Dark Minds Shattered Lives
True crimeDark Minds Shattered Lives exposes predators, dives into the minds of evildoers, and helps you and your loved ones avoid them.
Siste episoder av Dark Minds Shattered Lives podcast
- Snakes in Suits - Bad CEOs (00:45:26)
Deborah Dobbs delves into the troubling traits of psychopathy in leadership, particularly within nonprofit organizations. She shares a personal story of being deceived by a nonprofit CEO displaying dangerous personality traits, leading to significant financial misconduct. The discussion highlights the consequences of poor leadership, the importance of accountability, and the ethical responsibilities of donors. Dobbs emphasizes the need for due diligence in hiring practices and reflects on the broader implications of trust and integrity in nonprofit work. Takeaways Psychopathic traits can manifest in leadership roles, especially in nonprofits. CEOs often prioritize profit over people, leading to unethical behavior. Personal experiences can reveal the dangers of trusting the wrong individuals. Fraud and embezzlement are serious issues in nonprofit organizations. Leadership failures can have devastating consequences for communities. Legal battles can distract from the real victims of nonprofit fraud. Donors must be vigilant and informed about where their money goes. Trust your instincts when dealing with potential deception. Due diligence in hiring is crucial to prevent future issues. Nonprofit integrity is essential for maintaining public trust. Chapters 00:00 The Dark Side of Leadership: CEOs and Psychopathic Traits 02:37 The Nonprofit Sector: A Frontier for Malfeasance 04:28 Spotting Dangerous Personalities: A Personal Experience 06:55 The Case of the Deceptive Executive Director 09:21 Unraveling the Lies: Investigating the Executive Director 11:42 The Fallout: Legal Consequences and Revelations 14:13 The Courtroom Drama: A Deep Dive into the Lawsuit 26:36 Uncovering Financial Misconduct at Emily's Place 29:33 The Struggle for Accountability 32:25 Legal Battles and Mismanagement 35:09 Blame Shifting 39:08 Problematic Nonprofit Operations 42:54 The Illusion of Charity 46:35 Misuse of Donations and Ethical Concerns 48:22 Cognitive Dissonance and Warning Signs 51:55 Hiring Practices and Organizational Integrity 55:42 Psychopathy in Corporate Culture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Psychosis vs Psychopathy: What's the Difference? (00:22:20)
Dobbs dives beneath the surface of psychosis, psychopathy and sociopathy. How are these conditions different? What triggers them? A few resources: The Psychopath Whisperer: https://www.amazon.com/Psychopath-Whisperer-Science-Without-Conscience/dp/0770435866 Bryn Spejcher on Dr. Phil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKLZ22grPas A bit about David Carmichael's psychotic episode: https://www.the-sun.com/news/4237556/i-strangled-son-death-prescription-medication/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Dallas Vice Delivered! (00:19:12)
While some detectives welcome any excuse to avoid investigating, others give it their all. In previous episodes, expert Joseph Scaramucci exposed the dark world of illicit massage businesses, a sinister type of human trafficking happening right under our noses. After he showed us how easy it is to vet massage businesses and separate the illegal from the legit, Deborah reported to authorities a couple places in Dallas and Richardson, Texas that were obviously criminal enterprises. During the months that followed, she grew weary and frustrated over her hometown law enforcement's response (or lack of) to a neighbor with special needs, suffering ongoing abuse and neglect by his "caretaker". Deborah was starting to wonder if the trafficking reports were being swept under the rug like her neighbor's case. Then a detective in the Dallas PD Vice Unit delivered some good news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Doug Deaton on the Chemirmir Serial Killer - Part 2 (00:25:29)
Last Episode was Part 1 of the Billy Chemirmir case, and retired Plano Police Lieutenant Doug Deaton didn’t hold back on how Dallas so-called leadership dropped the ball, allowing a psychopath to victimize the most vulnerable, killing at least 22 elderly women between 2016 and 2018. If it hadn’t been for survivor Marty Bartel and the tenacious detectives at Plano Police Department, Chemirmir might still be killing people today. In Part 2, we flip the script to retirement communities, like The Tradition-Prestonwood and Edgemere. Chemirmir the serial killer waltzed right in, pretending to be a worker, and committed his crimes undeterred. Despite alerts by a legit home health care provider and a maintenance man, management turned a blind eye to multiple deaths and the creep roaming around the property because they cared more about looking boujee than locking doors. Stick around as we unpack this mess, and then Doug will give us some great tips on how to check if those safety measures apartments and retirement communities brag about actually hold up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The Politics of Murder (00:40:09)
