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- [00:03]
Vanessa Richardson
Hi there, it's Vanessa. If you're loving Killer Minds, you won't want to miss my new show, a fellow Crime House Original Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes. Every Wednesday, I'll uncover the true stories behind the world's most shocking crimes, deadly ideologies and secret plots. From mass suicides and political assassinations to secret government experiments and UFO cults. Follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen. And for ad free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts.
- [00:50]
Crime House
This is Crime House.
- [00:55]
Vanessa Richardson
It's scientifically proven that a child's brain doesn't function the same way as an adult's. They're constantly developing, evolving and growing. So kids deserve our patience and understanding as they adjust and adapt to the world around them. But when it came to Jesse Pomeroy, giving him grace turned out to be dangerous. Jesse used his youth to his advantage as he tore through the streets of Boston, violently torturing any kid who crossed his path. And the most shocking part of it all was he would soon prove himself capable of far worse. The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is Killer Minds, a Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.
- [02:02]
Dr. Tristan Engels
And I'm Dr. Tristan Engels. Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history. Analyzing what makes a killer Crime House.
- [02:12]
Vanessa Richardson
Is made possible by you. Please rate, review and follow Killer Minds to enhance your listening experience with ad free early access to each two part series and bonus content. Subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. Before we get started, be advised. This episode contains explicit descriptions of violence and murder against children. Listener discretion is advised. Today we conclude our deep dive on Jesse Pomeroy, a boy from Boston who showed troubling signs of violence from a young age, before he was even a teenager. The darkness within him put every child in Jesse's community at risk.
- [02:54]
Dr. Tristan Engels
As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like how some killers select their victims by opportunity versus profiling. Whether or not someone's fantasies or delusions can be powerful enough to distort the difference between right and wrong. And if someone can be legally sane but morally insane.
- [03:14]
Vanessa Richardson
And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer?
- [03:23]
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- [03:57]
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- [04:01]
Vanessa Richardson
Whoa, wait, you mean finance?
- [04:02]
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- [04:09]
Dr. Tristan Engels
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- [04:12]
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- [04:16]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Financed, right?
- [04:17]
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- [04:29]
Vanessa Richardson
In 1871, 12 year old Jesse Pomeroy sent shockwaves through Boston when he was convicted of a string of brutal acts on at least six young boys. Even though all of his victims survived, the crimes were extremely disturbing and didn't seem possible for someone his age. Even so, in February 1874, 14 year old Jesse was released four years early from reform school. Because of his good behavior, he was able to return home to South Boston much sooner than he'd expected. There he lived with his mother, Ruth, and worked in a newsstand alongside his older brother Charles. The stand was located inside Ruth's sewing shop and sold newspapers, books and magazines. For a while, things seemed normal. Days passed and then weeks, and there weren't any more reports of tortured children. Those who knew Jesse likely hoped the school had done its job and that he'd changed. But Jesse hadn't been reformed. He still had the same horrific, dark urges that had driven him to hurt those children. The only difference now was that he'd learned to hide them better when, while at the reform school, he'd become an expert at showing adults and those around him exactly what they wanted to see. Now, after months of suppressing his desire for violence, he wasn't willing to hold it in any longer.
- [06:00]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Jesse being released from reform school didn't fail to address the problem. It reinforced the problem. And this wasn't the first time Jesse had actually skirted any accountability. But it was the first time he'd done it under the watch of institutional authority. That's a dangerous message to send to someone with his psychological profile, especially when you consider that Jesse was released before other boys who had committed far less serious offenses. But what's more alarming is how he pulled it off. While there, Jesse learned how to perform compliance for secondary gain. Not because he was rehabilitated, but because he knew it would get him out. That's not reform. That's manipulative conditioning. And it makes him even more dangerous than he was before he went in. Now that he's home, nothing. Things changed on the inside. The violent urges are still there, and they've probably always been there. The only difference is he doesn't have anything to gain by suppressing them anymore. While he was locked up, he kept them in check just enough to stay under the radar. But now there's no audience to please, no behavior to fake, and he has more secrecy.
