I feel for the estranged daughter....imagine finding out that your parents and sister were involved in this travesty and then finding out your mother was willing to have you murdered. And her only concern was that your body was found so they could get an insurance policy. She was blessed to be removed from that circus before all the clowns stumbled out of the clown car.
Dude I know right... this poor girl deserves SOOOO MUCH BETTER, and I'm just happy that she didn't inherit the same lack of empathy that clearly runs in the family. Like I swear this is a family of sociopaths, and I'm just beyond happy that this poor girl probably saw that from a young age, was disgusted by how her parents conducted themselves, and got tf away from this toxic, abusive and uncaring family. But still, even if you hate your family, it still must hurt like hell to realize even your own mother, the woman who BIRTHED YOU, wouldn't give a single shit if you were to die, and over probably not even that much money. The life insurance policy, realistically, was probably like 50,000$, something small like that, and her parents didn't care for their own child's life if they got some cash out of her death. But I'm so glad she got out and values her own life enough to not stay in that toxic environment. If you're reading this, stay strong girl, we're all so proud of you and the woman you are today, your life has value and meaning and we love you❤
@@valentinakren8816 yeah I honestly think Barbra did believe she was actually talking to a CIA agent simply because people from south aren't exactly known for intelligence.
And the fact that the mother was totally willing to have her murdered and get the life insurance? She deserves life just for that too. What horrible, dimwitted family minus the estranged daughter.
i know the estranged daughter and she is disgusted by her families actions. she is sooo kind hearted, SMART and successful. you would never know she came from this bunch
@@jamilaamia that's my point. It obviously came from her because she's the only one who would come up with a) such a stupid reason and b) something that wasn't even true. She literally sounds like a narcissistic 12 year old and her actual intelligence level matches.
@@jamilaamia I mean looks shouldn’t matter, it’s what’s in someone heart. But these people had no hearts, so yeah? And she also has the mental capacity of a child.
Thank you for telling Billy and Billy jeans story and not starting it off as painting Janelle as the victim… every single time, I’ve heard someone talk about this case it always begins with Jenelle‘s side of the story and yes, I understand there’s a twist at the end and it shows that she was actually the villain in the story but i just don’t think it gives the real victims a voice in telling the story the way most ppl do. I just really appreciate you telling it from their perspective and not hers. I’ve heard this case multiple times and you were the first that I’ve heard to not tell the story that way.
Kendall is so good for this! Always spotlighting the actual victims, not leaving the twist for the end for views and likes, simply stating the facts for the people who actually suffered from this. She is a queen!
This happened in my hometown, I was in school with Billie Jean since Kindergarten and she was a wonderful person. This entire thing shook our town and I still can’t pass by their home without thinking about it. 😢
@@djtyner6232I agree, but the “same outcome” assumes that the other person knows what you meant to say, which isn’t always the case. In text especially, it’s incredibly easy to misunderstand someone whether because you can’t detect their tone or because you couldn’t parse out what their shorthand / typo meant. Complexity doesn’t always mean clarity, but education gives both the writer and the reader better tools to understand each other, along with increasing accessibility for those who have dyslexia and other reading comprehension difficulties. Literacy is important, and a lot of people online tend to willfully avoid it, which is incredibly unfortunate. The parents should have known the CIA agent was not real based on the language used, but they did not have the literacy to realize that.
As someone from a backwoods, podunk community in the South, this is the most backwoods, podunk story I have ever heard. It's such a farce, it could be a script by the Coen brothers.
I've heard this case a few times, and it's honestly one of the most ridiculous and pathetic. This girl had hardcore victim mentality, and her parents just ate it up.
The defense arguing that she didn’t have the mental capacity to “plot something like this” as if it was even a complex plan that was hard to pull off 😭 she had the exact mental capacity to come up with this idiotic scheme and get caught almost instantly lol
It was absolutely a "complex" plan and she shows so much intelligence by coming up with it in the first place! Now yes, obviously the evidence that she left is astounding and obviously very unintelligent, but to be so aware of yourself and how you need to manipulate everyone into believing this whole thing is absolutely intelligent. She was patient, didn't act on compulsive behavior, had a thought out scheme and took her time to dish out a revenge plot that could be something from a book! But yes, she did show her lack of intellect thru the execution of her plan. She didn't understand how everything you do on a computer can and will be traced back to the original source if you're a suspect. If she did have that basic understanding of what police can do now thru digital forensics, she could have made a plan where she could have gotten away with everything. It was her sheltered life and lack of understanding of how the world works that got her caught. But the manipulation part of this plot was DEFINITELY the most intelligent part. Even just knowing that she would have to build up a profile of evidence of being harassed, then understanding that she'd have to create this whole character of "Chris" and that she'd have to gain her families trust of this person, that's definitely a sign of intelligence. Now if her family were nit so ignorant she wouldn't have been able to convince them most likely, but she KNEW how easily corrupting they were from the years she spent with them, she knew them as people and knew that she could get away with convincing them to do what she wanted. This all was a very thought out plot that she did plan pretty well, but as I said It was the execution of the plan that was not thorough and thought out in a way a normal person would think of. Because she was so sheltered she thought that everyone thinks the same way as her family, she had NO understanding of basic police work, and if she had I really think she could have come up with a much better and convincing scenario in which she could have gotten away with. She seems to understand emotional intelligence, in that I mean she understands manipulation and is self aware that she could manipulate these people. Unfortunately for her, she doesnt posses basic intelligence, where as you and I would see even just a little of the evidence and be like oh ya that was definitely her, she would never be able to understand that. Fo for someone like her, I think she shows extreme emotional intelligence and an understanding of watching the people around her, how they act and react to certain things and situations, and put that knowledge to use. But ya, that's all I wanted to say, basically from our point of view we see someone who left a mountain of evidence, but I also see someone who is self aware and capable of extreme manipulation and planning. She is smarter than people give her credit for, and if she had been a normal person she would have come up with a much more thought out plan that wouldn't leave a trail of evidence leading right back to her.
