The Unlovely Truth

Lori Morrison

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Exploring the intersection of faith and true crime.

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When Church Hurts: S6E17

The Unlovely Truth

07/30/24 • 13 min

I’m so glad you’ve joined me at the intersection of faith and true crime here at The Unlovely Truth. Does your church or ministry struggle with physical, emotional, or spiritual safety issues? I’m your host, church safety advocate Lori Morrison and I’m so glad you’ve joined me today. Our churches need to be the safest places in our communities, so our mission on this podcast is to find actionable steps to improve every aspect of safety in our houses of worship and beyond. We’re going to do that by investigating The Unlovley Truth about real crime news stories that are happening in real churches. I’ve got new cases for us to investigate today, so let’s dive right in.

Highlights from this episode include:

Pastoral counseling crosses the line into spiritual abuse
When the pastor is the victim
A church that handled a tough situation right - mostly

Ezekiel 34:7-10 NLT

“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn’t search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock. I will take away their right to feed the flock, and I will stop them from feeding themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths; the sheep will no longer be their prey.

Even if shepherds lose their sense of responsibility to their flock - God does not. It’s bad enough when a neglectful pastor allows their congregation to be vulnerable to predators. It’s worse when those pastors themselves are the ones harming those they are meant to serve. God is very upfront in his assessment of pastors like this. He calls them His enemies. If you see a pastor abusing anyone in any way, please, let god work through you by speaking up. I know that can be scary and if you’ll reach out to me I will help you.

On the flip side, if we see one of our pastors suffering, we need to stand up for them as well. No of us should abandon anyone when we have a chance to help them stay safe.

Visit my website to access more episodes. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker or ask about my consulting services, please email me at [email protected].

Ways you can support the work of The Unlovely Truth:

Share the episode

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Check out my Amazon Author Page to find resources on personal safety, and safety training for churches.

Was this spiritual abuse?

Pastor confronts gunman

Should sex offenders be pastors?

Season 3, Episode 45: Murdered by a Family Member: The Story of Becky Watts

The Unlovely Truth

11/08/22 • 29 min

This week’s episode touches on so many interesting topics. You’ll hear behind the scenes stories from a fellow private investigator, information about a celebrity investigation, tips on how to serve the deaf community, and what it’s like to have a family member murdered. My guest today has done it all. Of course, we will also take a look at a true crime case that I hope we can study some red flag examples so we can avoid the heartache that Becky Galsworthy and her family endured.

Blending families with teenagers is tough. Darren Galsworthy had two children with his ex-girlfriend Tanya when he ran into an old acquaintance named Anjie. Things between them got serious quickly. Anjie had a child too, a son named Nathan. It was obvious to Darren that the boy was possessive of his mother. But there was no way to know that possessiveness would lead to the murder of a family member. Our book this week is “The Evil Within” by Darren Galsworthy and our guest is former private investigator, Amazon bestselling author, philanthropist, and artist Connie Rowland.

This week’s Scripture is from the Old Testament:

Proverbs 14:22 CSB

Don’t those who plan evil go astray?

But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.

Nathan’s actions as they are described in our book for this week are a perfect example of this passage. Notice that God isn’t calling out just those who DO evil things, but those who PLAN to do evil things. James 1:15 says, “Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.” Our thought lives matter because they influence our actions. When we think on things, and plan to take good action, the Bible promises that we will find loyalty and faithfulness.

I want to tie that into this week’s practical action step. When we see someone struggling with dark thoughts, or we notice anyone being obsessed with violent song lyrics, movies or video games, we need to check in with that person. It may not be an issue, but they might be having thoughts that will give birth to deeds with life-altering consequences. We've got to watch out for each other so we can keep ourselves, our families, and our communities safer.

For another mesmerizing episode about family dysfunction, listen here.

Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at [email protected].

Visit Connie’s website.

Season 3, Episode 41: My Name is Lisa: A Cold Case, A Hidden Identity, A Found Purpose

The Unlovely Truth

10/11/22 • 31 min

If you or someone you know has ever been the victim of sexual assault, you’ll want to hear the story of my guest Lisa Saruga. Lisa is herself a survivor as well as an advocate for others.

We all work hard to create just the right balance in our lives between work, spouses, kids, church, maybe caring for aging parents, hanging out with friends and more. Small stresses can cause big disruptions, right? Imagine how your life would be disrupted by a call from a detective about a cold case from 35 years ago. A case you never thought would be reinvestigated. A case that changed your life forever.

It’s easy to wonder where God was in all of this. I certainly don’t want to imply to anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault that just reading a verse or two will fix everything, but I do hope that these words from Isaiah 43:2-3a can give you some comfort:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...”

