« Serial Killers

“Programmed to Kill” Charlie Brandt Pt. 1

2020-08-10

In January 1971, 13-year-old Charlie Brandt retrieved his father's gun and committed a shocking murder, saying it was like he “was sort of programmed to do it.” After 17 months in a mental health facility, he was free, and everything returned to normal… Or so it seemed.

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This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Due to the graphic nature of this killers crimes listener discretion is advised. This episode includes discussions of murder and assault that some people may find offensive. We advise exe in caution for children under thirteen January third, nineteen, seventy one and I ice storm bad the midwestern city of port wine, Indiana, bringing temperatures down well below freezing as night fell bone shilling, wins howled through the sleepy residential streets family. Cosy up inside with their heaters on and the curtains drawn. Just after nine p M a quiet was shattered by the sound of gunshots inside so d to await stony broke drive, then eerie quiet. A few minutes later, the front door of the house opened
then fifteen year old, Angie Brandt sprinted outside in a panic. She was barefoot, her nightgown, torn and bloody. She said Does she ran across the icy snow and pavement putting as much distance between herself and her house as possible. She may to our neighbours place across the street and he tried to get side to safety, but the door was locked. She read, to the next house, banging on the door and to get someone's anyone's attention, across the street. The front door to her home opened again her brother thirteen. Old Charley walked down the street apps onto the front line. Here Stand you run from house to house. Trying to Anyone who would answer the door and she looked back- to see Charlie watching her from the front lawn with tears in his eyes, Charlie screamed over the howling wins you promised
you wouldn't leave me alone. Pulsing. This is serial killers, a park original every episode, dive into the minds and madness of serial killers today were exploring the life and murders of Karl Charlie brand. I'm here with my co host Vanessa Richardson high everyone, you can find episodes of serial killers and all other par cast originals for pre on Spotify or wherever listen to podcast to stream serial killers for free on Spotify, just open the up and serial killers in the search bar this week will covered early childhood and his first shocking murder committed when he was just thirteen years old then look at what became of Charlie and his family after their world turned upside down. Next time, will explore. Charlie's later horrific murders and the
troubling mysteries. They exposed you ve got all that in more coming up stay with us. This episode is bracky by beauty. Counter beauty can't believe the beauty should be good for you. You shouldn't have to sacrifice safety for results, so they created the Kyoto plus all bright, cease Europe a cutting edge formula, packed with vitamin c and any accidents to give you brighter blowing skin gotta beauty, counted out com and get twenty percent off your first purchase with the promo code, better beauty. For the earliest part of his life, Charlie Brandt never had a place to call home. He was born in can the kid in nineteen fifty six, but in nineteen sixty eight, his family moved Indiana according to article in the Journal, Gazette Charlie and siblings, often had to change schools any time he became comfort.
All or began making friends he had to start for again at another new school, his parents, bird and Ilsa were german immigrants who move to the United States in nineteen. Fifty five Herbert worked as a labour, for international harvester, an aggregate Troll manufacturing company Herbert work during the day and studied at night, eventually earned A degree in engineering is new degree alone. Declined the ladder at international harvester, but with each promotion. He had to move his wife and children to a new town while Herbert and so brand handled the moved. Indiana well, Charlie, wasn't able to cope as effectively vanessa. Going take over the psychology here and throughout the episode. Please note, the Knesset. Is not a licence psychologist or psychiatrist, but she has done a lot of research for this show thanks Greg
