Why Children Defend Murderous Parents: A Criminologist's Perspective

Children of Killers as Victims

• 💡 Children of parents convicted of murder, especially in cases of familicide or mass murder, are considered twice victims.
• 🧠 The first victimization occurs upon discovering their parent is a murderer, and the second when that parent murders the other beloved parent, causing double trauma.
• 💔 This profound trauma can lead children to gravitate towards and protect the surviving parent, even with overwhelming evidence, as a form of human nature and protection.

Parental Manipulation and Influence

• 🎭 Parents who are manipulative, psychopathic, or narcissistic can exploit their bond with their children to sway them.
• 🗣️ Such parents attempt to persuade children to adopt their narrative and see the world as they want it presented, as seen with Chad Daybell.
• 🤝 The child can become an enabler, consciously or unconsciously, by supporting the parent's narrative and manipulating the perception of their innocence.

Denial, Delusion, and Belief

• 🤔 Children may genuinely want to believe their parent is innocent, finding it difficult to accept that a beloved parent could commit murder.
• ⚠️ In some cases, children might be in a state of denial or delusion regarding the parent's guilt.
• 🤥 When combined with a highly manipulative parent, children become susceptible to persuasion, blurring the lines between belief and manipulation.