Podcast Summary: The Unforgotten, Episode 3 – "The Sisterhood"

Podcast: The Unforgotten
Host: Charlie Scudder
Episode: 3. The Sisterhood
Date: October 28, 2024

Main Theme

This episode delves into the personal stories of women whose mothers were victims at the Tradition Prestonwood, an upscale Dallas senior living community that became the hunting ground of serial killer Billy Shamirmir. Through the perspectives of bereaved daughters, the episode explores the intersection of personal loss, systemic neglect, the vulnerabilities of senior residents, and the tension between corporate interests and resident safety. The narrative reveals how a pattern of thefts and unexplained deaths was minimized or ignored, raising questions about oversight, accountability, and profit motives in the senior living industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Norma French's Story: Routine, Loss, and Missing Jewelry

• Ellen House shares memories of her mother, Norma French, and their close relationship.
  • Anecdote about a cherished, irremovable wedding ring:
    • “She said, oh, I don’t take it off anymore. She said, I can't get it over my knuckle.” – Ellen House [00:38]
  • In Fall 2016, Norma, then 85, visited Ellen in Indianapolis.
  • Norma expressed concerns about the rising death rate among her neighbors at the Tradition; she considered moving for safety.
  • Norma’s worries:
    • “Oh, I don’t want to be sitting there for days.” – Norma French (recounted by Ellen House) [02:41]
• Norma died unexpectedly just weeks later. Ellen and her sister Laurie could not reach her and asked staff at the Tradition to check on their mother.
  • Daughter’s aftermath:
    • “I wanted to see her earthly body before I never saw it again.” – Ellen House [05:13]
• Upon preparing the body for donation, the family realizes Norma’s wedding ring (and other jewelry) is missing.
  • A tense, awkward search for valuables ensues, with staff suggesting to “Check her panty drawers. Old women hide their jewelry in their panty drawers.” – Ed Sanchez, facilities manager [06:20]
  • Family becomes suspicious: “It’s obvious it was pried off her finger.” – Ellen House [07:34]

2. Pattern of Deaths and Thefts at the Tradition

• Ellen’s fears heightened by missing keys and the absence of other valuables (Rolex watch, gold cross, cash).
• The police report is underwhelming and fails to accurately portray the substantial losses. For a suspect, the officer checks “victim” and “unknown.” [08:21]
• The first official investigation into possible foul play at the Tradition is initiated after Ellen and Laurie’s claims of theft.
  • Notably, this comes after multiple deaths had already occurred at the facility.

3. Doris Gleason's Story & The Sisterhood

• Shannon Dion recalls the charisma and presence of her mother, Doris Gleason.
  • “At 5’2” and tiny little lady, she just had a command about her.” – Shannon Dion [10:05]
  • Doris was a beloved member of the Tradition, participating in clubs, activities, and family routines.
• Doris’ death is discovered by her daughter, who also cannot find an item of deep emotional significance—a guardian angel necklace that Doris never removed.
  • On missing jewelry:
    • “All I got were her wedding rings… and the necklace is nowhere to be found. And that was a big alarm.” – Shannon Dion [13:34]
  • The necklaces were a family symbol of guardianship and resilience, particularly after Doris’ other daughter Nancy had survived a violent abduction decades earlier.
  • Police fingerprint and autopsy are done, but cause of death is labeled as natural and Shannon suspects a post-mortem theft before learning of a wider pattern.

4. The Discovery of a Larger Pattern & Police Inaction

• Shannon requests two years of police records at the Tradition, uncovering a “pattern of deaths and thefts, of suspicious person reports and more.” [16:49]
  • After reviewing the reports, she finds strikingly similar cases—multiple deaths, jewelry missing, sparse follow-up.
• Dallas police's Public Integrity Unit takes on the French case but, without evidence, files no charges.
  • The Tradition had no interior surveillance, and staff deflected blame onto first responders or hidden stashes.
  • “Our protocol has always been the same. I call them unattended deaths. That we had one event, two where two others that have claimed that their mom had jewelry and was missing. ... Oh, no, not another one.” – Ed Sanchez [20:25]
  • Despite patterns, there’s “no further information” and families told to “look closely” at the reports. [24:00]

5. The Role of Corporate Ownership and Profit Motive

• Analysis of The Tradition’s ownership structure:
  • Heavy emphasis on luxury, financial returns, and occupancy—sometimes at the expense of resident security.
  • Lawsuits argue the Tradition “put profits over people.”
  • “You can rest assured [your loved one is safe]. It presents a dangerous situation for a very vulnerable group of citizens.” – Trey Crawford, attorney [32:48]
• Facilities advertise high-end amenities and security. In reality, cost-cutting and lack of transparency are endemic problems. [28:00–29:54]
  • Expert Dr. Michael Wasserman offers a blunt assessment: “When you look at senior housing where the health and well being of the residents are not being achieved, I think comparing the ownership to slumlords is still very apt.” [31:03]

6. Family Lawsuits and Calls for Accountability

• Many families, including Ellen’s and Shannon’s, file lawsuits against the Tradition seeking transparency and accountability. [32:06–33:49]
• Legal battles often stymied by arbitration clauses and aggressive corporate responses.
  • “The lawsuits... are dramatic 150-page critiques of the community, its promises of security, and the gaping holes that let Shamirmir have, quote, virtually unfettered access to its residents.” – Charlie Scudder [33:49]
• Whistleblowers and attorneys assert that the Tradition conducted its own internal investigation but never alerted residents or police about the risk.