Duuuude.. sooo crazy! I’ve listened to this story so many times on Podcasts and it gets crazier and crazier every single time!! I can’t wait to hear Kendall’s take on this crazy 🍑 story!
Well Janelle managed to manipulate both of her parents as well . Trust me I don’t feel bad for her parents neither . However , the fact that they were stupid enough to not figure out that those emails from the so called CIA agent were from Janelle’s even if they were CLEARLY coming from Janelle’s email is baffling to me .
Well someone having a low mental capacity is an inherited trait so the parents most likely have very low IQs too. And their actions seem to prove that.
No, they are 100% crazy and slow. If they were regular killers they’d have killed for fun. These parents had no other possible motive to kill that couple, so they must’ve really believed they had to kill to save her life. Esp when he asked about the CIA during the interview, it tells me he didn’t just obtain that story from his lawyer to play the “I’m innocent cuz I’m slow and easily duped” card. He literally WAS slow and easily duped.
@@kayleigh3648 yup! Which makes Janelle that much worse. She knew she could fool them. She not only ruined the lives of her victims and their families, but also everyone in her own family. For what? Because she wants Billy to like her? Absolutely sickening.
As an east Tennessean, I can confirm this is not a rare way of thinking/ living for the area. Of course, there's a lot of highly educated people here, but the uneducated are scary. Literally, anyone can get a gun here. You don't even need a carry permit.
i live in the town this happend , and honestly i feel like everyone in mountain shitty owns a gun and it’s quite scary bc like not all of them are gonna be smart with it just the other day a guy almost ran us off the road and then pulled a gun out when i honked at him as i was scared
Bring from Canada, and have never seen a gun in my life, that’s so scary to hear. Everyone I know who even owns a gun is a hunter. We live in the mountains and bear country here in British Columbia and I’ve still literally never seen a gun.
I hope baby boy Is healing from the senseless taking of his parents 🤍 I can’t imagine being the estranged daughter and hearing that your family could care less if there was a hit out on you, estranged or not I hope she’s healing from this too.
This is awful to say, I’m not making light of any trauma the other daughter has from all this, but if she wasn’t estranged, she’d probably be in jail too.
Part of me thinks she’s really that stupid that she’s soooo dumb and believed there was a Chris. Either way she 100% knew she was helping to plan a murder.
Janelle believed she was tricking everyone with this bull because she has the intelligence of a middle schooler. This extremely low intelligence appears to have been inherited from her parents.
A lonely, bored 30 something woman still living at home with her parents cooks up this astoundingly stupid scenario to get her "enemies" killed. No one in this story is very bright.
I have a blind neighbor that constantly says, "you gotta remember......" and while it irritated me for awhile, I finally realized, that for all I care, no one cares.....😮
🤣😂🤣. Ikr. She couldn't have left a more glaringly obvious breadcrumb trail. I would say her IQ is that of a PRE- adolescent. A very TROUBLED, mentally/emotionally crippled pre-adolescent.
The saddest thing in cases like this one is how including ONE person in your social circle out of kindness is enough to completely ruin and destroy your life . I ‘m pretty sure that this couple already noticed how Janelle was a poison for them , but it unfortunately was already too late . 💔 I wish anybody who was close to them have their broken heart healed properly one day .
Yes, befriending the “weird kid” isn’t always as altruistic as it seems. Sometimes our instincts pick up on people who are off-putting because they are potentially dangerous and inappropriate. You don’t need to befriend someone who makes you uncomfortable just to be kind. Similar to the Lauren Giddings heartbreaking case.
It’s crazy that they even believe that that all these messages were from different people. Not only is it common sense, but the grammar was the same, they all basically said the same thing, and they always said “for all I care” in every message. Lol🤦🏼♀️
I went to school with this girl, and we did cheerleading in middle school together. This case still blows my mind. Ahe actually reached out to me about a month or 2 before she was arrested. It's just insane to me
I feel if Janelle's parents had allowed her to have some friends naturally none of this would have happened. Janelle got jealous and also probably knew that they were being friends out of sympathy and didn't feel it was genuine. I feel they underestimated Janelle, her capabilities, and her comprehension. An absolute tragedy on everyone but especially that poor little baby.
Yeah, I feel like they all got the sentences they deserved. I feel like it was glossed over how weirdly manipulative the parents were too - the situation kinda gave me Gypsy Rose vibes. They were all to blame for sure, but if the parents didn't have as tight of a leash on her, she wouldn't have been as fixated on other people. I know she had an illness but she seemed to have a lot of energy and unlimited time to create these fake personas and elaborate schemes, but didn't stop to think to consider she was leaving an obvious paper trail. Absolutely mad.
I know this case all too well. What stuck out with me is how Janelle claimed that they were mean to her because she was 'too pretty'. As much as I believe that beauty can be inside and out, I thought she was the most hideous being on earth. The fact that she knows how to manipulate people with just her tears is scary. I remember an investigative reporter trying to ask her the most simple questions. She started crying and looking at her lawyer for help, and the lawyer fell for her little act.
As she started talking about the case I recall this!!!! You could not be more correct with your assessment! The wickedness in peoples heart I just can’t comprehend
She has one of thee most demented minds I’ve ever seen. Who would even think of doing all that? This is the parents fault too. The fact she couldn’t have friends or boyfriends or go live her life have her way too much free time. She processed all of her boredom and jealousy and created pure evil
I hate mentioning physical appearance because obviously not every murderer looks like a murderer, but Janelle has crazy eyes. She looks twisted. Perhaps it's drugs. But she looks nuts.
This is unbelievable and just so sad. Shame on the parents for not going to the police when they thought their daughter was being harassed and instead taking lives like that. They are supposed to be the “wise” ones.
That’s what I’m saying lol I think barbara was really that stupid and believed there was a Chris. Either way she 100% knew she was helping to plan multiple murders.
