Ep 20. Killer Kids

In season 5 episode 20 of Deadly Women titled Killer Kids, viewers are taken on a chilling journey through the minds of some of the most infamous child killers in the history of crime. From young teenagers to children as young as eight, these young offenders stunned the world with their horrific crimes, leaving families and entire communities shattered.

The first case takes us to Phoenix, where 16-year-old Scott Dyleski murdered a neighbor in her own home. The boy had never shown any signs of violence before, but he was angry about his mother's boyfriend moving in with them, and his resentment apparently boiled over into rage. Dyleski beat the woman to death with a piece of wood and then mutilated her body, leaving a gruesome scene for police to find.

Next, Deadly Women takes us to the case of 13-year-old Joshua Phillips, who murdered his 8-year-old neighbor in his Florida hometown. The boy had been hiding the little girl's body under his waterbed, and when his mother discovered it, she called police right away. Phillips claimed that the girl died accidentally when they were playing, but investigators found evidence that suggested his story was a lie.

The third case is equally disturbing - that of Eric Smith, who was only 13 when he killed a 4-year-old boy in his upstate New York town. Smith had been bullied for his red hair and freckles, and he took out his anger on the innocent child, brutally beating and strangling him before leaving the body in a field. Despite his youth, Smith was tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison.

As the episode progresses, viewers hear about the shocking details of each case, including chilling confession tapes, phone calls to police from shocked family members, and courtroom footage of the children on trial. Some of the cases show kids who were raised in homes without love or attention, while others have parents who are still in shock that their offspring could do something so horrific.

One of the hardest moments in the episode comes when we learn about the case of two 11-year-old girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, who lured their classmate into the woods and stabbed her 19 times in an attempt to appease the Slender Man, a fictional horror character. The girls, who were fascinated by the mythology of the character and believed he was real, were eventually caught and tried as adults.

Throughout the episode, Deadly Women explores the psychological reasons behind each child's violent actions, including mental illness, feelings of rejection, and a lack of empathy for others. Viewers are left with a sobering reminder that childhood innocence can be all too fragile and that sometimes, even the smallest monsters can do the unthinkable.

Overall, season 5 episode 20 of Deadly Women is a haunting exploration of the darkest corners of the human mind and the terrible consequences of youth gone awry. It's a poignant reminder that the innocence of childhood can be all too fleeting, and that sometimes, the scariest monsters are the ones we least expect.