according to a two thousand, sixteen report for the Macarthur Foundation by Rebecca Levine coldly and militia call moves in childhood can negatively affected child social and emotional well being with effects worsening with, each additional move. The psychological toll of repeat moves can be long term and stay the child. For years, it's These negative effects stayed with young Charlie brat. He took it Please move and is multiple school changes, particularly hard, exacerbating what was already a difficult childhood. Charlie, didn't make friends easily as it was. He was a meagre overweight, child who struggled to stand up for himself change schools every few years made his social issues more apparent and difficult to overcome. Despite this, he was a good student and showed no signs of inner turmoil, but he became increasingly introverted as the years went by
to outside observers, Charlie Brandt, seemed like a well behaved kid whom some described as a mama's boy and whose best friend was his family's dog but Herbert Brandt decent. How weak as sun, seemed in an attempt to buy with Charlie and make him stronger Herbert, took him on annual hunting trips paired with their family vacations? on these outings, he taught his son how to use a rifle and kill small game. It became a regular activity for the two of them and something Charlie seem to actually enjoy doing with his father in December of nineteen. Seventy, when Charley was thirteen the fence was vacationing occasion Ormond by the Sea Florida over the previous few years, family, it swelled in size, Charlie, now had to younger sisters. Two and three years old and his mother Ilsa was eight months pregnant
one morning during the trip. Thirty nine year old Herbert took Charlie out hunting Somewhere out in the Florida wilderness while Father and son, we're looking for quail the family, I ran into some bushes and disappeared Herbert yelled for the dog to come out. It didn't appear he yelled again, but the dog still didn't return frustrated. He raised his rifle and aimed at the bushes, Charlie yelled after the door. It usually came to him when he called, but again it remained hidden in the bushes. Suddenly Herbert fired two shots. The shots hit and killed the dog hard broken Charlie pulled his friends body out of the bushes Herbert Brand would later he shot. The dog, accidently buddy, was simply
trying to scare it out of the bush, but according to a book about Charlie, called invisible killer the monster behind the mask. It's also possible that Herbert shot the pet in an attempt. Tough in his son up and make him less emotionally dependent on the dog, regardless of what really happened Herbert Charlie left the dog there and continued hunting for another couple of hours. All the while Charley was on the verge of tears. Trying not cry in front of his father, at the end of the vacation. The brands packed up there, things and, but old into the family car. To start the sixteen hour drive back home to Indiana as they drove the reality of the dogs. Death hit Charlie hard. He lost his best friend He resumed his freshman year of high school on Monday morning, and he wouldn't have is
a major source of emotional support in the family. Is father had taken that away from him. They arrive I'll be back in Fort Wayne, Indiana just after midnight on January. Third, one thousand nine hundred and seventy one. The next morning, Charlie prepared for school to start again the following day that evening, an ice storm rolled into Fort Wayne as rain, and How did the house, outside the family, sat down for dinner of pork, chops and green beans at the dinner table. Ilsa scolded Charlie for not finishing school project that was do the next morning. She told him he'd need to finish it before he went to bed that night Charlie meekly nodded and kept eating after Now the family gathered around their brand new colored tv to watch an episode the tv series, the FBI, Charlie, remained quiet. Deep in thought is the family watch
when the show ended the family were their separate ways: Charlie's parents- the two younger sisters, three year old, Jessica and two year old, Melanie to bed while fifteen in your old Angela went to read a book in her own room, Charlie, remain downstairs at the kitchen table diligently working school project, through the walls, Charlie good here, his mother running a bath, the house otherwise quiet Charley was alone with his thoughts, and those thoughts were angry, dark His ideas pounded through Charlie's head. He was upset that he will the only one not relaxing more upsetting, he was dead stated that the one family member he truly light was now gone in that moment new. He didn't want to stay meek and quiet anymore. He won.