I’m caught between thinking they’re are the dumbest people on the planet, or maybe they are the smartest, pretending to be dumb in hopes of getting away with this? Like you think to yourself “no one can be so dumb…” but then like Kendall keeps talking and I keep lowering the bar and they all keep going lower… hahaha I can’t decide 🤷🏼♀️
You should do timestamps throughout the vid!!! Intro, NCMEC, sponsors, early life, day of tragedy, aftermath/investigation, etc. LOVE YOU SO MUCH❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Your channel is by far my favorite on RUclips. It has kept me sane during a very hard time in my life. I’m not sure what I’d have done without listening to your content and getting my mind off everything. I just wanted you to know how important your channel is to victims and their families but also just to the regular viewer. Thank you for all you do!
Hey Kendall, I just want you to know that you are the only true crime RUclipsr/Podcast that I watch. I really appreciate that you put the victims and their families first and that you always make sure to cover what is true and not change or sensitize things to 'tell a good story.' And I also love that you cover so many lesser known cases or even unsolved ones and that through your platform so many unsolved cases have gotten more resources.
Not to perpetuate stereotypes, but this is by no means the first time I've heard about rural people with no jobs and way too much time on their hands getting into volatile, senseless feuds with other community members. I think it goes to show how important it is for people to feel like they have a higher purpose to focus on or a role in society that they can feel proud of and responsible for maintaining. 😢
In what fucking world did her parents not know what was going on. And they were just so quick to MURDER because their ADULT daughter was being bullied??
Janelle may not have had such severe social issues if her parents allowed her to be a person, and act her age. You treat a 20 year old like their 10, it's gonna be mentally stressful. It's sad, no excuse but I place a little blame on her parents for being strange
I just commented the exact same thing. Her parents are soooo responsible for the way she turned out. Maybe they meant well, tried to protect her, etc. But in reality, they raised a monster.
My heart ❤💔for little Tyler. Janelle knew what she was doing from the first online attack to the last she knew how to manipulate everyone around her. You can understand why the other sister cut them out of her life. Beautifully done Kendall 👍👏🎉🥰
It’s obvious that “Chris” was not part of the “CIA.” They tend to recruit from Ivy League schools (re: bad grammar). They also recruit from the military. 🙄 They also don’t tell anyone, including family.
Janelle has one of thee most demented minds I’ve ever seen. Who would even think of doing all that? This is the parents fault too. The fact she couldn’t have friends or boyfriends or go live her life have her way too much free time. She processed all of her boredom and jealousy and created pure evil
These parents made the daughter completely emotionally stunted. Mentally challenged or not, young people need to be around other young people and doing activities. Being Mentally challenged doesn't mean you can't have friends and bfs or spouses.
I remember hearing this case and I felt sorry for the older sister because she was telling her parents that the younger sister is a liar and stuff but her parents pushed her away (Janelle family)
I couldnt find anything to watch and your notification popped up, I clicked immediately grateful and excited to watch a new vid since I've been watching your older videos all weekend!
I have a newborn niece, and the thought of having to explain something so tragic and, frankly, fucking stupid to her, crushes my heart. At the same time, I wouldn't want her to find out from people at school or the internet. Poor Tyler...Each way is fraught with hardship and sadness. 😢
@@briecolleen3457the first thing that popped into my head the instant that first photo was shown. She must really be delusional if she did this because she’s “too beautiful”.
I think she’s a really awful person but I don’t believe you can tell someone is evil by looking at a photo of them. I’ve known too many friendly-looking, normal-looking people who were downright rotten to the core.
I'm local to the area of this case, my elementary school teachers gave us an entire cyber safety lecture because of it. Just wanted to thank Kendall and her team for being so empathetic and thorough when explaining what happened to Billy and Billy Jean. All I can hope for is that their son has found the peace and healing he deserves.
I'm at the very beginning, and this intro seems like Jenelle and her first boyfriend are like...teenagers? but no! They're full-on adults! Strict parents create such an insane butterfly effect, to their kids and their interactions. I think so many people experience it that it seems normal until someone thinks they can *literally kill someone* to get their way. Whew.
Janelle is definitely worthy of serving 2 life sentences. The whole thing started with her and she was not going to stop until they were both dead. She should not see the light of day ever again. What a screwed up person she is, It’s just so sickening.
this case always breaks my heart when I see it covered, this is generational poverty at its finest. Not a brain cell between the 3 of them in the potter family. how on earth did this whole thing even happen. just blows my mind every time i see it.
@@abbeyball6890 I agree its no excuse for how numb all of the adults involved are. why the local cops didnt get more involved is beyond me. I have seen other podcasts cover this and the two folks who were murdered did reach out to the local cops and it didnt seem like they got much help. the whole thing is so sad.
Kendall thanks for spreading awareness for missing and exploited kids! ❤ is there anyway that you could look into the cold case of Vilate Kereen Young? She was 15 months when she went missing. She went missing in 1956.
This was the first true crime case I ever followed!! I was a dorky 13 year old homeschooler (here in East TN) and watched the news with my parents every day at lunch and supper. It hit me one day that none of the stories I heard every really stuck with me, so I made a mental note that day to choose a story and follow it all the way through via the news.
Yay! I was just looking for something to watch. Just got done watching a Mile Higher episode and immediately clicked on my notification for Kendall. Alone in the office today and this is elevating the vibe for sure. Hope everyone has an awesome day!
“SUPER SUBTLE, BARBARA” 🤣 🤣🤣 thank you for making me laugh while going through PPD with my beautiful baby girl. I definitely needed that. Love and hugs to you and the fam ❤
For a child to lose both parents for of the absolute shocking lack of intelligence in that entire family just makes this case so insanely sad. Two lives lost for truly no reason at all.
I just came from your Tamla video! I can't believe that was 2 years ago. I think about that case often and love to revisit your channel often when I run out of things to watch
No one in the true crime world has covered the case here in evansdale Iowa, Elizebeth and Lyric! two cousins were murdered 9&12 yo. No one has solved the case since the bodies were found, it haunts the area and would be very helpful to get some coverage for them!!
