Ep 1. Family Matters

In season 4, episode 1 of "I AM A KILLER," titled "Family Matters," viewers are introduced to a man named Jonathan Cruz. Cruz was just a teenager when he committed his heinous crime, and now, nearly two decades later, he's speaking openly about what led him down such a dark path.

The episode begins with a brief introduction to Cruz's crime. In 1998, when Cruz was just 19 years old, he was involved in a gang that was responsible for a string of violent crimes in Indianapolis. One night, Cruz and several other gang members targeted a man named Davey McPherson. McPherson was a complete stranger to Cruz and his fellow gang members, but they decided to rob and kill him anyway.

Cruz and his accomplices attacked McPherson in his home, stabbing him repeatedly and leaving him for dead. McPherson's body was discovered several days later, and Cruz was eventually arrested and charged with the murder.

Now, more than 20 years later, Cruz is serving a life sentence in prison. In "Family Matters," he speaks candidly about what led him to join a gang and commit such a heinous crime.

Cruz grew up in a rough neighborhood where gangs were a part of everyday life. He says that he always felt like an outsider and was desperate to fit in with the other kids in his neighborhood. When he was 15, he started hanging out with a gang and quickly became involved in their criminal activities.

Cruz says that he never intended to kill anyone and that he was shocked when his gang members suggested attacking McPherson. However, he went along with the plan because he was afraid of losing their approval and acceptance.

Throughout the episode, viewers hear from Cruz, as well as his family members and the family of Davey McPherson. Cruz's mother, sister, and niece all speak about their love for him and their belief that he is a good person who made a terrible mistake. They visit him regularly in prison and advocate for his release.

On the other hand, McPherson's family speaks about the pain and trauma that they have experienced since his death. They talk about how difficult it is to see Cruz's family supporting him and advocating for his release when they know that he took Davey's life.

As the episode unfolds, viewers get a sense of the complex and heartbreaking repercussions that a single act of violence can have on multiple families and communities. They also hear about the difficulty of forgiving and moving on from such a traumatic event.

Overall, "Family Matters" is a poignant and thought-provoking episode of "I AM A KILLER." It asks viewers to consider the factors that lead young people to join gangs and commit violent crimes, and it shows how the consequences of those actions can reverberate for years to come.