28: How Many Other 'Rex Heuermann’s' Live Amongst Us?

In a recent episode of the popular podcast "Hidden Killers," with
host Tony Brueski, the case of Rex Heuermann, a man embroiled in
horrific controversy, was discussed with psychotherapist and
author Shavaun Scott.
 
The episode began with Heuermann's wife's request for privacy
following her filing for divorce, as quoted by Scott, "On behalf
of my family and especially my elderly neighbors, who have also
had their lives turned upside down by the enormous police
presence, I'm pleading with you all to give us space so that we
may regain some normalcy in our neighborhood." Brueski opined
that, although the plea might fall on deaf ears, it was important
to empathize with the family's situation.
 
Delving deeper, Scott broached the subject of the psychological
impact on Heuermann's family, stating that "It's gotta just be
absolutely earth-shattering for the family. And everybody is
continuing to conjecture that they must have known something. And
very often in these cases, the families don't, they just don't
know about the hidden life."
 
Discussing the societal aspects, Brueski and Scott delved into
the acceptance of violence against society's 'undesirables,' such
as sex workers, homeless people, or drug addicts. Scott said, "We
definitely have a class system in this country. As much as we
don't like to acknowledge that, I think, that people who are
white, who are from a middle or upper-class environment are
valued more."
 
Brueski suggested that if Heuermann's victims had been
middle-aged, middle-class housewives, he might have been
discovered sooner, suggesting that society's perceptions and
attitudes need serious reflection.
 
Turning to the topic of vigilance in recognizing abnormal
behavior in our vicinity, Brueski pondered, "It makes me wonder
how many more people can take a look around them and go, maybe
this should be looked into a little bit more because there is
some weird behavior that I'm seeing around me." Scott agreed,
suggesting we must pay more attention to our surroundings and the
people within them.
 
Yet, when respecting people's privacy, Scott and Brueski agreed
that while vigilance is necessary, it should not infringe on
people's rights.
 
Speaking about the behavior of Heuermann's family, Brueski noted
the seeming contradiction of the family's request for privacy
while also appearing frequently in the view of the cameras
outside their home. He questioned whether this behavior was part
of their healing process or an unconscious attempt to communicate
normalcy amidst the turmoil.
 
Scott expressed uncertainty about this behavior but suggested it
could be a benign attempt to project normalcy in extraordinary
circumstances, stating, "It may be something as benign as they
just want to show, 'Hey, we're normal. Here we are going about
our day, we are normal.'"
 
The conversation provided a compelling examination of the
Heuermann case from a psychological, sociological, and familial
perspective. It underscored the need for a collective
reevaluation of societal values and a heightened awareness of our
surroundings while respecting individual rights and privacy. The
discussion concluded with the recognition that the case's intense
scrutiny would likely continue for some time, promising more
insights and discussions in future episodes.

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