- [07:10]
Vanessa Richardson
Unfortunately, it seems like Jesse decided to strike again less than two months after he was released. On March 18, 1874, a 10 year old girl named Katie left her house on an errand. She planned on going to the Pomeroy store to find something to read. But that afternoon, Katie didn't return home. Days passed, then weeks, and still there was no sign of her. The longer she was missing, the more the neighborhood speculated about what had happened to her. Some thought she ran away or got lost. There was another rumor floating around that Katie's disappearance had something to do with her parents. Conflicting religions. Katie's mother was Catholic and her father was Protestant, a mix that people at the time saw as scandalous. There was gossip that maybe someone disapproved of it so much that they stepped in and took her, not wanting Katie to grow up in a household like that. Others came forward and said they saw Katie being pulled into a carriage, sparking rumors that she'd been kidnapped or secretly sent to a religious religious school. But others suspected that something far worse had befallen her. It didn't escape anyone's notice that Katie had gone missing near the Pomeroy's shop, because everyone in South Boston knew who Jesse was and what he'd done. And soon some people who lived near the Pomeroy reported something disturbing. A horrible smell coming from their basement. After receiving these reports, the police decided to search the shop for signs of Katie's body. But despite the growing suspicion and awful odor, the search turned up nothing. There was no sign of Katie and no indication that Jesse had anything to do with her disappearance. By the end of March, Katie was still missing. So the city stepped in to help. Since Katie's family couldn't afford to offer a reward themselves, the city board funded it at the mayor's request. Soon, missing posters were plastered all over South Boston, offering a large cash reward for any information that led to Katie's whereabouts. But still, Katie wasn't found. And while the city was busy pouring its energy into looking for her, another girl quietly vanished from the streets of Boston. Her name was Margaret. Margaret had come from Canada and was probably in her teens. She was old enough to be living in Boston on her own, which, while uncommon, wasn't impossible for a young girl. And Margaret seemed to be paving her own way for the most part, because she found a job in South Boston at Ruth Pomeroy's sewing shop. And around the same time, Katie disappeared. Margaret didn't show up for work one day. No one ever saw her again. But unlike Katie, there was no big headline or citywide manhunt for Margaret. She was living in the city on her own, so it's likely no one realized she was missing. The one person that should have noticed was her boss. But Ruth Pomeroy never reported anything. There weren't any mentions of her in the press until later that year in the winter, when one paper finally caught onto the story. They pointed out how strange it was that Margaret disappeared while employed by the Pomeroy family. But after that article ran, nothing else happened. Margaret vanished from the news and was never found.
- [10:48]
Dr. Tristan Engels
I touched on this in episode one, but assuming that Jesse was responsible for the disappearance of Katie and Margaret, this is a change. Until this point, Jesse targeted exclusively young boys in offender profiling. A change in victim type often signals a deeper psychological pivot or an evolution in motivation and opportunity. Historically, serial killers target one demographic, but it's not the case for all. So what's going on here? Initially, it seemed that Jesse targeting young boys was him reenacting or emulating the same treatment he got from his own father. At least according to reports, it could also have been symbolic for revenge against the bullying he received either way. Now, after his release, he may have realized that his fantasies no longer had to follow his original script or mold. He could have also met his threshold, causing him to want to experiment with different methods or risk and even victim type. But it's also entirely, entirely possible, and more likely that these were crimes of opportunity. These girls were in his mother's sewing shop, and he didn't seek them out. Which would suggest that his internal drive to hurt, dominate and destroy overpowered any type of victim preference.
- [12:04]
Vanessa Richardson
How does the public's reaction to crimes like Katie's and possibly Margaret's shape how a killer thinks and feels.
- [12:12]
Dr. Tristan Engels
So these crimes likely got more newspaper coverage and community outcry than the boys. And not just because of gender, but because the boys were returned. These girls were were missing. So for offenders with narcissistic or sadistic traits, this would give them power and thrill. The public fear becomes part of the fantasy, and the more people speculate and the more he gets away with it, the more it emboldens him and excites him.
- [12:38]
Vanessa Richardson
Well, just weeks after both Katie and Margaret vanished, Jesse was back to roaming around South Boston. On April 22, 1874, he came upon a four year old boy named Horace Millen. And what followed was worse than anyone could have ever imagined.