People were dying in Dallas, Texas, and their loved ones knew something was wrong. Despite their pleas, the powers that be in Dallas ignored the evidence -- the evidence linked to Billy Chemirmir, possibly the most prolific serial killer in history. Doug Deaton was a lieutenant in investigations at Plano Police Department, the department responsible for bringing Chemirmir's killing spree to an end. Deaton speaks the truth about the politics of murder, the DA's broken promises, and other details you won't hear in the documentary. Pillowcase Murders https://www.fox4news.com/news/billy-chemirmir-murder-trial-closing-arguments-to-begin-in-accused-serial-killers-murder-trial https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/dallas-serial-killer-billy-chemirmir-convicted-of-capital-murder-in-death-of-another-elderly-victim-receives-second-life-sentence-officials-say/287-0f36d04d-4f2d-4d1e-9b73-7ddb77f5dc00 Cruezot's U-turn on death penalty: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/billy-chemirmir-dallas-da-wont-seek-death-penalty/287-bd78bb02-e7b5-40a8-8d5a-83163d3e0e2a https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-charged-killing-18-women-dallas-area-convicted-1-murder-rcna26574 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Dangerous Personality: Professor Predator (00:27:03)
Doug Deaton, retired Lieutenant with Plano Police Department and founder of RDR Private Investigations & Crisis Management joins Deborah Dobbs to discus several psychopathic predators he encountered during his career with Plano PD. In this episode, Deaton shares how he went from running from cops to becoming one. Early on, Deaton showed a knack for spotting predators, including a criminal justice professor at the University of North Texas. Dangerous Personalities: An FBI Profiler Shows You How to Identify and Protect Yourself from Harmful People https://bit.ly/4izahiW Doug Deaton's RDR Private Investigations and Crisis Management: https://rdrtexas.com/ Miami Bus Hijacking: https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/1995/11/03/school-bus-hijacker-had-tax/50654685007/ https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1995/11/15/school-bus-hijacker-had-hepatitis/ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/08/12/9-months-later-school-bus-hijacking-haunts-children/ James Francis Quinn, PhD Info: https://www.ntdaily.com/news/longtime-unt-professor-indicted-on-child-pornography-charges/article_dc83e9fe-0981-50db-929f-5cd6f35c40ae.html Quinn was convicted, served time in prison, and must register in the sex offender registry for life. Just because: https://planomagazine.com/planos-best-gas-station-tacos/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Stanley Ledbetter: Tax Specialist by Day, Predator by Night (00:40:49)
During daylight hours, Stanley Ledbetter seemed like an ordinary professional guy, but under the cover of darkness, he was a brutal, psychopathic rapist, robber, and murderer. He committed horrific acts of violence against women, often in front of their spouses. Seven police departments and the Texas Rangers joined forces to hunt him down. As a Plano PD SWAT member, Doug Deaton was a part that hunt, and he will share shocking, albeit useful, information about Ledbetter's tactics and how you and your loved ones can avoid evildoers like him. At least two of Ledbetter’s victims chose firearms training: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/after-attacks-these-north-texas-women-found-security-in-the-weapon-they-once-feared/287-549516825 https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/jury-convicts-plano-man-in-brutal-home-invasion/ Regarding the Plano officer and the QT shooting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjGF-3oMTCs One of many articles about the Delta Crash: https://www.waka.com/2025/02/17/delta-air-lines-jet-flips-after-landing-at-airport-in-canada/ Stanley Ledbetter: https://abc13.com/archive/6066587/ https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2010/09/14/frisco-sex-assault-trial-opens-with-testimony-about-stabbings/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Facts Behind Fiction: You Lied to Me (00:37:28)
