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Rod Matthews: The Classmate Killer Who Sought to Feel the Thrill of Murder
Rod Matthews was a seemingly typical 14-year-old boy living in Canton, Massachusetts, in 1986. However, beneath the surface of his suburban life lurked a chilling curiosity: he wanted to know what it felt like to kill someone. His victim? A fellow classmate, Shaun Ouillette.

The Build-Up to Murder
Rod Matthews wasn’t your average teenager. Classmates described him as quiet, but he had a dark obsession with violent movies and crime stories. As his fascination grew, so did his urge to commit a heinous act. Matthews allegedly told friends that he wanted to kill someone to see how it felt.

Shaun Ouillette, a kind-hearted 14-year-old, had no idea that his invitation to hang out with Matthews on November 20, 1986, would be a fatal mistake. Lured into the woods near Matthews' home, Ouillette was brutally beaten to death with a baseball bat.

The Investigation
When Sean didn’t return home, his parents reported him missing. Days later, a search party found his body in the woods. The evidence pointed to Matthews, whose friends later admitted that he had confessed to the murder. The chilling part? Matthews seemed disturbingly calm when recounting the crime.

Trial and Conviction
Rod Matthews was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Despite his young age, he was tried as an adult and convicted. In 1987, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years. Matthews has sought parole multiple times, but the nature of his crime and his lack of remorse kept him behind bars for 37 years. In 2024 when Rod was released at the age of 51.

The Psychology Behind the Crime
Matthews’ case is a stark reminder of how untreated mental health issues and violent obsessions can lead to tragedy. Experts who reviewed the case noted that Matthews exhibited signs of psychopathy, including a lack of empathy and a fascination with violence.

The Legacy of Sean Ouillette
Shaun Ouillette’s murder shocked the nation and left a lasting impact on the small community of Canton. His family has worked tirelessly to keep his memory alive, advocating for victims' rights and harsher penalties for juvenile offenders who commit heinous crimes.

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The Edmonton New Year’s Nightmare: Phu Lam’s Bloody Massacre
On New Year’s Day 2014, the city of Edmonton, Alberta, was rocked by one of the most horrifying mass murders in Canadian history. Phu Lam, a 59-year-old man, killed eight people, including his wife and young son, before taking his own life. This shocking act of violence left a lasting scar on the community and raised many questions about the man behind the massacre and the events that led to such a tragic outcome.

The Victims
Phu Lam’s rampage claimed the lives of:

• Thuy Tien Truong, Lam’s estranged wife, 35 years old
• Elvis Lam, their 8-year-old son
• Thanh Ha Thi Truong, Tien’s sister, 33 years old
• Valentina Nguyen, Ha’s daughter, 3years old
• Van Dang Truong, Father of Thuy Tien and Ha Truong, 55 years old
• Thi Dau Le, Mother of Tien, 55 years old
• Viet Nguyen, Tien’s new boyfriend, 41 years old

After carrying out the murders, Lam drove to another residence in Edmonton; the home of David Lu and his wife Cyndi Duong. Cyndi, the daughter of one of Phu Lam’s enemies, he shot and killed her when her father wasn’t at her home.

The Crime
Phu Lam began his killing spree at the home he once shared with his wife and her family. Armed with a stolen handgun, he methodically targeted his estranged wife and members of her extended family. Most of the victims were found in their beds, suggesting that they were attacked while sleeping and unable to defend themselves.

After committing these heinous acts, Lam drove to the residence of Cyndi Duong where he killed her in front of her children. It is believed to be retribution for a decades-old feud with Duong’s father. Finally, he drove to a Vietnamese restaurant owned by his former common-law wife, where he was working as a maintenance man servicing equipment in her kitchen at the time. Then, using the same gun to take his own life, and was later discovered by police.

Impact on the Community

The Phu Lam murders left the Edmonton community in shock and mourning. Candles and flowers lined the sidewalks near the crime scenes, as neighbors and friends struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy. Authorities highlighted the importance of addressing domestic violence and mental health issues to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Remembering the Victims
In the wake of the Edmonton mass murder of 2014, friends and community members focused on honoring the victims rather than the perpetrator. The families were described as kind, hardworking, and deeply connected to their community. Little Elvis, at just eight years old, was remembered for being a quiet and kind student. Valentina was only three. Phu Lam and Tien Truong’s one year old daughter was spared, as was Ha’s eight-month-old baby.

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Christmas is supposed to be a season of joy, family gatherings, and celebration, but in 2007, the holiday took a grim turn for Jack and Elaine Denney of Locust Grove, Oklahoma. The couple, beloved in their tight-knit community, were brutally murdered in their home on December 23rd. What was once a quiet holiday in Cherokee County became a nightmare that sent shockwaves across the state—and left family and friends searching for answers.

Jack and Elaine Denney, both in their 60s, were known for their kindness and generosity. Jack, a supervisor of mechanical maintenance for the Grand River Dam Authority, and Elaine, a devoted homemaker, had been pillars of their community for years. The thought of anyone harming them was unthinkable. Yet, in the darkness of December 23, their lives were snuffed out in a crime so brutal it shocked seasoned investigators.

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