to recover his life. That would be an awful thing to have to live with!
God please be with her.
Maybe Jonathan was suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Does anyone know if he was assessed?
@@steevthompson6103 but he didn’t come out any say “Nope couldn’t be my brother“ as one would if they believe their family member innocent.
His parents deserved better, the fact that they supported him through everything he did is just heartbreaking. He threw away every chance he was given… and brutally attacked the two people that had his back every step of the way. What an evil man
His parents deserve better but I must admit I have a different perspective on them. While they could not have foreseen their child would plan to kill them so viciously, I think they were in denial about all his unconscionable misdeeds because that would mean owning up and exposing that they were not a perfect family. They had plenty of opportunities to turn him in for something and chose not to. This truly was bad parenting in my opinion and their overindulgences enabled this sociopath to stay on the loose emboldened that there would never be any consequences for any of his actions. This demon would have had more respect for his parents if they set him straight the 1st time around.
Evil incarnate. I think his parents were scared of him.
@@2Bad4YOUuu
Mm
! M
They didn't support him, they enabled him. There was a very similar case of a son who murdered hia parents after being financially supported and coddled by them well past adulthood. He also created a whole fake life and killed them when they found out.
They created a narcissist
I couldn’t imagine being the other brother. KNOWING what a pos your brother is, KNOWING he took your father from you and attempted to wipe out your mother as well- managing to take away her former self. Then having to watch your mother defend him and walk arm in arm into court with the evil psychopath who put you all into that position on the first place…… I cannot imagine what type of wedge this put between the innocent son and his own mother 😢
Exactly!
Taking advantage of her trauma and brain damage, makes me sick....
Agreed
@kjaxthegrate Indeed, it is awful. Horrifically enough, some people do such things, with no remorse. I can personally attest to this.
This is absolutely horrific!!! The fact that Peter’s brain was still functioning on auto pilot like that is amazingly disturbing. I literally got chills hearing you describe him walking around doing his usual morning activities.
I'm more shocked that no one, no passerby or neighbor, even noticed Peter when he went to collect the newspaper! Probably no one was up or outside, but still...
There is that other case where the man was arrested and interrogated for killing his girlfriend; which he hadn’t done, and he had been shot in the face! He had been living in the house for days, just going through the motions. It’s amazing how the brain can just keep going!!
@@emmajones8715 That was Ryan Waller! I literally just watched MrBallen’s video on him last night. What a coincidence. It truly is amazing what the human body is capable of. I remember watching one of the ID shows years ago where a woman was shot in the head and continued to go through the motions of daily life for days.
Same here, I think it’s possibly the single most disturbing thing I’ve ever heard on this channel, and that’s saying something.
@@emmajones8715 i seen that one wasnt he complaining of a headache?
I wonder how Jonathan has processed this. He lost his father and his mother has suffered so much. It must have been so sickening to see her post Christopher's bail and throw him a birthday party if Jonathon really believed Chris was guilty. I'm sure in some ways he's angry at his mother for supporting her own attacker and even more furious with Christopher for holding out open palms for whatever his mother had left to give him.
I think he had already distanced himself from them sadly.
he for sure did this. so glad that the jury saw that. it terrifies me that Joan puts herself so close to her attempted killer. I hope she stays safe.
"There's no way I could have done it, there was no evidence"
Yeah he's guilty. I feel so bad for his mother. I hope she's being taken care of well.
This case is heartbreaking and I am 100% convinced that a part of Joan's mind broke in an irreparable way when faced with the trauma of 1) being brutally attacked ALMOST to the point of death, 2) losing her beloved husband to the same brutal attack she was subjected to, and 3) that attack being committed by her baby boy. I think the poor woman's brain just can't handle all of that awful information so her mind is shielding her from information that she just can't process. I feel so bad for her and for the other son. I cannot imagine...
Also, when talking about Chris's lies in college about being rich... what makes that hilarious is that the vast majority of people (at least, the ones I knew in college) are gonna sniff out over-the-top lies like that fairly quickly. I can't explain it but you can tell when some entitled brat who's never heard the word "no" is lying through their teeth just to seem like the coolest person in the room to cover up their MONUMENTAL AND PAINFULLY APPARENT insecurities. So that lying was all for naught. I guarantee there were a lot of people he came into contact with who went back to their dorms or out to bars with friends and talked shit about that stuck-up fake-rich weirdo who thinks he's better than everyone else.