To lash out his father had tried to, it can stronger and tougher through hunting and now being out in the world this with a gun, in his hand, was the only way, Charlie Brand new to feel powerful. Holding weapon was the only way he knew to feel in control of his life Charlie's dark thoughts coalesced into a plan he stood from table and walked up to his parents, bedroom Ilsa, Herbert didn't see him from their bathroom as he retrieved his father's Luger pistol from the night stand Herbert kept it loaded with an empty ammunition clip for safety, Charlie swapped it out with a loaded one. Then he caught the gun, Charlie return downstairs and hid the pistol under a book ass. He continued working on his homework thinking about what he was
to do and putting together a plan when he finished with schoolwork. He calmly closed his book and picked up the pistol He slowly went back upstairs to his parents room when he reached the second floor. He walked past the doors to his sisters, rooms and stepped inside his parents bedroom. He walked to the bathroom door inside. He could see his father standing at the sink shaving his mother was reading a magazine in the bathtub Charlie stood in the bedroom. For a moment, looking at both of his parents, as they happily chatted, each other. Neither of them noticed their son standing in the doorway and then Charlie raised next. Charlie Brands. Bloody rampage begins by listeners
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and get twenty percent off. Your first purchased with the promo code, better beauty, that's twenty percent off your first order at beauty, counter dot com with the code, better beauty now back to the story, just after nine p, DOT M on January third, one thousand nine hundred and seventy one thirteen year old, Charlie Brandt, found and loaded his father's handgun. He then walked to his parents, bathroom where is mother, Elsa was taking a bath and his father Herbert Shaving Charlie watched his parents for a moment, then without making a noise. He raised the gun and hired three bullets into his father's back in the next room. Charlie's. Fifteen year old sister Angie heard the gunshot through the wall, it sounded like firecrackers, but that didn't make any sense,
she got out of bed unsure what was going on when she heard her voice. Their yell for trying to stop she noose. Thing was terribly wrong. Ilsa scream, does Charlie stepped into the bathroom and coldly approached with his gun raised at her. She begged him to stop, but he pulled the trigger again shooting her multiple times. With her last ounce of strength, Ilsa screamed for Andrea to call the police through the Wall Andrey heard her and ran, but before she could reach her bedroom door, it swung open Charlie stood in the doorway holding the smoking gun. Hands Angie stared terrified. At her brother, his eyes, or glazed over his expression. Blank as if he was in a trance there, He raised the gun pointed
at his sister and pulled the trigger the gun jammed and Charlie tossed it onto the floor. Angie instinctively kicked it under bed trying to get it as far away from Charlie as possible, but Charlie wasn't done he pounced on his sister grabbing for her neck ass. She tried to push him away. He overpowered. Punching her over and over again until she bruised and bleeding panicking Angie punch kicked at her little brother as his finger wrapped around her throat trying desk Let's get him to stop. She screamed. I love Charlie. I love you. The blank trance, like expression, suddenly vanished from Charlie's face. He let go sisters neck. He looked down at Angie and asked what am I doing? Angie
tell them that he'd shop, their parents Charley, was confused unclear of what just how and Andrea, asked him to get off of her and told them that they figure together, but first day, down. Go downstairs. Charlie, went along with Angie as she slowly walked down the stairs trembling with every step. She continue talking to Charlie trying to keep him distracted. She told him that it would be ok that they'd run away together. They escape to a calm you when they reached the ground floor, Andrey spotted and acts by the fireplace terrified of wood, Charlie, do if he saw the axe Sheila him away from it to further tracked him, Angie asked Charlie to get blankets for their little sisters. It was called outside and their sisters would need blankets when they ran away together. Charlie nodded and went back upstairs staring at Angie as he did halfway up the stairs
Charlie stopped in quaintly asked her you're not going to leave me alone. Are you Angie, sobbing assured him that she wouldn't Charlie, believed her and can t you'd up the stairs, as soon as he was far enough away and dream bolted out the front door barefoot in blood anti, ran down the steps and away from the house ass. She sprinted the snow and ice torn she screen doesn't wildly ass. She could trying to get someone's attention She made it to the house across the street, so terrified that are brother was going to come after her that she didn't bother knocking she just tried. Open the door and run inside, but the door was locked so Angie ran to the next door. Down ass. She did she looked back. House and saw Charlie standing on the lawn staring at her The tears in his eyes and a betrayed. Look on his face: Charlie
