Mental Health & Murder: A True Story of Family, Tragedy, and Resilience – A Memoir to Explore
Mental Health & Murder: Understanding the Darkness That Consumed My Sister
Available Now Amazon and Ingramspark
My sister killed a man. She killed two dogs. One gun laid on the kitchen counter, another on the floor by his body. A large butcher knife, covered in blood, was on the bed.
With those chilling words, the author’s world shattered. In Mental Health & Murder: Understanding the Darkness That Consumed My Sister, Joe Hastings takes readers inside the excruciating courtroom hearing that exposed the shocking details of his sister’s crime. What started as an unimaginable tragedy soon unraveled into a gripping tale of madness, murder, and the devastating toll mental illness can take on a family.
Told with unflinching honesty, this memoir delves deep into the psychological descent of a sister he once knew, and the brutal reality of how love can be overshadowed by fear when the mind is consumed by delusions. The story unfolds with the suspense and intensity of a true crime thriller, but with the added depth of personal heartbreak and reflection.
Mental Health & Murder is more than a recounting of a horrific crime. It’s a powerful exploration of the human mind’s fragility, the darkness that can take hold, and the lengths we go through to seek understanding in the aftermath of unimaginable violence.
As the chilling details of the crime come to light, the author’s intimate perspective brings a haunting new dimension to the true crime genre. For those who seek both suspense and emotional depth, this memoir offers an unforgettable journey into the shadowy corners of the human psyche—where love, loss, and tragedy collide in devastating ways.
The story behind the story:
Diving Deep Within
When I began writing, I had no intentions of creating a book. I was just trying to process all the emotions, feelings, and thoughts that had overwhelmed me since the tragic event occurred. I could hardly find the words to describe it. The act of violence my sister committed was so unimaginable that the news ripped through us, leaving me and my family shattered and heartbroken. My sister, the one I knew, had become someone I could no longer recognize. She had become someone who couldn’t escape the demons in her own mind, capable of a horror nobody could have expected.
​
What began as a personal exercise gradually turned into something much, much more. I began to see that this story wasn’t just about a tragic event; it was about everything leading up to it. The hidden struggle with mental illness, the signs we may have missed, and the unrelenting grip of trauma that altered the course of our lives.
​
It became obvious to me, realizing how much I felt this story needed to be told. Not just for my own healing, but for anyone who has been touched by mental illness in their lives. My hope is that by sharing our story, others may become more aware of the signs of mental illness. To recognize those struggles that so often go unnoticed until it’s too late. The importance of mental health cannot be overstated here, period. My wish is that this book might inspire greater compassion and awareness towards those suffering in silence—and perhaps, help them find a way forward.
​
This book is a deeply personal reflection on my life with Angelee, beginning with our shared childhood along with the years we grew up together. It’s told explicitly through my eyes, my memories, and my emotions. As you read, you’ll experience our story as I lived it, shaped by the love, confusion, and heartbreak that only I can express.
​
Growing up, being resilient wasn’t really a choice for us, it was a necessity that life demanded of us. Nothing came easily, and we quickly learned that survival meant fighting for every inch of life’s comforts and stability. We scraped, we scrounged, and we endured, building strength, compassion, and determination. Even still, there was no amount of fortitude that could have ever prepared me for the moment I learned about the unspeakable act Angelee committed.
This story isn’t just a recounting of events that have happened, it’s my attempt to make sense of the senseless. Through the pages of this book, you’ll witness the story unfold, as I lived it. You’ll feel the pressure of each revelation and understand how these events have reshaped the memories I have of my sister. The love and joy we shared will always remain, but I now see them through a new lens, one marked by reflection and a deeper clarity I hadn’t been able to understand before.
​
When I’m reflecting on the evidentiary hearing, I want to be clear as possible: this is not a word-for-word, factual recounting of the proceedings. Rather, it’s my emotional journey, my attempt to process an experience that defies explanation. I want to share what it was like to sit in that courtroom, absorbing the words spoken and confronting my own feelings of disbelief and grief.
I understand that our memories can be fragile and are sometimes reshaped over time. There may be details that I may have missed or moments I might have misremembered, and for that, I sincerely apologize. Again, my goal is not to provide a factual record of the hearing, but to share a lived experience that was deeply emotional and fundamentally transformative. These are the thoughts and feelings that suffocated me as I tried to make sense of a world that had been irrevocably altered.
I need for this to be understood as well: there is no intention in my words to assign blame or shift responsibility. Nor am I trying to mislead anyone about the facts. I write this with the deepest respect for everyone involved, and I hope my words are received with the understanding and reflection they’re meant to inspire. Respectfully, I have changed the names of all those involved, except Angelee and Bill. Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you.
Joe
About the Author
Joe might work as an IT professional, but don’t let that fool you—his passions go way beyond the screen. He lives in Middle Tennessee with his wife, with three adult children on their own in the world, and two kids they still have at home. He also has Vanya, their Doberman who’s fully convinced she’s in charge. Joe spends his time finding balance between family life, travel, and creative projects. He’s always ready for a new adventure, whether that’s exploring a new culture, plotting the next family getaway, or or mastering the art of minimalist packing of a carry-on bag.
When he’s not at work or on the move, you’ll likely find Joe in his wood shop, surrounded by tools and sawdust, crafting something new from scratch. Building with his hands offers him a peaceful escape from his tech-filled world, and he takes pride in creating projects from the ground up.
Though Joe has always had a natural gift for spinning a good story, starting with fictional short stories he wrote just for fun, writing has over time become a way for him to reflect and connect with the world around him. With plenty of life experiences under his belt, he’s full of stories waiting to be told. While he may not claim the title of “writer,” one thing’s for sure—there’s a lot more coming from this guy.
Life’s been a bit of an adventure for Joe—whether he’s at home or halfway across the globe, he’s always ready for the next chapter. No matter where life takes him, he’s constantly learning, growing, and finding new stories to tell along the way.
Latest Blog!