Kendall your hair is so beautiful. As are you. And as is your spirit. Thank you for fighting for people who don’t necessarily have a voice anymore. You’re so appreciated. ❤
Anyone willing to commit to violence in front of children has no soul imo.
Agreed!!!
100% !!!!!!
All 4 of them brutally murdered two young, innocent people and left a child parentless. All 4 should have gotten life without parole.
foreal
I totally agree
I feel for the estranged daughter....imagine finding out that your parents and sister were involved in this travesty and then finding out your mother was willing to have you murdered. And her only concern was that your body was found so they could get an insurance policy. She was blessed to be removed from that circus before all the clowns stumbled out of the clown car.
Dude I know right... this poor girl deserves SOOOO MUCH BETTER, and I'm just happy that she didn't inherit the same lack of empathy that clearly runs in the family. Like I swear this is a family of sociopaths, and I'm just beyond happy that this poor girl probably saw that from a young age, was disgusted by how her parents conducted themselves, and got tf away from this toxic, abusive and uncaring family. But still, even if you hate your family, it still must hurt like hell to realize even your own mother, the woman who BIRTHED YOU, wouldn't give a single shit if you were to die, and over probably not even that much money. The life insurance policy, realistically, was probably like 50,000$, something small like that, and her parents didn't care for their own child's life if they got some cash out of her death. But I'm so glad she got out and values her own life enough to not stay in that toxic environment. If you're reading this, stay strong girl, we're all so proud of you and the woman you are today, your life has value and meaning and we love you❤
She ran away because of how they treated Jenelle! Also because she knew Jenelle was a liar and she tried to tell them but they wouldn’t listen to her!
The lack of intelligence throughout this case is absolutely terrifying.
You can tell they live in small town, TN🤣
@@valentinakren8816 yeah I honestly think Barbra did believe she was actually talking to a CIA agent simply because people from south aren't exactly known for intelligence.
Actually Janelle and her family are not native Tennesseans. I am from this area of Tennessee. Please don’t use ill informed stereotypes
@@gaillol8017LMAOO
Seriously! Absolutely terrifying! 😳
Can’t imagine why the other daughter is estranged 🙄
And the fact that the mother was totally willing to have her murdered and get the life insurance? She deserves life just for that too. What horrible, dimwitted family minus the estranged daughter.
i know the estranged daughter and she is disgusted by her families actions. she is sooo kind hearted, SMART and successful. you would never know she came from this bunch
The flower that grew from the dirt! @@triley1997
The only family member with a brain
@@triley1997 I would love to see an interview of her and hear her perspective!
The "she's too pretty" reasoning always gets me. How does the family feel realizing they were basically all duped by a 12 year old? 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
They all seem.... dimwitted honestly.
and what’s so crazy is that she isn’t even all that good looking she’s average imo….
@@jamilaamia that's my point. It obviously came from her because she's the only one who would come up with a) such a stupid reason and b) something that wasn't even true. She literally sounds like a narcissistic 12 year old and her actual intelligence level matches.
@@jamilaamiaAll I see is yellow teeth. That alone isn't attractive.
@@jamilaamia I mean looks shouldn’t matter, it’s what’s in someone heart. But these people had no hearts, so yeah? And she also has the mental capacity of a child.
This whole family shared one brain cell.
😄🤣😅😂
And probably a lot of DNA
@@lisaschneider7493lol
😂😂😭
@@lisaschneider7493 the gasp I just gusped 💀
LOL I’m sorry - the using her own email address to send emails back and forth is SENDING ME 😂😂
Not that smartest apple on the tree huh? 😂
yes, the CIA was obviously using her email account, why wouldn't they LOL
Thank you for telling Billy and Billy jeans story and not starting it off as painting Janelle as the victim… every single time, I’ve heard someone talk about this case it always begins with Jenelle‘s side of the story and yes, I understand there’s a twist at the end and it shows that she was actually the villain in the story but i just don’t think it gives the real victims a voice in telling the story the way most ppl do. I just really appreciate you telling it from their perspective and not hers. I’ve heard this case multiple times and you were the first that I’ve heard to not tell the story that way.
Kendall is so good for this! Always spotlighting the actual victims, not leaving the twist for the end for views and likes, simply stating the facts for the people who actually suffered from this. She is a queen!
😮
@@Huff-and-Puff❤
RIGHT, i live in this town and i know the wholeeee thing and i get so mad when people aren’t telling all sides of the story
Kendall gives humanity back to those who deserve it the most!
you can tell it’s Janelle in every message because she KEEPS USING THE PHRASE “for all i care” 🙄🙄🙄
I caught that too!
Nah fr.
What do you mean by close? @@lauravampire1276
😂
😂🤙🏻
This happened in my hometown, I was in school with Billie Jean since Kindergarten and she was a wonderful person. This entire thing shook our town and I still can’t pass by their home without thinking about it. 😢
So sad. Can you tell more about her?
@@kaylalester2579 i live here and have my whole life. It is truly sad, I pass by their house everyday and think of them. 😭
This is why education is important, kids.
Education just makes the English better, and the emails more complex....same outcomes just more steps.
@@djtyner6232I agree, but the “same outcome” assumes that the other person knows what you meant to say, which isn’t always the case. In text especially, it’s incredibly easy to misunderstand someone whether because you can’t detect their tone or because you couldn’t parse out what their shorthand / typo meant.
Complexity doesn’t always mean clarity, but education gives both the writer and the reader better tools to understand each other, along with increasing accessibility for those who have dyslexia and other reading comprehension difficulties.
Literacy is important, and a lot of people online tend to willfully avoid it, which is incredibly unfortunate. The parents should have known the CIA agent was not real based on the language used, but they did not have the literacy to realize that.
@@ellespooniesagreed
No amount of education could have helped these fools.
You can lead the horse to water but ....(etc)
Wow. Whole family slow af.
I swear!!!
