My name is Thomas. I am fourteen; currently, I am lying in an alleyway in Greater Manchester, fighting for my life. It is 8 pm on Sunday 29 June 2003; the police have been called. I have multiple stab wounds.

Standing beside me is my best friend Craig; he is fifteen and staying with me until help arrives. He will tell the police that a hooded knifeman stabbed me. He is lying. They will find this out when they look at the CCTV. It was Craig who stabbed me. I asked him to, in a roundabout way. Let me start from the beginning.

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Breck Bednar represented every parent’s modern nightmare: he met someone he didn’t know online. If you have children, you understand the dread this causes. Tragically, Breck’s story ended in the most devastating way possible.

On 17th February 2014, the fourteen-year-old lied to his parents and travelled to meet Lewis Daynes, a nineteen-year-old computer engineer, at his flat in Grays, Essex.

Daynes had been grooming Breck for several months on gaming sites. While Breck was one of many boys Daynes targeted online, he was the one who ultimately decided to meet the sadistic killer in person.

The Grooming Process

Online, Daynes used the handle EagleOne Six and befriended Breck within a gaming group on TeamSpeak. Other members of the group later described Daynes as a controlling ringmaster who dictated the circle’s social dynamics.

The pair spent hundreds of hours playing tactical shooters like Call of Duty and Battlefield. During these sessions, Daynes manipulated Breck by claiming he worked for the US government. He promised Breck immense wealth and fame if he joined Daynes’ fictional computer business.

After exchanging a barrage of social media messages and spending hours in shared gameplay, Breck agreed to meet. Daynes coached him on exactly what to tell his parents to avoid suspicion. On 16th February, Breck set off; he would lose his life the following day.

Daynes had meticulously planned the encounter for weeks. Investigation revealed he had purchased duct tape, syringes, and condoms online well in advance of Breck’s arrival.

The Attack and Immediate Aftermath

Once Breck arrived at the flat, Daynes bound his wrists and ankles with duct tape. He later held a knife to the boy’s throat and killed him. Forensic evidence suggests Breck died within seconds.

While the precise timeline of the afternoon remains murky, investigators believe the murder was driven by sadistic sexual motivation. Evidence indicated that sexual activity had occurred before the killing. Horrifyingly, after the murder, Daynes sent photos of Breck’s body to two of his online friends.

Daynes then showered and changed his clothes before calmly calling 999. He fabricated a story, claiming he had stabbed Breck during an altercation while trying to prevent the boy from self-harming.

During the call, Daynes claimed he and the 14-year-old had got into an “altercation,” adding: “Only one of us came out alive.”

When officers arrived, they found Breck’s body in the bedroom. Any initial doubt about Daynes’ story vanished when they discovered his computer equipment submerged in the bath; a desperate attempt to destroy digital evidence of his grooming and planning.

Profile of the Perpetrator

Lewis Daynes had a history of rejection and isolation. He had been taken into foster care at a young age after his mother moved abroad. Those who knew him noted that he seemed more at home in virtual worlds than in the real one. It is also suggested that his emotional immaturity led him to gravitate toward younger teenagers whom he could more easily dominate.

However, background trauma never excuses such depravity. Many young people face similar hardships without turning to violence. The level of cold-blooded planning and manipulation points to a psychopathy far beyond his years.

As is common in such cases, there was a clear escalation in behaviour. Had previous red flags been addressed, Daynes might have been stopped long before he met Breck.

Police Failings and Previous Allegations

The case raised serious questions regarding police conduct. Three years before he murdered Breck, Daynes had been arrested on suspicion of raping another fifteen-year-old boy.

These offences were reported to Essex Police in 2011, yet the force chose not to take action. When Daynes was finally brought in for Breck’s murder, his record revealed five previous allegations against him.

None had been pursued due to claims of “no realistic prospect of conviction.” One must ask: if the victim had not been a young male, would these reports have been treated with more urgency? Cases like that of Stephen Port suggest that systemic prejudice within the police service often leaves vulnerable groups unprotected.

Family Advocacy and Legal Action

Breck’s mother, Lorin LaFave, had grown increasingly terrified of Daynes’ influence. She even confronted Daynes online and reported her concerns to Surrey Police in December 2013.

She stated to the police that she had strong fears that her son was being groomed and manipulated, by an older man online.

Despite her plea, no effective intervention took place. Two months later, Breck was dead. The family subsequently launched legal action against both Essex and Surrey Police for their failure to handle the initial report. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) also launched an investigation, issuing misconduct notices to several officers.

The legal battle resulted in an undisclosed settlement, a formal apology, and a commitment to procedural reforms. Today, Breck’s parents work closely with law enforcement to improve training and raise awareness through the Breck Foundation, aiming to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.

Lewis Daynes pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court and was sentenced to serve a minimum of twenty-five years in prison. He will be eligible for release when he is forty-four; with half of his life still ahead of him, a luxury never afforded to Breck Bednar.

It was meant to be a lighthearted talk show segment about secret crushes when Jenny Jones revealed that Scott Amedure had a secret crush on a friend Jonathan Schmitz.

It was a show they had done multiple times before, and Jenny Jones had commented that she thought it was good for her show to include her gay fans. However, this time it was not the roaring success of other shows; it ended in tragedy when Schmitz shot Scott three days after the recording, saying he felt humiliated in public.

Before the show, both men led quiet everyday lives. So, how did a talk show turn one man into a killer?

Scott Amedure

Scott Bernard Amedure was born on 26th January 1963 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of six children, born to Frank Amedure and Patricia Graves. The family moved to Michigan shortly after Scott was born and divorced shortly after.

At seventeen, Scott dropped out of high school to join the army. He served in the Air Force for four years before returning to Michigan. He came out to his family whilst he was in the army; his family supported him. At this point in his life, he was a proud gay man and worked in the telecommunications industry for several years before becoming a bartender at Club Flamingo, a gay club in Pontiac, Michigan.

He was said to be well-liked in the bar and enjoyed the social life that went with it. His other great loves were talk shows, the more ridiculous the better, so he jumped at the chance of appearing on The Jenny Jones Show.

The Jenny Jones Show

On 6th March 1995, Scott was thirty-two and appeared on The Jenny Jones Show. The show was a staple of 1990s daytime talk shows.

It was known for its high-energy mix of lighthearted makeovers, paternity tests, and ‘out-of-control’ teen interventions. For British readers, think Jeremy Kyle.

Schmitz did not go into the show blindly. He agreed to appear on the show after being told a secret admirer would be revealed and that this admirer could be male or female. Schmitz identified as heterosexual and producers were aware of this.

Scott admitted his feelings for Schmitz, who had been an acquaintance for a while and lived close to him. Once the story was told and the pair came together, there was an awkward hug. Schmitz was clearly shocked, and we can presume there was little after-show support from what occurred next.

Murder

A friend reports that after the show the two men went out drinking and that an alleged sexual encounter occurred. Three days later, Scott left a suggestive note on Schmitz’s door. Schmitz bought a shotgun.

He travelled to Scott’s house, which was in suburban Detroit. He asked him if he had left the note at his house. When Scott smirked, he returned to his car, picked up the gun, and shot Scott twice in the chest.

He then drove to a nearby gas station and called 911, confessing to the killing and telling police he had been embarrassed by the public revelation. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Trial and Lawsuits

In 1995, Scott’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the show and its partners, including Warner Bros. In a landmark 1999 decision, a jury found the show’s producers negligent and awarded the Amedure family $25 million.

However, this was not the final word. In 2002, the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned the verdict, ruling that while the show’s conduct may have been in ‘bad taste,’ the producers were not legally responsible for the homicidal acts of a guest.

Schmitz had previously been diagnosed with manic depression. During the trial, his defence team cited mental health issues and involved the ‘gay panic’ defence. It was a controversial strategy that attempted to justify violence by framing a same-sex advance as a provocation.

