Fatal Encounters Season 2 Episode 7 In His Father's Eyes

In the episode titled "In His Father's Eyes," of the true-crime series, Fatal Encounters, we are taken back to the year 2008 to explore the tragic case of a double homicide that shocked the small town of Long Prairie, Minnesota.

The episode unfolds with the story of David Brom, a 21-year-old young man with a history of mental illness who was known to his family and friends as a passionate gun enthusiast. David's father, Delroy, was an accomplished gunsmith who had taught David everything he knew about guns. Together, they spent years crafting rifles and shotguns, and David became increasingly fascinated with the power and the destructive force of these deadly weapons.

But despite David's love for guns and hunting, he struggled with his mental health. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age and had been prescribed a variety of medications, which he often refused to take. David's behavior began to spiral out of control, and he became increasingly paranoid and delusional. He would stop eating and sleeping for days at a time, and his moods would swing from elation to despair.

On November 9th, 2008, David's family's worst fears came true. After weeks of arguing with his father and refusing to take his medication, David had a violent psychotic break. He grabbed a shotgun and headed to his family's farm, where he shot and killed his father and his father's girlfriend, Kim.

The episode takes a close look at the aftermath of the murders and the investigation that followed. Detectives were baffled by the crime, as there appeared to be no motive for the killings. David had no history of violence towards his father or his father's girlfriend, and he hadn't stolen anything from the farm. The crime scene was staged to look like a robbery gone wrong, but the detectives quickly realized that this wasn't the case.

As the investigation progressed, the detectives uncovered startling evidence that shed light on David's mental state and his motivations. They discovered that David had left behind a series of chilling messages, detailing his desire to become a vigilante and his belief that he had been chosen to carry out a mission of justice.

The episode takes a fascinating look at the psychology of David's delusions, examining how his mental illness combined with his fascination with guns and his sense of isolation to create the perfect storm. We also see interviews with David's mother and sister, who struggled to come to terms with what had happened and to understand how David could have committed such a horrific act.

As the episode draws to a close, we see the trial of David Brom, where he is convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The judge praises David for accepting responsibility for his actions and for showing remorse for what he had done, but acknowledges that he is too dangerous to ever be released.

In the end, "In His Father's Eyes" is a heartbreaking and disturbing episode that offers a compelling insight into the tragic consequences of untreated mental illness. Despite the horrific nature of the crime, the show treats the victims and their families with dignity and respect, shining a light on the devastating impact of gun violence and the importance of recognizing the warning signs of mental illness before it's too late.