😂😂
Literal worms for brains 💀 how did they make it so far
Exactly
😂lol
i know the estranged sister of the family and she is such a wonderful person. tragic story for all involved
If this is true, then she's the most sane member of the family by far!!
Sooooo. Jenelle got her slowness from her parents. Smh
yeah pretty much so!!!
concerning that people like this exist ……
And they vote.
Lots of them out there
As someone from a backwoods, podunk community in the South, this is the most backwoods, podunk story I have ever heard. It's such a farce, it could be a script by the Coen brothers.
same here...when you dont have anything to do or go or havent seen anything outside of your own town you get kinda crazy on the internet
My mom reports her ex on Facebook cheater groups and posts about his mistress being a crackhead in her free time. Middle of nowhere texas.
Same shit here in Iowa.
@@ellieblack8028Ummm what did u just say?? 🤔😳🤦🤣🤣😂🤣
I've heard this case a few times, and it's honestly one of the most ridiculous and pathetic. This girl had hardcore victim mentality, and her parents just ate it up.
I don't even know if her low cognitive ability was true or just manipulation.
Yeah I watched it on some crime TV and it was something else , it was pathetic and just filled with the hills have eyes feel to it.
People who commit (or even threaten) acts of violence in front of children...aren't good people. Not at all.
That poor baby.
As someone who was raised sheltered I can tell you its a bad idea once you become an adult as others have to teach you life skills.
This!
And can take really evil advantage of you.
Such a horribly toxic situation, so sad the baby lost both his parents...
The defense arguing that she didn’t have the mental capacity to “plot something like this” as if it was even a complex plan that was hard to pull off 😭 she had the exact mental capacity to come up with this idiotic scheme and get caught almost instantly lol
😂😂😂😂
It was absolutely a "complex" plan and she shows so much intelligence by coming up with it in the first place! Now yes, obviously the evidence that she left is astounding and obviously very unintelligent, but to be so aware of yourself and how you need to manipulate everyone into believing this whole thing is absolutely intelligent. She was patient, didn't act on compulsive behavior, had a thought out scheme and took her time to dish out a revenge plot that could be something from a book! But yes, she did show her lack of intellect thru the execution of her plan. She didn't understand how everything you do on a computer can and will be traced back to the original source if you're a suspect. If she did have that basic understanding of what police can do now thru digital forensics, she could have made a plan where she could have gotten away with everything. It was her sheltered life and lack of understanding of how the world works that got her caught. But the manipulation part of this plot was DEFINITELY the most intelligent part. Even just knowing that she would have to build up a profile of evidence of being harassed, then understanding that she'd have to create this whole character of "Chris" and that she'd have to gain her families trust of this person, that's definitely a sign of intelligence. Now if her family were nit so ignorant she wouldn't have been able to convince them most likely, but she KNEW how easily corrupting they were from the years she spent with them, she knew them as people and knew that she could get away with convincing them to do what she wanted. This all was a very thought out plot that she did plan pretty well, but as I said It was the execution of the plan that was not thorough and thought out in a way a normal person would think of. Because she was so sheltered she thought that everyone thinks the same way as her family, she had NO understanding of basic police work, and if she had I really think she could have come up with a much better and convincing scenario in which she could have gotten away with. She seems to understand emotional intelligence, in that I mean she understands manipulation and is self aware that she could manipulate these people. Unfortunately for her, she doesnt posses basic intelligence, where as you and I would see even just a little of the evidence and be like oh ya that was definitely her, she would never be able to understand that. Fo for someone like her, I think she shows extreme emotional intelligence and an understanding of watching the people around her, how they act and react to certain things and situations, and put that knowledge to use. But ya, that's all I wanted to say, basically from our point of view we see someone who left a mountain of evidence, but I also see someone who is self aware and capable of extreme manipulation and planning. She is smarter than people give her credit for, and if she had been a normal person she would have come up with a much more thought out plan that wouldn't leave a trail of evidence leading right back to her.
@@jordanrogers8185 yeah bro I’m not reading all that but suffice it to say your comment is more complex than her plan was
@@jordanrogers8185 whew that’s long but like your perspective
@@Danielle_Cooper 🤣🤣
This story was utterly crazy. How anyone could let all of this get that far & for the parents to be involved too. All for nothing in the end.
Duuuude.. sooo crazy! I’ve listened to this story so many times on Podcasts and it gets crazier and crazier every single time!! I can’t wait to hear Kendall’s take on this crazy 🍑 story!
real! like im just baffled at this whole story.
Well Janelle managed to manipulate both of her parents as well . Trust me I don’t feel bad for her parents neither . However , the fact that they were stupid enough to not figure out that those emails from the so called CIA agent were from Janelle’s even if they were CLEARLY coming from Janelle’s email is baffling to me .
I find any stories involving someone being catfished always has the dumbest people imaginable. The CIA?! 🤦🏽♀️ I’m just glad the baby was ok.
I hope Barbara has to serve the whole 25 years - no early release. What a sad case.
I don't think she'll get parole this whole thing was diabolical.
25 years is not nearly long enough! That joke of a DA should be ashamed of himself!
@@NativeWarrior88 agree
I bet her estranged daughter doesn’t want her out early either
@@carolynburns579 Nope but she's stated she mainly blames Janelle, which makes perfect sense.
Are we sure Jenelle was the only one with adolescent development?
The parents absolutely seem stunted emotionally.
Well someone having a low mental capacity is an inherited trait so the parents most likely have very low IQs too. And their actions seem to prove that.
No, they are 100% crazy and slow. If they were regular killers they’d have killed for fun. These parents had no other possible motive to kill that couple, so they must’ve really believed they had to kill to save her life. Esp when he asked about the CIA during the interview, it tells me he didn’t just obtain that story from his lawyer to play the “I’m innocent cuz I’m slow and easily duped” card. He literally WAS slow and easily duped.
@@kayleigh3648 yup! Which makes Janelle that much worse. She knew she could fool them. She not only ruined the lives of her victims and their families, but also everyone in her own family. For what? Because she wants Billy to like her? Absolutely sickening.