7. A Sisterhood Forms

• Ellen, Shannon, and Mary Jo Jennings join together in the aftermath, forming a support network—“The Sisterhood”—of women whose mothers died under suspicious circumstances at the Tradition.
• The pain of not being believed, being patted and patronized rather than taken seriously, is a repeated theme.
  • “I accused everybody that was in the room. I told the paramedics to empty their pockets. ... I think I said to the police, is this normal?” – Mary Jo Jennings [36:10]
  • “We’re paying premium price to have our mothers protected there. ... And then to have nine murders. It’s just unbelievable.” – Mary Jo Jennings [37:45]

8. The Industry’s Response, or Lack Thereof

• David Schless, President of the American Senior Housing Association, provides context from the industry perspective:
  • “You don’t invest in senior housing without being very aware of who ultimately is living in these settings.” [30:11]
  • Claims majority of senior communities provide “wonderful care” and argues it’s unfair to judge the industry by one tragic case.
  • Confirms “the case was widely discussed” in the industry, despite minimal national press. [39:12]
  • Admits: “As horrible as that situation was... I really can’t even get my mind around, you know, that whole situation.” [39:22]

9. The Truth is Uncovered

• Only after a survivor (Mary Bartel, in 2018) does the full scope of Billy Shamirmir’s crimes become apparent.
  • “Over a four month span in 2016, he killed eight people at the Tradition Prestonwood. ... He killed at least eight more at three senior communities in Dallas and its suburbs.” [40:15]
• Families’ suspicions ultimately proved correct, though systemic failures meant vital warning signs were ignored.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “She said, oh, I don’t take it off anymore. She said, I can't get it over my knuckle.”
  – Ellen House [00:38]

• “It’s obvious it was pried off her finger.”
  – Ellen House [07:34]

• “I want my mother’s jewelry. And when we come out, all I got were her wedding rings. ... The necklace is nowhere to be found. And that was a big alarm.”
  – Shannon Dion [13:34]

• “Our protocol has always been the same. ... Oh, no, not another one.”
  – Ed Sanchez [20:25]

• “You can rest assured will protect your loved ones. It presents a dangerous situation for a very vulnerable group of citizens.”
  – Trey Crawford [32:48]

• “When you look at senior housing where the health and well being of the residents are not being achieved, ... comparing the ownership to slumlords is still very apt.”
  – Dr. Michael Wasserman [31:03]

• “We’re paying premium price to have our mothers protected there. And he was in there all the time, and they did nothing. And then to have nine murders. It’s just unbelievable.”
  – Mary Jo Jennings [37:45]

Important Timestamps

• 00:26 – 01:01: Norma’s flour-dusted hands and cherished wedding ring anecdote
• 03:18 – 04:03: Discovery of Norma’s death at the Tradition
• 04:57 – 06:57: Search for missing jewelry and suspicions
• 07:34: Ellen examines photo of mother’s hand—realizes ring was forcibly removed
• 13:34: Doris Gleason’s missing angel necklace discovered by her daughter
• 16:13 – 17:38: Shannon requests and reads police records, uncovering a pattern
• 19:03 – 22:29: Police interview with Ed Sanchez, Tradition’s facilities manager
• 24:00: Sergeant Davis warns Ellen and Laurie: “Something is fishy here.”
• 27:18: Jonathan Perelman highlights focus on amenities and financial structure
• 31:03: Dr. Michael Wasserman critiques the industry’s profit-focused model
• 32:06 – 33:49: Attorney Trey Crawford explains scope of lawsuits and industry failures
• 36:10 – 38:12: The Sisterhood reflects on being dismissed and their demand for accountability
• 39:12 – 40:15: David Schless (industry rep) confronts the reality and limited recognition of the case
• 40:15: Revelation of Shamirmir’s crime spree at the Tradition and beyond

Tone & Language

• Personal, Intimate, and Frank: The episode is marked by personal testimonies, emotional transparency, and a sense of shared grief and outrage among the daughters.
• Investigative and Critical: The host and contributors take a probing look at institutional neglect, corporate priorities, and failures in policing/reporting.
• Somber, Reflective: Moments of sadness and regret are frequent, underscoring the magnitude of loss and the systemic failures that exacerbated it.
• Urgent: Calls for accountability and reform are voiced repeatedly by guests and the host.

Summary

Episode 3, "The Sisterhood," intimately profiles daughters who lost their mothers at the hands of a serial killer operating undetected in a luxury Dallas senior living community. Through detailed personal stories, the episode exposes how complaints and warning signs were dismissed, how police and property managers passed blame, and how the financial interests of property owners and investors often took precedence over residents’ safety. The “Sisterhood” formed by these daughters highlights the ongoing struggle for truth, closure, and a higher standard of care for the vulnerable elderly in senior communities. The episode leaves listeners questioning to what extent profit motives and image management contribute to such tragedies—and what it will take for institutions to genuinely put people first.