wailed and called after her, accusing her of breaking her promise but Angie kept running. She tried one more house before she finally founded unlocked door and run inside there. She found a family playing cards and begged them to call the police outside Charlie com. Dough walked through the house across the street and knocked at the door when its neighbour answered Charlie, flatly told her that he'd shot his parents inside the brand house, thirty nine year old, Herbert found the strength to pull himself off the floor. Despite the three, bullet wounds in his back, he managed get to his bedside telephone and call nine one one as the rang. He stumbled over to the Room door and locked it in cases on return to finish what he'd started minutes later, least arrived on the scene as Herbert Brandt was loaded into an ambulance. He told please
officers that his son was the shooter, but he had no idea, why he attack them. Charley was taken into custody immediately Herbert was rushed to the hostile but paramedics were unable to save thirty eight year old Ilsa or her unborne baby and pronounced both dead at the scene. As investigators unravelled. What happened that night? Thirteen year old, Charley Branch, innovations remained a mystery to all involved, including seemingly himself, neither is father or sister nor anyone else who knew him could think of any reason he would want his parents dead. His odd confused behaviour didn't stop at the attack. A few days after the shooting a policeman Sir brought Charlie did the hospital to visit his father on the dry. The young boy asked for permission to cry the officer granted it well
sitting his father, Charlie apologized, for what he done Herbert accepted his apology and forgave his son in Return Herbert apologized for killing the family dog and promised he would visit Charlie wherever he was sent Charlie attended his mother's funeral in leg chains, flanked by police officers. Family members and friends were disturbed by Charlie's presence and by his side change lack of emotion, he's to show no remorse but Herbert was determined to give Chow the second chance and to keep his family together. He made good on his part miss and visited Charlie in jail every day, while he awaited trial for their part, the Fort Wayne Police and courts had no idea what to do with Charlie Brat ten years old. He was too young be tried as an adult still
a grand jury convened to determine whether he paused a threat to the community. They ordered Charlie to undergo three different psychiatric evaluations, hoping to gain some in right into his troubled mind, but the second Chris found nothing obviously troubling. Each testified that Charlie seemed like a normal, well adjusted boy who had a good relationship with his parents. Nothing was amiss there was something darker hiding inside Charlie Brandt, something he showed clearly in his attack on his family and mysteriously when police questioned him afterwards, he described a complete disconnection as he committed the crimes charge. Said he didn't want to shoot his parents, he loved them. When asked why he did it. He said it was like. I was sort of programmed to do it. The grand jury
had a difficult determination to make in the strange case because he was so young, they weren't sure if he should be considered, similarly liable for his actions and sent to prison because his motives were still a mystery, they felt uncomfortable releasing him finally four months after the shooting the grand We decided to send Charlie to a state mental health hospital along with their ruling the issued a warning they believe Charlie Brandt was dangerous and that his behaviour could turn violent again Charlie spent a year in the Mental Health Hospital and his father did his best. To keep him involved in the family Herbert visited as often as he could. And surely was allowed home for weekend. Visits at the hospital old Charley was a model patient. He participated in therapy sessions, never fought back or argued with doctors and had no complaints about his situation in all. He seemed to adjust. Well to his surroundings,
We can't be sure, but it seems that during his stay at the hospital charm We received no formal diagnoses of a psychological illness or personnel disorder. It's also clear if he was prescribed with any medication, follow the murders as the months past Herbert Brat, the courts to allow his son to return home permanently. Finally, after a year of good behaviour and close supervision by doctors, Authorities determined that Charlie no longer posed a threat to his family or any one else, so in June of nineteen. Seventy two seven ten months after he killed his mother, shot his father and attacked his sister fourteen rolled Charlie brand walked out of the mental hospital. He was three next Charlie Brown