While used in 1995, this legal strategy has since been widely condemned. As of 2026, the ‘gay and trans panic’ defence has been banned in over 20 US states, including Michigan, which passed legislation to prohibit its use in 2024.

In the criminal courts, Schmitz was sentenced to between twenty-five and fifty years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder in 1996. That conviction was overturned on appeal in 1999 due to a jury selection error, but he was found guilty again at a retrial later that year. He served twenty-two years, being released in 2017.

The episode featuring Scott was never aired, but it has been viewed as it was used as evidence in court. Jenny Jones also testified during the trial, saying she had little input into the ambush.

On Schmitz’s release, Scott’s brother stated that it was hard to see his brother’s killer released, especially as he had so much of his life ahead of him. He did, however, state:

But there’s a side of, at least me and maybe some of my family members, that we do feel he was victimized in all of this, and so we can empathize with all of that.

Show Ethics

This event sparked intense national debate over the ethics of ‘ambush television’ and forever changed the legacy of the program, casting a long shadow over its remaining years on the air until its cancellation in 2003. However, Jones and her producers defended the show, saying it was a light-hearted episode and they had never had this problem before with similar episodes.

The event, however, did not change other shows that worked on this format for entertainment. The Jeremy Kyle Show, mentioned earlier, was cancelled in May 2019 after the death of guest Steve Dymond. He committed suicide shortly after failing a lie-detector test on the show.

How responsible was The Jenny Jones Show? Writing for The Buffalo News, attorney Alan Dershowitz said he believed that Jones and her producers were more than just negligent in their behaviour.

Jenny Jones should not take any solace from the legal conclusion that her show’s conduct does not excuse Schmitz’s conduct. The First Amendment protects the show from any legal consequences, but it does not immunize them from the criticism, which they justly deserve, for their irresponsible actions.

Jones has rarely spoken about the incident throughout the years. However, she did have one thing to say in 1999, saying that the only person ultimately to blame was Jonathan Schmitz. Do you agree?

Be sure to check out our deep dive article on Monday, when we look at how one network made a program out of suicide.

Until next Wednesday: Stay safe, stay curious.

In March 2017, 64-year-old Donald Harvey was found beaten to death in his cell at the Toledo Correctional Institution. His assailant, a fellow inmate named James Elliot, later told investigators he knew the family of one of Harvey’s victims. Harvey’s death brought a final, violent close to the life of a man known to history as the “Angel of Death.”

The story of Donald Harvey is a dark chapter that Hamilton County can never entirely move past. In the 1980s, Harvey worked as a nurse’s aide at what was then known as Drake Hospital. This county-operated facility functioned essentially as a warehouse for elderly patients who lacked the means for private nursing care. It was here that Harvey’s crimes reached their peak, though his path of destruction began long before.

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Victorian London is one of the most fascinating times in criminal history, not just because of Jack the Ripper but also because of the other murderers that lurked on the streets.

Some were women, claiming they were looking after unwanted children. Some were poverty-stricken people trying to find a way to make a living. Others were mere children.

The subject of this case could be described as a cold-blooded psychopath, but that description does not sit comfortably with what he became in later life. What made Robert Coombs a murderer, only for him to later earn medals of bravery during wartime?

The Coombs Family

In 1895, thirteen-year-old Robert and his twelve-year-old brother Nathaniel spent the hot summer days roaming London. They were without parental guidance and much of their time was free.

Their father, Robert senior, worked for a steam company and spent long stretches away from home. Neighbours said, their mother, Emily, was a good wife, mother and housekeeper.

On 5 July 1895, Robert senior boarded a steamship bound for New York City. He left his wife with enough money to care for the boys and promised he would return with stories of America.

Three days later, the boys went to watch the cricket at Lord’s. On their way out, a neighbour asked Robert about the rent. Robert replied that he would pay it, as his mother was visiting a rich uncle in Liverpool, and he handed over the money.