- [13:02]
Dr. Tristan Engels
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- [13:25]
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- [13:27]
Vanessa Richardson
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- [13:34]
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- [14:05]
Vanessa Richardson
On the morning of April 22, 1874, two brothers headed out to the marshes near Dorchester Bay to dig for clams. But when they got there, they realized they'd misjudged the tides. The water was way too high, making clam digging a bust. So the brothers wandered for a bit, hoping to save the morning and find something else to do along the shore. As they waded around the muddy wetland, they stumbled across a shocking sight. A lifeless young boy lying in the sand. The state of the child's body was incredibly disturbing, and the brothers immediately left to get help. When police arrived, they determined the boy had likely been killed just hours earlier. By 5pm the same day, investigators had ID'd him. The victim was 4 year old Horace Millen, a boy who lived in the area. Police couldn't find a murder weapon at the beach, but there were fresh shoe prints in the mud near his body. These were larger than Horace's feet, and authorities assumed they were made by his killer. Horace Millen was barely out of toddlerhood, making the brutality of the crime even more shocking. It was clear to police that whoever did this wasn't just dangerous. There was something deeply inhuman about them and they needed to be found before they hurt anyone else. After securing the scene, police started considering possible Suspects. It didn't take them long to recall that a member of of their community had a habit of viciously attacking young children. Jesse Pomeroy. Officers were dispatched to the Pomeroy residence and they arrived just as Jesse was walking up to his front door. He was arrested on the spot. When he was taken to the station and searched, police found a pocket knife in his possession. They also saw that Jesse had visible scratches on his face.
- [16:03]
Dr. Tristan Engels
The seemingly careless state in which Jesse was found does say a lot. We have to remember he's still only a 14 year old boy. Even with his cold, calculated behaviors, he didn't have the life experience or even the frontal lobe development to fully grasp the implications of forensic evidence, even witness suspicion. Especially given how emboldened he has become. But at the same time, he wasn't stupid. He'd been manipulative, secretive and meticulous in previous attacks. So the fact that he didn't even try to clean himself up suggests that overconfidence has truly rooted itself. He knew how to perform compliance, how to say the right things, how to behave around adults. And he'd been rewarded for that behavior with early release. So why wouldn't he think he could outmaneuver the system again? But there is also another possibility. Maybe he wanted to be seen because he was done hiding. Overconfidence can drive that. And for some sadistic offenders, the risk of being caught becomes part of the gratification. Walking around like that was risky and it was toeing the line. It's truly difficult to know for sure given Jesse's age. He's so young and his underdeveloped frontal lobe. But I'm guessing it's a combination of carelessness, naivete and overconfidence.
- [17:24]
Vanessa Richardson
Jesse was arrested around 10pm but by the following morning, his face and the horrifying details of Horace's murder were already splashed across just about every paper in town. However, the evidence against him was circumstantial. It added up to a damning picture. But police needed a confession out of Jesse if they hoped to make their arrest stick. They hoped the pressure of an interrogation would be enough to crack him. The morning after Horace's body was found, an officer sat down with Jesse and got straight to the point. He asked Jesse why he killed the little boy. Jesse replied that he didn't know. What made him do wasn't a clear cut confession, but it wasn't a denial either. It also gave police hope that they were getting through to him. But later that same day, Jesse's story started to shift. When officers took him to the morgue to see Horace's body, Jesse said he didn't want to see him and implied he didn't even know who horace was. From that point on, Jesse flip flopped, Consistently unable or unwilling to stick to a single story.
- [18:37]
Dr. Tristan Engels
I think his reaction is childlike and uncertain and highly suggestive of psychological regression. It's the kind of reaction we would expect to see from someone his age who has been forced to face the reality of their actions. Jesse understood what he had done was wrong, not just with horace, but with all of his victims. Even his behavior in reform school was evident, that he understood what he was doing because he did it strategically and in secret. But there's one thing between intellectually understanding that something is wrong and another thing to lack the emotional maturity to process the weight of that thing. And in the aftermath especially, this is a collision between calloused, unemotional traits that I outlined in part one and his chronological age. He's not an adult predator in a child's body. He's a child whose emotional development was hijacked by trauma, isolation, and sadism. And when forced to face the reality of death, of what he'd actually done, he went into a primitive defense mode, which is avoidance.
- [19:37]
Vanessa Richardson
Is jesse fitting the mold of any type of diagnosis, like maybe classic psychopathy?