moves on from his violent past, or so it seems now back to the story in nineteen. Seventy one. Thirteen year old, Charley Brandt, murdered his pregnant mother and attend to kill his father and his sister after a year in a man we'll help facility doctors determine the Charley was no longer a threat and allowed him to leave his forgiving, Father welcomed him home with open arms after Charlie's return Herbert Brand took time off from his job and moved his family to their old vacation spot enormous beach Florida. It was clear that the Brandt family wanted to put the past behind them and never speak of Charlie
attack ever again. To that end, Herbert and the rest of the family told anyone who asked that Ilsa died in a car accident Herbert even repeated the lie to his two youngest daughters to shield them from the truth. They had no idea there, brother had murdered mother. Still, it seemed to his family that his stay at the mental Hospital did Charlie some good. He was more personal. Outgoing and happy than he was before the shooting but turning to normal was difficult for his older sister Angie. She was once a trade, a student, but in the aftermath of her mothers murder her grades plummeted in nineteen, so They too, when Charlie returned home Angie dropped out of school to help take care of her younger sisters. Despite all that he had done Andrey, remained committed to her brother. Perhaps she felt guilt for running away that night for abandoning him in the snow. So she tried her best to be
they are for him now, after a good year in Florida, Herbert had to return to work in Indiana? He took his two youngest daughter with him, but felt it best that Charlie remained in Florida to finish high school, Charlie grandparents moved from Germany to stay with Charlie, while Angie. Now eighteen went to live on her own at sixteen. Charlie handled as families scattering well. He came out shell and had an active social life at school. He gave reputation for being passive and non violent? He never even attempted to fight back against bullies. None of his friends. Whatever guess there was darkness and Charlie's past is only friend who knew the truth was Jim graves. Andean Jim were Highschool sweethearts who married Young, so she told him what Charlie did but asked
to keep it secret. Jim wasn't much bothered by the truth. After all, the shooting was years in the past. After graduating high school in nineteen. Seventy four Charlie earned two year degree from Daytona Beach Community college. Following mad, he got a job in the Bahamas, with an american defence contractor working as a blimp our technician intercepting drugs but for they were smuggled into the United States. He grew, HU, an average successful adult, but they were still warning signs for those who knew him and knew what he done. Jim graves remained good friends with Charlie, even after his marriage with Angie ended one weekend, not long after she left him, Jim went on a fish, trip with Charlie, to take his mind off the break up during the trip a despondent Jim began, talking about how we'd like to take revenge on energy and find some way to break her heart. The way she Bro
his Charlie had another suggestion. He said the best then, is when you cut someone's hard out and eat it, Jim Father com. It was strange but tried not to judge Charlie based on his past. However, It wasn't the only odd thing Jim noticed about his friend whenever they caught fish Charlie, always made sure too carefully and precisely slice it open. While it was still alive and unusual habit for fishermen, a nineteen. Eighty six study of convicted murderers, published in the Journal of Interpersonal violence, found that unresolved childhood trauma can cause some people to find comfort in violent fantasies, revolving around domination and control, eventually these fantasies can become so powerful that the individual
he has no choice but to act on them. Charlie branch childhood trauma, though, caused by his own criminal act, was absolutely unresolved. Is family refuse to talk about what happened in any way, even amongst themselves, even Angie, who is perhaps the most traumatized by the event, kept it a secret from most people she swallowed brother was capable of according to Diana Montoni and Sean Robins Book invisible killer. Once Angie had children of her own, she to Diana Montoni and Sean Robins Book invisible killer once Angie had chill. Of her own, she said clear boundaries, out of an abundance of caution. She ever lead. Charlie stay the night in her house. Still she like. He never suspected that Charley was truly dangerous
and it seems she was right. Charlie spent a few years They should a remote island to the Bahamas, working to prevent drug smuggling. He liked the work but pounded, isolating and repetitive to keep himself occupied. Charlie went fishing. Nearly every One day, Charlie hauled in the biggest catch of his life, a duffel bag filled with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine. It was Charlie job to stop drug smugglers, but he had no interest in telling anyone about what he found. He knew that this stroke of luck could set him up for the rest of his life. So instead of reporting the cocaine, he hid the stash slowly, but surely, over the course of several months, Charlie, sold off the drugs and save the money when he finally had enough cash. He quit his job the Bahamas and moved back to Florida. He paid
