Betty clung to the hope that her sister’s son, Chance, would be a light in their difficult existence. Yet, she perceived his shadow early on; a chilling absence of empathy shadowed him, and outbursts of violence followed, culminating in a d…

From a tender age, Heather held her older siblings, David and Crystal, in a constant state of playful torment. A shared hope blossomed among the family that motherhood would soften her sharp edges, yet instead, her behavior only intensified…

Abby’s life veers into shadow when her aunt and uncle take her in. What had begun as a hopeful prospect soon unravels into a waking nightmare as she comes to understand the true nature of those who have welcomed her.

A shadow lingered in Debra’s young brother’s eyes, a darkness she desperately hoped would dissipate. She offered understanding when he lashed out at their stepmother and grandmother, accepting his denials at face value. But as his deeds gre…

Desiree’s world fractured after her father, Donald "Whitey" Hoop, found love with a woman named Joy. Joy’s temper was quick, her nature cruel and domineering. Desiree recognized the inescapable nature of her father's destructive marriage, y…

Maya Burgess had always known her brother, Stevie, was a source of complications. But when he held a butcher's knife to her fiancé’s throat and threatened to shoot her at their wedding, she understood the true extent of his danger.

In this installment of Evil Lives Here, we encounter Sara, a young woman who has consistently defended her father and accepted his rationalizations for actions others might deem dubious. But the murder of her mother cracks Sara’s unwave…

A constant caution shadowed Kayla’s interactions with Richard, her stepfather. He had held her mother captive with the specter of violence, and a more insidious threat: the loss of her children. When Kayla finally broke free from his contro…