There is no doubt in my mind that Christopher took that axe to his mom and dad. How very creepy that he can even stand anywhere near his mother, after attempting to brutally massacre her, and make-believe that it wasn’t him….
That also struck me. I think it's easy for him because he's a sociopath, and feels no guilt or empathy.
Someone like that manages to believe their own lies. They can compartmentalize events, blame it on someone else, in this case he’s likely convinced himself that it was his father’s fault for not giving him more money or catching him before he could pay them back. They believe their own delusions, any small levels of guilt are alleviated that way. I have a parent who is a functioning sociopath. It’s amazing what they are able to forget or twist events so the end up very different from how everyone else remembers it. They’re incredible at internally justifying some awful things.
He is true monster
True sociopath
@@nadinejackson3740 true, but I'd say he's a full-on psychopath. He hits all the markers. That's how he could stand next to his mother thru the trial with a straight face. No empathy whatsoever.
Christopher went from popular guy, good student at home to an absolute nobody in college. It unfortunately happens often. He realized he had to actually do the work for the first time in his life.
Right. I've seen some of the people who have been absolute stars in their small towns and small schools completely crumble to pieces in a large collage. All of a sudden they're not the best, not the stars and they can't handle that. It's the "big fish in a small pond becoming a small fish in a big pond" - conundrum.
High school was like a picnic to me compared to college. He should have just gotten a job or took up a trade like becoming an electrician or something. Instead he became deceitful and became a scam artist. The ultimate was murder just to get his hands on money. I guess he wasn't smart enough to realize that half of the life insurance money would have gone to his brother if his parents both died.
Me being anonymous in college allowed me to develop a new me….
This is a great observation. I feel you are spot on.
He was "lazy" so he tried not to do anything, but his illegal side-hustles had him working almost as hard as actual work.
😢 When you were talking about him being in auto pilot and him just going on about his day, the part of him trying to wipe off some of the blood, it’s so sad. These poor parents didn’t deserve this. This really stuck with me.
That made me sad too ! May his daddy rest in Heaven and may his momma finally have peace ! What a horrible person Chris was !
This is literally the most disturbing true crime case I've ever heard...& Danielle...stop trying to understand these narcissist sociopaths...you never will! Your so sweet & adorable & sincere❤️
I think the moment you begin to understand sociopaths and narcissists you really need to go to therapy before you're lost...
“Not only is he stealing from his parents, but he’s also stealing from the animals”😂 that wording was perfect!
That Poor Woman! Her mind won't accept what her Own Son did to her, and her Husband, his Father! She was speaking the truth that night. My heart goes out to her, and Prayers for Joan.🙏🙏🙏🙏💔💔💔💔
She absolutely understands what he did but she is a real mother I’m sorry for you people that do not understand you’re a piece of shit as a parent then
I can't believe she defended her husband's killer and even threw a party for him. I understand she loves her son but this is just crazy.
That party was probably more for her knowing it would be the last.
You’ve got to think, she went into a coma, and had multiple surgeries. Medical procedures themselves can be considered trauma, plus considering the attack it’s possible her mind blocked it out. I couldn’t imagine knowing your son was trying to murder you. She probably refused to believe it. The mind can be a very tricky and strong thing.
It made me feel sick watching the clip of the party with him looking at his mother’s face knowing he did that to her and sitting back taking advantage of her AGAIN after he tried to murder her. But for Joan, she has suffered multiple head injuries, it’s hard to know if her mind functions the same as before the attack. It would have also been such a traumatic experience she probably blocked it out as much as she could. She was a loving and caring mother to him throughout Chris’ life and couldn’t even try to comprehend that her own child would do that to his parents. It’s very sad that she can’t see the truth but I think the person who should be held accountable for that is Chris and the fact he has no remorse and can even look his poor mum in the eye after what he did to her, and continue to lie to her and take advantage of the trauma he put her through.
Personally I think she knows it's him, but with your killer roaming around free, with opportunity to cone strike again, she likely lied to save her own life!
I know someone who went into a coma after a seizure-head injury combo. She recalls zero about her recovery, even though there are videos of her participating in yes/no discussion and learning to talk again. Her doctor said it’s probably better for her that she doesn’t remember.
All this to say, I think Mommy doesn’t remember the event post-coma, and like always she wants to believe Christopher can do any wrong.
I srsly wonder if the parents themselves are narcissistic. To the degree that any child of theirs can do no wrong…and yet that child feels it’s so necessary to them that he go to Uni that he’ll construct elaborate lies.
