Podcast Summary: Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Thanksgiving Murders Pt. 2
Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Crime House (special guest: Carter Roy, with Vanessa Richardson & Dr. Tristan Ingalls)

Overview

This Thanksgiving special from Crime House’s “Murder: True Crime Stories” explores crimes committed at the heart of the American family holiday. The episode dives into two notorious murders that occurred on or around Thanksgiving: the 2006 Oakland triple homicide rooted in complex family dynamics and the 2016 Tennessee double-murder committed by Joel Michael Guy Jr. Each story is analyzed not only for its facts but also the psychological underpinnings, trauma, and ripple effects on the families involved, with the core question: “What makes a killer?”

Story One: The 2006 Thanksgiving Triple Murder & Hostage Crisis in Oakland, CA

[Segment start: 04:45]

Background and Family Dynamics

Brothers Asmerom, Tawadros, and Abraham Gabru Selassie emigrated from Eritrea to Oakland, working hard to build lives for themselves and their extended family.
Abraham married Winta Mehari in 2004; Winta’s family (the Meharis) emigrated soon after, supported by Abraham’s brothers.
Dr. Ingalls on Blended Families:
“When families immigrate or endure major shared adversity, they often form a survival unit… If that structure never relaxes, it can evolve into pathological enmeshment. The same closeness that once protected them starts to erase individuality.” [06:45]

Death, Mistrust, and Escalating Suspicion

In March 2006, Abraham died suddenly and mysteriously. The coroner could not determine a cause.
- “Abraham's funeral, his brothers still didn't feel a sense of closure. They both moved back to Oakland... Asmerom suspected foul play.” [12:10]
Asmerom fixated on a theory that the Mehari family, possibly motivated by Abraham’s suspicions about the sexuality of Winta’s brother (a cultural taboo), were responsible.
Winta received a $500,000 insurance payout, fueling further suspicion.
Asmerom began harassing Winta’s family, attempting to “catfish” her brother to prove his theory.
- Dr. Ingalls on Fixation:
  “Grief can distort perception, especially when it's unresolved or paired with existing rigidity in thinking. Instead of processing the loss, Asmerom redirected his emotional energy toward proving a theory.” [14:22]

Thanksgiving Day Hostage Crisis & Triple Homicide

On November 23, 2006 (Thanksgiving), Winta and her family gathered in a small Oakland apartment, not expecting the Gabru Selassies.
Tawadros arrived first, ostensibly to see his nephew; Winta allowed him in, hoping to restore some family peace.
- Dr. Ingalls:
  “When her late husband’s brother shows up asking to see his nephew, I think she acted on her desire to restore family harmony. And that's really human.” [19:20]
Tawadros secretly called Asmerom, who soon arrived armed with two guns.
Chaos erupted: Asmerom shot and killed Winta, her mother Regby, and her 17-year-old brother Jonas; another brother escaped by jumping out a window, and a third was shot in the foot.
- “Asmerom rushed inside and screamed at everyone not to move… shot her as well… fired again… struck Winta down.” [21:05]
The Selassie brothers took two-year-old Isaac (Winta’s son) hostage, leading to a tense, hours-long police standoff.
Eventually, both brothers surrendered; Isaac was unharmed.

Analysis & Aftermath

Hostage-taking Psychology:
“Barricading with a hostage is rarely about strategy. Children represent innocence, hope and the future… Isaac wasn’t just a child; he was the last living link to their brother Abraham.” – Dr. Ingalls [22:18]
Negotiation Tactics:
“The goal isn’t persuasion; it’s containment and patience. Time allows adrenaline to drop, so their reasoning can return.” – Dr. Ingalls [24:01]
Both brothers tried different defenses in court: Asmerom represented himself, broke down theatrically, claimed self-defense; Tawadros blamed Isaac for accidentally calling him.
- Courtroom Behavior:
  “The courtroom often becomes a stage for regaining power and validation for many offenders.” – Dr. Ingalls [27:48]
Sentences: Asmerom—three life sentences; Tawadros—sentenced similarly, but in 2016, was resentenced to ten years (already served) and released.
Isaac was raised by his uncle; the surviving family holds on to each other.

