S03E02: THE SOCIAL MEDIA MURDERS

The use of modern technology has both positive and negatives. This week, we discuss two cases that expose the dark side of social media- platforms that allowed monsters to enact their murderous desires.

First, Katie tells the story of Jenae Gagnier, better known to her millions of followers as Mercedes Morr- who rose to social media fame due to her provocative posts. In late August 2021, everything changed for her when one "fan" decided to take it much too far and go to her home with murder on his mind.

Then, AJ tells the story of the senseless murder of 74-year-old Robert Godwin, who was gunned down on the streets of Cleveland in April 2017 at the hands of Steve Stephens, also known as "The Facebook Killer". After a breakup with a long-term girlfriend, Steve snaps and decides to take the life of a random stranger on the street and post a video of the murder on Facebook for the world to see.

Music (pre-theme) by LiteSaturation on Pixabay.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

"Houston Instagram model Janae Gagnier's dad describes finding bodies of his daughter and her killer":
https://abc13.com/miss-mercedes-morr-death-instagram-model-died-jenae-gagnier-kevin-alexander-accorto/10991001/

Big Girls Panties Podcast: BGP-Episode 38 -The Jenae Gagnier aka Mercedes Morr Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gugY5OC0XN0&t=1246s

"Florida Man Killed Texas Instagram Influencer, Then Himself, Police Say":
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2021/09/01/florida-man-killed-texas-instagram-influencer-jenae-gagnier-police/

"Social Media Is Fostering A Big Rise In Real-World Stalking":
https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonchandler/2019/10/11/social-media-proves-itself-to-be-the-perfect-tool-for-stalkers/?sh=3d412b583d79

Government of Canada: Cyberbullying can be against the law:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/cyberbullying/cyberbullying-against-law.html

Government of Canada: Info Sheet: Cyberbullying
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2015-r038/index-en.aspx

Statistics Canada: Women and men who experienced cyberstalking in Canada
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2018001/article/54973-eng.htm

Steve Stephens Facebook Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTuT50JY8B0

'TODAY' News Clip ("Facebook Killer")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLPW3w0WyBk&t

"Hunt For Facebook Killer Ends With McDonald's Sighting" (New York Times):
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/us/facebook-killer-suicide-erie.html

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