Have you ever felt like you were about to drown in the water of your life? What about walking a path that has flames burning all around? Just try to remember that even when the waters are at their highest and the flames at their hottest, you aren’t alone. God not only sees you there - He tells us in these verses that He is there with us. Even if you feel like no one in your life is willing to be there for you - God is.

National Sexual Assault Hotline
Available 24 hours
1-800-656-4673

Season 2, Episode 17: I Thought He was My Friend - "Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town" by Jon Krakauer

Season 3, Episode 30: No One Believed Her

Season 1, Episode 17: A Survivor's Journey - From Victim to Advocate

Connect with Lisa here

Season 3, Episode 25: Murder-Suicide: Red Flags and What We Can Do to Spot Them

The Unlovely Truth

06/21/22 • 33 min

Can you remember going off on your own for the first time? Whether you were getting your first apartment, joining the military, or going off to college, it was probably exciting but also a bit scary. Today we are going to talk about how we can look out for signs that someone is struggling with a big change in their life - maybe even a change they are so poorly equipped to handle that they explode in violence.

Our book this week is The Events of October and our guest is pastor, writer, speaker, and resident counselor David Brannock. He’s going to talk about specific steps we can take to look out for each other when we experience big changes after we dive into today’s case.

I’ve got a couple of different passages I want us to think about today. The first is Proverbs 22:24-25, from The Amplified Bible: “Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts; Or go [along] with a hot-tempered man, Or you will learn his [undisciplined] ways And get yourself trapped [in a situation from which it is hard to escape].”

I also want to share Titus 3:10-11 with you from the New Living Translation: “If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.” This passage is dealing with people trying to cause divisions in the church, but I think the principle of the lesson certainly applies to relationships as well.

I want to challenge everyone - even myself - to find someone who needs to be encouraged to distance themselves from an unhealthy relationship. They may not see the red flags that you can, or even if they do they may just need that nudge that will move them to action. Even if they get mad at you like Maggie did with her friend who wouldn’t room with her if she stayed with Neenef, we need to plant those seeds that just might blossom in time to prevent another tragedy like Maggie’s. There are links below to other episodes about violence in relationships, as well as links to other helpful resources. I hope you’ll share them with anyone who needs to see that they are not alone and that there is hope.

Listen to Season 2, Episode 37: Why Do Abuse Victims Stay: "Every Breath You Take" by Ann Rule

Listen to Season 1, Episode 2: A Twisted Faith

Buy the book here

Connect with David Brannock here

Send me YOUR feedback on the podcast here

Season 3, Episode 29: You Are Not Alone

The Unlovely Truth

07/19/22 • 13 min

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, every 68 seconds another American is sexually assaulted. That’s nearly one every minute. Nearly 60 every hour. More than 1,270 new victims Every. Single. Day. I’d say somebody needs to do something about it, and there’s no reason it can’t be you and me.

Our book this week is You Are Not Alone by Jyssica Schwartz, a compilation of true stories of abuse, sexual assault, and harassment.

God’s Word is so clear about helping those in need and in vulnerable situations.

So this week our practical action step is to find an organization near you that helps victims of sexual assault. Maybe that’s a rape crisis center, or a group on a local college campus. Maybe a local church has an outreach or support group for survivors of sexual assault. Does your local law enforcement have a squad dedicated to crimes? Pick one of these groups and just thank them. Send them a card, or flowers, or gift cards at your favorite coffee shop. Let them know how much you appreciate what they do. You might even find yourself wanting to volunteer with them.

If you liked this episode, be sure to check out some earlier ones. I’ve had so many amazing guests who gave me fantastic information you won’t want to miss. You can also help someone else begin their journey as a different kind of PI - a person of impact, when you share the episode, and when you subscribe, give me a five-star rating and a nice review.

Don’t forget to access the Expand Your Impact Summit here.

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website

Visit my website for more great content and ways to support the work of The Unlovely Truth

Season 3, Episode 34: The Texas Murder of a Proverbs 31 Woman

The Unlovely Truth

08/23/22 • 20 min

Let’s be honest ladies. We’ve all struggled to live up to the standards of the Proverbs 31 woman and then blamed ourselves when we fell short. But I’ll bet you never thought that your imperfections might get you killed.

Our book this week is The Good Wife: The Shocking Betrayal and Brutal Murder of a Godly Woman in Texas by Clint Richmond. It tells the story of Penny Scaggs, a woman dedicated to not just modeling herself after the Proverbs 31 woman, but becoming her. Remember that the Proverbs 31 woman wasn’t an actual flesh and blood woman.

In this Proverb, King Lemuel is writing about the advice his mother gave him as he searched for a wife
As the king, he needed a good partner to help him carry out his duties
The Proverbs 31 woman is the type of woman Lemuel’s mom wanted him to choose as his wife
Each of us can function as this type of woman in many different ways depending on the gifts and opportunities each of us has
It’s her character, not her career, that makes her special

Let’s look specifically at verse 20 as translated in the Message version: “She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.” We all have the ability to do both of these things.

