Ep 2. My Son In Law Burnt My Family To Death - Melissa Crook

In season 5 episode 2 of Britain's Darkest Taboos, we hear the terrifying story of Melissa Crook and the tragedy that upended her life. Melissa was a mother of five living in Derbyshire with her partner, Martin and their two young children. She was thrilled when her eldest daughter, Kirstie, found love with a charming young man named Paul Mosley, and the couple decided to move in together.

However, Melissa soon began to notice some disturbing changes in Paul's behavior. He became increasingly possessive of Kirstie, monitoring her every move and restricting her contact with her own family. Melissa also noticed that Paul had a fascination with fire and seemed to take pleasure in lighting matches and setting things ablaze.

One night in December 2011, Paul's obsession with fire reached its devastating climax. He set fire to Melissa's house while her entire family was asleep inside. Tragically, Melissa's two young sons, Jordan and Tyler, were killed in the blaze, while Martin and Melissa were gravely injured.

As Melissa began her long road to recovery, she was determined to find out what had motivated Paul to commit such a horrific act. She discovered that he had a long history of mental illness and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, yet had never received proper treatment. In the months leading up to the fire, Paul had become increasingly delusional, convinced that Melissa and her family were plotting against him.

Melissa was devastated to learn that Paul had deliberately targeted her family, and that his mental illness had gone untreated for so long. She was determined to fight for justice for her sons, and to raise awareness of the dangers of undiagnosed mental illness. As she began to piece her life back together, Melissa found comfort in the support of her remaining children and the wider community, who rallied around her in her time of need.

Throughout the episode, we hear from Melissa herself, as well as from friends, family members, and experts who shed light on the complex issues surrounding mental illness and its impact on families. We also see how Melissa has channelled her grief and anger into a campaign for change, using her own experience to raise awareness and promote better mental health services.

As with all episodes of Britain's Darkest Taboos, this is a difficult and emotional story, but an important one that highlights the devastating consequences of untreated mental illness and the power of perseverance in the face of unimaginable tragedy.