Episode 9-MURDER x2: A Father’s Revenge Killing (Death Penalty)
Episode 9-MURDER x2: A Father’s Revenge Killing (Death Penalty)
John Battaglia Jr was a military brat, used to his life getting uprooted, while his father was in the military. His father retired as John got to high school and John was excited to stay in one place. But as soon as he got adjusted to his new high school, his father uprooted the family yet again. John followed in his father’s footsteps doing one 4-year tour with the Marines, which by all accounts, was unremarkable. After he separated from the Marine Corps, he decided to work on becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
In the 80s and 90s, John Battaglia Jr. was a handsome Marine veteran who used his looks and his charm to sweet talk women in his life. But there was a secret inside that he unleashed as soon as his wives were “trapped” in marriage with this monster. His first wife, Michelle Ward, a highly educated lawyer, suffered domestic abuse at his hands, while his second wife, Mary Jeane, a wealthy woman suffered both emotional and then later physical abuse at his hands. John terrorized his estranged wives and then his ex-wives, but the real terror wouldn’t be “directly” against his unlucky ex-wives, his terror and vengeful plan would be executed on the most innocent of innocent. Dig in with Margot as she discusses John Battaglia Jr.’s reign of terror on his family.
Warning: This episode contains issues of domestic violence and violence against children. Listener discretion is advised.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence, needs help, encouragement, or support, please contact the NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE at 1-800-799-SAFE(7233).
*Click directly on image to be taken to its original source.
Liberty & Faith
Faith & Liberty with their father,
John Battaglia Jr., only 3 months before
the gruesome murders.
The Battaglia Family in happier times – in this image – Liberty was still in diapers.
(Left) John Battaglia immediately after his arrest
(Right) John Battaglia around the time of his execution
Episode 9-Resources
- Pence, Irene. No, Daddy, Don’t: A Father’s Murderous Act of Revenge. Pinnacle Books, 2003.
- Harris, Chris, People Magazine, “Texas Man Executed For 2001 Murders of Daughters as Their Anguished Mom Listened Over Phone.” 1 February 2018, https://people.com/crime/texas-man-executed-murders-daughters-john-david-battaglia/ (last accessed on 2 Sep 19).
- Tsiaperas, Tasha, The Dallas Morning News, “John Battaglia taunts ex-wife before being executed for killing their girls while she listened in horror.” 2 February 2018, https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2018/02/02/john-battaglia-taunts-ex-wife-before-being-executed-for-killing-their-girls-while-she-listened-in-horror/ (last accessed on 2 Sep 19).
- John Hancock, et al., The Dallas Morning News, “In Killers’ Minds, Love Never Left.” 2014, http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/2014_deadlyaffection/part3/#_ga=2.17087673.1264782868.1567476419-1215025237.1567476418 (last accessed on 2 Sep 19).
- Michaud, Stephen, Dallas Observer, “Killers Among Us.” March 28, 2002, https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/killers-among-us-6390307 (last accessed on 2 Sep 19).
- MRT, May 14, 2003, https://www.mrt.com/news/article/North-Texas-man-convicted-in-wife-s-slaying-7932163.php (last accessed on 2 Sep 19).
- Patrick Timothy Richardson, The Texas Tribune, TDCJ Criminal History, https://www.texastribune.org/library/data/texas-prisons/inmates/patrick-timothy-richardson/1152871/ (last accessed on 2 Sep 19).
- Richardson v. State, 83 S.W.3d 332 (Tex. App. 2002), https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1404922/richardson-v-state/ (last accessed on 2 Sep 19).
- “Three Dead In Family Disturbance.” Oct 4, 2001, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2001/10/04/Three-dead-in-family-disturbance/42181002222085/ (last accessed on 24 Oct 19).
- National Domestic Violence Hotline, https://www.thehotline.org/, 800-799-SAFE (7233).
- Schlesinger, Louis, Aggression and Violent Behavior, Vol 1, Issue 4, “The Catathymic Crisis, 1912-Present: A Review and Clinical Study.” Winter 1996, Pages 307-316, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178996000031 (last accessed on 31 Oct 19).
- Michelle Ward Ghetti’s Keynote Speech at the Northwest Family Justice Center Gala, https://www.facebook.com/tom.pace.777/videos/3104982159543045/UzpfSTE1MjA3Njg2MTg6MTAyMjA0OTYxMDg0MjIzMTk/?__tn__=%2CdC-R-R&eid=ARDWMx0Rkdz98bJo2Oj0OJjti3FeGpf1Lok08E_xoVIv3Wi9tpnWKjOj1ADxWwc9HCxf1J9fxzy9XZLH&hc_ref=ARQGYhqpxICYztphlZK1HH_h3vjOEvWF51kBmBr0o4X-J3oDp4HxtScaXOAaP8_XFVw&fref=nf (Michelle Ward’s Story)
*The link below is an affiliate link. Making a purchase may result in your favorite podcast getting a small kickback at NO expense to you!