As an east Tennessean, I can confirm this is not a rare way of thinking/ living for the area. Of course, there's a lot of highly educated people here, but the uneducated are scary. Literally, anyone can get a gun here. You don't even need a carry permit.
This really is scary
i live in the town this happend , and honestly i feel like everyone in mountain shitty owns a gun and it’s quite scary bc like not all of them are gonna be smart with it just the other day a guy almost ran us off the road and then pulled a gun out when i honked at him as i was scared
This family isn't even from the south though. They moved there from up north. lol
Bring from Canada, and have never seen a gun in my life, that’s so scary to hear. Everyone I know who even owns a gun is a hunter. We live in the mountains and bear country here in British Columbia and I’ve still literally never seen a gun.
Imagine being robbed of your life by people that are SO stupid. Disappointing.
I hope baby boy Is healing from the senseless taking of his parents 🤍 I can’t imagine being the estranged daughter and hearing that your family could care less if there was a hit out on you, estranged or not I hope she’s healing from this too.
This is awful to say, I’m not making light of any trauma the other daughter has from all this, but if she wasn’t estranged, she’d probably be in jail too.
@@wendyperdue6650right! I’m glad she got out of that house.
@@wendyperdue6650or dead!
she dodged a bullet by not being involved with her family anymore.. i wonder how she feels abt the whole situation
In no world did Barbara not know exactly what was going on. She knew there was no Chris
I absolutely believe this
Part of me thinks she’s really that stupid that she’s soooo dumb and believed there was a Chris. Either way she 100% knew she was helping to plan a murder.
I wouldn't be surprised if she believed it in the beginning. By the end there's practically no way she didn't know.
Janelle believed she was tricking everyone with this bull because she has the intelligence of a middle schooler. This extremely low intelligence appears to have been inherited from her parents.
i believe she genuinely is that stupid bc the entire family seems dumb
The way they snuck around dating at the beginning and how her parents disapproved is giving Gypsy and deedee Blanchard
I thought this too!
This case reminded me sooo much of gypsys case too
A lonely, bored 30 something woman still living at home with her parents cooks up this astoundingly stupid scenario to get her "enemies" killed. No one in this story is very bright.
I mean she did have disabilities, but that aside I agree. Just evil not so bright people.
Janelle uses “for all I care” a lot 😂
And includes animals in her conversations often.😂
I have a blind neighbor that constantly says, "you gotta remember......" and while it irritated me for awhile, I finally realized, that for all I care, no one cares.....😮
🤣😂🤣. Ikr. She couldn't have left a more glaringly obvious breadcrumb trail. I would say her IQ is that of a PRE-
adolescent. A very TROUBLED, mentally/emotionally crippled pre-adolescent.
@@maggieschopflin5728🤣😂🤣
She has the mind of a child. Forgive her..
The saddest thing in cases like this one is how including ONE person in your social circle out of kindness is enough to completely ruin and destroy your life . I ‘m pretty sure that this couple already noticed how Janelle was a poison for them , but it unfortunately was already too late . 💔 I wish anybody who was close to them have their broken heart healed properly one day .
Yes, befriending the “weird kid” isn’t always as altruistic as it seems. Sometimes our instincts pick up on people who are off-putting because they are potentially dangerous and inappropriate. You don’t need to befriend someone who makes you uncomfortable just to be kind. Similar to the Lauren Giddings heartbreaking case.
It’s crazy that they even believe that that all these messages were from different people. Not only is it common sense, but the grammar was the same, they all basically said the same thing, and they always said “for all I care” in every message. Lol🤦🏼♀️
I went to school with this girl, and we did cheerleading in middle school together. This case still blows my mind. Ahe actually reached out to me about a month or 2 before she was arrested. It's just insane to me
Holy shit!! 😳
Meh 🙄
Jenelle has crazy in her eyes in all the pics… truly creepy😳
Was thinking the same thing. There’s literally nothing behind the eyes when you look at her. She almost has the same look as the Sandy school shooter.
I feel if Janelle's parents had allowed her to have some friends naturally none of this would have happened. Janelle got jealous and also probably knew that they were being friends out of sympathy and didn't feel it was genuine. I feel they underestimated Janelle, her capabilities, and her comprehension. An absolute tragedy on everyone but especially that poor little baby.
Yeah, I feel like they all got the sentences they deserved. I feel like it was glossed over how weirdly manipulative the parents were too - the situation kinda gave me Gypsy Rose vibes. They were all to blame for sure, but if the parents didn't have as tight of a leash on her, she wouldn't have been as fixated on other people. I know she had an illness but she seemed to have a lot of energy and unlimited time to create these fake personas and elaborate schemes, but didn't stop to think to consider she was leaving an obvious paper trail. Absolutely mad.
@@Travelingtck EXACTLY!
I know this case all too well. What stuck out with me is how Janelle claimed that they were mean to her because she was 'too pretty'. As much as I believe that beauty can be inside and out, I thought she was the most hideous being on earth. The fact that she knows how to manipulate people with just her tears is scary. I remember an investigative reporter trying to ask her the most simple questions. She started crying and looking at her lawyer for help, and the lawyer fell for her little act.
As she started talking about the case I recall this!!!! You could not be more correct with your assessment! The wickedness in peoples heart I just can’t comprehend
She has one of thee most demented minds I’ve ever seen. Who would even think of doing all that? This is the parents fault too. The fact she couldn’t have friends or boyfriends or go live her life have her way too much free time. She processed all of her boredom and jealousy and created pure evil
Her smile is…like a ray of sunshine 😅
@@erinwhipple4666yes 📒📒📒
OK yes but no one learns that on their own. She had someone in her life that was her example.
I hate mentioning physical appearance because obviously not every murderer looks like a murderer, but Janelle has crazy eyes. She looks twisted. Perhaps it's drugs. But she looks nuts.
