Ep 80 | Crystal Denson Transcript

Before we begin this podcast, please be advised that the following episode contains language that some listeners may find offensive and inappropriate. The opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not reflect the views of the podcast producers. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of Voices of a Killer, we explore the case of Crystal Denson, a woman whose life took a tragic turn on a cold December night in 2018. Crystal shot and killed her boyfriend Robert Williams, in what she claims was an accidental move, but the details of that night are far from clear.

What really happened when Crystal picked up the gun? Was it self defense or something more sinister? As we unravel her story, we explore the complexities of her troubled relationship, the haunting aftermath, and the question that still lingers. Was it truly an accident or did it go too far? Join us as we unravel the tangled web of her story and the events that led to that fatal confrontation on Voices of a Killer.

So, Crystal, did you grow up in Missouri? Yes, I grew up in Missouri. Where'd you grow up? St Louis. Oh, the big city. Did you have siblings? Yes, I have an older sister that lived with my grandmother and a younger sister and a younger brother. What year were you born? 1988. Okay, what's St louis like in the 90s?

Were you still there? Yes, it was, I loved it. Yeah. It was a very active place. Did you live in the city or suburbs? I lived all over in St louis, but mostly in downtown. Okay. Did you live in any kind of bad areas? I, not really. I lived on Grand for a while. What did your parents do for a living? They worked in factories.

Yeah. How was the childhood as far as growing up with the parents and all that? Any kind of violence or dr*gs? My brother, my younger brother and sister's dad was my stepdad and he was very abusive and s*xually abusive. And he abused you as well? Yeah. Did you have a relationship with your father? He wasn't in the picture?

Your real father? No, I've never met him. Okay. What'd your mom say about him? That they were very much in love, but he could not leave the dr*gs alone. so the stepdad that abused you and your siblings, did your mother know about it? She knew about some of the physical abuse, but she did not know about the s*xual abuse.

Got it. Do you feel like that kind of had an effect on you going forward in life? Absolutely it did. Yeah, you ever got help for it? No, actually I have not and I do think I need it. Yeah, it's probably good to talk about it and see what a professional has to say and ease you. Did you do good in school growing up?

No, I was so worried about what was going to go on at home that I didn't. It was not an easy time for me. Yeah. Did you finish school? Actually, no. I was in a lot of trouble when I was in school. And then at the age of 15, I ended up pregnant and married. Yeah. How'd the first marriage go? Awful. Yeah. Did you have kids?

Yes, we had two children. How long did you stay married? Two years. Are you into dr*gs or alcohol by this point?

Not at that point, no. You got into dr*gs at some point? Yeah. Yes, shortly after my divorce, but it started with a little Xanax and a little ecstasy and I'd been smoking marij**na forever. Yeah, and did it get bad enough to where you were out of control? I started using m*thamphetamines and yeah, it got out of control.

Yeah, did you shoot up the m*th? Yes. That's when it really got bad, huh? Yeah, it is. When things got real, real hard. Did you ever go to prison or anything before this? No, I haven't. This is my first time. During her childhood, Crystal faced the torment of her abusive stepfather, something that would set her up for an ongoing struggle throughout her life.

Growing up in St louis, Missouri, she lived with her grandmother and siblings, while her mom and stepfather worked factory jobs. The environment at home, however, was far from safe. Crystal and her siblings experienced abuse at a young age, which had a lasting impact on her. Her school life suffered as she struggled to focus, distracted by the troubles waiting for her at home.

By the age of 15, Crystal found herself pregnant and married, a relationship that was short lived and marked the beginning of her downward spiral. After her divorce, Crystal turned to dr*gs, seeking an escape from her painful paSt. It was during this time that her life began to unravel further, leading her into more dangerous territory, where addiction took hold and altered her future in profound ways.