- [19:43]
Dr. Tristan Engels
So he's most certainly showing signs of early onset psychopathy, but like I'd mentioned in episode one, psychopathy, it's not a diagnosis. And ethically, we can't label anyone under 18 with this because of the developmental aspect. But he does lack empathy by virtue of his crimes. I mean, wow. He lacks remorse because even when confronted with his actions, he did not show regret, but rather sought to avoid or externalize all blame. He's deceitful and manipulative, and he's thrill seeking. So if we were to assess Jesse today, He would likely be flagged as high risk for severe conduct disorder if not diagnosed with it, with callous on emotional traits and an elevated risk of developing antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy in adulthood. Because over the age of 18 is when we can truly diagnose someone with antisocial personality disorder and label them with psychopathic traits.
- [20:37]
Vanessa Richardson
As the interrogation wore on, Police believed they were getting close. They kept pushing until jesse admitted that he did know who horace was, but he still refused to see his body. To the police, that small admission confirmed they were closing in on the truth. After that, they dragged Jesse into the morgue by his arms and showed him exactly what he had done. As soon, as soon as Jesse laid eyes on Horace's mutilated body, he broke down crying. The officer then asked once more if he had killed the boy. Jesse replied with a simple yes. The officers continued to press Jesse, trying to piece together what exactly happened that afternoon. The 14 year old didn't walk them through the crime in detail, but he did let a few things slip. Like how he'd cleaned the blood off his pocket knife by rinsing it in the marsh. It wasn't the most detailed confession, but the police felt like they had what they needed. They took him back to the station and stepped out for lunch. But before they left, they made one thing very clear to the other officers working there. Jesse wasn't allowed to have any visitors while they were gone. Especially not from a lawyer, which was definitely not legal. For all the crimes Jesse had committed, he still had rights. And some of the officers colleagues respected that. When the officers returned from their meal, they were ready to get Jesse's confession in writing. Once they had that, they could formally bring charges. But when they offered Jesse a piece of paper and a pen, he didn't have much to say. Because he was now denying he had anything to do with Horace Millen's murder. It turned out someone at the station did not follow the officer's instructions. Jesse had been allowed to have a visitor. A man named Stephen de Blois. Stephen was one of the directors at the reform school Jesse had attended and apparently believed he was innocent. He told Jesse to stop talking and informed him that all the evidence against him was circumstantial at best. His intervention seemed generous to Jesse, but the move was likely out of a need for self preservation. If the public found out that a boy Stephen approved for early release had gone on to murder a four year old, it would make him and the entire reform system look bad. Whatever Stephen's reasoning, his advice to Jesse stuck. The 14 year old staunchly denied any involvement in Horace's murder. Which meant the officers would not be getting their confession. But the police were determined to hold him accountable. The coroner's inquest into Horace Millen's death kicked off two days after his body was found. It was a crucial, crucial first step in determining whether he'd been murdered. And if he had, it would allow the officers to formally charge Jesse. For his part, Jesse stuck to his story, claiming he was innocent. He said he'd spent the day Horace was killed taking a long walk around Boston, stopping by the post office and grabbing a bite to eat. But his so called alibi Lacked detail and didn't do much to convince the authorities, Especially with all the other physical evidence against him. Four days later, the inquest wrapped up with a clear conclusion. Horace Millen had been murdered and Jesse Pomeroy was identified as the likely suspect. It turned out they didn't need the confession after all. Jesse was formally arraigned on May 1, 1874, and indicted by a grand jury soon after, Jesse didn't say another word to police about his alleged involvement in the murder. In fact, he went a step further and even started denying, Denying that he'd tortured the six boys he was previously convicted of harming.
- [24:36]
Dr. Tristan Engels
This behavior is something we see in a lot of high risk violent offenders, Especially those with psychopathic or even narcissistic traits. And that is selective denial. Often they'll admit to what serves them, what makes them look sympathetic, clever, or in control. And they'll deny what threatens their ego or their public image. Even when the evidence is overwhelming, they'll often recast themselves, not just as innocent, but as misunderstood, targeted, or the victim of injustice. And Jesse honed this while in reform school. Now he is under intense scrutiny, so he's seeking to regain narrative control. And for someone like Jesse, whose sense of self was built on secrecy, manipulation, and domination, Controlling the story is just another form of power. So when he starts denying, we have to ask, why now? Because the lies are rarely random. They're strategic, even when they sound immature. And in Jesse's case, they paint a picture of a boy who never took responsibility because deep down, he never believed he had to. And in fairness, until this point, that was reinforced.
- [25:42]
Vanessa Richardson
How did Jesse's young age and psychological development at the time influence this sudden change in narrative?
