Ep 4. Partners in Crime

In Most Evil season 1 episode 4, titled "Partners in Crime," forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Stone delves into the minds of criminal duos who committed heinous acts of violence together.

The first case Stone examines is that of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, who were known as the "Ken and Barbie Killers" due to their good looks and seemingly perfect life. However, behind closed doors, the couple committed a string of rapes and murders in the early 1990s. Stone analyzes the dynamic between Bernardo and Homolka, revealing how their relationship brought out the worst in each other.

Next, Stone explores the chilling case of David and Catherine Birnie, also known as the "Moorhouse Murders." The couple abducted, raped, and murdered young women in Australia during the 1980s. Stone interviews surviving victim Kate Moir, who recounts her harrowing experience of being kidnapped by the Birnies. Through psychological analysis, Stone uncovers the power dynamic within the Birnie's relationship and how they were able to reinforce each other's twisted fantasies.

The third case in "Partners in Crime" involves two serial killers who formed a deadly bond in prison. Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris, also known as the "Toolbox Killers," raped and murdered five teenage girls in California in the late 1970s. Stone examines how the pair came to meet in prison and how their shared hatred towards society fueled their desire to commit heinous acts of violence.

Finally, Stone takes a closer look at the case of Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez, known as the "Lonely Hearts Killers." The couple met through personal ads and went on a killing spree in the 1940s, targeting women who responded to the ads. Stone analyzes the complexities of their relationship, including Beck's obsessive love for Fernandez and their shared need for validation from their victims.

Throughout "Partners in Crime," Stone provides insight into the different types of partnerships that can form between criminals and how these dynamics can escalate the severity of their crimes. By analyzing the psychology behind these pairs, he sheds light on the disturbing factors that can lead individuals to commit such heinous acts together.