Ep 2. Hostage to Greed

In The Killer Beside Me season 3 episode 2, titled Hostage to Greed, viewers are introduced to the story of Janean Brown and her son Tyler. Janean's husband, Vernon, was a successful businessman who owned a construction company and lived a lavish lifestyle. However, when the economy took a turn for the worse, Vernon's business began to suffer and he struggled to keep up with his debts.

Desperate to maintain his image and keep his family's extravagant lifestyle, Vernon concocted a scheme to kidnap a wealthy businessman for ransom money. He enlisted the help of two of his employees, Kevin Fetters and Ronald Rooker, to carry out the plan. The trio targeted Tom Eggers, a local businessman who was known for his wealth and success.

On the day of the kidnapping, Tom was lured to a fake job site where he was ambushed and taken captive. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $1 million for Tom's safe return. The police were notified of the kidnapping and a massive manhunt ensued.

As the investigation unfolded, Janean began to suspect that her husband may have been involved in the crime. She confronted him about her suspicions, and Vernon ultimately confessed to his role in the kidnapping. Janean was horrified by her husband's actions and knew that she had to make things right and help bring Tom home.

With the help of law enforcement, Janean was able to get in contact with the kidnappers and negotiate Tom's release. The police were able to apprehend Fetters and Rooker, but Vernon fled the country and was eventually captured in Honduras.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given a glimpse into the psychological motivations behind Vernon's actions. He had become obsessed with maintaining his image and status, and was willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve that. His greed ultimately led to his downfall, and his family was left to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives.

Hostage to Greed is a chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked greed and the devastating consequences it can have on those involved. Viewers are left to contemplate the tragic aftermath of the kidnapping and wonder what could have been done to prevent such a senseless crime.