5 killers turned in by their family
Families are supposed to be our strongest allies. The people who have our backs, no matter what. But what happens when loyalty is tested by the unspeakable?
These cases prove that blood ties or not, some family members are determined to do the right thing. Even after discovering their loved ones have committed horrifying crimes.
Join us at Crime+Investigation, as we examine five cases where killers have been turned in by family members.
1. Ted Kaczynski: The downfall of the Unabomber
Ted Kaczynski was a talented mathematician and one of the youngest Berkeley professors in history. He’s also one of America’s most notorious domestic terrorists. Known as the Unabomber, he carried out a nationwide bombing campaign between 1978 and 1995. Three people died and more than 20 were injured as a result of his actions.
His downfall began when he sent a 35,000-word anti-technology manifesto to the Washington Post. It was accompanied by threats to continue his mail bombings campaign if it wasn’t published. The Washington Post obliged and the document was printed in a 1995 edition of the newspaper.
The manifesto was supposed to be anonymous but Kaczynski’s younger brother, David, instantly recognised the style and sentiment of the prose. David gets much of the credit for reporting his suspicions but in his book, Every Last Tie, he admits it was his wife, Linda Patrik, who made the connection and encouraged him to contact the FBI. The tipoff ultimately led to the arrest and imprisonment of the Unabomber. Ted Kaczynski died in prison in June 2023 while serving a life sentence without parole.
2. Brian Cohee: A mother uncovers a nightmare
Brian Cohee wasn’t your average young man. Instead of heading off to college, the 21-year-old was found guilty of attacking and murdering a homeless man called Warren Barnes in 2021. Even more disturbing, he dismembered the body and hid parts in a closet.
But it wasn’t the police that cracked the case. It was Cohee’s mother. She discovered the body parts, including a human head, in the closet and immediately called 911. Cohee was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury in 2023.
3. Joshua Delbono: A mother’s heartbreaking call
When 16-year-old Charley Bates was fatally stabbed in a Somerset parking lot in 2022, the case seemed destined to stall. Until an unexpected call came through to the police. On the other end was Joshua Delbono’s mother, shaken but resolute. She told them her 19-year-old son had confessed to the murder.
That single act of courage made sure Joshua Delbono faced justice and spared Charley Bates’ family from the frustration and heartbreak experienced by the loved ones of Laura May Al-Shatanawi, whose case remains unsolved.
4. The BTK Killer: The role of a daughter’s DNA
Dennis Rader, the self-proclaimed BTK Killer, haunted Wichita for more than 30 years. His 'Bind, Torture, Kill' monicker reflected the horrors he inflicted on his victims. Like many other serial killers, he maintained a polished façade. He was a devoted husband and father, a church leader who never gave any indication of his dark double life.
Rader’s smokescreen dissolved in 2005 and it’s largely thanks to his daughter, Kerri Rawson. In her memoir, A Serial Killer’s Daughter, Kerri recounts how she played an unwitting role in his capture. It all started when detectives traced a computer disc sent to them by the BTK Killer back to a Lutheran church where Dennis Rader volunteered. Police made the connection and acquired a warrant for the medical records of his daughter, Kerri. They then used the results to trace DNA found on the computer disc back to Dennis Rader.
5. Paul Dyson: A mother’s painful choice
Despite his outwardly normal appearance, Paul Dyson’s dangerous tendencies were no secret. In February 2005, those violent inclinations culminated in a horrific act that would expose the true extent of his brutality. During a seemingly trivial argument over laundry, Dyson killed his girlfriend, Joanne Nelson. He disposed of her remains and managed to keep his secret hidden for weeks.
But guilt has a way of surfacing. Dyson confided in a friend, who informed Dyson’s mother. Despite the anguish it caused, she made a call that would change everything: she contacted the police.
When family ties fracture
These stories share a common thread. They reveal the quiet bravery of people who chose justice over loyalty. No doubt the decision to come forward wasn’t made lightly for the family members of these killers, especially for the parents of child criminals. It meant sacrificing relationships, enduring public scrutiny and confronting a harrowing truth about someone they loved. But ultimately, justice prevailed.
These acts of courage remind us that legal systems around the world often rely on the bravery of individuals willing to break even the closest of bonds in the name of justice. And this comes with its own kind of legacy. Their choices, while difficult, have brought closure to grieving families and safeguarded countless others from harm.