I was looking for this comment her eyes just say it all
Eyes are the windows to the soul
I love the kitty in the background!
She’s so cute!
I came her to say this!!
Potter family wasn’t too bright
They all seem to be low IQ and possibly on the spectrum.
This is unbelievable and just so sad. Shame on the parents for not going to the police when they thought their daughter was being harassed and instead taking lives like that. They are supposed to be the “wise” ones.
"I'm too pretty."
"She's a virgin."
😂😂😂
I was laughing, they are just as delusional as their kid
she was not pretty nor a virgin lmfaoooo
@@jamilaamialmfaooooo
I am the queen of England if we are playing these delusional games
I’m Beyoncé 😂
I feel bad for Janelle's sister. I can't imagine going no contact with my family, then finding out they all conspired to kill a couple.
And her! Barbara wanted her killed too!
Did anyone else giggle the entire time Kendall read those fake posts? That was so entertaining.😂😂😂😂😂
Yes!
This was not funny 👀
@@Jsarmy87124 the actual crime? No. The way Kendall read them, that they were real & with all its ridiculousness, yes.
@@Jsarmy87124the fake posts? not funny? really? 😂
I'm pretty sure the whole family were not the most intelligent, so it wouldn't surprise me if Barbara believed everything
That’s what I’m saying lol I think barbara was really that stupid and believed there was a Chris. Either way she 100% knew she was helping to plan multiple murders.
I’m caught between thinking they’re are the dumbest people on the planet, or maybe they are the smartest, pretending to be dumb in hopes of getting away with this? Like you think to yourself “no one can be so dumb…” but then like Kendall keeps talking and I keep lowering the bar and they all keep going lower… hahaha I can’t decide 🤷🏼♀️
@@nikkis7375Exactly. Being a dumbass isn't a defense.
@@Huff-and-PuffLet me help you...they are total morons. Which is why they are in prison.
@ashleybehlert5842 Nah, girl...this is easy. They are dumb af.
You should do timestamps throughout the vid!!! Intro, NCMEC, sponsors, early life, day of tragedy, aftermath/investigation, etc. LOVE YOU SO MUCH❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I 100% agree!!!
Your channel is by far my favorite on RUclips. It has kept me sane during a very hard time in my life. I’m not sure what I’d have done without listening to your content and getting my mind off everything. I just wanted you to know how important your channel is to victims and their families but also just to the regular viewer. Thank you for all you do!
it’s like the words were taken right outta my mouth. kendall you are amazing
Oh man I remember this story!! This woman was absolutely insane! Excellent coverage Kendall!
This is THE craziest story EVER!! A lot of people have already covered it BUT I know you’ll do it way better than anyone else!! ❤❤
Got to give you credit Kendall, you put that case across so well considering how confusing and frustrating it was.
This case sounds like a 10 year old wrote it…
She just looks crazy. Sad story and a pointless thing to do.
She's got crazy eyes.
Hey Kendall, I just want you to know that you are the only true crime RUclipsr/Podcast that I watch. I really appreciate that you put the victims and their families first and that you always make sure to cover what is true and not change or sensitize things to 'tell a good story.' And I also love that you cover so many lesser known cases or even unsolved ones and that through your platform so many unsolved cases have gotten more resources.
i really hate these unsolved cases coz there are no yet justices for the victims!!!
@@thejoeyjason Which is why I'm glad she covers them, so that more attention is brought to them.
Im in tears hearing a Mother was murdered holding her baby 😢😢😢
This is such a crazy story. I still can't believe she succeeded in getting them to kill them.
Not to perpetuate stereotypes, but this is by no means the first time I've heard about rural people with no jobs and way too much time on their hands getting into volatile, senseless feuds with other community members. I think it goes to show how important it is for people to feel like they have a higher purpose to focus on or a role in society that they can feel proud of and responsible for maintaining. 😢
None of these people that tried to protect Jenelle could not introduce Jenelle to a tooth brush?
I SCREAMED😭
@@roachsprayMe too!!!!!
😂😂😂
😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😅😅
Wait.. is this the case of the “I’m too pretty” woman? HELL YESSS!!!
😂😂😂
Her unhinged misspelled threatening messages is totally giving Baby Reindeer..
In what fucking world did her parents not know what was going on. And they were just so quick to MURDER because their ADULT daughter was being bullied??
Because they had “no choice,” no less. They tried literally NOTHING. It makes me so sick.
This case is the definition of what a senseless murder is. Rest in peace Billy and Billie. Praying for their baby 🙏🏻😢
Janelle may not have had such severe social issues if her parents allowed her to be a person, and act her age. You treat a 20 year old like their 10, it's gonna be mentally stressful. It's sad, no excuse but I place a little blame on her parents for being strange
I just commented the exact same thing. Her parents are soooo responsible for the way she turned out. Maybe they meant well, tried to protect her, etc. But in reality, they raised a monster.
I agree! Though Janelle's definitely guilty, I don't think any of this would have happened had it not been for her parents' influence.
My heart ❤💔for little Tyler. Janelle knew what she was doing from the first online attack to the last she knew how to manipulate everyone around her. You can understand why the other sister cut them out of her life. Beautifully done Kendall 👍👏🎉🥰
When Jenell writes she’s sounds like a 10 year old that doesn’t know how to use cuss words. 🤣
😂
Working with K-6 kids, absolutely. They know the words, but they can't put them together functionally.
I have three kids around this age. Can confirm: 😂
It’s obvious that “Chris” was not part of the “CIA.” They tend to recruit from Ivy League schools (re: bad grammar). They also recruit from the military. 🙄 They also don’t tell anyone, including family.
It's amazing how dangerous stupidity can be.
Janelle has one of thee most demented minds I’ve ever seen. Who would even think of doing all that? This is the parents fault too. The fact she couldn’t have friends or boyfriends or go live her life have her way too much free time. She processed all of her boredom and jealousy and created pure evil
These parents made the daughter completely emotionally stunted. Mentally challenged or not, young people need to be around other young people and doing activities. Being Mentally challenged doesn't mean you can't have friends and bfs or spouses.
