Ep 8. The House Hermit

In the eighth episode of season three of The Case That Haunts Me, entitled "The House Hermit," viewers are taken back to a case from nearly two decades earlier. In the small town of High River, Alberta, Canada, authorities were called to investigate a series of bizarre break-ins and an incident of vandalism at a house on the outskirts of town. The owners of the property, a young couple with a small child, reported that someone had been entering their home while they were away, moving items around, and even leaving cryptic notes behind.

When police arrived on the scene, they discovered that the suspect was actually living in the attic of the house. He was a man in his early 20s named Jonathan, who had dropped out of high school and had been living in a state of isolation for several years. Jonathan had been surviving by breaking into nearby homes to steal food and supplies, and had been using the attic of the house on the outskirts of town as his base of operations.

The case proved to be a complex one for local authorities, who were unsure how to classify the situation. On the one hand, Jonathan had not physically harmed anyone, and had not technically stolen anything from the owners of the house where he had been living. However, on the other hand, the psychological toll of Jonathan's creepy and disturbing behavior had left the homeowners feeling traumatized and helpless.

The episode delves deeper into the backstory of Jonathan, who had grown up in a dysfunctional family with a history of substance abuse and mental health issues. We learn that he had always been somewhat of an outsider, struggling to make friends and connect with others. After dropping out of high school, he had gradually become more isolated and paranoid, convinced that the outside world was a dangerous and hostile place.

With interviews from law enforcement officials, psychological experts, and some of the victims of Jonathan's break-ins, "The House Hermit" explores the nature of isolation and its effects on human behavior. Viewers are also given a glimpse into the challenges faced by law enforcement when dealing with individuals who are mentally ill or otherwise vulnerable. The episode tackles complex questions such as how the criminal justice system should respond to cases like this, and how society can work to support individuals who are struggling with mental health issues.

Overall, "The House Hermit" is a thought-provoking and emotional episode that sheds light on a little-known case from the early 2000s. With its focus on mental health and the human psyche, it is sure to resonate with viewers who are interested in true crime stories and the complexities of the criminal justice system.