It’s possible they were just so deeply loving and naive that they wanted to think the best of their son. I’ve just never met anyone like that so I’m biased. Also, you gotta really squint at upper-middle class families. The politics in those households is 4d chess level stuff…
When they asked her if Chris did it was fresh in her head, but at the same time she was injured horribly. And then when she says it wasn’t him, she had recovered from her injuries, she could’ve had memory loss, but since this was such a traumatic event, most likely done by her own son her brain probably blocked it out to protect her from the trauma. There’s no doubt in my mind Chris did it, and watching those videos with him and his mom is heartbreaking
No, it's spine tingling
Its sick hes sickening
Yes, it is very common for people to completely forget trauma like that. Happens a lot with car accidents. Your brain buries it as a coping tool.
That’s what I thought too. She just couldn’t handle the absolute heartbreak of her son being her attempted killer so her brain blocked it out.
This is what happens when you think that your child is perfect. You know when school calls and says your child is a bully? And you go noooo not my child my child is an angel. These parents create monsters, bullies, lazy incompetent people. Makes my blood boil
This right here!!!
The fact that nobody saw Peter when he was locked outside for that short period of time is one of the most saddening parts for me, if only somebody could've called for help before it was too late.
I will never cease to be amazed by coworkers calling the cops .. my job would just let me go for not showing up 2 days back to back let alone call a wellness check or even try to check in with me .. they truly are the life savers in many cases and it always makes me hope I can be involved in a job where my coworkers would do the same if it was ever to happen..
I once had a job call the cops on me for a welfare check because I was an hour late and missed a meeting. Thankfully all that had happened was my alarm was on my phone and it broke in the middle of the night.
Joan, oh poor Joan... it's absolutely incredible that she survived, and it's maybe even more miraculous that she exists with any kind of brain function... I truly believe she doesn't remember. I cannot imagine being in her position, post attack, with a totally changed life, being told solidly that it was my own son. I whole heartedly believe he did it... that footage of the birthday party made my heart weep for her... hug your Mom's guys.
I don’t believe her that she doesn’t remember. She was always way to protective of her son. She was delusional. She is just as bad for defending her husbands murder. If it wasn’t him why was she so sure right in the morning?
Only 26 mins in, I realized I know this story already. Danielle has an unique and personal way of telling these stories and I love it ☺️
I like to listen to Danielle tell the cases I've heart before, always well told, and when she says it makes her blood boil, I laugh because I say it too, love this sweet lady.
I really feel for his brother Jonathan as well. For him to see his mother supporting his brother who killed their father and also attempted to kill their mother, in the most brutal way possible, for the entire trial and probably still to this day, must be just so incredibly heartbreaking and traumatising. Like, how can you stand to be in the same room as your parents’ killer and not want to attack him. Yet, I’m sure that he wouldn’t want to risk further traumatising his mother by expressing any of this. Far out. This guy is so cold blooded and definitely a psychopath. His family was incredibly unlucky to have given life to him, when there are millions of other kids that would have deserved and appreciated parents like these.
i feel so so bad for his parents :( they seem like the sweetest people ever and the fact that joan stood by her son afterwards… ugh it’s just heartbreaking. they were kind hearted people.
I'm from this area and I remember this case being EVERYWHERE as a kid. At the time I felt like he did it. As an adult I know he did it. Thank you for being so compassionate. You always have me tearing up. 💛
Im also from the area. I moved to Bethlehem after this had all happened. Seeing his name in the high school text books always raised eyebrows because we all know he did it
what's funny is I'm from easton and i NEVER heard about it! i just posted a comment about it. i moved to beth a few years ago but was always in the area, and news always covered the ABE area but i never knew about it. I've heard of this story before, specifically about his dad being a walking zombie but never knew it happened in the lehigh Valley!!
Me too. Albany
This is so sad watching the love his mother has for him while he knows in his mind what he’s done. He would’ve lived just fine with the last memory of her bleeding out and it was his fault.
🥺💔
I can't believe my timing! This video was just posted 5 secs ago so I obviously haven't watched it yet, but I'm just here to say I trust your coverage, Danielle - I love your compassion for the victims and their families, and I do love it when "Sassy Danielle" comes out.