quarter of a million dollars for a house and asked her then picked up a job as a technician for Ford Aerospace. In early nineteen. Eighty five Twenty nine year old Charley was the image of young professional success. He owned a house Cushy Job and have enough money to live comfortably. He hadn't just moved on from the tragedy of his childhood. He seemed thriving. There was only one thing missing from his life: a partner, so he turned to his old friend Jim Graves for Help Charlie told Jim after years on an island. He was ready to rejoined the dating pool in April of that year Jim and his girlfriend Nancy invited Charlie out for drinks on the beach and Daytona there. They introduce Charlie to Nancy, roommate, a retail store manager named Terry Health, fridge. The two who hit it off immediately. Charley was attract
De Terry's upbeat energetic personality and Terry Brow Charlie out of his shell, by summers end they moved in together. Surely it relationship, develop quickly and seemed idyllic. By early nineteen eighty six Charley was telling friends and family that he wanted to propose for his closest Friends and family, though Charlie, had one question that complicated his whirlwind romance. Should he tell tale about the murder he committed fifteen years ago and yet I him to tell Terry and deal with any consequences. He couldn't keep it a secret forever. She reasoned and tear needed to know about Charlie's passed before marrying him, Jim was even more insistent. He told you Lee that he had to tell Terry about his past and if he didn't, then,
would do it for him. So Charlie promised Jim that he would tell Terry before they walked down the aisle. On August, twenty ninth nineteen, eighty six Charlie Terry were married small ceremony in Ormond Beach, neither their families were invited, perhaps because that would have made Charlie uncomfortable Following the wedding Charlie, and removed four hundred miles south to big pine key, where they built their own house on the waterfront, terry got a job as the receptionist at a dentist office. While Charlie returned to working as a radar technician, everything for Charlie and Terry Brandt seemed perfect. They'd found domestic bliss. As the years passed. The small number of people who knew the truth about Charlie's past continue to watch him carefully, but to their
eyes. Nothing was amiss. All was well one summer. Jim graves travel to key west for a gig playing with a band for a bar, He invited Charlie and Terry to come, see him. After a few drinks. Charlie excused himself to go to the bathroom soon, as he was gone. Ten his demeanor suddenly darkened. She turned to Jim, with a scared. Look in her eye she said she needed to tell him something about Charlie something urgent. A few days earlier, there'd been a woman found murdered only a block from their house. She'd been decapitated, her heart had been cut out and then her mutilated body left in a rowboat under bridge and that wasn't all around the same time as the murder chow. Lee arrived home late covered in blood. He went
right to wash off the blood claiming he'd been fishing. Bloodied, his shirt while cleaning is catch, but he hadn't brought home any fish We told Jim. She was thinking about calling the sheriff. She was worried that perhaps Charlie wasn't there formal, well adjusted man. She thought she married Jim, didn't know Charlie had ever come clean about his childhood crimes, but suddenly it seemed possible. His violent urges had returned If that was true, it was only a matter of time before Charlie acted on them again. Running into serial killers, we'll be back on Thursday with part two of Charlie Brands story, will cover the brutal murders, Charlie com. Thanks again for turning into serial killers, we'll be back on Thursday with part two of Charlie Brands story will cover the brute murders Charlie committed decades after his first and peel back there years of his life to Uncle
were the shocking secrets beneath the surface for mourn for me Non Charlie Brandt amongst the many sources we used, we found invisible killer the monster behind the mask by Diana Montoni and Sean Robins, extremely helpful to our research. You can find more of it loads of serial killers and all other Parkhurst originals for free on Spotify. Not only does if I already have all of your favorite music, but now Spotify making it easy for you to enjoy all of your favorite par cast. Originals like serial killers for free from your phone desktop or smart eager to stream serial killers on Spotify, just open the app and type serial killers in the search bar we'll see. Next time killer, weak so real killers was created by MAX Cutler and is a park hast studios original executive producers include MAX and Cutler Sound is,
by Trent Williamson, with production assistance by on Shapiro, Carly, Madden and Erin Larsson. This episode Of serial killers was written by Ryan League. With writing assistant by Abigail Cannon and stars, Greg Paulson and Vanessa Richardson.
Transcript generated on 2020-08-10.