- [25:49]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Part of it has to do with cognitive immaturity. At 14, Jesse's frontal lobes, the part of the brain responsible for judgment, impulse control, and long term planning, were still developing. He understood what he had done was wrong, but that doesn't mean he fully grasped the long term consequences. When the real of facing trial and potentially death set in for Jesse, his brain did what most adolescent brains do under stress. It tried to protect itself. Denial can be a defense mechanism. It is a defense mechanism, especially in kids who have no healthy coping strategies. And he also learned that manipulating adults has worked. So he's reverting to lying, performing and deflecting. It's likely a mixture of immaturity, pathology, and fear.
- [26:38]
Vanessa Richardson
Well, Jesse's denial didn't do anything to help his current situation. He spent the next few months in jail as the lawyers prepared their cases. Jesse's arrest hit his family hard, especially his mother, Ruth. After he was taken into custody, she experienced harassment and death threats, as well as a horde of curious onlookers who flocked walked to her storefront. They didn't come to shop, but to gawk at the place where her killer son had spent his days. It all quickly became too much for her to handle, and just weeks after Jesse's arrest, she moved her sewing shop to a new location, hoping to escape the attention. By July 1874, a few months before Jesse's trial was scheduled to start, someone else took over her old space and the new owners decided to make some renovations. Just a few days into the remodeling, construction workers made a horrific discovery in the basement of Ruth's old shop. A dead body.
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- [28:45]
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- [29:16]
Vanessa Richardson
In July 1874, construction workers found a dead body in the basement of Ruth Pomeroy's old sewing shop. The remains brains were badly decomposed and mostly skeletal, but police had a sinking feeling they knew exactly who it was. 10 year old Katie Curran, the girl who'd been missing since March. Soon they confirmed it. Jesse was already behind bars for Horace's murder, and now he was considered the prime suspect in Katie's. But police weren't sure if he'd acted alone. There'd been reports of a smell coming from the shop for months and. And yet Ruth and Jesse's brother Charles had continued to work in the store the whole time, seemingly without noticing it. The police found it suspicious enough that they arrested Ruth and Charles the same day Katie's remains were found. The move shocked those who knew them and left everyone asking the same questions. Were the Pomeroys a family of killers? Or had they tried to cover up Jesse's crime to protect him? Him? In the days that followed, answers started coming in from someone very close to the case. Jesse himself. When police asked Jesse if he had anything to do with Katie Curran's murder, they expected a denial, just like he'd done with Horace Millen. But Jesse surprised everyone by admitting that he did kill Katie. He told police that he didn't know why he did it, but that something came over him and he just couldn't help himself. He also added another chilling detail, saying he, quote, wanted to see how she would act during the murder. According to his account, Katie had come into the shop looking for something to read. Jesse claimed he told her the books and newspapers were in the basement, which lured her downstairs. When he got her alone, he covered her mouth and quickly killed her. Then he dragged her body behind a small bathroom in the basement and hid her under piles of rocks and soot. But Jesse's version seemed at least partially fabricated, because a few days later, the coroner's report came out. It noted there was evidence that Katie's murder was a far more brutal and prolonged attack than Jesse admitted to. But regardless of the details, the police managed to get Jesse to confess to his crimes in writing. Not just for Katie's murder, but Horace's too. As a result of his confession, both Ruth and Charles were released.
- [31:55]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Since Jesse's confession came only after his mother and brother had been detained and implicated, we have to wonder, did he confess just to protect them? Which then raises another question. Can someone who shows no empathy for his victim still feel attachment or even loyalty to the people closest to him? And. And yes, to both. But it's complicated. In clinical terms, people with callous and emotional traits or psychopathic tendencies often lack effective empathy. They do not feel what others feel. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're incapable of attachment. It's just that their attachment tends to be self serving, conditional or tied to identity and control rather than genuine emotional connection. Ruth, his mother, was loyal to him and very protective of him. And that may have meant something to him. So her arrest may have threatened his safety net. Confessing likely felt like the best way to control that, especially since he depended on her after his last conviction. And should he be convicted and released, which I'm guessing he expects since he got a slap on the wrist the last time, he wants to preserve that security. Any protection of his mother and brother was likely self serving and not coming from a place of compassion or even remote worse.