Every first responder or crisis worker has a case that haunts them. Mine was my first crisis call after a woman was murdered by her ex in front of her two young children. The call was horrific, especially for a new advocate, but it was exacerbated by my boss, an unethical woman who loved power and had a twisted relationship with a corrupt police chief. The worst part, though, was hiding the truth from two young children. In the end, the youngest called me out. For help with understanding the warning signs for domestic violence and safety planning, please visit thehotline.org. To read the Victim Advocate Colleen Heenan series by Deborah Dobbs, visit her page on Amazon. Both The Psychotic Son and VILE are available on KU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Hard Truths About Trafficking - Pt. 3 (00:48:18)
Deborah reveals some truths behind a "botched prostitution sting" in Lewisville, Texas. Trafficking expert Joe Scaramucci returns to confirm whether two locations near and dear to her have been infested by sex trafficking. A simple Google search provides the answer. WARNING: this episode contains graphic language and discussions of sexual violence. Listener/Viewer discretion advised! Skull Games Nonprofit Organization. "We provide analytical and operational support toe Law Enforcement Agencies to interdict sex predators." Texas Attorney General "Texans are not for Sale - Red Flags" Texas Penal Code Title 9. Offenses Against Public Order and Decency. Chapter 43. Public Indecency. Subchapter A Prostitution. 13 North Texas officers violated protocol during investigation into alleged prostitution at massage businesses, chief says Too much touching: Inside the botched prostitution investigations at Lewisville PD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- System Failure: Frank Garrison (00:27:08)
By the time he was 18 years old, Frank Garrison had dedicated his life to violent crime. His MO involved breaking into women's unoccupied cars, masked and wielding a knife, and lying in wait. One of his arrests inspired a scene in Dobbs' second novel VILE. In this episode, the arresting officer shares the facts that inspired the fiction, and Dobbs shares how that arrest impacted Garrison's would-be victim. Sadly, despite continued efforts by the officer and many others, the system released Garrison to do it again. Even after receiving a life sentence, Garrison walks among us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Hard Truths about Trafficking: Pt. 2 (IMBs) (00:34:23)
In Part 2 of our Sex Trafficking Series, Joe Scaramucci from Skull Games shows us live how to identify the illegal enterprises of illicit massage business in your neighborhood. It's easier than you might think. Scaramucci also explains how these illegal operations should be investigated and how often law enforcement agencies get it wrong – so wrong they might make headlines, as did some detectives at the Lewisville Police Department. Finally, he teaches us how to vet anti-trafficking organizations and determine which are legit and which are doing more harm than good. Resources: Skull Games: https://skullgames.org/ Mosaic Family Services: https://mosaicservices.org/ "13 North Texas officers violated protocol during investigation into alleged prostitution at massage businesses, chief says" WFAA Article Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Hard Truths about Sex Trafficking: Pt. 1 (00:37:34)
In today's episode, Joe Scaramucci of Skull Games provides a live demonstration of how sex traffickers use social media to hunt for victims. Traffickers aren't kidnapping girls off the street. They use manipulation and mind games. After listening, you won't view social media the same. Scaramucci also shares what the men and women at the nonprofit agency Skull Games are doing to interdict sex predators and help victims restart their lives. Resources Skull Games website: https://skullgames.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Show Me Your Psychopath (00:35:24)
Episode One is all about psychopaths - psychopathic traits, depictions in film, as well as myths and lesser known facts about the psychopaths walking among us. Joining your host Deborah Dobbs is her friend Bob Saenz, a wildly successful actor, writer, and all around great guy. In addition to sipping whiskey and chatting about psychopaths, Deborah and Bob will compare the main character in his film, Extracurricular Activities, to the list of traits on Robert Hare's Psychopathy Checklist. Resources: Robert D. Hare's Psychopathy Checklist: https://criminologyweb.com/psychopathy-test-and-aileen-wuornos/#The_Hare_Psychopathy_Test_and_Checklist Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us by Robert D. Hare, PhD The Psychopath Whisperer: The Science of Those Without Conscience by Kent A. Kiehl, PhD The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach about Success by Dr. Kevin Dutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices