Ep 4. Behind the Mask

In the third season of the hit true crime series Deadly Women, episode four titled "Behind the Mask" explores the deadly behaviors of masked women. As the title suggests, this episode delves into the psyches of women who hide behind masks, both literal and figurative, to carry out heinous crimes.

The episode kicks off with the case of a woman named Mary Stauffer, who was abducted along with her eight-year-old daughter by a man wearing a mask. What followed was a seven-week ordeal of torture and rape, during which Mary courageously tried to keep her young daughter alive and sane. Ultimately, the two were able to escape, but the trauma of the experience stayed with them for years.

Next, the episode moves on to the story of Sante Kimes, a con artist who often used wigs, makeup, and disguises to fool people into trusting her. Along with her son Kenneth, Sante traveled the country committing a string of crimes, including identity theft, fraud, and murder. The mother and son's crimes finally caught up with them when they kidnapped and killed an elderly socialite.

The third segment of the episode focuses on Diane O'Dell, an eccentric woman who was obsessed with living a glamorous lifestyle. To achieve this, Diane lied to her friends and family about her wealth and connections, going so far as to throw bogus parties and events in her fancy home. When her lies were finally exposed, Diane became paranoid and feared losing her newfound friends. She ended up luring her ex-boyfriend to her home and murdering him in cold blood.

The fourth and final story involves a woman named Christy Martin, who was a champion boxer hailed as a feminist icon. However, behind the scenes, Christy was dealing with a volatile marriage to her trainer, Jim Martin. When Jim became increasingly abusive, Christy tried to leave him, but he wouldn't let her go. In a fit of rage, Jim put on a mask and attacked Christy with a knife, causing her to fight back and ultimately end up killing him.

Throughout the episode, expert interviews and dramatic reenactments help to paint a picture of these complex and disturbing cases. Viewers will be left pondering the motivations behind these women's crimes, as well as the significance of the masks they wore - whether literal or figurative. As always, Deadly Women offers a gripping look into the dark side of human nature and the crimes that haunt us all.