Which brings us to our practical action step for today. There is no need to commit to anything big here. I’m just going to throw out a challenge to find a ministry at your church or in your community that assists victims or groups that are often targeted as victims. It could be the homeless, or foster kids, or newly released inmates. You might feel a tug toward working to help single moms or women with an unexpected pregnancy. You could even see if you could help organize a free self-defense class for women! Your ability to help people in need is only limited by your imagination and your willingness.

If today’s case interested you, you’ll probably enjoy this episode.

Buy the book here

Season 4, Episode 7: How Coroners Use DNA to Make Bones Talk

The Unlovely Truth

02/14/23 • 31 min

It’s hard enough for me to imagine having a missing loved one. Can you? Then picture finding out that a serial killer has been operating where and when your loved one went missing. That’s the scenario we have for this week’s case. Authorities may never know exactly how many victims this killer had, but a new coroner investigating the case is determined to identify as many of the known remains as he can.

Our book this week is “The Double Life of a Serial Murderer” and our guest is Hamilton County, Indiana Coroner Jeff Jellison. He is a former law enforcement officer and is a certified Medical-Legal Death Investigator. Jeff has a very big job trying to determine who the bones found on Herb Baumeister’s Indiana estate belong to. And as you’ll hear, there were thousands of bones and bone fragments discovered on Fox Hollow Farm. Let’s investigate what in the world happened in central Indiana.

Then we’ll dive into Matthew 7:1-5:

“Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you. Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye’, when there is the beam of timber in your own eye? You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.”

This isn’t a long passage, but there is so much practical wisdom here so be sure you catch this episode, then check out some earlier ones. I’ve had so many amazing guests who gave me fantastic information you won’t want to miss. You can also help someone else begin their journey as a different kind of PI - a person of impact, when you share the episode, and when you subscribe, give me a five-star rating and a nice review. Don’t forget to check out these resources, and give Jeff Jellison a call if you have information on the Fox Hollow Farms case, or if you need help to locate a missing loved one.

Call Jeff Jellison, Hamilton County Coroner, at 317-770-4415.

Learn more about the work to identify remains at Fox Hollow Farm

Listen to Season 1, Episode 32: The Skeleton Crew

Think all coroners are as qualified as Jeff Jellison? Think again.

Get this week’s book

Buy my book: How to Kick Fear to the Curb

Season 4, Episode 9: Like Ripples in Water: The Effects of Incarceration on Families

The Unlovely Truth

02/28/23 • 31 min

When a loved one is in prison, you’re serving a sentence of your own. The experience can break you, or shape you. Learn how today’s guest was able to overcome a system seemingly designed to tear families apart and have it ultimately bring hers closer together.

Our book this week is My Incarcerated Life, and our guest is the book’s author, Qiana Riley-Jones. Qiana is a wife, mother, military veteran, nurse, and businesswoman.

Remember the story from the second chapter of Mark where Jesus called Matthew to be one of the Twelve? Matthew had been a tax collector for the Romans and people knew that he probably over-charged, then skimmed off part of the money collected. So the Jews didn’t have a very high opinion of tax collectors. They considered them thieves of the worst kind. When Jesus shared a meal with Matthew and other assorted folks that the Pharisees and teachers of the law called “sinners”, the religious leaders were upset, and said so. Let’s read Jesus’ response from verse 17.

“When Jesus heard this, he told them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’”

It’s unclear if Jesus is directing His response to the religious leaders or to his dinner companions. But it’s crystal clear that Jesus knew the importance of ministering where the spiritual need is greatest. Having helped with Bible studies in a jail, I can tell you they are places of tremendous spiritual need. The women I was blessed to meet gave me a much greater appreciation for God’s hand in my life, and it made me want that for them - no matter what they had done to get themselves where they were.

I want us to look at Romans 3:10 - “As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is good—no one in all the world is innocent.’”

That’s why we need a Savior as desperately as any jail inmate. That’s why God sees us all the same. That’s why WE need to look at every person the same. And I know that’s hard. It’s so contrary to man’s fallen nature. But as believers we have something inside us that can overcome that and allow us to see as God sees. That’s the Holy Spirit. He can help us minister to people who, like Jesus said, know they are sinners. When you do, you’ll make a positive ripple effect of your own on countless people.

Get your copy of My Incarcerated Life

Connect with Qiana

Check out the work of Prison Fellowship

And Kairos Prison Ministry International

Listen to similar episodes:

Season 3, Episode 8: Prison Saved My Life

Season 2, Episode 41: The Redemption of Bobby Love: A Story of Faith, Family, and Justice

Season 2, Episode 8: A Prisoner's Perspective: The Redemption of a Criminal Mastermind

Season 3, Episode 49: The Art of Storytelling: Bringing Facts to Life

The Unlovely Truth

12/06/22 • 29 min

Imagine looking into the window of your favorite clothing store and seeing the hottest new fashions lying there in a heap. You can’t picture how they’d look on you the way you can when those stylish top and bottoms are put on a mannequin. That’s what good storytelling does for facts, statistics, and otherwise dry information - it gives it good bones. It lets you connect with your listeners on a deeper level - something I hope we are doing here on the Unlovely Truth!