Home Alone

At first, neighbours were not worried. Emily was known to travel to her family up north frequently. When they asked again, however, the story changed. They were told that Emily had suffered a fit and was resting at home.

Again, there was no immediate concern, as the boys were often seen with a friend of their father, John Fox. Later, it was established that Fox worked for the same company as Robert senior and may have had a learning difficulty.

When the money left by Robert senior ran short, it was Fox who began pawning the family jewellery. He also went to their father’s company and asked for an advance, claiming Emily was ill and that they needed more money.

The company grew suspicious and contacted Robert’s sister, also named Emily Coombs.

Emily Coombs

On 15 July, Emily arrived at the family home. Fox denied her entry. She questioned the boys as to where their mother was, and again Robert insisted she had gone to Liverpool to visit family. When Fox was pressed, he claimed his mother was out visiting a friend. The conflicting stories raised alarm.

Two days later, Emily returned with a friend. This time they gained entry. The boys and Fox were playing cards. Once again, they were told his mother was visiting a friend. However, the women believed she was inside the house and refused to leave until the police arrived.

While waiting, the women went upstairs and found a locked door. They obtained a key from the landlord and entered the bedroom. There they found the decomposing body of Emily Coombs, Robert’s mother.

When the police arrived shortly after, they discovered a knife on the bed and a truncheon on the floor. Both were identified as the murder weapons. The boys were questioned immediately.

Arrest and Trial

Nathaniel told the police that he had nothing to do with the murder, claiming it had happened while he was asleep.

Robert, on the other hand, admitted he killed his mother, saying he had no choice as she was beating Nathaniel for stealing. He confessed to stabbing her and to selling the family valuables to survive.

When questioned, Robert showed no emotion. He even admitted spraying his mother’s body with disinfectant to mask the smell. He displayed all the signs of a psychopath.

Some believed his claim of acting to protect his brother. Others argued that Robert was addicted to lurid penny dreadfuls, which may have encouraged him to kill.

Despite stipulations under The Children’s Act, which stated boys under fourteen and girls under sixteen were not criminally responsible, both brothers and Fox were tried at West Ham Court to determine their level of responsibility.

Nathaniel was soon released and acted as a witness for the prosecution.

The trial began on 16 September at the Old Bailey. Robert senior gave evidence, stating his eldest son had suffered terrible headaches and had been a difficult birth. During the trial, Robert showed little emotion. On one occasion, he was even observed laughing at the judge.

The final witness was George Edward Walker, medical officer at Holloway where Robert had been held before trial. He stated that Robert suffered from severe mental health issues and had written to a neighbour declaring he did not care if he were hanged for killing his mother, as it would save him from committing suicide.

Robert was found guilty by reason of insanity and sent to Broadmoor. Fox was acquitted.

Life After Broadmoor

Robert remained in Broadmoor until 1910, when he was released at thirty. He later followed his brother to Australia. During World War I, he enlisted as a stretcher-bearer in the Gallipoli campaign. The regimented life of the army mirrored the structure of the asylum, offering him both security and camaraderie.

He was wounded twice, but still saved fellow soldiers, earning the Military Medal in 1916.

After the war, Robert became a farmer in New South Wales and lived a quiet life. In 1930, he took on the care of Harry Mulville, an eleven-year-old boy from a neighbouring farm who his stepfather had physically abused.

When World War II began, Robert enlisted again, despite being in his mid-fifties. He was medically discharged before seeing action.

Robert Coombs, the boy who murdered his mother, who spent years in Broadmoor, and who became a decorated war hero, died on 7 May 1949. He left everything to his adopted son, Harry Mulville.

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In 1947, a friend of Robert George Clement told the Liverpool Echo, “he and his wife were a devoted couple. I don’t know of a more devoted couple in Southport. His wife would accompany Clements every morning as he got on the train and would meet him there as he came back. She had no eyes for anybody but her husband.”

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