- [33:13]
Vanessa Richardson
Well, by the time the inquest into Katie's death was finished, a jury took just 15 minutes to decide Jesse should be charged with her murder. Despite that verdict, he was never officially tried for it, likely because he was already on trial for killing Horace and everyone suspected it was going to end with a life sentence. If that happened, there wouldn't be any need for more charges. So with Katie's case effectively set aside, attending attention shifted back to what had first landed him behind bars. The murder of Horace Mellon. When the trial finally started in December 1874, Jesse had just turned 15 years old. After months of preparation, his defense team began the case by arguing he suffered from what was called moral insanity, a condition where a person behaves in disturbing or strange ways but still retains full intelligence and awareness. They claimed Jesse had violent urges he couldn't control, and for that reason, he shouldn't be held legally responsible for Horace's death. It was a difficult argument to make, and Jesse wasn't making it any easier on his attorneys. When the charges were read out in court, Jesse had an unsettling reaction that caused quite a stir. He laughed. Despite that speed bump, the defense pressed on. Their case was built around a few key arguments. They mostly focused on Jesse's age and inability to access human emotions like empathy and remorse. Taken together, they argued, these factors pointed to moral insanity. Jesse knew right from wrong, but was driven by his uncontrollable urges. Their most compelling witness was Jesse's mother, Ruth. Ruth, who testified that she believed that Jesse had a rare reaction to a smallpox vaccine as a baby that left him dangerously sick for months. Ruth claimed it had damaged his eye and suggested it could have also caused lasting harm to his mind. The defense called on medical experts to back her up. These doctors said that based on the nature of Jesse's crimes and his total lack of remorse, they believed he was insane. Jesse himself claimed that whenever he committed these acts, of violence. He would feel a strange pressure in his head that traveled down through his chest, Almost like something else was taking control of him.
- [35:46]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Moral insanity, like you described, Vanessa, Is a historical psychiatric concept, and today it's been replaced by more specific terms. And the concept of moral insanity actually laid the groundwork for our modern understanding of personality disorder, Especially antisocial personality disorder. But it's not a term we'd use today. Now, the physical sensation that Jesse was describing Is not unheard of. Some violent offenders have reported similar experiences, Especially those who lack insight or have dissociative tendencies. They describe feeling like they're outside themselves or like their bodies are acting on their own. Some call it a fog or surge, Like a physiological precursor to violence. Today, we might interpret that as a combination of dissociation or depersonalization, Emotional flooding, Or even psychological compartmentalization. It's not proof of psychosis, but rather, it is his limited way of trying to articulate his experience. And it's almost being used as an excuse by Jesse, like another way to externalize blame. He is suggesting he wasn't in control yet. He was very much in control. He was strategic, and he was calculating.
- [36:57]
Vanessa Richardson
Jesse's mother, Ruth, Talked about believing that reactions to a vaccine and sicknesses Played a role in stunting Jesse's mind. Is that sort of thing even possible?
- [37:07]
Dr. Tristan Engels
It's certainly true that serious illnesses during infancy can impact neurological development, Especially back then when healthcare was not as advanced as it is now. If Jesse had suffered high fevers, Systemic infection, Or anything affecting the central nervous system in those early months as an infant, it's possible that parts of his brain, Particularly areas responsible for emotional regulation or even executive functioning, could have been affected. But here's the reality. Most children who experience developmental delays or even mild brain injury do not go on to torture and kill other children. So even if what Ruth said was true, or she believed it was true, it's not enough to explain this. Firstly, Jesse wasn't impulsive. He was able to regulate emotions when needed. He was able to hold back when needed. So there has to be more at play, Like a combination of genetics, environment, trauma, and personality traits that we're developing, because, again, he's not 18 yet. It's worth considering that Ruth's assertion here, without any actual medical documentation or proof, could have been her way to mitigate her own feelings of shame by externalizing blame onto something else.
- [38:31]
Vanessa Richardson
Well, the prosecution wasn't concerned with Jesse's state of mind. They were more focused on key physical evidence and witness testimony. Most notably, they Presented a cast of the boot prints Found at the crime scene, which were a perfect match for a pair that jesse owned. The second key piece of evidence Was Jesse's pocket knife, which he admitted was his. The coroner testified it appeared to be stained. Stained with blood. Clearly, jesse hadn't cleaned it as well as he'd thought. Several witnesses also came forward to say they'd seen jesse with horace millen that morning. Based on their accounts, the prosecution believed Jesse had approached horace and asked if he wanted to go see the big steamship that was sitting in the harbor. One of these witnesses was a kid named robert, who was out digging for clams when he saw horace and and jesse on their way to dorchester bay. To robert, the two just looked like brothers Enjoying the day. Nothing seemed off. Robert said that he watched jesse help horace over a marshy patch and then continue walking out of sight, Unaware he was witnessing the last moments of horace's life.