Memorable Quotes

“If one person feels betrayed, everyone feels betrayed. If one person grieves, they all grieve.” – Dr. Ingalls [06:45]
“Asmerom’s actions were fueled by a need for resolution that seems to have bordered on obsession.” – Dr. Ingalls [14:22]
“In this story where there’s little to be thankful about, at least they had each other.” – Vanessa Richardson [31:20]

Story Two: The Thanksgiving Horror by Joel Michael Guy Jr. (2016, Tennessee)

[Segment start: 32:45]

Background and Isolation

Joel Michael Guy Jr. grew up withdrawn despite a supportive family; three half-sisters, parents who provided and protected him.
- Dr. Ingalls:
  “That kind of isolation and lack of social reciprocity can limit emotional growth... Without those experiences, emotional maturity can stagnate.” [33:35]
Family attempts at inclusion and sending him to a boarding school fail to break his pattern; he fails to progress in college or hold a job, parents continue supporting him.

Financial Stress and Formulating a Plan

By 2016, parents Joel Sr. and Lisa plan to retire and cut off their 28-year-old son’s financial support (and sell the family home).
Joel is devastated, angry, and terrified of surviving on his own.
- “For him, it was too much change too fast. Then as the reality set in, he became angry.” – Vanessa Richardson [39:12]
Begins purchasing caustic chemicals, knives, bins—carefully noting every step in a notebook marked with lists:
- “Flush chunks down toilets not garbage disposal. Body gives time of death and alibi... her life insurance $500,000 and money all mine.” – Carter Roy [42:30]
Dr. Ingalls on Notetaking & Premeditation:
“His attempt to be meticulous is exactly what is leaving evidence behind and tying him to the crime… Writing could be a way of keeping emotional distance for him.” [43:06]

Thanksgiving Weekend Murders

Joel acts friendly on Thanksgiving, playing with his half-sisters’ children (unusual for him).
The next day, after family leaves, Joel attacks:
- Stabs father 42 times while he’s exercising; stabs mother 31 times after she returns from the store.
- “Stabbing requires proximity… shows determination, both mentally and physically, as well as lack of empathy and dehumanization.” – Dr. Ingalls [47:49]
Dismembers parents’ bodies, boils mother’s head on the stove, attempts to dissolve them in acid-filled bins; wounded, he leaves evidence at the scene.

Discovery and Arrest

Lisa misses her retirement party. Police respond to a welfare check; discover the grotesque scene.
Joel’s notebook, receipts, and Walmart surveillance clearly link him to the murders. Arrested outside his Baton Rouge apartment.
- Dr. Ingalls:
  “Once a plan collapses, that kind of thinking doesn’t allow for them to know how to pivot… It’s as if that rigid internal script ends and they don’t know how to move past that.” [54:26]
Joel cooperates with police, asks for the death penalty, is denied, receives two life sentences plus four years for corpse abuse. His appeal fails.
His sisters cut all ties, omit his name from their parents’ obituary.

Analysis

Dr. Ingalls on Motivations:
“Joel was punishing them for setting boundaries and threatening his dependency… Killing both in such an excessive and brutal way may have also represented an attempt to destroy the very sources of his shame and powerlessness.” [47:49]
Where Did the Violence Come From?
“…There’s always a time before the first act, and often the warning signs are there… isolation, entitlement, poor emotional regulation, and lack of empathy… combined with a major stressor, they can culminate into catastrophic behavior like this.” [49:09]
“All Joel did was destroy his family, not to mention his own life. In the end, he erased himself from their family altogether.” – Vanessa Richardson [57:04]

Notable Moments & Quotes

Blended Family Dynamics:
“Loyalty, hierarchy, and family reputation are very important [in collectivist cultures]… When new in-laws enter the picture… there can be tension over roles, respect, and authority.” – Dr. Ingalls [06:45]
On the Ripple of Unresolved Grief:
“The lack of answers to the unexpected death becomes a trauma of its own… Survivors often cycle between disbelief, guilt, and anger.” – Dr. Ingalls [10:26]
On Family Enmeshment:
“If the structure never relaxes, it can evolve into pathological enmeshment… If one person feels betrayed, everyone feels betrayed.” – Dr. Ingalls [06:45]
On Tragedy and Memory:
“In this story where there’s little to be thankful about, at least they had each other.” – Vanessa Richardson [31:20]
On Overkill:
“Overkill often reflects rage that’s personal and emotional… That level of closeness, repeated that many times, shows determination, as well as a lack of empathy and dehumanization.” – Dr. Ingalls [47:49]

Timeline of Important Segments

| Time | Segment / Topic | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:45 | Oakland Eritrean family background, Abraham & Winta | | 06:45 | Dr. Ingalls on family enmeshment, loyalty | | 09:36 | Abraham’s sudden death, ambiguous loss | | 12:10 | Suspicions, insurance payout, blame begins | | 14:22 | Asmerom’s catfishing attempt, psychological fixation | | 17:41 | Thanksgiving 2006, Gabru Selassie brothers show up | | 21:05 | The murders and hostage taking | | 22:18 | Analysis of hostage psychology, child as symbol | | 24:01 | Hostage negotiation tactics | | 26:21 | Aftermath, trial and court behavior | | 27:48 | Dr. Ingalls on courtroom theatrics | | 32:45 | Transition to Joel Michael Guy Jr. case | | 33:35 | Joel’s childhood, social withdrawal | | 35:30 | School and college difficulties | | 39:12 | Parents’ decision to cut off support, Joel’s anger | | 42:30 | Joel’s notebook, evidence of planning | | 47:49 | The murders: stabbing and dismemberment | | 49:09 | Dr. Ingalls: warning signs, emergence of violence | | 51:59 | Crime scene discovery, police investigation | | 54:26 | Dr. Ingalls: resignation, cognitive rigidity | | 57:04 | Aftermath, family reaction, Joel’s erasure from family |

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a clinical yet empathetic tone, with psychological insights humanizing both perpetrators and victims. Analysis is thoughtful, at times haunting, and the hosts repeatedly return to themes of grief, trauma, and the search for closure. The stories are told with weight and respect, emphasizing how true crime is never just about “the killer”—it’s about the entire family system and the aftermath.

For further deep dives, follow @crimehouse and subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Summary: Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Thanksgiving Murders Pt. 2
Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Crime House (special guest: Carter Roy, with Vanessa Richardson & Dr. Tristan Ingalls)

Overview

Story One: The 2006 Thanksgiving Triple Murder & Hostage Crisis in Oakland, CA

[Segment start: 04:45]

Background and Family Dynamics

Brothers Asmerom, Tawadros, and Abraham Gabru Selassie emigrated from Eritrea to Oakland, working hard to build lives for themselves and their extended family.
Abraham married Winta Mehari in 2004; Winta’s family (the Meharis) emigrated soon after, supported by Abraham’s brothers.
Dr. Ingalls on Blended Families:
“When families immigrate or endure major shared adversity, they often form a survival unit… If that structure never relaxes, it can evolve into pathological enmeshment. The same closeness that once protected them starts to erase individuality.” [06:45]

Death, Mistrust, and Escalating Suspicion

In March 2006, Abraham died suddenly and mysteriously. The coroner could not determine a cause.
- “Abraham's funeral, his brothers still didn't feel a sense of closure. They both moved back to Oakland... Asmerom suspected foul play.” [12:10]
Asmerom fixated on a theory that the Mehari family, possibly motivated by Abraham’s suspicions about the sexuality of Winta’s brother (a cultural taboo), were responsible.
Winta received a $500,000 insurance payout, fueling further suspicion.
Asmerom began harassing Winta’s family, attempting to “catfish” her brother to prove his theory.
- Dr. Ingalls on Fixation:
  “Grief can distort perception, especially when it's unresolved or paired with existing rigidity in thinking. Instead of processing the loss, Asmerom redirected his emotional energy toward proving a theory.” [14:22]

Thanksgiving Day Hostage Crisis & Triple Homicide

On November 23, 2006 (Thanksgiving), Winta and her family gathered in a small Oakland apartment, not expecting the Gabru Selassies.
Tawadros arrived first, ostensibly to see his nephew; Winta allowed him in, hoping to restore some family peace.
- Dr. Ingalls:
  “When her late husband’s brother shows up asking to see his nephew, I think she acted on her desire to restore family harmony. And that's really human.” [19:20]
Tawadros secretly called Asmerom, who soon arrived armed with two guns.
Chaos erupted: Asmerom shot and killed Winta, her mother Regby, and her 17-year-old brother Jonas; another brother escaped by jumping out a window, and a third was shot in the foot.
- “Asmerom rushed inside and screamed at everyone not to move… shot her as well… fired again… struck Winta down.” [21:05]
The Selassie brothers took two-year-old Isaac (Winta’s son) hostage, leading to a tense, hours-long police standoff.
Eventually, both brothers surrendered; Isaac was unharmed.

Analysis & Aftermath

Hostage-taking Psychology:
“Barricading with a hostage is rarely about strategy. Children represent innocence, hope and the future… Isaac wasn’t just a child; he was the last living link to their brother Abraham.” – Dr. Ingalls [22:18]
Negotiation Tactics:
“The goal isn’t persuasion; it’s containment and patience. Time allows adrenaline to drop, so their reasoning can return.” – Dr. Ingalls [24:01]
Both brothers tried different defenses in court: Asmerom represented himself, broke down theatrically, claimed self-defense; Tawadros blamed Isaac for accidentally calling him.
- Courtroom Behavior:
  “The courtroom often becomes a stage for regaining power and validation for many offenders.” – Dr. Ingalls [27:48]
Sentences: Asmerom—three life sentences; Tawadros—sentenced similarly, but in 2016, was resentenced to ten years (already served) and released.
Isaac was raised by his uncle; the surviving family holds on to each other.

Memorable Quotes

“If one person feels betrayed, everyone feels betrayed. If one person grieves, they all grieve.” – Dr. Ingalls [06:45]
“Asmerom’s actions were fueled by a need for resolution that seems to have bordered on obsession.” – Dr. Ingalls [14:22]
“In this story where there’s little to be thankful about, at least they had each other.” – Vanessa Richardson [31:20]

Story Two: The Thanksgiving Horror by Joel Michael Guy Jr. (2016, Tennessee)

[Segment start: 32:45]

Background and Isolation

Joel Michael Guy Jr. grew up withdrawn despite a supportive family; three half-sisters, parents who provided and protected him.
- Dr. Ingalls:
  “That kind of isolation and lack of social reciprocity can limit emotional growth... Without those experiences, emotional maturity can stagnate.” [33:35]
Family attempts at inclusion and sending him to a boarding school fail to break his pattern; he fails to progress in college or hold a job, parents continue supporting him.

Financial Stress and Formulating a Plan

By 2016, parents Joel Sr. and Lisa plan to retire and cut off their 28-year-old son’s financial support (and sell the family home).
Joel is devastated, angry, and terrified of surviving on his own.
- “For him, it was too much change too fast. Then as the reality set in, he became angry.” – Vanessa Richardson [39:12]
Begins purchasing caustic chemicals, knives, bins—carefully noting every step in a notebook marked with lists:
- “Flush chunks down toilets not garbage disposal. Body gives time of death and alibi... her life insurance $500,000 and money all mine.” – Carter Roy [42:30]
Dr. Ingalls on Notetaking & Premeditation:
“His attempt to be meticulous is exactly what is leaving evidence behind and tying him to the crime… Writing could be a way of keeping emotional distance for him.” [43:06]

Thanksgiving Weekend Murders

Joel acts friendly on Thanksgiving, playing with his half-sisters’ children (unusual for him).
The next day, after family leaves, Joel attacks:
- Stabs father 42 times while he’s exercising; stabs mother 31 times after she returns from the store.
- “Stabbing requires proximity… shows determination, both mentally and physically, as well as lack of empathy and dehumanization.” – Dr. Ingalls [47:49]
Dismembers parents’ bodies, boils mother’s head on the stove, attempts to dissolve them in acid-filled bins; wounded, he leaves evidence at the scene.