Did you get married again after the first time? No. No? At some point in time you met the victim in your case, which is somebody that you were in a pretty serious relationship with, which is, you call, you said his name is Robert, but he said, you said he goes by River, right? The victim, Robert Williams, which will go by River.

How did you guys meet? I was at, I was in and out of places at the time, and I was at this friend's house, and, with his best friend, I turned out to be one of his friends growing up, and that's how we met. He came over and, the next day I needed a ride, he had left me his number and it got started. Did y'all do dr*gs together?

Yes. A lot? A lot. Did y'all move in together? Yes. What did you do for work at the time? I was not allowed to have a job, but he

Who didn't allow you? No. He didn't allow you? Yeah. I can already tell this is, you're talking about a relationship where he was very much, had his thumb on you? Yes, very much. We find out more after the break.

Let's back up a little bit to the very beginning of the relationship, because I want to, people probably want to know how this kind of thing develops. You start seeing this guy right away, you both like each other, he leaves your number, you get a ride, you probably started off, I'm going to assume, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, you started just very quickly becoming intimate, right?

Yes. Okay. And from there on, you just, y'all stayed together. How quickly, from the time that you got in that car and he gave you a ride, did he start saying, you can't do this, and this is how it's gonna be, or don't do that anymore? When was that, when and how quick did it happen? Within the first seven months.

So it didn't happen right away? Not at firSt. At first, he would have his dad come out, come pick me up for car shows, and it was just really nice, and I'd stay the night with him on the weekends and stuff, and then once I moved in with him, everything changed.

What was the most controlling thing you think you did? Everything. He, I wasn't allowed to have a phone, I wasn't allowed to go anywhere without him, or there would be consequences. Did he ever abuse you? Yes, very much. So Crystal, you just kind of, you named a motive, but I want to know, are you a you're a killer?

No, I'm not a killer. Does the state of Missouri think you're a killer? Yes, I think so. But really, the charges you got are very laxed. So what you told me was guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but the way you described it is 10 years for a class D non violent. And you killed Class C. Oh, class C? Okay, so class C non violent, and you killed your husband.

Yes. As with many who grow up in abusive households. The cycle of abuse often repeats itself later in life. Crystal Denson was no exception. Her relationship with Robert, or River, as most knew him, mirrored the pain she had experienced as a child. But this time, it was even worse. River's control over her was absolute.

He made sure she was financially dependent on him by forbidding her from getting a job. He cut off her contact with the outside world, not allowing her to have a phone. Crystal wasn't even allowed to leave the house without him by her side. What sets this case apart is the complexity of Crystal's situation.

She wasn't even married to River. He was legally married to another woman the entire time. Yet, despite being the victim of this controlling and abusive relationship, Crystal was charged with Class C, non violent, involuntary manslaughter. How does a woman trapped in fear, simply trying to survive, end up facing these charges?

It's a question that leaves us questioning the very nature of justice, and the complexities of self defense in abusive relationships. Let's go back to the day that this happened. Are you guys strung out on dr*gs? I don't know if he was or not. I actually had, I actually left for two weeks and I was just trying to come get some of my stuff because he likes to burn my stuff if I try to leave.

So I just needed my clothes. Were y'all fighting? Yes. What was the fight about? Me leaving and him thinking that it was to be with someone else and, but it wasn't. It was just because I did not want to be with him anymore. He was so abusive. So he was out of control with the jealousy, right? Very much. Did other people see that or did he hide it when people would come around?

No, everyone saw it. Did anybody ever confront him about it? No. They just let it happen? Yes. Anybody ever say anything to you? You should just get out of there. Yes. A lot of people? Everyone. Crystal Denson's life has been shaped by a cycle of abuse, from her troubled childhood with her abusive stepfather to her relationship with River, a man whose control over her became suffocating.

Despite her attempts to survive, Crystal's story takes us deeper into the devastating effects of manipulation and violence. She was isolated, controlled, and stripped of any independence by River, much like she had been in her earlier years. Crystal's story is one that is not easily shaken. It lingers on the mind, asking more questions than it ultimately answers.

In the next episode, we'll explore the moments leading up to Crystal's breaking point. What pushed her to her limit? What could possibly have happened to put her where she is now? And how does a victim of abuse get 10 years behind bars? We'll find out more in the next episode of Voices of a Killer.

If you want to find out what happens next right now, you can sign up at patreon.com/voiccesofakiller. There you can find bonus content, early access, ad free listening, and access to our chat community. So go to patreon.com/voiccesofakiller to sign up now. Your support is what keeps us passionate about bringing these stories to you.

That's a wrap on this episode of Voices of a Killer. A big shout out to Sonic Futures who handled the production, audio editing, music licensing, and promotion of this podcaSt if you want to hear more episodes like this one, make sure to visit our website at voicesofakiller.com. There you can find previous episodes, transcripts, and additional information about the podcaSt.

Lastly, if you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, your feedback helps us improve and reach new listeners. Thank you for your support and we can't wait to share more stories with you in the future. Thank you for tuning in.

I'm your host, Toby, and we'll see you next time on Voices of a Killer.

Ep 80 | Crystal Denson Part 2

Welcome back to this episode on Crystal Denson and the harrowing journey of abuse and suffering that has followed her throughout her life. When we left off, Crystal shared the painful details of her childhood, growing up under the abuse of her stepfather, facing an early pregnancy and marriage at just 15 years old, and the disturbing control River had over every aspect of her life. In today's episode, we continue tracing the steps of Crystal's story leading up to the tragic and horrifying death of River Williams on this episode of Voices of a Killer.

What do you think about the victim River now that he's gone? I think he's the man that I loved very much and that is, this isn't the way I wanted it to end. I miss him, but I also know that it's not my fault that I was in these positions. It was, but it wasn't. And I just hope I can find forgiveness. Sure.

It's gotta be interesting story. So that day though, when you this occurred, were you able to actually get out of the house and go somewhere? Or did this all occur at the house? No, it occurred at the house, but he, ok, he, had a gun, and I was cornered in this little tiny bathroom that is smaller than both of our cells, and I got scared and I panicked.

And I fought him for the gun, and Hold on, you, he locked you in the bathroom, is that what you're saying? He blocked me in the bathroom where I couldn't get out. And he had a gun or you had the gun? He had the gun. What was he saying? He was going to shoot you? He was saying he was going to kill me and I wasn't leaving him like his wife did.

Did you believe that he might do that? Yes, I was. Absolutely. Yeah. It sounds like you did really have a very difficult situation with this guy. I couldn't imagine. It seems like you would've gotten help to move your stuff out and ask a family member or som*thing like that. You didn't try to do that? I don't have family members that still speak to me other than my mother, and at the time she was having some problems of her own and I just, I didn't, she didn't really know fully what was really going on in my life at that point in time and I just didn't want to drag her into it. So how did you get to the bathroom?

Were you running from him? Did you go in there to use the bathroom or what happened? When I entered the house and I told him, hey, I just want to get some of my things, he punched me in my face so hard that I actually puked on myself. Wow. Yeah. And after he punched you, you went to the bathroom? I usually run out the back door.

He's got this little back door, but when I got to the back door, it had been boarded up with a piece of drywall. Oh, so you just took off in the bathroom? I didn't know where to go from there. There was no way out. Yeah, no, I get it. But that's where you went, at the bathroom and shut the door? There was no door.

I wasn't allowed to have a door on the bathroom. So whenever you in the bathroom, he just shows up at the doorway with the gun? Yes. And does he stop at the threshold or he just comes right in there and to get you? He was coming at me. huh. Whenever he came at you, just so we could go step by step, whenever he came at you, did you decide, "this is it, I gotta defend myself" and you just took off after him too and started fighting, or is that what you did?

Where did you hit him first, did you punch, slap? He has a weak leg. right by his knee and I couldn't think of anything else to do and he's very tall. So I hit him in the knee and it dropped him down and I snatched it and he stood up and when he stood up I screamed no and the gun was a broken gun. The gun he had was a broken gun.

Yeah. It didn't have no. The gun specialist told me it didn't have no firing pin, and the clip wouldn't stay on, so they don't even know how it fired. A firing pin? Maybe it was like, something wrong with the firing pin, but if it didn't have one, that's, I would say, impossible, right? I don't know, so, yeah.

But, he, you ended up with the gun because he dropped it? Yes. Okay. So, the reason you got a hold of it, though, is because you, he dropped it and you just hurried up and grabbed it? Yes. Yes. Did his, eyes light up when he saw that you got a hold of it? Or did he think it's broken, it can't work, so never mind, doesn't matter.

I didn't even notice that it was broken and that he just looked at me and curled both his fists and took a step and I jumped in three and no and when I did it, it just fired off. You shot him? Where'd you shoot him at? He was shot in the head. You shot him in the head. Did you have it up with your arms extended when you did it?

Or did you have it to your side and just shot as he came at you? I had it up. Yeah. How'd that make you feel whenever he just dropped like that? Cause I'm sure he dropped right to the ground when you shot him, right? I don't know how to explain the words. It was such fear and panic and I started, I didn't have a phone because I wasn't allowed to have one so I started screaming for the neighbor and I called 9 1 1.

So I'm going to tell you right now, I don't know why the F*ck the state of Missouri gave you anything. I don't either. It just shows you that they're, I've, this is why, I just believe everything you said really. I don't, do they think that you weren't defending yourself? You literally got manslaughter non violent.

We just want to put you in prison, but we,

what the F*ck is up state of Missouri? Jesus ChriSt. Yeah. Are you not pissed off? I am pissed off because my mom really needs me out there. Yeah. Really bad. F*ck, your freedom, man. I lost my freedom and I lost everything. You know why you went to prison? Let me tell you right now.

You ready? Because you're poor and you were on m*th that's it. I truly believe that. You're poor and you're on m*th. Crystal's relationship with River was a painful and controlling one. Isolated and with no one to turn to, Crystal found herself trapped in a dangerous dynamic. River's manipulation deepened over time. He dictated her every move.

Even going as far as to block the front door when she attempted to leave. While collecting her belongings, she was confronted by River. He cornered her in the bathroom, punched her in the face, and threatened her with a gun. In a quick thinking action, she struck him on his knee, causing him to drop the gun to the floor.

Crystal then did what anyone in her situation would. She protected herself. In cases like Crystal's, prejudice and first impressions carry a heavier impact on a person's case than the crime itself. Crystal was a lower class, high school dropout, who had existing issues with dr*g use. In the eyes of the law, she was a classic criminal who deserved to be behind bars irrespective of the crime she committed.

One fact that Crystal brought up was the state of the gun. The weapons specialist who was assigned to the case Mentioned that the firing pin was either damaged or non existent and that the magazine was broken and would not stay in place. It is unclear whether the gun was in working condition before the fight broke out, but one thing is for certain, there was a bullet in the chamber.

Now, did this happen when River dropped the gun during the fight? Or was the gun just a scare tactic used by River, but in a freak accident, it fired? Crystal tells us more after the break.

Whenever you shot him, he did immediately fall, right? Yes. Did you have any kind of bruises or marks on you from that ordeal? Yes. What did you have? I had a black eye and I had clearly urinated on myself from him hitting me so hard. Yeah. Did they take account of all that stuff? Did you Take a plea deal or what?

Did you take this to court? Obviously you didn't, right? No, I didn't because my mom said, she begged me, "please just take the deal because 25 compared to 10 is really not that bad." And everybody listening should really put themselves in this position to where You get caught up to where you defend yourself, and you shoot somebody, and there ain't nobody else there to hear what's going on, or to see it, or to be able to tell, and it's your job to go back and say, "hey, these are the things that happened,: and then they're like, :this person did this in their past, or they had some m*th in their pocket, so I don't know if I can believe that your life is in jeopardy.

That's crazy. So what did you tell your mom? Did you want to fight it? I did. I did want to fight it. In my head, this is going to sound crazy, but in my head I thought, "man, I'm almost 30 years old and I have never ever took my mom's legit advice or listened to her. And look at what's happened, and I should have listened to her," so I decided to make that the first time I did it.

Sadly, yeah, sadly, if you would have fought it, one of the opening things that the prosecutors would have done was like, "she's been caught with m*th, she had a warrant at the time," and blah, blah, blah, and of course, they're going to select all these conservatives that are scared of everything, and be, and you would get 20, 30 years.

That's scary. And now you're at a, the state f*cking nails you to the cross for crying out loud. I can't believe that. My attorney said that I wouldn't be here very long, and then the parole board decided to CR me at almost 85 percent anyway. CR which is something released, what does it mean? Conditional release date.

How long do you think you anticipate staying in prison for what happened to you? I already have my date. I will be leaving December of next year. Yeah. So how long will that be? 7 years. Okay. After you shot your boyfriend, what is the first thing you did? Did you say anything? Did you talk to him? Did you run out of there?

Did you, what did you do? I, nobody's going to really believe when I say it, but when it very first happened, I looked back because I didn't really understand what had just happened, and when I looked back in the mirror, it was like I could see him behind me even though he was in front of me. It was.

It was, yeah. Panic, fear. How long did you stay right there with him? Not very long, because I knew I had to get help. Did you immediately call the police? Yes, immediately I went as soon as it happened, I, and that's the right? Yeah. And so if you would've told me and ran straight to. Yeah, if you would have told me that you left and they had to come find you and all that, that even though that doesn't, even though that doesn't mean you're guilty, it does make it even worse.

But you did the right thing. You called right after it happened, which a lot of people don't. I called right after it happened and I went down to a friend's house to smoke a cigarette because I just, I couldn't sit there anymore. Sure, you just killed somebody that you care about. Yes, and I, like I said, panic sets in and you just, you're not really acting on common sense anymore.

You're acting on fear and panic and... sure, that's a big deal. I feel sorry for you, Crystal, for what happened. Yeah, thank you. It's unfortunate for everybody, but did his family, were they mad at you? No, they knew how he was. His dad didn't even show up. His dad didn't go to his wake or the gathering that they had for his ashes.

And, he was very abusive to his dad also. The advice Crystal received from her mother was perhaps the most pivotal moment in her case. Faced with overwhelming pressure and the uncertainty of a trial, Crystal was encouraged to accept a plea deal that would put her behind bars for 10 years, instead of risking a potential 20 year sentence.

Her mother, understandably terrified of the possibility that Crystal might spend decades in prison, urged her to take what seemed like the safer option. But in doing so, Crystal's fate was sealed. While Crystal's case was far from straightforward, the decision to take the plea deal meant that her story, her defense, and her fear of River never saw the inside of a courtroom.

A trial could have offered a different outcome, possibly even an acquittal, especially given the abusive nature of her relationship and the circumstances surrounding the night of the shooting. In the interview, Crystal reveals herself as someone deeply affected by the choices she made that night. She admits that she wasn't completely innocent, but also wasn't the cold hearted killer the plea deal might suggeSt.

Her actions speak more of a person who had been pushed to the edge, trapped, afraid, and unsure of how to escape her circumstances. The plea deal, though pragmatic in the moment, overshadowed these complexities and left her with the haunting reality of serving time for an act that might well have been self defense.

In the next episode, we conclude the story of Crystal Denson. We hear the shocking details that led to her arrest, and the misleading information she was given during her questioning. So what sealed her fate? What took this act of self-defense and turned it into murder? Find out the truth behind River's Last breath on the next episode of Voices of a Killer.

If you wanna find out what happens next, right now, you can sign up at patreon.com/voicesofakiller. There you can find bonus content, early access, ad free listening, and access to our chat community. So go to patreon.com/voiccesofakiller to sign up now. Your support is what keeps us passionate about bringing these stories to you.

Lastly, if you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you can. You get your podcasts, your feedback helps us improve and reach new listeners. Thank you for your support and we can't wait to share more stories with you in the future. Thank you for tuning in.

I'm your host, Toby, and we'll see you next time on Voices of a Killer.

Ep 80 | Crystal Denson Part 3

Welcome back to Voices of a Killer. In part two, we learned about Crystal's struggles with control and violence in her relationship with River Williams and the tragic events that led to River's death. She painted a picture of a misguided person in a world that was constantly against her. In this episode, we'll hear Crystal recount her experience after River's last breath.

We'll hear about the narrative spun by the investigators and the way she was treated by the law. Was Crystal's truth buried under the weight of her past mistakes? Was her poverty and addiction a bigger factor in the charges she faced than the actual events of that fateful night? All is heard on this episode of Voices of a Killer.

So when the police showed up, did they question you there? Did they cuff you or did they ask you to go to the... no, they asked me not to say anything until I got to the Police station? The station where the detectives was going to talk to me. Yeah, and whenever you... they let me smoke a cigarette before I went in, that was nice.

So did they get there and ask you everything that happened basically and you told them just like you told me? Yes I did. I didn't think I needed a lawyer because I was telling them the truth and I just felt like I was just defending myself. Whenever they were, whenever you were done telling them everything that happened, did they seem unsatisfied?

Yes. So it started with the detectives who then pushed a narrative to the prosecutors, so F*ck you detectives if you're listening to this too. But what were they pushing? Second degree murder. What were they claiming happened that you didn't explain? They didn't say. They really didn't. But I knew you could just tell by the way they look and by the things that they say, "I guess we can take her to jail now."

You could just tell that they did not care and they did not believe me. No, they didn't care about you. And I don't know, they think everything is sinister. I mean, I think the history of your boyfriend, the victim, it just really shows and also you moving out that day and stuff and I don't, you just, I don't, I just don't think you're a killer.

I think you were self defense all the way. This guy was going to kill your ass. The gun worked. Now we know the gun worked and it was pointed at you. Were they trying to say that he was pointing a gun that shouldn't have worked and he didn't think it worked? Did they use that crap? No, actually, the specialist said he was very surprised.

That they didn't know how it worked, but the detectives were like, "so you were just randomly pointing guns at people?" Like, no, that's not what I was doing, like. You were saving your life. Yes, and they even had the police report where he, it was clearly one of his friends that stole it from their parents that he got it from.

Wow. Who are these F*cking detectives? Do you remember them? I don't, after, I don't anymore. I have all the paperwork, though. My home was

Yeah, but you ended up taking a plea deal, right? Yes, my mom begged me to, because she was scared that even if just one person didn't believe me, I would be going for long.

Yeah, I know, and you would. And here's the crazy thing, like I said at the beginning of this thing, it's like, the charge is involuntary manslaughter. Class C non violent. That means that you maybe accidentally shot him? How long did they like interrogate you, like they really dug into you and pressured you?

It was so early in the morning even that I don't feel like it was very long. Right. Whenever they finished, did they actually book you and put you in jail right there? Yes. Did you go, you went voluntary to talk to them. They didn't arrest you there, right? And then whenever they finished talking to you, they said, "we're going to put you in jail.

We're going to charge you with second degree murder." They didn't tell me that they were going to charge me with anything invasive, "so we're going to go on and take you over." Oh, you had a warrant? You had an outstanding warrant for something else? Yes. Gotcha. And I said okay, and I went over there, and I was in holding for four days before they took me downstairs and told me I was being charged with murder.

I'm telling you right now, and I want you and everybody else to understand exactly how this went. They talk to you, you had a warrant, you're a person that they probably know is a dr*g addict, you've got warrants, you've got things that's happened to you, and now you've got a guy that you shot, and you have a story about how that happened. This story to them, Is so skewed in their eyes because it's coming out of the mouth of somebody that they work against 24/7,

somebody that does dr*gs.

So it doesn't matter if you're telling the truth or you're telling some wild story, they just cannot believe it. So from there, they created their narrative because there's no F*cking way that you actually had to defend yourself. You know what I mean? Only cops have to defend themselves. So anyway. They come up with their own narrative the next F*cking day because this is, like you said early morning, that little report hit the prosecutor's desk and then the prosecutor starts looking at who you are as a person.

"She had an outstanding warrant at the time. She does m*thamphetamines. We're charging her. We're getting her off the streets." And he was really known too, really known there. Yeah, so there's no way that they're going to let you, as somebody that's caught up in the system and breaking laws, get away with killing somebody.

It's just not going to happen. But that's not right, because it's just, you just go by with whatever the law says of this person's defense, whatever it's written, the letter of the law. And these motherF*ckers don't do that, and that's a shame. I want to see them work exactly like the law says. Had I been a woman of society or had a little bit of money for a real lawyer or somebody that had never been in trouble before, I don't know, I would have had the same ending.

Crystal's arrest fits into a broader pattern of how people who are in a lower class and involved with dr*gs are treated by the justice system. In Crystal's case, after the accidental shooting of her boyfriend, River, she voluntarily spoke with police, expecting to explain herself, but things quickly escalated.

She wasn't immediately told she would be charged with murder. Instead, the focus shifted to her past, a warrant for dr*g possession, and her history with m*th as the investigation continued, The authorities created a narrative where her background as a dr*g user overshadowed her claims of self defense.

This isn't uncommon. In the United States, individuals with prior arrests, especially for dr*g offenses, often face deep skepticism from law enforcement. Crystal's experience mirrors many cases where those who are poor or marginalized are more likely to face wrongful convictions or biased assumptions during arrests.

Had she not been poor or involved with dr*gs, would her story have been seen differently? Would the narrative of self defense have been taken more seriously? These are questions that linger in cases like Crystal's, where the intersection of addiction and self defense leads to devastating outcomes. More on this after the break.

So, Whenever they put you in jail, did you think that this is going to blow over, "I'll get an attorney," or were you scared this is, "they're going to get me?" I was, I don't, I felt both ways. I felt scared, "oh my god, they're going to take me down," but then at the same time, I'm like, "man, as many times as the police have been called over there for my, for him abusing me."

And that's what a, yeah. That's the thing, I was like, "there's no way, they're gonna, I'm just gonna sit here for my warrant and they're gonna let me out. And that's another, you made a good point there, and I forgot to ask that, the police going back and forth to that address because of domestic sh*t, right?

I actually had charges that were being filed against him. I was trying to have him. What were the charges? I don't know exactly what they were gonna charge him with. Domestic assault is what I heard. Yes, so there you go, something violent, so something violent against you, right? Yeah, so I don't know what it is, man, it's people, they just decided they didn't like you as a person, so "we're gonna go ahead and charge them with that." That's exactly what happened.

Very scary. Did any of their family, were they mad at you? The victim's family? His wife acts like she's mad now, which I don't understand, because she told me how scared of him she was, and that's why she left, because she thought that he was going to end up killing her, and then now you want to be mad because of the situation that I'm in with him?

I didn't understand. Do you have kids out there? I do have kids out there. Do you have contact with them? I do not have contact with them at the moment. My daughter is, my oldest daughter is 19 and she wants to see me when I get out. What would you say if they were listening right now? That I'm sorry.

And that I love them very much. And I know everybody makes mistakes, but I just hope they can find it in their hearts one day to forgive. Are they mad at you for what happened?

I don't know. I really don't. I can't blame them if they are. Do they think that you killed this guy? Killed him like you, like the cops think? I think that's why my daughter wants to talk to me. I think she wants to look at me and me tell her to her face. That's not what really happened. So, Crystal, it's difficult to not feel sorry for you.

I really do think they just tried to trump it up and maybe it was manslaughter and you accidentally shot him. I don't know. But I think what the past with him and everything you told me, unless those things are not true, like the cops coming to the house because of domestic stuff and him keeping you from having a job and the doors off the hinges.

What's that? Yeah. That's definitely all true. Yeah, so that kind of lines up for what happened, some kind of explosion and you just, and also I bet that instance where you shot him, it was probably like a flash. It all happened at once is probably accurate, right? Yeah. So, what are you

It was like an out of body experience, like you didn't even notice for a few seconds that it was really happening.

Yeah. Did he just completely die right there? Was he moving around? No, he was not, but I was told that he died in the helicopter. So he was clinging, his heart was probably still, yeah, beating. Crystal's case is one that will remain in our minds for a long time. The abuse she faced, and the circumstances she lived in, are a haunting reminder of the complexities that can shape both victims and perpetrators.

The victim, River, was no stranger to the law. He was a man whose relationships were marked by control and violence. His wife, long before the incident involving Crystal, had already distanced herself from him, citing fear for her safety. She left the relationship due to his abusive behavior. A fact that weighs heavily on the events that later unfolded.

At the time of his death, he had pending domestic abuse charges, further solidifying a pattern of aggression. These unresolved charges reflect the dangerous environment he created. One that only worsened with time. It was also sad to see multiple comments across social media pinning Crystal as a cold hard killer.

Talk of River receiving two gunshots to the head seemed to be a common misconception passed throughout the forums. In a world where media coverage is so vast and social media is able to spread so quickly, the importance of true facts is more important than ever. Crystal's plea deal and the circumstances of her arrest leave us with difficult questions about justice.

Was she simply a woman backed into a corner, fighting for her life? Or was her history with dr*gs and poverty enough to overshadow her claims of self defense? The truth lies somewhere in between, blurred by trauma, addiction, and the flawed nature of our justice system. Before we ended our call. I wanted to ask Crystal about her plans once she was released from prison.

So what are you going to do when you get out? Take care of my mother. Try to get, a better relationship with my kids. Yeah. I hope that works out for you because I think that kids need their parents and it's always healthy for us to have them. And we, probably need them just as much as they need us too, anyway.

Crystal, I'm glad you were able to open up to me and tell your story. I believe you, I really do. It sucks that it happened to happen because you're probably not, this is a guy that you loved, even though he's the way he was. Yeah. I don't think you wanted that to happen. Absolutely not. That's not what I wanted.

So I appreciate it, and I hope everything works out for you when you get out, alright? Okay, thank you. Alright, take it easy, okay? Alright, bye.

On the next episode of Voices of a Killer: I went to go buy those pills that's why I killed them people. So you were gonna give the victims $100 and take their pills and instead you killed them? Yeah. Did she say anything like "you F*cking shot me" or what? Yeah. What did you say? I said "oops." You said "oops."

I said "oops." Yeah, that's a pretty big oops. And whenever you shot him like that, did blood just squirt all over you? Yeah, I had brains and blood all over me. Didn't mean to kill her. I didn't mean to kill anybody. I want to thank Crystal for sharing her story with us today. Her ability to be open and honest is what makes this podcast so special.

That's a wrap on this episode of Voices of a Killer. A big shout out to Sonic Futures who handled the production, audio editing, music licensing, and promotion of this podcaSt. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, make sure to visit our website at voicesofakiller.Com. There you can find previous episodes, transcripts, and additional information about the podcaSt.

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I'm your host, Toby, and we'll see you next time on Voices of a Killer.