Woman reveals horror of finding out 'loving and fun' dad was a ruthless serial killer
A woman opened up on her nightmare scenario when she was just a girl after finding out that her father was a serial killer.
Dr Jenn Carson is now a social worker, suicide hotline manager and trauma expert, looking to help people particularly living in the shadow of their family member's heinous crimes, despite having nothing to do with them.
However, Carson has spoken about how her life came to a halt when she was younger after finding out that her 'loving' father and her stepmother were a serial killer.
Jenn Carson was born to parents James and Lynne, who divorced in 1978, though her father then married mother of two Suzan in 1979.
Advert
Her father, who changed his name to Michael Bear Carson, and Suzan were known as the 'San Francisco Witch Killers', as they claimed that their victims were all 'witches'.
The couple were later convicted of the murders of Keryn Barnes, 23, Clark Stephens, 26, and John Hellyar, 30 in 1984 - the pair are now serving 75-years-to-life sentences behind bars.
In 1982, Secret Service showed up at Jenn's mother's door with questions, about him potentially looking to kill President Ronald Reagan, revealing the terrifying truth and horrifying Lynne.
Last year, Jenn spoke to People about her early memories of her father, saying that 'he was loving', recalling him reading to her and braiding her hair.
She noted that it was her step-mum's introduction into their lives that changed everything, apparently becoming 'very dominant' in her relationship with Jenn's father.
"In my preschooler mind, she's the wicked witch," she said.
"I've had glimpses of memories my whole life of her pushing me under bath water — like holding me under and I couldn't breathe,
"I'm in this house of horrors. She's not feeding me. She's telling me that I'm the devil. I'm going to go to hell. I deserve to die."
Jenn also recalled a time where she was left with wounds from physical abuse and was diagnosed with PTSD and debilitating depression at a young age.
Jenn attributes her mother with getting her away from the horrific situation, evading the Carsons' dark and disturbing plans.
They fled for five years, fearing that Michael and Suzan would track them down, as Jenn's childhood became a nightmare with visions of her father's victims, as well as the fear that she would inherit the dark trait.
She revealed: "By nine, I viewed every adult as a potential killer. The whole world terrified me. I also feared that I would grow up and kill people."
But, in 1984, stepfather Michael Gonzales entered their lives and helped Jenn and her mother to start healing.
"He's the knight on the white horse - an incredible man," she said.
He helped his step-daughter get counselling, enrolled her in Girl Scouts and the church choir, giving her life some structure and routine, which brought on good fortune.
Jenn began to excel in school following her mental health struggles in her earlier years, going on to become a successful mental health advocate.
"Not only can you survive after adversity, trauma, battles with mental illness and so on, you can get help and then you can thrive," she told the publication.
"And if someone is struggling today, get help because it can get better. It's okay to not be okay. And it's okay to get help because things can get better."
Topics: True Crime, Mental Health, US News, Crime
Joshua Nair