Family murders are often classed as "black swan" events — incidents so unexpected and rare that we believe they will never touch us personally. The truth, though, seems very different. When we look back at some of the most shocking family murders SA has seen, the signs were there but for different reasons action was not taken before it was too late.
In 2002, the sleepy agricultural town of Reitz in the Free State was rocked when three members of the Hunt family were found fatally shot in their home. The town was already reeling from another murder after a botched robbery, so residents automatically assumed Ronnie Hunt Snr, his wife Elize and their son, Ronnie Jnr, must have suffered a similar fate.
The reality, though, was far more shocking. Soon police arrested the family’s 16-year-old son, Elro, in connection with the murders.
In episode 89 of True Crime South Africa we look at this seemingly cold and calculated massacre of a family by one of its own and delve into the psychology behind teenagers who kill.
For more episodes, click here.
Community Intervention Centre (24-hour trauma helpline): 082-821-3447
Join the conversation on Twitter at #TrueCrimeSA
E-mail the show: info@killeraudiocreations.com
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
True Crime South Africa
PODCAST | Murder in the family: the Hunt family massacre
Image: 123RF
Listen to the story here:
Family murders are often classed as "black swan" events — incidents so unexpected and rare that we believe they will never touch us personally. The truth, though, seems very different. When we look back at some of the most shocking family murders SA has seen, the signs were there but for different reasons action was not taken before it was too late.
In 2002, the sleepy agricultural town of Reitz in the Free State was rocked when three members of the Hunt family were found fatally shot in their home. The town was already reeling from another murder after a botched robbery, so residents automatically assumed Ronnie Hunt Snr, his wife Elize and their son, Ronnie Jnr, must have suffered a similar fate.
The reality, though, was far more shocking. Soon police arrested the family’s 16-year-old son, Elro, in connection with the murders.
In episode 89 of True Crime South Africa we look at this seemingly cold and calculated massacre of a family by one of its own and delve into the psychology behind teenagers who kill.
For more episodes, click here.
Community Intervention Centre (24-hour trauma helpline): 082-821-3447
Join the conversation on Twitter at #TrueCrimeSA
E-mail the show: info@killeraudiocreations.com
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
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PODCAST | The madness of two: the serial crimes of Havenga and Wessels
PODCAST | Life sentences & long-awaited trials: progress in several high-profile cases
PODCAST | Betrayed: The murder of Capt Anna-Marie Potgieter
PODCAST | Deadly hatred: The murder of David Olyne
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