I remember hearing this case and I felt sorry for the older sister because she was telling her parents that the younger sister is a liar and stuff but her parents pushed her away
(Janelle family)
I couldnt find anything to watch and your notification popped up, I clicked immediately grateful and excited to watch a new vid since I've been watching your older videos all weekend!
saaaaammmeee!!!!
Her older style videos were much better
@@tflores3445I like them better now , her speaking is also so much better
literally same!
I have a newborn niece, and the thought of having to explain something so tragic and, frankly, fucking stupid to her, crushes my heart. At the same time, I wouldn't want her to find out from people at school or the internet. Poor Tyler...Each way is fraught with hardship and sadness. 😢
Those pictures of Janelle are terrifying like you can tell she's evil just by looking at them
Her teeth 😞
@@briecolleen3457the first thing that popped into my head the instant that first photo was shown. She must really be delusional if she did this because she’s “too beautiful”.
@@MediaLover194 she is very beautiful but she uses that in the worst way possible.
I thought the same thing.
I think she’s a really awful person but I don’t believe you can tell someone is evil by looking at a photo of them. I’ve known too many friendly-looking, normal-looking people who were downright rotten to the core.
This case is a prime example of why you shouldn’t sleep with your cousins.
Or siblings 😅😅😅
Yeah I am now bald from all the head scratching and hair pulling throughout the video.... Like what???? What is happening 😮😮
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Not you bald headed now 😂😂
“Too pretty” lmao 😂🤣
She’s barely a 3/10. Her teeth and eyes are scary.
I'm local to the area of this case, my elementary school teachers gave us an entire cyber safety lecture because of it. Just wanted to thank Kendall and her team for being so empathetic and thorough when explaining what happened to Billy and Billy Jean. All I can hope for is that their son has found the peace and healing he deserves.
I'm at the very beginning, and this intro seems like Jenelle and her first boyfriend are like...teenagers? but no! They're full-on adults!
Strict parents create such an insane butterfly effect, to their kids and their interactions. I think so many people experience it that it seems normal until someone thinks they can *literally kill someone* to get their way. Whew.
Okay now I'm just shocked. I know people are often technology illiterate, but...wow. Jenelle is shockingly callous.
@@aboutrainbow8614you can just edit your comments instead of writing 2 just saying
Janelle is definitely worthy of serving 2 life sentences. The whole thing started with her and she was not going to stop until they were both dead. She should not see the light of day ever again. What a screwed up person she is, It’s just so sickening.
this case always breaks my heart when I see it covered, this is generational poverty at its finest. Not a brain cell between the 3 of them in the potter family. how on earth did this whole thing even happen. just blows my mind every time i see it.
Generational poverty doesn't equal dumb as shit... They are two separate things.
@@abbeyball6890 I agree its no excuse for how numb all of the adults involved are. why the local cops didnt get more involved is beyond me. I have seen other podcasts cover this and the two folks who were murdered did reach out to the local cops and it didnt seem like they got much help. the whole thing is so sad.
Kendall thanks for spreading awareness for missing and exploited kids! ❤ is there anyway that you could look into the cold case of Vilate Kereen Young? She was 15 months when she went missing. She went missing in 1956.
Wait...I think I have heard this case before. It was the craziest, most senseless murder I've heard in a long time.
This was the first true crime case I ever followed!! I was a dorky 13 year old homeschooler (here in East TN) and watched the news with my parents every day at lunch and supper. It hit me one day that none of the stories I heard every really stuck with me, so I made a mental note that day to choose a story and follow it all the way through via the news.
This case is very confusing bcz Jenelle is said to be mentally challenged yet she is just manipulating all these ppl
This video came up at the right time. Thank you for always being available to bring life to everyone
Yay! I was just looking for something to watch. Just got done watching a Mile Higher episode and immediately clicked on my notification for Kendall. Alone in the office today and this is elevating the vibe for sure. Hope everyone has an awesome day!
Thank you! You too!
I’ve seen this story but can’t wait to hear your coverage. Thanks, Kendall! ❤️Arkansas
Janelle is exactly where she needs to be…got her whole family involved in this mess. 🤦🏾♀️
“SUPER SUBTLE, BARBARA” 🤣 🤣🤣 thank you for making me laugh while going through PPD with my beautiful baby girl. I definitely needed that. Love and hugs to you and the fam ❤
For a child to lose both parents for of the absolute shocking lack of intelligence in that entire family just makes this case so insanely sad. Two lives lost for truly no reason at all.
kendall, you should do an episode over the belo grocery store murders, it’s unsolved and it’s a case that’s stuck with me for the longest time
In bed sick for the past few days, this upload was the light of my day. Thank you Kendall!
I just came from your Tamla video! I can't believe that was 2 years ago. I think about that case often and love to revisit your channel often when I run out of things to watch
The sister was smart to leave the family behind that’s for sure!!
No one in the true crime world has covered the case here in evansdale Iowa, Elizebeth and Lyric! two cousins were murdered 9&12 yo. No one has solved the case since the bodies were found, it haunts the area and would be very helpful to get some coverage for them!!
Have you filled out the request form Kendall has for this? It's linked in the description ❤
It’s been covered a lot. I’ve heard at least 4 podcasts about it. There is no resolution and nothing new to tell.
such a crazy case, thanks for covering! ❤
Kendall your hair is so beautiful. As are you. And as is your spirit.
Thank you for fighting for people who don’t necessarily have a voice anymore.
You’re so appreciated.
❤
This case really irritated me...almost got a headache with all the twisted happenings
Wow...that's a convoluted and twisted story about a group of nasty people who deserve to be in prison.
This is the craziest story I have ever heard… it gets weirder and weirder!! 😮 Also, WTF with Barbara wanted her daughter dead?!
24:55 OMG the way Kendall is reading these messages has me rolling 🤣
42:26 the intensity and level of delusion is wiiiiiild.