Unraveling Trauma and True Crime with Courtney Lund O’Neil

In this episode of MissPerceived, Leah welcomes author Courtney Lund O’Neil to discuss her book, Postmortem: What Survives the John Wayne Gacy Murders. The conversation explores the often-overlooked stories of those living in the shadow of infamous crimes, focusing on the intergenerational impact of trauma, the mental load carried by mothers, and the power of storytelling to reclaim narratives from perpetrators. They address the importance of honoring victims’ humanity, breaking gender stereotypes—especially around raising boys—and the unique ways women process and are drawn to true crime.

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