We stan Sassy Danielle
Update after watching - your eye makeup is gorgeous today. Really stunning with your coloring and eye color (and the nails look great with it as well). This case is soooo sad. Not least of all because of Joan sticking by him. I really think that after how much she lost she just could not bear to face the truth. But the photo of her walking into court with him absolutely chilled my blood. This is just my opinion, of course, but in my opinion he is guilty as sin. Her mother love in this situation is absolutely tragic.
I have been watching nothing but Bailey sarian and she has been my favorite. I find alot of people trying to do what you two do and I have to say you two are prob the only people i watch now!! ❤
@@kallorraine8840 i recommend u to start watching coffeehousecrime too he is so good as well
I watch many many TC channels, every one is special, different and good . But if forced to name 3 of my favorites I would say Danielle and Mike from That Chapter . Everyone else is equally in 3 place. Nobody is a looser 😜
i can’t believe chris can even look his mother in her eyes knowing he was the reason she went through that
The lengths a mother will go to in order to protect their child, even when they're wrong... my heart breaks for Joan.
It was the shock his father felt. He just jumped into his routine as usual. Didn’t even register to him at the time. I’m actually great full that he didn’t feel that pain in the moment. RIP to him. I can say that I absolutely love that the mother survived and I hope she finds happiness and peace.
HE def did it...that poor woman & her husband. I'm so glad the mother survived because the other brother would've lost his entire family all at once. It's so crazy that the father was still alive & doing his morning routine & couldn't comprehend what had happened. The brain is a very weird thing. At least he didn't feel pain in his last moments or at least it seems like he didn't. May he RIP!
What a horrific crime though...😳
I think the other brother sadly lost his whole family anyway. Since he believed Chris was guilty and his mom was still standing by his side, throwing him parties. He must have had some resentment towards his mom. Their relationship must have suffered a blow
Yeh true.. I hope they were eventually able to come back together after he was locked up.
When you were describing the father getting ready in the morning I was having flashbacks to nightmares that I have had. I sincerely hope there was not a bit of registration of the events in his mind. If he was able to think, imagine how scary that would feel...just waiting to wake up. Joan nodding her head yes to Christopher having done it was her Freudian slip or just her last dying truth maybe. Then when she realized she would have the opportunity to go on, she didn't want to lose her son along with her husband so she went into complete denial. I am surprised that the jury completely dismissed her indication that it was Christopher though, to me that seems like a reliable victim statement. If she had died, I think that her nodding her head would have been considered in the trial.
This honestly broke my heart. He's an absolute monster for doing this to his own loving parents
Danielle - you impeccably researched and presented this with accuracy and empathy. Your literary technique and style are admirable.
I've never ever had a case hurt my stomach so much. This is just heartbreaking. How he can just stand there and be able to even look at her knowing he did that is unbelievable. I feel like throwing up. I hope one day he confesses and that she will never remember him doing that. There's no way he didn't do it. It all lines up to perfectly. RIP Peter ❤️💐
Exactly what I was commenting too! Watching that clip of him w\his Mom AFTER he tried to kill her, made me sick! I'm not her daughter & I mean this in NO WAY to shame her or pick at the way she looks. I would never bully or point out sore spots, so I mean this in NO WAY as hurtful. But I'm not related to her at all, of course, but looking at her face & the injuries there, HURTS me! I feel so bad for her! I can't EVEN imagine how he could be around her day after day seeing that & not feel like the devil!
I definitely hate the stories you share, but I do love the respect and truthfulness you share while talking and I admire your compassion when talking of the victims and sometimes of the aggressor’s. I love you Danielle
You should have waited for all the Chris/Christopher cases to be done in December. For Chris-mas 🎄
Genius lol Christopher(s), Christina(s) , Christian(s) , Kristen(s) all them
😂😂
So many chris'. Chris watts, chris dawson, chris beniot, chris moyer, chris longo. All killed their wives, and kids too i think
With. These are still real people, real crimes.
Clever word play! 👏🏻
I’ve never heard anyone else cover this story besides local news… and I don’t understand why. It’s such an insane and heartbreaking case. My dad knew Peter, he’s a lawyer in Albany too. I’ve heard this story so many times growing up but you covered the details so well. The part about him going about his daily routine is INSANE. I feel so bad for Joan, she just lost her husband in the most brutal way, she probably didn’t want to lose her son too and couldn’t believe he would do something like that. She lives in my hometown now and still attends the church my family goes to. Chris can rot in absolute hell for the rest of his life
This reminds me of the Van Brede murders in South Africa where the only survivor suffered retrograde amnesia from her injuries and couldn't testify.
