Ep 7. Vigilante Or Victim?

In the seventh episode of Killer Motive season 1, titled "Vigilante Or Victim?", the true motivations behind a trio of vigilante killings are explored.

The episode starts with the case of 31 year old Yvette Velasco, who was one of the 14 people killed in the San Bernardino shooting in December 2015. Her grieving father, who is still grappling with the tragedy five years later, is interviewed and emotionally recounts the moment he found out his daughter was among the victims.

The focus then shifts to the seemingly unrelated cases of three men who were all murdered in Los Angeles by a group of vigilantes in the summer of 2017. The killers left messages at the scenes of the crimes, claiming that the men were all pedophiles who deserved to die.

As the investigation begins, it becomes clear that the three victims had no criminal records or history of sexual misconduct. The police start to suspect that the vigilante group had made a mistake and killed innocent men. But who are the vigilantes? And why did they believe they were justified in taking matters into their own hands?

The episode follows the detectives as they track down leads and piece together the puzzle. Viewers will see interviews with the detectives, family members of the victims, and experts in psychology and criminology. In particular, a forensic psychologist offers insights into the mindset of vigilantes.

As the plot thickens, the detectives must determine whether the vigilantes acted out of genuine concern for children's safety or if they themselves had other, more sinister motives. Complicating matters further are the ethical questions raised by vigilantism - in their quest for justice, did the vigilantes overstep the boundaries of the law and take the law into their own hands?

At every turn, the detectives have to navigate through red herrings and false leads, but through persistence and clever detective work, they ultimately manage to uncover the truth. Without giving too much away, viewers will be in suspense until the very end as the investigation culminates in a shocking twist.

Overall, "Vigilante Or Victim?" takes a thought-provoking look at the dark side of vigilante justice, and the potential for tragedy when motivated individuals take matters into their own hands. The episode will keep viewers on the edge of their seats and leave them asking the question: in a society where the justice system can sometimes seem to fail, is vigilantism ever the right answer?