Podcast Summary: Into The Dark – Episode 127: The Killer Who Couldn’t Stop Confessing

Release Date: July 9, 2025
Host: Payton Moreland
Description: A deep dive into the tangled web of crimes committed by Terry Childs, exploring his motivations, confessions, and the chilling pattern of his actions.

Introduction

In Episode 127 of Into The Dark, host Payton Moreland unravels the haunting case of Terry Childs, a man whose relentless confessions revealed a sinister pattern of murders spanning decades. This episode delves into the tragic stories of Lois Segala and Linda Josevich, among others, exploring the dark psyche that drove Childs to commit these heinous crimes.

The Disappearance and Murder of Lois Segala

Timeline: Summer 1985

• Background:
  Lois Segala, a typical 17-year-old with a rebellious streak, spent her summer renting a beach house in Santa Cruz, California. Seeking to establish a new identity, she adopted the nickname "Janine."

• The Conflict:
  Tensions arose when Lois's close friend publicly revealed her real name after a petty argument over a romantic interest. This minor dispute set the stage for the unfolding tragedy.

• Disappearance:
  In August 1985, shortly before Lois was set to return home, she vanished without a trace. Her friends assumed she might have left town or encountered minor troubles, but her parents grew increasingly worried when Lois failed to return as promised.

• Discovery of the Body:
  Two weeks after her disappearance, Lois's body was discovered in the mountains near Santa Cruz. The brutality of her murder left her family shattered, leading the authorities to scrutinize everyone connected to her.

Terry Childs: From Troubled Youth to Convicted Murderer

Background:
Terry Childs, aged 29 at the time of Lois's murder, had a tumultuous upbringing. Growing up in a large family with many siblings, Terry was exposed to instability, substance abuse, and petty crimes from an early age. By 11, he already had an arrest record, and his behavior escalated over the years, culminating in more severe offenses such as assault and drug dealing.

• Connection to Lois:
  Terry met Lois while dating one of her housemates. Despite knowing her, he initially lacked a clear motive to harm her. However, his perception shifted dramatically after learning about Lois's use of a fake name.

• The Motive:
  Convinced that Lois was an undercover police officer investigating his drug dealings, Terry believed eliminating her was the only way to protect his illicit activities.

Key Quote:
Terry explained his motive, saying, “Lois's death was heartbreakingly pointless. It all came back to that drama around her nickname” (07:45).

• The Murder:
  Terry lured Lois under the guise of hanging out, pressured her into drug use, and then took her to a remote location where he brutally murdered her.

• Evidence and Conviction:
  DNA evidence linked Terry to the crime, leading to his conviction in 1987 and a 41-year prison sentence.

The Discovery of Linda Josevich

Timeline: 1995

• Background:
  Linda Josevich, a 19-year-old college student from Santa Cruz, disappeared on November 7, 1979, after leaving her workplace to get change for a vending machine. Her car was later found with signs of a struggle, but her body remained undiscovered until 1995.

• Connection to Terry:
  When Terry was questioned about Linda's disappearance, he initially provided vague and non-specific information. However, in 2017, he confessed to her murder, detailing the gruesome events that mirrored his earlier crime with Lois.

Key Quote:
Reflecting on Terry’s confession, Payton remarks, “It’s always so, so confusing to me when someone gets arrested for one murder and doesn't just say what happened to everyone” (25:10).

• Additional Confessions:
  Terry eventually admitted to killing multiple individuals, claiming the influence of his victims' "ghosts" in prison pushed him to come forward. However, investigators remained skeptical, suspecting ulterior motives behind his confessions.

Escalation into Serial Killings

Further Confessions:
In 1996, while awaiting trial for Lois's murder, Terry claimed to have killed 12 people across various states, implicating an accomplice, his unnamed girlfriend, in some of the crimes.

• Notable Cases Linked to Terry:
  • Rulin McGill (1987): A school teacher in Reno, Nevada, murdered with similar brutality as Lois and Linda.
  • Joan Mack (1984): A 28-year-old unhoused woman found dead in Santa Cruz.
  • Christopher Hall (1985): A man connected to Terry's drug dealings, killed three months after Joan Mack.

Challenges in Prosecution:
Early confessions lacked credibility, leading to dismissed cases due to insufficient evidence. It wasn’t until 2017 that Terry's detailed confessions were deemed credible, resulting in additional convictions and sentencing.

Terry Childs' Legacy and Impact

• Final Confessions:
  Terry continued to confess to murders throughout his incarceration, each time providing more detailed accounts. These confessions ultimately led to multiple life sentences, cementing his status as a serial killer.

• Death:
  Terry Childs died in prison on February 11, 2023, at the age of 67. His death closed the door on any further revelations, leaving seven potential victims still unaccounted for.

• Unanswered Questions:
  Despite his confessions, many of Terry's alleged victims remain unidentified, and their families continue to seek closure.

Key Quote:
Payton concludes poignantly, “I have to backtrack a little... His brain is still evil. He's tormenting people. He's tormenting families” (30:15).

Conclusion

Episode 127 of Into The Dark paints a chilling portrait of Terry Childs, whose relentless confessions revealed a pattern of senseless violence driven by misplaced perceptions and personal demons. Payton Moreland masterfully navigates the complex timeline and psychological motivations behind Childs' actions, leaving listeners with a profound reflection on the nature of evil and the quest for justice.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Understanding the Impact of Confessions:
  “I will never understand why killers confess to crimes they didn't commit...” (29:50)

• On the Complexity of Terry’s Confessions:
  “It's all so, so confusing to me when someone gets arrested for one murder and doesn't just say what happened to everyone.” (25:10)

• On the Closure for Victims' Families:
  “Their families deserve to know what happened to them and to get answers.” (31:00)

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the tragic and disturbing journey through Terry Childs' criminal history, highlighting the emotional and psychological toll on the victims' families and the challenges faced by investigators in bringing closure to these dark cases.