- [39:40]
Dr. Tristan Engels
I have evaluated a lot of juvenile offenders, Even juvenile sexual offenders. And although I haven't worked with juveniles in over a decade, When I did work with them, I did not encounter a juvenile with this level of predatory behavior. Jesse is truly someone to be studied. Because most people expect violent juvenile offenders to exhibit poor impulse control and be emotionally reactive or even explosive. Jesse's not. He can modulate his behavior by presenting as calm, trustworthy, and even nurturing. He can control his predatory behavior Long enough To lure a small child. He demonstrates patience, and he can delay gratification. And for someone his age, that's just extremely atypical. And I can't stress that enough. He was very skilled at simulating empathy, Performing compliance, and appearing harmless, all by age 14 and the seriousness of his crimes. This kind of behavior Sets Jesse apart From almost every juvenile case that we've studied. He's truly one of the most disturbing cases of early onset sadism, psychopathy, and calculated violence in american history.
- [40:48]
Vanessa Richardson
Our killers usually kind to their victims at first. That seems like a common way to lure them in.
- [40:54]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Yes, kindness itself can be a weapon for many offenders, and it can be their first weapon. But truly, it's calculated manipulation, if anything, and it's especially true of sadistic offenders when the goal isn't just to kill, but to control. The entire act from start to finish Is a thrill for them because of that feeling of control. Whereas more impulsive offenders Are less likely to have that patience because they're more reactive. They tend to lash out in rage, Fear, jealousy, even intoxication. They. They don't need to lure victims with charm or cunning because they're not planning for it. So there's typically no need for that kind of grooming and kindness. Of course there are exceptions, but generally speaking, impulsive offenders are different. Sadistic offenders. It is common. Impulsive defenders less so.
- [41:45]
Vanessa Richardson
Well, unfortunately, that behavior successfully fooled poor Horace Millen. But if Jesse was found guilty, the judge was determined to make sure Horace received justice. Justice. Once both sides had rested their cases, the judge gave the jury their instructions, reminding them that although Jesse was young, he should be considered a fully responsible adult. Age wasn't the issue here. It was whether or not he was mentally competent. Less than five hours later, the jury had reached a verdict. Jesse Pomeroy was guilty of first degree murder. And they recommended that he be sentenced to to death by hanging. When Jesse heard his fate, he didn't flinch. But in the end, his life was spared. In 1876, after some legal wrangling, 16 year old Jesse's sentence was commuted to life in prison. Jesse spent the rest of his days behind bars until his death at 72 years old. During that time, he published an autobiography telling his side of the story. Much of his writings conflicted with the known facts, and at times, he tried to justify his horrific actions. Despite his attempt to shed light on his crimes, Jesse never really explained why he did what he did. And even 150 years later, speculation about his motivation continued continues to rage on. Some point to early trauma, neurological damage or psychopathy. Others believe more strange, far fetched ideas, like his mother witnessing animal slaughter while she was pregnant and even demonic possession. But what makes his case so unforgettable is Jesse's age. He wasn't just a killer. He was a child killing other children. It's almost impossible. Impossible to understand how someone so young could be capable of such calculated, sadistic violence. That's why Jesse's case remains one of the most unsettling murder stories in American history. It's a reminder that evil comes in many forms and many ages. And that when it comes to monsters, you might never see them coming. Thanks so much for listening. Come back next time for a deep dive into the mind of another murderer.
- [44:29]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Killer Minds is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios Here at Crime House House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on Instagram at Killer Minds. And don't forget to rate, review and follow Killer Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference.
- [44:49]
Vanessa Richardson
And to enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of Killer Minds ad free along with early access access to each thrilling two part series and exciting Crime House bonus content. Killer Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristan Engels and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios, this episode was brought to life by the Killer Minds team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Lori Marinelli, Natalie Pertzan, Sarah Camp, Kate Murdoch, Markie Lee, Sarah Tardif, and Kerry Murphy. Thank you for listening. If you love Killer Minds, tune into the Crime House original Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes for the world's darkest truths. Follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults and and Crimes now wherever you get your podcasts and for ad free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts.