The Collier Landry Show
The Collier Landry Show
Many people have experienced some form of trauma in their life. I decided at an early age that our trauma should not be what defines us; it’s what we choose to do with it that does. I was just 11 years old when I witnessed my father murder my mother in the early morning hours of New Year's Eve. When no one believed me except one detective, I gathered evidence against my father, leading police to discover her body buried in another state. After having my story featured on Forensic Files, I channeled my trauma into filmmaking and podcasting, gaining widespread recognition as the creator and subject of A Murder in Mansfield, a film directed by two-time Oscar winner Barbara Kopple. Every week, I share my unique perspective on surviving true crime and trauma, overcoming adversity, and moving on. Along with sharing my healing process, I speak with fellow trauma survivors, academics, advocates, and storytellers and explore what came next. I hope this podcast serves as a kind of therapy and reconciliation for myself, and anyone who may be processing betrayal and dark trauma in their lives. You can learn more about Collier on his website: https://www.collierlandry.com
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May 3, 2026

My Father Died in Prison: Grief, Relief & Ending the Trauma Cycle

My Father Died in Prison: Grief, Relief & Ending the Trauma Cycle
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My father died in prison.

In this episode of The Collier Landry Show, I talk about the complicated reality of what that means for me: the grief, the relief, the confusion, the old wounds, and the strange finality of losing the man who murdered my mother and shaped so much of my life through trauma.

This isn’t a simple story, and it isn’t a simple loss.

I share what happened when I got the call, how I navigated conversations with prison staff and family, what it brought up emotionally, and why this moment feels like both an ending and the beginning of something else. I also talk about guilt, unresolved grief, generational trauma, and the ritual I may create with my father’s ashes as a way to finally put part of this story to rest.

If you’ve ever had to grieve someone who also caused deep harm, this conversation is for you.

Welcome to The Collier Landry Show, where we explore healing, creativity, and the real work of building a meaningful life after trauma.

Ways you can support this podcast: ➡️ Buy Me A Coffee ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/collierlandry⁠⁠ ➡️ Amazon Affiliate: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/shop/collierlandry⁠⁠ ➡️ VENMO: ⁠⁠https://www.venmo.com/u/collier-landry⁠⁠ ➡️ Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/collierlandry⁠⁠ ➡️ Merch Store: https://www.collierlandry.com/store IG 📸: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/@collierlandry⁠⁠

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Hospital wake-up call
00:26 My father died
00:55 Missed calls and the 4 a.m. shock
03:09 Parole, anger, and unresolved fear
05:25 The ventilator decision
07:18 Prison rules, letters, and reality
09:15 Family calls and travel stress
13:17 My sister and saying goodbye
15:43 The contradiction of who he was in prison
19:08 Cancer, decline, and the speed of death
22:00 Support messages and old wounds
24:57 Therapy, grief waves, and what this stirred up
27:28 No deathbed confession
29:38 Ashes, ritual, and closure
31:52 Ending the cycle


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AFTER THE EPISODE LIVE Q&A with host Collier Landry!

TUESDAY'S 11 am PT/2 pm ET on IG LIVE @collierlandry

*** YOUR SUPPORT MAKES THIS PODCAST POSSIBLE ***

Moving Past Murder is passionate about examining not only the collateral damage of violence and its traumatic repercussions but the beauty of human strength and resilience through seemingly insurmountable odds. 

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