We’re going to focus on just one story for the entire month of December and it’s a very appropriate one: The Santa Claus Bank Robbery by the late A.C. Greene, a prominent Texas journalist and author. Our guest today is Lawrence Yuen, host of The Myth Pilgrim podcast and he’s going to talk with me about the power of story.

The Myth Pilgrim is a Catholic podcast exploring how popular myths and fairytales can nourish your spiritual journey. Brother Lawrence Yuen explores theology alongside Disney, scripture alongside The Lord of the Rings, Saints alongside Star Wars ... and so much more!

Our Bible verse this week is Hosea 4:2

“You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery.

There is violence everywhere — one murder after another.”

In chapter 4, Hosea is pointing out Israel’s problems with immorality and idolatry. The people weren’t following the ways of God, and the community was suffering because of it. The boundaries of good behavior were being trampled, and it led to more and more violence. Violence that culminated in murder. I’ve seen this as I’ve volunteered in a jail ministry. Once people get into a downward cycle, it can be hard to turn it around. We try to show them that there is another way, and that God can help them truly change their lives if they want to.

It’s a really rewarding way to volunteer, so that’s our practical action step for this week. You can volunteer at your local jail or work center to give hope to people who really need it. And it’s truly a way to be a Person of Impact in your community. From a very practical standpoint, we want people coming out of jail better equipped to handle life than they were when they went in.

Buy The Santa Claus Bank Robbery

Link to archive of contemporary news article

Link to Lawrence’s website

Find out what some of my favorite safety things are

Conspiracy Theories and False Leads in an Ozark Cold Case

The Unlovely Truth

02/13/24 • 30 min

True Crime fans have done so much to bring attention to cold cases. Some just like the genre as a whole and some, like today’s guest, are drawn to one particular case. But not many will spend years of their life trying to sort through the red herrings and confusion caused by people who seem determined to keep a cold case cold.

Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us.

This is Season 5, Episode 7. Our book this week is “The Girl I Never Knew: Who Killed Melissa Witt?” and our guest is its author LaDonna Humphrey. We will check in with her after we investigate this compelling case. We’ll also talk about ideas for how anyone can be what I call a different kind of P.I. - not a private investigator like me but a person of impact in your community.

LaDonna Humphrey never met Melissa Witt, but she feels like she knows her. She's spent over 7 years searching for the man who killed Melissa. It started, oddly enough, because of O.J. Simpson. It was 1995 and LaDonna was tuned into an update on the Simpson case when the radio station she had on announced that a body had been found in the Ozark National Forest. Authorities thought it might be the body of a missing 19 year old woman from Fort Smith Arkansas named Melissa Witt. LaDonna wasn’t just drawn in by the circumstances of Melissa death, but by the unfinished potential of her life.

Acts 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

In the twelfth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he is urging believers to practice self-sacrifice, perform acts of service, and practice love in action. I believe that one of the best ways to practice love in action is summed up in verse 21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

It’s always easy to give into our feelings and want to strike back when we see evil being done. That’s our natural inclination, right? Killing Melissa was evil, spreading rumors about her was evil, and giving false leads in her case was evil.

But we aren’t supposed to follow the example of the world, are we? LaDonna followed what Christ taught us - sacrificial service. She has shown such love for Melissa and her family as she continues to search for Melissa's killer and overcome the evil that he did.

Each of us can follow that same example in our own way. I want to hear what ideas you come up with! Send me an email a [email protected] or message me on social media. I love it when people are willing to have those hard, but impactful conversations!

I want to remind you that I’m on a mission to see a revival sparked by churches genuinely safeguarding not just the physical safety, but the emotional and spiritual safety of their congregations and communities as well. I've worn multiple hats – church staffer, church security team member, domestic violence court paralegal, private investigator – and I've seen it all. Now, I want to come alongside church leaders, crafting customized safety blueprints that fit each church’s unique needs and accounting for their unique resources and culture.

I'm not just here to talk; I'm here to walk with church leaders. I’m in this for the long haul, attending live trainings, constantly learning, and bringing that knowledge back to my clients. If you’re interested, let's chat! Set up a call today, and we will investigate your needs together. Because church safety isn't just a job for me – it's my passion. I’m looking forward to helping you make your church a true sanctuary.

Visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at [email protected].

Buy The Girl I Never Knew: Who Killed Melissa Witt?

Connect with LaDonna here

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