It's terrifying the brutality of these literal axe murderers
Thanks again Danielle for another insightful story
Yes I lived near them omg it was horrific here in Cape Town
My thoughts exactly. They are heartless losers, driven by financial gain.
What an incredibly tragic story. I don't know how he could look and his mother and not just crumble to his knees. He dealt his parents so much grief and then killed his father and tried to kill his mother as well.
your tribute to the victims was incredibly heartfelt and sensitive. thank you for that.
OMFG 😱 In regards to Chris's bday party, I'm mind blown how he can sit there, next to his Mother whilst celebrating his f***ing Birthday like that! Did y'all see the smile on his face? I'm lost for words right now. That's another level of psycho right there. Holy S**t!
The fact that his poor mother has blocked that from her memory and stands by him is heartbreaking. What’s even worse it he has zero remorse and knows exactly what he did while still playing the innocent son. How can he look at his mom and not feel anything? He’s a psychopath and deserves to rot in jail.
I love how Danielle tells these stories. I think she is always so respectful and nuanced and I’m glad that she isn’t scared to give her opinion. There are literally some cases that I’ve heard from other TH-camrs and then heard from Danielle and from Danielle, it really hit. I guess some TH-camrs just made it sound like fiction in a way and didn’t really make me feel real emotions but Danielle’s videos are a real punch in the face and it doesn’t seem like a movie. They are actually harder to listen to but I think she does a fantastic job
i love listening to your videos while i play games or write essays, not because of the cases you cover, but because of the WAY you cover them. you are the only true crime channel i enjoy because of how compassionate you are when talking about it. i also just love your voice. if you read this, thank you for all you do and i hope you have a great week
HOW do you write essays while listening and be able to retain anything? Lol I’m currently procrastinating an essay due today
@@mangomonet2464 I usually dont focus on the video, just have it as background noise. But afterwards I end up having the information from the video anyways
I feel absolutely devastated for Joan.
I can't imagine going through all this and then to ALSO accept the fact that someone that you created, nurtured, raised, loved unconditionally... could do something like this.
I genuinely couldn’t imagine doing this to my parents or anyone else. I’ll never understand people.
Hearing about Peter brought me to tears. This was a very hard one to listen to especially when the victims are family members of the perps. What a horific way to harm your own parents.
It is soo incredibly hartbreaking that Joan stood by him and believed him after he murdered her husband and permanently disfigured and traumatised her. The image her sitting by his side celebrating his birthday and asking the police and media to stop blaming him is tragic. You can see how loyal and loving they have been to him and sadly it seems like the fact they were so supportive made him even more emboldened to kill them. Obviously Joan is so traumatised by her attack her brain has blocked it out. In a way that's a good thing.
Danielle, you saved my dull Sunday evening! Thank you for your great work!
Sitting here doing Diamond Paintings after major tooth surgery and watching your new Sunday upload! Just wanna say I love your content and look forward to the new cases every week. You calm my anxiety and the pain I'm feeling right now 🥰 Thank you Danielle!
Hope you feel better soon!
Thank you so much!
hope it went well- surgery sucks!
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
I love doing diamond paintings
Omg Chris Porco is from a neighboring town of mine, his mom lives in my town now, and she still says he didn't do it, but on scene, she said he did.. amazing, a mothers love.. almost cost her life, cost her husbands life.. consensus is he DID do this.. crazy.. one of my retired medics was first on scene there. It still talked about today.
I don't know if that is love. Maybe it is. But it is just deep deep denial. It is her personality. She was in denial for many years about who her son was. I had an aunt like this and her level of denial was frightening. Sweetest person, but not really in reality.
I would love to see you cover Alison Botha, she was a victim of a horrible crime in South Africa. Watched a documentary about it years ago and it sticks with me!! Keep up your amazing work, love watching your videos x
I remember that. How she managed to make it still baffles me.
@@Poppins242 I know it’s crazy! I’ve never heard anything like it, think that’s why it’s stuck with me all this time. Truly despicable how someone could do that to another person😪
Hello from South Africa yes this still gets to me
I heard recently that Alison Botha's attackers have been released from prison, absolutely disgusting - they deserve to rot in a cell!
His interview at the end makes me think he definitely did it. He looked like he was 110% lying
Pissed af after an argument & stressful day but then I see you have a new video out and my day is good again 💚
The Devastation, Pain, and Grief she is Suffering is Unbearable, I'm sure!! Excellent point about the fingerprint!
