Ep 1. I Invited Him In

"I Invited Him In" is the season 4 premiere of the true crime series "Evil Lives Here." In this episode, we hear the story of Theresa Knorr, a mother who killed two of her children and abused the others over a period of several years. The episode is told through the perspective of Theresa's daughter, Sheila, who was just a child when her mother's abuse began.

Sheila recalls the seemingly normal beginnings of her family life in Sacramento, California. She speaks fondly of her father and siblings, but describes her mother as controlling and prone to outbursts of rage. Theresa's abuse starts out small, with things like overly harsh punishment and verbal insults. But as time goes on, it becomes more and more severe.

Sheila describes one incident in which her mother burned her with scalding hot water because she had accidentally spilled some milk. Another time, Theresa held her head underwater until she passed out. Sheila and her siblings are often hungry, forced to eat scraps or go without food altogether. They are not allowed to go to school, or have any friends outside of the family.

Things really come to a head when Theresa's oldest daughter, Suesan, becomes pregnant at sixteen. Angered by the situation, Theresa decides to take matters into her own hands. Sheila tells us how her mother beats Suesan repeatedly, often with a belt or other object. When Suesan gives birth to a baby boy, Theresa takes the child away and tells everyone that he died. In reality, she had given him away to a couple in another state.

Suesan eventually finds a way to escape from her family and move to another state. But her mother is not done with her yet. One day, Theresa shows up at Suesan's apartment and invites herself in. The violent confrontation that follows leads to Suesan's murder.

As the episode progresses, we see that Sheila's own life has been irrevocably shaped by her mother's abuse. She struggles with alcoholism and PTSD, and is haunted by the memories of what happened to her family. Despite everything, she finds the strength to tell her story and help others who have gone through similar experiences.

"I Invited Him In" is a chilling reminder of the horrors that can happen behind closed doors, and of the long-lasting impact that abuse can have on survivors. Through Sheila's story, we see the importance of speaking out and breaking the cycle of violence.