Discovery and Arrest

Lisa misses her retirement party. Police respond to a welfare check; discover the grotesque scene.
Joel’s notebook, receipts, and Walmart surveillance clearly link him to the murders. Arrested outside his Baton Rouge apartment.
- Dr. Ingalls:
  “Once a plan collapses, that kind of thinking doesn’t allow for them to know how to pivot… It’s as if that rigid internal script ends and they don’t know how to move past that.” [54:26]
Joel cooperates with police, asks for the death penalty, is denied, receives two life sentences plus four years for corpse abuse. His appeal fails.
His sisters cut all ties, omit his name from their parents’ obituary.

Analysis

Dr. Ingalls on Motivations:
“Joel was punishing them for setting boundaries and threatening his dependency… Killing both in such an excessive and brutal way may have also represented an attempt to destroy the very sources of his shame and powerlessness.” [47:49]
Where Did the Violence Come From?
“…There’s always a time before the first act, and often the warning signs are there… isolation, entitlement, poor emotional regulation, and lack of empathy… combined with a major stressor, they can culminate into catastrophic behavior like this.” [49:09]
“All Joel did was destroy his family, not to mention his own life. In the end, he erased himself from their family altogether.” – Vanessa Richardson [57:04]

Notable Moments & Quotes

Blended Family Dynamics:
“Loyalty, hierarchy, and family reputation are very important [in collectivist cultures]… When new in-laws enter the picture… there can be tension over roles, respect, and authority.” – Dr. Ingalls [06:45]
On the Ripple of Unresolved Grief:
“The lack of answers to the unexpected death becomes a trauma of its own… Survivors often cycle between disbelief, guilt, and anger.” – Dr. Ingalls [10:26]
On Family Enmeshment:
“If the structure never relaxes, it can evolve into pathological enmeshment… If one person feels betrayed, everyone feels betrayed.” – Dr. Ingalls [06:45]
On Tragedy and Memory:
“In this story where there’s little to be thankful about, at least they had each other.” – Vanessa Richardson [31:20]
On Overkill:
“Overkill often reflects rage that’s personal and emotional… That level of closeness, repeated that many times, shows determination, as well as a lack of empathy and dehumanization.” – Dr. Ingalls [47:49]

Timeline of Important Segments

Tone and Language

For further deep dives, follow @crimehouse and subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts.

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HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Thanksgiving Murders Pt. 2

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Summary

Podcast Summary: Murder: True Crime Stories

Overview

Story One: The 2006 Thanksgiving Triple Murder & Hostage Crisis in Oakland, CA

Background and Family Dynamics

Death, Mistrust, and Escalating Suspicion

Thanksgiving Day Hostage Crisis & Triple Homicide

Analysis & Aftermath

Memorable Quotes

Story Two: The Thanksgiving Horror by Joel Michael Guy Jr. (2016, Tennessee)

Background and Isolation

Financial Stress and Formulating a Plan

Thanksgiving Weekend Murders

Discovery and Arrest

Analysis

Notable Moments & Quotes

Timeline of Important Segments

Tone and Language

Summary

Podcast Summary: Murder: True Crime Stories

Overview

Story One: The 2006 Thanksgiving Triple Murder & Hostage Crisis in Oakland, CA

Background and Family Dynamics

Death, Mistrust, and Escalating Suspicion

Thanksgiving Day Hostage Crisis & Triple Homicide

Analysis & Aftermath

Memorable Quotes

Story Two: The Thanksgiving Horror by Joel Michael Guy Jr. (2016, Tennessee)

Background and Isolation

Financial Stress and Formulating a Plan

Thanksgiving Weekend Murders

Discovery and Arrest

Analysis

Notable Moments & Quotes

Timeline of Important Segments

Tone and Language