Phone company, hello?
I'm from Rochester NY 🤘
you nailed the pronunciation!!🤘
I love all the hard work that you put into this case 💕 I had never heard of this case so local to me! Thank you for making this video and your channel 💕🙏🏻 thanks for sharing your passion for all of us!💕🙏🏻
I love to watch you work on your makeup and tell an interesting story at the same time.
Omg I’m in Rochester working atm and listening to this as I drive around the city streets of this nasty crime ridden city
What an insane case. Absolutely cannot believe that both of them lived through that, and the surgeons did an amazing job on Joan - she looks almost normal
Joan looks so good in the photos. It's only in the videos that you can really tell the nerve and muscle damage inflicted on her. In a still image I never would have guessed he'd taken 3 axe blows to the face and head. Her surgeons have done such a great reconstruction of her face.
The way he went about his day - I don’t know if I feel sick, heartbroken or completely flabbergasted.
This one was completely shocking! I cannot believe Peter was functioning after this attack! My jaw dropped! I think I scared my husband!😮 OMG You just told me Joan was still alive! I was commenting while still listening. This is absolutely unbelievable!
I just found this channel and it’s my favorite! I actually watch while doing my makeup with you. This story is fascinating in that both victims survived the attack - we know what happened to the father. The way he went about his day after being violently assaulted with an axe reminds me of the Ryan Waller story in Phoenix, AZ. Thanks for this brilliant channel!
I can very much relate to this. Our youngest sibling scammed our parents off their life savings. She was supposed to do internship abroad, and my parents already paid for everything, but as it turns out she was just in the country living the life. For a year, she then pretended to have emergencies at work (like breaking kitchen equipments and being sick) so my folks would continue to send her money. She also scammed other people off by telling them that my parents died, or has cancer. She even used my name and pretended that I messaged her friends who she borrowed money from to tell them that she overdosed. I was the one who found everything out. She was staying in the next city from ours and while on a run, she dropped her phone. Call it luck, but a friend of mine ended up picking up her phone and messaged me about it. Bottomline is my parents had to sell their property because of her lies and they now don't have any retirement savings. Wish I didn't have a sister like her.
Wow, this reminds me so much of the Chandler Halderson case, which is arguably more brutal. Would love to see you cover this case because Chandler is a piece of work, much like Chris. Sooo many lies and craziness. Love your videos Danielle, you’ve definitely become my favorite true crime TH-camr!
I second this!
I was thinking of the Halderson case too, sick and chilling as well. I third that I'd like to see that covered!
Me also!
i was thinking the same!!
I said the exact same thing
For everyone pointing the finger at Joan, please remember she is an actual person and victim. She went through something awful, and it's wrong to callously victim blame and say she's the reason her son did it/she's the reason these events happened. This level of disconnect is part of the issue people have with true crime these days - Joan is a victim and we need to remember that.
Edit: Same goes for Peter. To hear how he died in a horrific way and your response is "well what did they expect when they raised Chris like that"...please tell me you guys hear yourselves.
Thank you!!! I'm horrified at all these keyboard warriors saying she caused it. It doesn't flipping matter at this point. This woman has gone through hell and lost everything. She doesn't deserve strangers telling her it was her fault. Like compose your thoughts with some dignity and grace, damn
Finger pointing aside, the only thing a human can do to DESERVE an axe to the face, is axe a human in the face. No body could've done anything that would cause this. Greed and pride caused this.
@@patchworkgutterpup People have no couth or manners nowadays.
Exactly👏 well said! All they did was love their son. No matter what, this should have never happened. I really hope she can get over the PTSD of this. It has to be immensely hard for her. No matter what, he is still her son.😞
I do and I'm deeply sorry for what happened to them, but I also believe they had responsabiltiy, wich Is not the same thing that saying they deserved it. Saying that's 'forgeting she was a victim' is just your way of seeing it, and let me say, that's also judgamental.
Seeing that axe for the first time sent chills down my spine. His poor parents.
The zombie state thing happened on classic CSI episode but I had no idea it had actually happened!
Oh god I remember seeing a documentary about this case when I was in like, 7th grade or sth and the dad still going through his morning routine even after the horrible injuries to his head/skull/brains stuck with me so much, I just kept telling people about it and how crazy the human body was, and watching this, I realised I still remember every single thing the dad did that morning... I think that was one of the first true crime cases I saw and took interest in, and it absolutely terrified and shocked me, which is probably why it stuck with me so much... the son's attack and murder (I have no doubt he did it) and the human body's ability just just... keep going until the very last second.... wow hearing about this case again years later was such a weird experience.
I live about 2 and a half hours from Rochester, NY!!! These stories are always so unbelievable, but when they happen so close it truly opens your eyes, that these horrid people truly are all around us!! I absolutely love how you tell the stories, continue your amazing work!!
I've watched and listened to so many stories over the past years of this tragic murder, but I actually learned a few new things by watching you today. Way to dig deep Danielle, you are truly amazing and so thorough.
I live in upstate New York and during my senior year forensics class one of the investigators on this case came into our class and talked to us about it. The whole case still baffles me.
I have a deeply personal connection to this case so it is still a little too triggering to hear about it. I still wanted to comment for engagement and thank you for covering this case, not enough people know about Peter and Joan’s story.
That mother was in denial from the beginning. She wanted to believe her son was successful and she refused to believe him for what he was. They were EXTREMELY forgiving for his behaviour. Her behaviour is very consistent throughout the trial and that behaviour at the birthday party is sickening
Christopher reminds me of two other cases of young guys killing (or trying) their parents for money & to cover up lies. Its like they refuse to become adults & face the sometimes harsh realities that come with it...
Another great episode.....Thank you!!
Much love to ya from southern Indiana (usa)♥️
Yep chandler halderson and Bart Whitaker? That’s the 2 cases it reminds me of with the lying for years and killing (or trying to) your parents/family. Just sad 😢
@@elizabethgreer27 thats exactly the two cases that i had in mind!
@@ryoung8499 I thought of Chandler right away!
I thought about joel guy jr and his stupid and disgusting written plan to kill his parents. this happens too often man
YAY!!! Just in time for my bedtime routine!!! True Crime + Matcha latte 🍵 + Skin care = Good times ❤️ whoop whoop 🙌🏾 x
Fantastic take on this case I love the way you narrate each of your crime.story uploads. It's so complete and it really holds the person's interest. You should do make-up on the side also for people for special occasions like parties. weddings etc.
Poor Joan. So heartbroken, so destroyed, that she went insane. She physically cannot comprehend that her son would do this.
I love how the 911 operator immediately says "Ok Chris, whereabouts are ya?"😂
Hi from Washington in the USA. I’m a professional air brush artist and your voice & story telling always keeps me company during work ❤️
I remember this case so clearly. I live about 15 minutes away from the town he's from and for so long this is all anyone could talk about. It was so shocking of a story that came out of, what is seen as, an upscale place.
Danielle: Why would anyone want to come to England on holiday?
Also Danielle: *lists all the cool things to see in England*
I want to go to England because 2 of the best bands in history are from their, Beatles and Led Zeppelin, and my grama is from Whales, I didn't know her but theirs so much history there.
@@deborahfollowscornell9007 Wales* isn’t in England
@@ilo364Also whales are mammals lol.
1: it was probably auto spell that made it come out as Whales instead of Wales.
2: Wales is on the same island as England:) They could have meant that when they go to England, they'd also like to go to Wales too. We should all try better not to assume😊💛
@@deborahfollowscornell9007 well Wales is a different country but sure!
I went to high school with him. He was such a funny guy. Never would of guessed he would be in prison right now for such a hateful crime😢
Once more, I have no words, bc this case too is unbelivable. Chris doesn't deserve his parents. They literally gave him everything and all he did in return was abuse of their trust and love. I feel heartbroken for Joanne who even after this trauma still kept protecting him. I have no doubts that he did it. I wish he knew how lucky he was to have such golden loving parents to not break their hearts like this and hurt them. May Peter rest in peace. I hope that Joanne can somehow menage to heal and be happy. Thank you for covering this case, excelent job as always
I lived there at the time this atrocity happened. It was surreal, watching the story unfold.
I watch all of your videos, you have such an informative and respectful approach when telling such horrific stories. I live so close to where this case took place and am familiar with all of the locations. So wild that this happened and such an evil thing to do to someone who loves you or anyone at all
I love that you always match your eyeshadow to your nails 😍 so pretty!!
This is one of the true crime stories that always sticks in my mind. I’m so glad you covered it.
Again you have brought us an awesome story. I’ve heard of this case, but you have a way of telling the story to make it fresh and interesting. Thanks for your hard work! ❤